Introduction: how I became a cosmetics doctor

Hello, steemit community!

I am Nina, a physician who lives and works in Vancouver, BC in the innovative field of minimally-invasive aesthetic medicine. Cosmetics is not exactly a traditional field of medicine, so I would like to share how I came to discover this exciting world.

Coming from a relatively poor family, my biggest goal growing up was to become a doctor. We moved around almost every year within Vancouver and then eventually out to Ontario when I was in high school. I yearned for nothing more than to return to a stable life in Vancouver, and graduating from UBC Medicine in 2013 is a day I'll never forget:

Being suffocated with love by my 2 best friends from class:

My original choice was general surgery - this made sense because I am efficient, good with my hands, and loved the fact that I could instantaneously save lives. Two years later, I had a change of heart and switched to family medicine; I had too many other things I wanted to do in my life (which I will get into in subsequent posts!)

So, I packed my bags and moved to Fort McMurray, AB to finish my residency. It was my preceptors there who first introduced me to aesthetic medicine. I would shadow them, and watch in awe as they transformed already beautiful faces into younger, gorgeous, more refreshed, and happy patients. As I returned to Vancouver, I knew I had to enter this field. I mustered up all my courage and cold-called a prestigious downtown clinic for a job and haven't looked back since.

This is an example of the products I work with for a cheek lift and to make full, pouty lips:

To me, cosmetic medicine is an art, and this is the world that fulfills my artistic soul. As cool as science is, I know what my soul craves - beauty, art, and music! Every time I end the day at this beautiful clinic, my heart knows this is what I came here to do:

Thank you for reading the story of my humble beginnings :) Life has given me so much that I am grateful for! Below is a selfie before I went on a cruise sponsored by the FNW Division of Family Practice:

Peace and love,

<3 Nina