We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr Carissa Alinat. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Carissa, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
My business is the aesthetic industry. Med spas. Patients visiting med spas are looking for a certain experience. Results, yes. But also they expect a certain level of luxury, comfort, vibe, and pampering, which Living Young Center definitely provides. However, our main identity is that we are a medical practice. Botox IS a medication. Providers are highly trained medical professionals. Somehow, just because we operate a Med Spa and there is a certain amount of glamour revolving around Med Spas, clients tend to forget that in a med spa, just like in any medical practice, their health is in the hands of medical professionals in a medical environment. Patients sometime argue about how many Botox units they need. But wouldn’t dare to question their cardiologist about the dosage of their heart medication, for instance. So we take this with a grain of salt, and educate our patients on this.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a master injector and part owner of Living Young Center. Living Young Center was founded 18 years ago by my business partner Katie Kaffai, and has now 4 med spas in the Tampa Bay area. Med Spas are trendy right now. Botox, lip filler and other services have gained in popularity so much that we now have 25 year old patients doing preventative Botox treatments without any stigma.
I stumbled into this industry randomly, about 8 years ago. I was still a student working on my PhD at USF, and connected with the founder and owner of Living Young Center, who first offered me a part-time job, then very quickly thereafter, to partner with her, even though I had zero business experience and little confidence. It has been a fantastic partnership and I am proud to call Katie my friend. I owe her a lot.
I’m also a wife and mom of 3 living my best life in the Tampa Bay area.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I had a somewhat rough upbringing. I had no self-confidence and really, what I only ever really wanted is to be a stay at home mom, not because it was my vocation, but because I believed I could not do anything else.
My life completely changed when I met my husband, who helped me feel self-confident, less shy, and to believe in myself. And when I met my business partner Katie Kaffai, who gave me a chance that I didn’t even see coming.
Since I came from nothing, I used to believe as a child that success just wasn’t in the cards for me. Now, I truly believe anybody can do anything they want, can achieve great success, only if they work hard, and believe in themselves. Self confidence is key, but it comes from hard work.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
Interestingly enough, the people who listen to me the most are my patients. Of course, my husband listens to me, and sometimes so do my kids!
But when you know what you’re doing, when you were a white coat, and when patients sit in my treatment chair, they really, really, really listen. I do understand it (they are listening to their medical provider) but it also surprises me every day that somehow the shy, insecure girl I once was has gained enough authority to be listened to with great interest.
I am always genuine, patient and listening to my patients. They trust me, and they come to me because I tell them the truth. If they point out an imperfection on their face that nobody would ever possibly notice but them, I tell them. If they want humongous “duck lips”, I tell them no, flat out. Patients are my billboard. They come to me to look good and natural. And i want to achieve that for them.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Family. And my patients.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Oh, what a gloomy question LOL.
That everything is possible. As I said, I came from nothing. I was never expected to be that successful and that happy. I didn’t even expect it myself! I want people to remember that, especially single mothers struggling to make ends meet, as I was one of them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.livingyoungcenter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectorcarissa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingYoungCenter
