I used to work as a hairstylist. During that time I developed an interest in tattoos, and today I am the proud recipient of numerous tattoos. Having tattoos was never an issue as a hairstylist because of the creative nature of the industry. However, after about 10 years I decided I wanted to go back to school to pursue a law degree. During my undergrad I began to realize that if I wanted people to see me as a serious candidate for professional internships and jobs I would need to get rid of the tattoos I couldn't hide while dressed for work. It was tough because I really liked my tattoos. I knew, however, if I was going to move forward into my next phase of life I was going to have to get my visible tattoos removed.

I began getting my tattoo removal done at another facility with a Q-switched laser, but I wasn’t happy with the results. I did some research and read about the new PicoSure laser. I learned it was the latest technology and could get rid of my tattoos faster than other lasers, saving me both money and time.

The medspa was the closest place to Kansas City that offered PicoSure laser tattoo removal, so I gave them a call. My experience at the medspa has been outstanding! The staff are all so nice and the treatments are quick and easy. Dr. Prasad and his team were really thoughtful about ensuring I was comfortable during the treatment and more than willing to answer any questions I might have about the laser, the treatment, or the care afterwards. I will definitely miss visiting their office. Thanks to the medspa I feel more comfortable attending professional events knowing that people won't make snap judgments about me based on my visible tattoos.

This is my confident.

My oldest daughter was away at college when she began complaining of breakouts and how nothing she tried seemed to clear up her acne. When she arrived home I was shocked to see how bad it really was and drove her straight to the medspa. We got there just before closing time, and as we began explaining our situation to the receptionist, we met Stephanie. She immediately took my daughter back to a room, treated her with a chemical peel, and set her up with a new skin care regimen. The care factor Stephanie showed my daughter, paired with her knowledge of skin care, brought me back for my own appointment. We tend to always take care of others, putting ourselves last, but I decided to look into taking care of me.

As a single mother of three, I am on a strict budget. I had very little hope that I would be able to afford any of the products and services needed to take care of my skin. Stephanie sat down with me and asked what my thoughts were and what I envisioned financially. Together, we set a plan in motion that fit within my budget. It is still difficult to manage at times, but I know it's a crucial part of taking care of me and maintaining healthy skin. I'm so glad I decided to make an appointment for myself. We all struggle with our outward appearance. Being in my forties and single makes for an even harder struggle. I feel so much better knowing I am taking care of my skin.

This is my beautiful.

Feeling beautiful is most often a state of mind. When the sun is shining, when a warm breeze brushes against your skin just right, when an “I love you” is whispered – one can’t help but feel beautiful. But, as a woman, I find that sometimes feeling beautiful is achieved with a little help.

I have been a regular client of Stephanie’s at the medspa for quite a while now. In the beginning I simply needed an eyebrow wax. Eventually I tried the sugaring method for the bikini area. I also use several of the SkinMedica and Colorescience products. My favorites include the SkinMedica eye cream and the Colorescience primer and lip serum. After just a week of using the eye cream, I noticed I didn’t look so tired. There were no fine lines or bags under my eyes. Additionally, the Colorescience primer is perfect for my skin. I even use it on days when I don’t feel like wearing makeup. Its light texture leaves my face feeling smooth and looking flawless; plus it has the added benefit of an SPF!

The best feeling is when I’m not the only one who notices these effects. I feel beautiful when friends tell me how great my skin looks, or how perfectly shaped my eyebrows are. I know it’s a credit to the amazing products the medspa carries, but it’s also an acknowledgment of Stephanie's help. As an esthetician and skin care expert, Stephanie is the best of the best. She is one of those unique individuals who never rushes her clients, and takes time to go over any skin care questions or product use. Whenever I decide to purchase a product, she always demonstrates how it should be applied. She is a dedicated professional, so when my thirteen-year-old daughter began to express feelings of self-consciousness over her eyebrow area, I took her to Stephanie.

As crazy as it may seem, I look forward to my monthly waxing appointments. I love the way I feel when I leave, because I truly feel beautiful. Sometimes my greatest enemy is overthinking my decisions. I recall an appointment with Stephanie in which I worried out loud that perhaps I shouldn’t be bothered about aging, skin care or outside appearance. Stephanie’s response is the reason I will NEVER go anywhere else when it comes to skin care. She said: “There is nothing selfish about taking care of yourself. As women, we don’t do that enough. When you look your best, you feel good about yourself. Who doesn’t want to feel good about herself?” This is why, every month, I schedule an appointment with Stephanie: because she helps me feel my best – she helps me feel beautiful.

My mother gave me a gift certificate to the medspa for my birthday in November of 2012. That gift certificate sat in my wallet for over a year, not because I didn't want to use it, but because I didn't have time to use it. My husband of nearly 14 years was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer, fought for 16 months like nothing I have ever witnessed, but ultimately passed away in May of 2013, leaving me a 35 year old widow with three young boys to raise myself. I decided late in the summer of 2013 that I would finally use that gift certificate. I had no expectations of anything other than thinking a facial would be relaxing, and my beautiful mother kept insisting it was going to expire.

My appointment was with Brandi King who, much like my mother, is blessed with gorgeous skin and an even better personality. She knew a little about my story because of my mom, but I walked in that day and I will never forget her words: "You have given so much of yourself to your husband and kids so this is going to be all about you. You deserve this." I sat at the table, my face a mess – stress can do wonders on your skin, and listened to her tell me her plans. As any good mother does, I worried about spending money on myself, my face, my skin, etc. I felt so vain, but I knew I needed the confidence that comes with great skin, and because of Brandi's words I knew I deserved it.

Brandi started me with a series of chemical peels. I began using Colorescience makeup and all SkinMedica products, and within a matter of weeks my skin felt amazing. I felt like a completely different person. I felt confident because I wasn't using makeup to hide my skin or its flaws. I was using it to accent them. I had friends ask me what I was doing because my skin looked incredible. I believe my life aged me tremendously, but somehow Brandi worked her magic and removed a lot of those years off my face.

My late husband always made me feel beautiful, and without him I felt sort of lost in this world. Being a mother to three amazing boys makes me feel beautiful, but let's face it, it also ages you. :) I found my beauty back in my confidence, in my flawless skin, and in Brandi's constant words of encouragement. I cannot put a price tag on the value of what the medspa did for me. Women are beautiful because we give so much of ourselves to everyone around us – our husbands, our kids, our friends, our family – and I believe our outer beauty should match our inner beauty. Give that gift to yourself, because there is nothing more beautiful than a confident woman.

This is my beautiful.