Aesthetic Lead

We sat down with Mikailah Geno, BSN, RN, Aesthetic Lead at Cosmetic Skin & Laser Center in Traverse City, to talk about the unique path that led her from cosmetology and critical care nursing into aesthetics, why balance is at the center of every treatment plan she creates, and the collagen analogy she uses with almost every patient. Known for her thoughtful approach, love of education, and ability to blend beauty with medical science, Mikailah believes aesthetics works best when patients understand not just what they’re doing, but why they’re doing it.

Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you live, and what do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I live on the east side of Traverse City between downtown and Elk Rapids with my boyfriend and our dog.

In the summer, you’ll usually find us on the boat or out golfing. During the winter, I’m perfectly happy cozying up by the fireplace, practicing yoga, and enjoying a slower pace of life. Northern Michigan gives us the best of both worlds.

What inspired you to purse a career in aesthetics?
Aesthetics felt like the perfect bridge between beauty and medicine.

Before becoming a nurse, I worked as a licensed cosmetologist and did hair while putting myself through nursing school. After earning my nursing degree, I worked in the cardiac ICU and later in home health.

What I eventually realized was that aesthetics allowed me to combine everything I loved. I could use my medical knowledge while still embracing the artistic and creative side of helping people feel confident.

Have you personally tried any of the treatments you offer? If so, which ones have been your favorites?
I’ve tried quite a few.

For me, Hydrafacial, microneedling, and consistent neuromodulator treatments are my personal holy trinity. They help maintain healthy skin, support collagen production, and keep everything looking refreshed in a very natural way.

I’ve also had lip filler, Sculptra, chin filler, and other treatments, which I think is important because it helps me better understand what patients experience.

What’s your philosophy when it comes to aesthetic treatments?
Balance.

Whether we’re improving symmetry, restoring lost volume, softening muscle movement, improving skin tone, or addressing texture, my goal is always to create balance in a way that looks completely natural.

The best aesthetic work should be undetectable. People should notice that you look great, not that you’ve had something done.

What types of treatments do you love performing the most?
I love variety, which is one of the reasons I enjoy aesthetics so much.

CO2 laser resurfacing is one of my favorite treatments because it truly feels like aging in reverse. I also love Ultherapy, lip filler, neuromodulators, and tattoo removal.

Every day looks different, and I enjoy having a wide variety of tools available to help patients achieve their goals.

How do you incorporate regenerative aesthetics into your treatment plans?
I use an analogy with my patients all the time.

I tell them we’re all born with a bathtub full of collagen. Once we reach our thirties, the drain slowly opens and that collagen starts disappearing over time.

Treatments like PRF, Sculptra, Radiesse, and collagen-stimulating devices are like buckets of water that we’re continually pouring back into the tub.

We can’t stop collagen loss completely, but we can absolutely slow it down and stay ahead of it. That’s why regenerative treatments have become such an important part of modern aesthetic medicine.

What are some of the most common concerns patients come to you with?
One thing I hear often is:

“I wish I would have started sooner.”

Many patients feel like they’re too late or that they’ve missed their opportunity to improve their skin or appearance.

I always remind them that it’s never too late. We simply adjust the treatment plan based on where they are today and where they want to go. That’s why having multiple tools and treatment options is so important.

What’s your favorite combination treatment or treatment plan to create noticeable yet natural transformations?
I focus on what I consider the big three:

• Neuromodulators to soften wrinkles
• Skin rejuvenation treatments to improve texture and pigmentation
• Volume restoration when appropriate

When those three areas are addressed together, patients often achieve the most natural and balanced outcomes.

What’s one of your favorite patient success stories?
Two patients immediately come to mind.

One was a patient with a cleft lip who came in seeking lip filler for balance and support. The treatment wasn’t about adding volume. It was about helping create harmony and confidence.

Another patient had severe staining on her teeth from medication she took as a child. She rarely smiled because she felt self-conscious. Through strategic lip filler placement, we were able to help conceal some of the areas that bothered her most, and she told me she finally felt comfortable smiling again.

Those are the moments that remind me aesthetics can impact far more than appearance alone.

Celebrities and overdone cosmetic work often make clients nervous about treatments. What do you say to assure them that results can still look natural?
I remind patients that aesthetics exists on a spectrum.

The dramatic results people see online are often intentional. Most of my patients are asking for the exact opposite.

At CSLC, we believe in undetectable injectables and honest conversations. We know when enough is enough, and we’re comfortable recommending a different treatment if that’s what will create the best outcome.

That’s one of the reasons trust is so important in aesthetics.

What do you think patients often misunderstand about aesthetics?
Many patients think all aesthetic treatments do the same thing.

They’ll come in asking for Botox to create fuller lips or filler to solve concerns that are actually related to skin quality.

That’s why consultations matter so much. Education helps patients understand what each treatment does and why it’s being recommended.

I want patients to be active participants in their treatment plans, not just passengers along for the ride.

Is there a treatment or technology that has surprised you most with its results?
The Nefertiti Neck Lift.

It’s one of those treatments that can create a surprisingly significant improvement with strategic neuromodulator placement.

By relaxing certain muscles in the lower face and neck, you can create a more lifted appearance throughout the jawline and lower face. The results are often much more impactful than patients expect.

What’s one piece of advice you give every new patient?
Ask questions.

Ask all of them.

I want patients to understand every treatment, every recommendation, every benefit, every limitation, and every downtime consideration. The more informed patients are, the more confident and comfortable they feel throughout the process.

Education creates better outcomes.

How have you seen the field of aesthetics evolve over the last 5 years? 
The shift toward regenerative aesthetics has been tremendous.

Patients are becoming more interested in collagen stimulation, skin health, and long-term anti-aging strategies rather than simply focusing on correction.

People want to look like themselves, just a healthier and more youthful version of themselves.

What do you think the next 5-10 years will look like in aesthetic medicine?
Honestly, that’s part of what makes this industry so exciting.

The field evolves constantly. New technologies, techniques, and treatment philosophies emerge every year. While some staples will always remain, I think we’ll continue seeing innovations that make treatments more effective, more comfortable, and more natural-looking.

What does confidence mean to you?
Confidence means being comfortable with who you are.

It’s understanding that you’re not perfect, that you’re still growing and learning, but being genuinely happy with the person you’re presenting to the world.

Aesthetics can play a role in that, but true confidence comes from feeling aligned with yourself, both inside and out.

What’s a beauty myth you love busting?
That once you start Botox, you have to do it forever.

Patients tell me that all the time.

The truth is that Botox is a temporary treatment. You don’t have to continue it. Most people simply choose to because they enjoy the results.

There’s a big difference between “have to” and “want to.”

What’s a skincare product you can’t live without?
SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic.

I always have multiple bottles on hand because I never want to run out. It’s one of those products that consistently earns its place in my routine.

What’s your coffee order?
A classic latte.

No syrups. No extras. Just simple and good.

And your dream destination for rest and recharge?
An African safari.

That’s currently at the top of my travel bucket list.