Today we’d like to introduce you to April Brinkley
Hi April, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was inspired to be a pivotal figure in one’s healthcare journey at the age of 18. I grew up in Canada and on a snowy day, I was in a near fatal car accident that left me in a hospital with a spinal cord injury and fractured back for weeks. I felt helpless and the nurses and doctors that cared for me impacted me greatly. I wanted to be that for others, I simply wanted to be a part of the solution of others feeling better.
I went to Stanford University and got my physician assistant certification in 2001 and quickly started working in a Family Practice caring for patients of all ages. The women’s health facet of my practice grew quickly and I found I was particularly fascinated with skin. I worked for a father and son MD in private practice and I was very grateful for their unwavering support at every level.
In 2007, I started my education in aesthetic medicine and merged my practice which also grew quite quickly. Change is inevitable and the intimate family practice I worked at for many years became corporate. I have always placed great value on the human connection piece that I feel is so vital to good meaningful care and as the medical landscape was changing, I felt I wasn’t as aligned as I once was in my current position and I ultimately ended up accepting a position specializing in Dermatology where I was able to grow my clinical knowledge and skills in skin disease and aesthetic medicine. My passion for the aesthetic part of my practice grew quickly. For me, to be in the position to have the daily opportunity to elevate a patient’s self esteem or self perception is so rewarding of an experience.
I have seen how powerful self confidence can translate into a lot of positive outcomes for my patients in both their personal and professional relationships. I have seen this happen particularly when treating my patients for acne scarring or pigmentation concerns.
I most recently was afforded a position as an aesthetic provider with SkinSpirit, an established leader in medical aesthetics and we just had our grand opening at the new Del Mar clinic. One of their mission statements is “to be there to make your days brighter, to inspire you, and to ensure you find joy and happiness in your skincare journey”. I couldn’t be in more alignment with their philosophy and I am thrilled that my journey has brought me to where I am now.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say that I have been blessed to have had the opportunities that I have had throughout my career path.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an PA that specializes in Aesthetic Medicine. I have a more clinical type of aesthetic practice due to my history of practicing general medicine for years to later specializing in Dermatology.
I am particularly interested in the relatively recent advancements in regenerative aesthetic medicine. I participate in regular advanced educational programs involving this field and I love how this translates into restoring aging tissue back to its youthful form and function for my patients. This type of aesthetic rejuvenation or reverse aging creates a more natural balanced aesthetic that complements a lot of our other tried and true anti-aging practices.
To effectively reach my patients personal aesthetic goals, I first consult and develop a very individualized treatment plan. I then utilize and incorporate clinically proven modalities at a varied paced determined by my patients desired timeline. My aesthetic medicine practice has evolved more recently as I am able to draw from my years of clinical medical experience and knowledge in acute and chronic disease, and more exclusively skin disease, anatomy and general pharmacology. My patients health history and status will have maximum interplay with my treatment plan recommendations as well as my procedure strategy decisions and will ultimately guide me in my effort to maintain my focus on how to safely produce the best enhancement and rejuvenation my patients are desiring.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @brinkofbeautybyapril
Image Credits
@jeffbrinkleyphotography
