Jennifer Fick

“That’s a very challenging question. I think what I would say if I were stranded on a desert island, I would hope I had my sunblock with me. Um, so that would probably be my number one. But of course, we can’t live without everything else we use, but that is a critical component. Everybody needs to wear sunblock. Um, and you know, there’s a lot of opportunity. Like sunblock itself is evolving now, so you always want to be looking at something that has titanium or zinc, something that, you know, SPF 30 is a great way, and it doesn’t have to be 100, but 30 is great, 30 to 50. Um, and then something you wear every day. You know, we also have powder sunblocks that are lighter in texture and easier to reapply. They’re great for active people. So, I think sunblock is a crucial point, and I really work with my patients on that because it can prevent them from having to see me for lots of other reasons.

Um, but then again, I’m a huge proponent, you know, fan of retinoids, vitamin C’s, you know, just a few key pieces. I don’t like making people’s skincare regimens really complicated, but I like to have a few key great products in there. And also, for addressing acne or rosacea or, you know, other melasma, you know, of course, there’s a whole system of products and things we have to do for that.”

“The brand or the type of filler that you’re using, and maybe it’s not even the brand, um, because each brand, like Galderma or Allergan, they have various fillers that have different qualities within their brand lines, if you will. So, when I’m choosing a filler to use, I’m choosing it because of the qualities of that particular filler. Some fillers are more robust, others are more elastic and stretchy, others hold a lot more water. So, you really want to first, I mean, there’s certain fillers that can be used, I mean, many of the fillers can be used interchangeably for different things. So, it’s also, if I’m doing, let’s say, lip injections, I want to know, “Okay, do you want them really poofy? Do you want this? Do you want structure? Are we trying to change the shape a little bit?” And then, also looking, if someone has naturally young, youthful lips, there are certain fillers you can use versus, say, if it’s almost fairly deflated, needs structure, needs some contour, there are other fillers that do a better job of that.

So, it really depends on not only the area you’re treating, but then also, what do you need to have happen in that area? And the same thing, like, there are certain fillers I would not use in the under-eye area because they hold too much water and they can look puffy. And then, you have to actually go in and dissolve some of the filler. And then, there are other fillers that work beautifully for the cheek and the jaw contouring that you wouldn’t necessarily maybe put into other areas of the face. So, it really depends on the area of the face, but then also, what is the desired outcome. And that’s going to help you work through your grouping of fillers.

So, I see there’s one thing I always, you know, not everyone can come and see me, so what you want to do is find a licensed, board-certified provider in your area, and then have them walk you through what is their best choice of fillers. Because we’re all different, there’s no one solid, like, only way to do things in my industry. Um, everyone, as a provider, has their own preference.”

“Well, I think that, I mean, first of all, I love what I do. So, I don’t actually feel like I’m going to work every day. I feel like it’s I get to go to work and I get to see people and hang out with cool people and basically play in 3D on live subjects, and I get paid. I’m like, it’s amazing. Um, and my patients are always inspiring to me because I’ve seen them through every life challenge you can imagine: marriages, divorces, new babies, kids in college, job changes, you know, being part of the sandwich generation which a lot of my patients are right now, taking care of their elder parents. Um, and I just think that every day, you know, I get inspired every day by what my patients go through, and they’re just incredible people. They’re talented, smart, and it’s also really, really fun to see some people really come out of their shell. You’ll see people come in, they’re very either a client that their self-esteem is very—it’s unfortunately quite low, and by doing these injections and doing treatments and that kind of stuff, kind of building up their self-esteem, I’ve seen people turn into a completely different personality, and that is very rewarding.”

“We’ll start by introducing myself and giving them my pronouns. So, I’ll be like, “Hi, my name is Jennifer, my pronouns are she/her,” and that will trigger them to say, “Oh, hi, my name is,” and “my pronouns are.” That works quite well. In our office, we also have paperwork where they can designate their pronouns, so I always check that before I go and start working with the patient. But again, it can change with time too. So, we’ll start out saying, “Okay, these are the pronouns, this is how we’ll be addressing you. If you have a name change or if you decide to change your pronouns, please make sure you let us know and we will update accordingly.” Because, again, gender can be very fluid, or I should say, gender identity can be very fluid. So, those pronouns change with time.”

“Yeah, that’s an excellent question. Um, it really starts by, you know, finding out what the patient’s goals are. Uh, some patients I’ve worked with are not necessarily transitioning yet. They really haven’t made that decision, but they’re just trying to reflect a little bit more of what they feel on the inside on their, you know, on their external presentation. So, part of it is, you know, kind of figuring out where they are. Some patients are like 100% ready to go, let’s do all these things, and other patients are like, you know, I’m not really sure. I don’t know if I’m—I don’t know how. Maybe if I just do this little thing, it will take a little bit of the edge off of my gender dysphoria. Um, so it’s really about finding out kind of where the patient is on their journey. And then we go through the process, as far as okay, well, let’s start with this. How do you feel about, we did these three things? How are you feeling about that? You know, are we getting kind of close to where you want to be? Um, and you know, we can only do so much with my non-surgical services, but it’s enough for many patients to make them feel better about themselves until they can, you know, plan surgery. Um, or maybe we’ve done surgery and we did fat grafting, but it just wasn’t quite enough. And so, they come back and they’re like, I want a little bit more of my lips or a little more in my cheeks. Um, so I have opportunities to work with patients both before surgery and after surgery.”

“Well, that’s interesting. Uh, it really can vary. Um, I would say generally, people who are in their 20s, you know, a lot of times, we don’t need to do a lot. We’re doing more maintenance. Those are patients who have been on skincare, but it also depends on what their lifestyle has been. Or if they have something like rosacea and they have redness and flushing that they can’t control—then they’re definitely a candidate for a photofacial. If they’ve got sun damage again, you know, photofacial treatments. Um, some patients at that age have even had a lot of acne scarring. So, that’s where our laser resurfacing and microneedling come into play.

I would say, definitely, by the time my patients are in their 30s and 40s, we need to be thinking about some photofacials to boost collagen or some resurfacing to also stimulate collagen and maybe treat some of the more dermal pigmentation where we need to kind of make sure we’re staying on top of addressing skin tone and skin texture. Uh, and that kind of carries on throughout the lifespan. Um, but it’s really very patient-dependent. It’s sort of what their presentation is, what their lifestyle has been, and also what their lifestyle is now. Some people just will not stay out of the sun. Uh, and so, regardless of age, that can put a hard stop on certain types of procedures that we’re able to do.”

“There are many factors at play, but many times, patients are coming because of specific triggers. It could be getting them ready for a wedding or something significant has happened in their life—maybe a breakup or a job change. So, I think it’s important to delve into the core of why they’re seeking our services. Then, we move on to identifying their top priorities. Sometimes, patients might not be able to clearly articulate what they see, but they can express what they feel. They might say, “I feel like I look really tired” or “I feel like I look exhausted.” This kind of input allows us to piece things together.

Occasionally, it’s more helpful for them to express the main thing they feel about themselves rather than asking them to look in the mirror and describe what they see. Sometimes, there’s something they can’t quite put their finger on visually, but they have a strong sense of how they feel. This feeling becomes a significant guide for me. Additionally, understanding their motivation is crucial—what they want to change and why they want those changes. This insight helps me provide them with guidance on which treatment options we should consider.”

“You know, it’s an interesting question. Um, because I’ve been working with patients in the transgender community since like eight. Because of course, we opened the first laser hair removal clinic in San Francisco, and some of my first patients coming through were trans women. Um, so I would say, at least to me, androgyny isn’t necessarily a new concept, but I do think that the awareness of it now is a lot more. People are a lot more aware of the ability to, you know, have a more androgynous appearance.

And you’ll see that my trans patients and my cisgender patients, my non-binary patients, um, maybe they, you know, my cis women really like their strong jawline but they want a softer cheek or, you know, something like that. And so, um, I think people have more of an awareness of it now. People are more able to kind of verbalize, you know, what they’re looking for because they want to kind of float between, like, their maybe more female-presenting side or their more male-presenting side. So, that’s why I think the communication is easier with it now. Um, because people have a broader understanding that androgyny is an option for them as far as their appearance.”

“Every time I meet a new patient, and even with those I’ve been treating for over 20 years, it’s crucial for us to come together and reassess. Skin changes, goals shift, and sometimes our strategies need adjustments. When a patient sees me for the first time, we conduct a comprehensive facial analysis, considering everything from their skin to their overall health and lifestyle. Each person is unique in various ways, making this process quite intricate. This approach provides them with a roadmap, highlighting primary, secondary, and tertiary concerns. We then work through these step by step.

Imagine this like a candy store: if we try to do everything at once, resources could become limited. Hence, during the treatment plan, we focus on addressing the patient’s most significant goals initially. For instance, we might begin with BOTOX or Dysport, followed by fillers a month later. Meanwhile, we’ll be prepping their skin for more advanced procedures like resurfacing or microneedling, even photofacials. About six months down the line, a minor procedure like Kybella for the chin might be on the horizon. This plan not only guides our actions but also helps patients prepare better. They can allocate resources and schedule downtime, recognizing that not all procedures are quick “lunchtime” appointments.

The roadmap serves as a reminder for the patient and aids in keeping track of their progress. Are they keeping up with Retin-A? How’s their experience with the CE serum? Do they need more eye cream? This check-in is essential because skincare plays a significant role in our approach. While injections are essential, skincare is akin to your personal dental hygiene routine—just like flossing and brushing complement your dentist’s work. This balance can extend the time between appointments, as healthy skin requires continuous upkeep. This individualized treatment plan encompasses all these aspects to ensure the best results in the long run.”