Aesthetic PCP

We sat down with Dani Douglass, PA-C, to talk about her path from neurosurgery to aesthetic medicine, the precision and creativity she brings to patient care in East Grand Rapids, and why she believes the best results come from looking beyond any one treatment. We also discussed her multimodal approach to aging, the growing role of regenerative aesthetics, and why what patients do for their skin at home matters just as much as what happens in the treatment room.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you enjoy outside of work?
I live in Grand Rapids with my husband and our Blue Heeler. We recently moved farther out into the country, which is exactly where our dog belongs!

Outside of work, I love pottery and ceramics. I have my own kiln and a home pottery studio that I’m hoping to get back up and running this winter. I’m also a big reader, especially fantasy books.

What inspired you to pursue a career in aesthetics?
My background is actually in neurosurgery. I loved the acuity of the medicine, being hands-on and how procedure-based and precise the work was, but the hours made work-life balance incredibly difficult.

When I started exploring other areas of medicine, I was looking for something that would still allow me to work with my hands and have that procedural component. I initially considered plastic surgery, cosmetic dermatology and aesthetics, and eventually transitioned into the nonsurgical aesthetic space.

It ended up being a great fit. Aesthetics allows me to combine that precision with creativity and an artistic eye, while having a much better work-life balance. I’ve been with the Grand Rapids practice since 2019.

Have you personally tried the treatments you offer? Which are your favorites?
I’ve probably tried just about everything I can. Neurotoxin is my absolute can’t-live-without treatment. I treat my full face and neck, and DAXXIFY is a personal favorite.

Outside of injectables, I love the results from combining BBL and HALO. I try to have that combination done at least once a year.

What’s your philosophy when it comes to aesthetic treatments?
I approach patients from a multimodal standpoint. During an initial consultation, I generally look at three areas: skin health, volume and muscle movement.

For skin health, we may be looking at UV damage, collagen loss, acne scarring or other concerns. Then we assess volume loss and whether something like a biostimulator or dermal filler makes sense. Finally, we look at muscle movement and where a neuromodulator may be beneficial.

Aging doesn’t happen in just one way, so there isn’t one treatment that addresses everything. My goal is to enhance what someone already has and thoughtfully restore what they’ve lost over time, rather than trying to create an entirely different person.

What treatments do you most enjoy performing?
I really enjoy injectables because they combine precision with artistry. They’re challenging, and I like that. Small decisions can make a significant difference in the outcome, so you have to understand the anatomy and be very intentional about what you’re doing.

I also love performing HALO. We can get really impressive results with it, particularly for patients who are comfortable with the downtime.

What are some of the most common concerns patients bring to you?
I hear, “I look tired,” “I look older,” or “I don’t look like myself anymore” all the time.

We’re also seeing more patients with facial volume changes after significant weight loss, including patients using GLP-1 medications. Photoaging is another major concern, especially brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles.

Is there a recent patient result that stands out to you?
I recently treated a patient who was preparing for a wedding. We did an aggressive BBL and HALO combination, and her husband was understandably a little hesitant about whether the treatment would deliver the results they were hoping for.

When I saw them again a couple of weeks later, she looked amazing. Her husband couldn’t believe the difference and told me it looked like we had taken years off her appearance. They were both so happy with the result. Those moments are incredibly rewarding.

What do you tell patients who are afraid aesthetic treatments will make them look unnatural?
I hear that concern all the time, especially when someone points to a celebrity and says, “I don’t want to look like that.”

A big part of my job is explaining how someone actually gets to that point. Extremely augmented appearances often involve much more than one syringe of filler or a little Botox. There may be substantial amounts of product involved, along with surgical procedures, fat grafting or other treatments.

Thoughtful aesthetic care isn’t about making you look like somebody else. We’re enhancing what you naturally have, and education goes a long way in helping patients understand what realistic treatment can and cannot do.

Is there a treatment that has particularly impressed you with its results?
BBL and HALO. Of everything we offer, that combination continues to be one of the most impressive and consistent for the right patient. It can address multiple aspects of skin aging at once, and I feel very confident in the results we can achieve with it.

What’s one piece of advice you give almost every new patient?
If you take away one thing from your consultation, make medical-grade skincare at home a priority.

If you’re investing in treatments at the office, what you’re doing for your skin every day matters. I compare it to going to the dentist twice a year for a cleaning but never brushing your teeth at home. In-office treatments are important, but your daily routine helps protect and build on those results.

How have you seen aesthetic medicine evolve in recent years?
We’re seeing much more emphasis on regenerative treatments and improving the health and quality of the skin rather than simply camouflaging a concern.

Instead of looking at a line and immediately trying to fill it, we’re asking how we can stimulate collagen and improve the skin itself. Lasers, biostimulatory treatments and combination approaches are allowing us to think much more comprehensively about rejuvenation.

Where do you think aesthetic medicine is headed over the next 5-10 years?
I hope we continue moving further into regenerative aesthetics. Patients are increasingly interested in looking healthy and natural rather than augmented, and regenerative medicine has a lot of potential to meet that demand.

I think we’ll continue seeing treatments that work with the body’s own processes and focus on collagen stimulation, skin quality and long-term rejuvenation.

What’s your favorite part about being part of the Grand Rapids team?
I have the best coworkers. We have an incredibly knowledgeable group of providers with backgrounds across different areas of medicine, and I really value having people I can bounce ideas off of.

When you leave a traditional medical environment for aesthetics, you don’t want to lose that clinical mindset. Having highly educated providers around me who think scientifically and bring different experiences to the table is something I really appreciate. And beyond that, they’re just a great group of people to work with.

What does confidence mean to you as a provider?
Confidence is trusting my knowledge, experience and training enough to make good decisions for my patients while also understanding what I don’t know.

A neurosurgeon I once worked with told me, “I love that you know what you don’t know.” That has always stayed with me. Confidence isn’t overconfidence. It’s trusting your expertise while recognizing your limits and continuing to learn.

What’s an aesthetic myth you love busting?
That you have to wait until you’re older to start Botox.

Neuromodulators can be used preventatively rather than waiting until lines become deeply etched into the skin. Once we’re seeing static lines and collagen production has begun to decline, those lines become more difficult to address.

It’s not about starting treatment simply because you’ve reached a certain age. It’s about looking at your individual skin, movement and goals and deciding when treatment makes sense for you.

And finally, where would you go to rest and recharge?
Anywhere in Europe. I could happily live there, especially somewhere like Italy. The fact that it’s so dog-friendly doesn’t hurt either!