Meet Melissa Zapinski of XO Aesthetics

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Zapinski.  

Hi Melissa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Melissa. I am a wife, a mother to a 2 year old and a board certified nurse practitioner. I love dogs, traveling, a good glass of wine, the color pink and all things skin and beauty related! I never thought I would end up in the field of cosmetic dermatology, but I am proud to say I have my very own boutique medical spa in Macomb County where I have lived my entire life!

Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to work in the field of medicine. In 2000, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease (CD), and the battle to achieve health has been a long journey. It solidified my interest in medicine, and I entered college with every intention of becoming a doctor. Just after graduating college, I nearly died from a complication of a routine test for my CD. For 13 months, I battled sepsis and had many surgeries. I saw physicians come in from dawn to dusk and knew I did not want that lifestyle. I just needed to get strong enough to move forward with life, so I ceased medical school applications/interviews. While I was able to regain my health, my journey left me disfigured (physically) and slightly shattered (emotionally). I was young, and I would never have the body I once knew.

Thankfully, my boyfriend (now husband) and family were supportive of me, and I went back to school to be a nurse (then back again to be a Nurse Practitioner (NP)). I had no intention of doing aesthetics, but I happened to land a job in dermatology right out of NP school. Once I got Botox for the first time, my self-confidence drastically changed. To say it’s magic in a bottle is an understatement. It allowed me to embrace myself in new ways, and I just felt that change happen inside of me. I wanted everyone to know the power of this drug!

Since then, I’ve gone zip-lining, snorkeling, and skydiving (to name a few things). Things people with ostomies might avoid due to fear. I became a fitness instructor and helped to instill a strength mindset. I overcame public speaking (well, sort of), and I am even on the Humira website sharing my personal journey with CD!

When I opened my own business, my passion for bringing confidence to others is how I organically grew my practice. My practice is focused on creating trusting relationships and treatment plans to boost self-confidence! It’s a dream!

I was told I would never have children. Then my miracle baby happened. And let me tell you, once you add children into the world, your why becomes stronger.

I want to support my family (who doesn’t?), but most importantly, because of Botox (and lasers, skincare, and dabbles in filler, etc.), I have found the confidence in myself to teach my daughter to be confident in herself.

Being a business owner is not easy. However, I feel lucky that I can call my passion my profession. I am proud of my journey thus far, and I cannot wait to see where it takes me!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think there is such a thing as a smooth road! I have nearly died and had to pivot my career goals. I then proceeded to go back to college two more times to get to where I wanted to be, personally and professionally. I completed the accelerated second-degree nursing program at Oakland University, and that was the hardest year of my life (besides fighting to stay alive just 3 years prior to nursing school). I was living off very little sleep and too much caffeine. After I graduated from nursing school and passed the boards, my first job out of school was on the midnight shift. My body could not handle the night and day mix-up, and that lead to other challenges. Once I decided to go back for my master’s degree and Nurse Practitioner certification, I had to make more sacrifices to get through school.

I’ve had obstacles preventing me from opening my business, and then when I finally felt comfortable moving forward, being a business owner is a challenge in itself!

The pandemic was a very stressful time with all of the uncertainty and forced closures. Learning to pivot is necessary in order to provide for your family. I actually landed in the hospital on bed rest (during my second trimester of pregnancy) in the middle of the pandemic and could not work or run my business. I was not granted visitors due to the state laws at the time. My mental health really was challenged during this time.

When my business was starting to grow, and I needed to look for a new location to expand, I was held up by a real estate agent telling me I should not be paying that much rent for what I was planning to use it for. I had to fight to get the deal to close and then focus on remodeling the new space and work and be a mom to a baby all at the same time. Let me tell you, being a working parent is HARD WORK!

Overall, I have sacrificed a lot of free time and personally invested into myself to make my business a reality. I don’t consider this a true obstacle though; just a part of being an entrepreneur!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
XO Aesthetics is a boutique full-service medical spa specializing in skin health and wellness. I have over 13 years of medical experience, with 8 years specializing in dermatology as a Nurse Practitioner.

XO Aesthetics offers services for skin and anti-aging needs ranging from customized facials with Hydrafacial, Glytone and VI chemical peels, SkinPen microneedling, BBL light laser, and Moxi laser treatments. We offer Botox/Dysport, filler, and Sculptra as well as lash lifts and tints, and brow laminations. We specialize in customized skincare planning and utilize our Visia Skin Analysis camera to monitor quantitative skin changes.

My focus is always a less is more approach with natural-looking results. My appointment times are longer than traditional medical spas. I prefer to spend time educating and empowering you to make the best decisions in the anti-aging realm with my guidance and recommendations. Creating customized treatment plans and building self-confidence is our passion! I have a very intimate office, and I want it to feel more like girlfriend hour than just an ‘appointment.’ When you call, text, or email, you are talking to me! A truly boutique and concierge-like experience very single visit!

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think taking risks is stressful and challenging but has the greatest reward. It’s taking a chance on yourself, for yourself, to better yourself. I am in the mindset of always challenging myself as a person and professional in order to continue to grow and learn. You are only granted one life, so why not take a risk on yourself to achieve your own goals or dreams? As Thomas Jefferson once said, “With great risk comes great reward.”

I never used to consider myself a risk-taker. I lived a simple, structured life. However, reflecting back over the years, I think I have taken many risks! I went back to school (more than once) and had to quit working in order to pursue my career goals. I quit my job and opened a business! I had to really put my goals and aspirations to the forefront and surround myself with the best cheering squad (support system) to persevere and make my aspirations a reality.

Risk-taking is gut-wrenching, and you question everything you do. But after you take that leap and reflect back, it’s humbling to remember where you started! I also love knowing that my daughter is watching me work hard. One day when she can understand risk-taking, I hope she feels capable and empowered to do the same!

Pricing:

• Botox starting at $13/unit
• Hydrafacials starting at $199
• Chemical Peels starting at $125
• Microneedling $350
• BBL $495

Contact Info:

• Website: www.xoaesthetics.com
• Instagram: @theredheadinjector
• Facebook: Facebook.com/thereadheadinjector

Image Credits
Shelby Dubin Photography