Women In Wellness: Dr Kristine Brecht of Aesthetic Rejuvenation On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Create a list of gratitude- Writing down 3 things that I am grateful for, no matter how small or big, has helped me immensely in remaining positive and appreciative of being alive.
As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Kristine Brecht.
Dr. Kristine Brecht has over two decades of specialized training and experience as a Cosmetic Surgeon and currently practices at her State of the Art facility in Burien, Washington; Aesthetic Rejuvenation. After completing her Plastic Surgery Fellowship from University of South Florida, she served as president of the American Society of Liposuction Surgery and on the Board of Trustees for the American Academy of Cosmetic surgery. Dr. Brecht has also held numerous leadership positions within the medical community, most notably as Chairwoman of the World Congress on Liposuction in 2017.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
After completing my Plastic Surgery Fellowship from University of South Florida, I served as the president of the American Society of Liposuction Surgery and on the Board of Trustees for the American Academy of Cosmetic surgery. I then had the opportunity to hold numerous leadership positions within the medical community.
One of my most notable accomplishments is serving as Chairwoman of the World Congress on Liposuction in 2017. I have spoken at many conferences over the years regarding cosmetic procedures and techniques. My goal has always been to educate others about these treatments and help them make informed decisions about their own care. I am currently treating patients at my state of the art medical center, Aesthetics Rejuvenation. I focus on providing the latest technologies and treatments for the face, body and breasts. These include face and neck lifts, tummy tucks, facial skin treatments, breast reduction and Liposuction.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
A large part of my career has been focused on not only educating myself but educating others. The treatments and topics of skin tightening, liposculpting, fat removal and medical aesthetic procedures were once very “hush hush”. People were afraid to have these procedures done and ashamed to tell others of the treatments they received. I find this very interesting and honestly exciting now. I am excited the beauty industry is headed into a direction of improving confidence and not placing shame onto those who are looking to feel better about their personal appearance. I faced the fear of new technology head on, it has become my mission to make this topic less scary by providing ample education and details to my clients while also consistently educating myself. I know that learning will always be a part of my job; as technology improves, my practice will improve with it.
Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Beginning my own practice and beginning Aesthetic Rejuvenation was difficult. I trusted my capability and ability to perform procedures and give my patients the best results possible but it is not only me in my office. It is important that everyone in your facility meets the standard that you believe your patients deserve; from medical assistants to receptionists. Luckily I learned the importance of a great team early on and am proud of the team we have at Aesthetics Rejuvenation.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
I am a medical professional that is dedicated to making people look and feel their best. I understand the importance of providing a space where women can come in and take time to focus on themselves. Women spend every day taking care of others, children, families, work problems; they deserve to make an investment in themselves.
I find motivation and drive to keep advancing my practice when I see my patients satisfied with their treatments received by my team and I. Everyday, I am working to make men and women more confident through the results we provide.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
- Dynamic Stretches- begin or end your day everyday with dynamic stretching. This does not have to be a long workout but rather a 10 minute portion of your morning or night to connect with your body. There are many stressors people face throughout the day and unfortunately they are held within the body. Dynamic stretching releases those tension points and allows your body to release and relax.
- Mindful Meditation- Along with stretching I believe it to be very important to incorporate meditation into your day, every day. With a busy schedule, stressors and life moving fast it is important to take 5–10 minutes to check in with yourself, ground yourself and better your mind.
- Do Not Check Your Phone First Thing in the Morning- It is becoming increasingly normal for people to check their phone first thing in the morning. A challenge for those reading is to not look at your phone right when you wake up; stretch, meditate, get ready for the day, enjoy a coffee or tea, then check your phone.
- Increase your Water Intake- staying hydrated and drinking enough water plays a huge role in the health of your body. Check in with yourself, how much water are you typically drinking a day? Chances are it should be increased.
- Create a list of gratitude- Writing down 3 things that I am grateful for, no matter how small or big, has helped me immensely in remaining positive and appreciative of being alive.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I believe that many people need to invest in themselves. Everyday we are constantly influenced by our surroundings, the negative topics in the media, other people’s opinions and more. This takes a toll on how we feel about ourselves. Some people may feel bad on the inside due to the appearance on the outside or look great on the outside but need mental support. I believe that when people invest in themselves, and take time to focus on themselves they will treat others better. This is why I see it so valuable to invest in making sure you are confident, content and satisfied with yourself.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- Invest in your team- My team is an extension of me so it is very important for my team to hold the same level of expertise, professionalism and eagerness to learn as I do.
- Be Comfortable Adjusting- adjusting to the climate of the world, technology and patients’ needs can be scary but it is inevitable.
- Invest in Technology — if you are not moving forward with technology you will get left behind, so never stop learning and trying new things!
- Invest in Marketing- in the age of social media I have found it very important to take time to build my online presence by posting informational videos, before and afters, client testimonials and more so that people are able to see my work and gain trust in me before even coming into the office.
- Never Stop Learning- in order to provide patients with the best and most effective services I constantly am having to read up on new techniques, advancements in technology, medical methods and more.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Mental health is the most dearest to me. A lot of my patients are very unhappy with their appearance and that affects everything around them as this lack of confidence holds them back. Mental health is something that should be of utmost importance and I look forward to more resources being available as more and more people come to this realization as well.
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
You can find me directly through my website: https://www.arspabydrbrecht.com
Or
On my instagram: Dr. Kristine Brecht
Thank you for these fantastic insights!
Women In Wellness: Dr Kristine Brecht of Aesthetic Rejuvenation On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.