Aesthetic & Regenerative PCP

We sat down with Sydney Steger, PA-C to talk about her transition from family medicine to aesthetics and regenerative care, why she loves helping patients feel more confident in their own skin, and what excites her most about helping patients look and feel their best in Northern Michigan.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you enjoy outside of work?
I live just outside Traverse City in the Long Lake and Lake Ann area. I moved to Northern Michigan about three years ago after growing up in Clarkston, and I quickly fell in love with everything this area has to offer.

Outside of work, I spend as much time outdoors as possible. I enjoy hiking, boating, walking, and spending time with friends and family. I also love reading, baking, and exploring Northern Michigan with my black Labrador retriever, Jim, who joins me on most of my walks and outdoor adventures.

What inspired you to pursue a career in aesthetics?
Before joining Cosmetic Skin & Laser Center, I worked in family medicine. While I loved many aspects of primary care, I found myself missing the hands-on procedural side of medicine.

Aesthetics allows me to combine medical knowledge, procedural skills, creativity, and artistry in a way that is incredibly rewarding. I still get to use my clinical background every day, whether I’m evaluating a patient, creating a treatment plan, or helping someone improve their overall wellness. The difference is that I now get to focus on helping people feel their best, both inside and out.

I love that aesthetics and regenerative medicine allow me to help patients enhance their natural beauty, improve their confidence, and take a more proactive approach to their long-term health and wellness.

Have you personally tried any of the treatments you offer?
Absolutely. I think it’s important to understand treatments from the patient perspective.

I’ve received neuromodulators, including Dysport and Daxxify, and recently tried Daxxify for the first time. I’ve also had microneedling, which made a noticeable difference in my skin texture, and laser hair removal, which I genuinely consider life-changing.

Experiencing treatments myself helps me better educate patients and understand what they’re feeling throughout the process.

What types of treatments do you enjoy performing most?
I love performing neuromodulator treatments because they’re effective, approachable, and often serve as a patient’s introduction to aesthetics.

I also enjoy microneedling, PRF under-eye treatments, and PRF hair restoration. PRF is especially fascinating because it harnesses the body’s own regenerative potential to improve skin quality and support hair growth naturally.

Watching patients achieve results through treatments that stimulate the body’s own healing and rejuvenation processes is incredibly rewarding.

What are some of the most common concerns patients come to you with?
Many patients are concerned about skin texture, acne scarring, fine lines, wrinkles, and signs of aging. Others are looking for ways to improve their overall vitality, energy, or wellness.

No matter what brings someone through the door, most patients ultimately want to feel healthier, more confident, and more comfortable in their own skin.

What’s your favorite combination treatment plan for natural-looking results?
For patients who are new to aesthetics, I often recommend a combination of neuromodulators, strategic filler when appropriate, and skin rejuvenation treatments such as microneedling.

Injectables can provide visible improvement and immediate confidence, while treatments like microneedling help improve skin quality, texture, and collagen production over time. Together, they create balanced, natural-looking results that continue to improve.

Celebrities and bad plastic surgery often make people nervous about treatments. What do you tell patients?
I remind patients that the results they notice most are usually the exception, not the rule.

Many people assume they can always tell when someone has had aesthetic treatments, but that’s simply not true. The best aesthetic work often goes unnoticed because it looks natural and harmonious.

Every treatment can be customized based on a patient’s goals, anatomy, and comfort level. Just because someone else’s result looks overdone doesn’t mean yours has to.

What do patients often misunderstand about aesthetics?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that all Botox, filler, or aesthetic treatments create the same look.

Patients often assume that filler automatically means oversized lips or exaggerated features, when in reality treatment outcomes depend on anatomy, product selection, placement, and the amount used. Thoughtful, conservative treatment can create subtle improvements that simply help patients look refreshed.

What makes CSLC different from other practices and med spas?
One of the things I appreciate most about CSLC is the collaborative, supportive culture. Everyone is invested in helping one another grow and succeed.

I also love that we focus on both aesthetics and regenerative medicine. Rather than simply treating concerns after they arise, we’re helping patients improve their health, wellness, confidence, and quality of life in a proactive way.

There are still many gaps in traditional medicine when it comes to hormone health, wellness optimization, and preventative care. I love being part of a team that helps patients feel heard and offers solutions that can truly improve how they feel every day.

What’s your dream destination for rest and recharge?
If we’re talking about a place I already love, it’s my family cabin. That’s my favorite place to disconnect, relax, and spend time with the people I care about.

If I had to pick a destination, though, I’d choose Colorado. I love hiking, exploring the mountains, attending concerts, and spending time outdoors. It’s always the perfect reset for me.