By Albina Suarez-Ojedis
Cosmetic Injector with Healing Touch: Interview with Sanaz Mansourian, NP
“My cosmetic injector is also my therapist,” many of us often say this about our injectors. But imagine hearing, “My Botox injector is also an energy healer.” Sit down with us, as we interview our Nurse Practitioner, Sanaz Mansourian, who is also a certified Reiki Master, Healing Touch Practitioner, Advanced Yoga Nidra Instructor, and certified Energy Medicine Yoga Teacher.
Sanaz, how did you decide to become a Nurse Practitioner in aesthetic medicine?
Before nursing, I worked in the cosmetic industry while finishing my undergrad degree in Biotechnology. I was also very holistically oriented in health, wellness, and nutritional therapies. After receiving my bachelor’s degree I began working as a middle school science teacher and shortly after started teaching the school district’s health promotion and sexual education curriculum which sparked my interest in medicine, ultimately changing the trajectory of my career. I decided to apply to Samuel Merritt University, a local university specializing in healthcare and was fortunate enough to be selected for their Entry Levels Master's Program in Nursing.
Originally, I wanted to go into women’s health because I wanted to work with adolescent and adult women, and eventually open a wellness center specifically for women, supporting them in their health and wellness journeys with traditional and complementary medicine. After receiving my nursing license I began working in outpatient wound care and exploring aesthetic medicine which led to another turning point in my career. I fell in love with aesthetics and knew this would be part of my path. The final shift came during my women’s health rotation in my last year of grad school. I was enjoying this specialty and began seeing a lot of rashes and dermatologic issues as part of these visits. These can be very challenging and often hard to treat, so naturally, I wanted to immerse myself in an environment where I could learn more. I found a wonderful opportunity to precept in dermatology for six months and knew I found my home in medicine with my very first dermatology patient. There was no turning back! The experience changed everything for me and I fell in love with skin health which laid a strong foundation for aesthetics as well.
After receiving my Master’s degree and Nurse Practitioner license I began my career in general and cosmetic dermatology. After 5 years of practice, I started noticing similar complaints from women in their 30s and 40s in my practice. Sudden onset of autoimmune symptoms, rashes that would not go away, hair loss, fatigue, and weight gain in otherwise healthy women, followed by anxiety and depression from lack of a diagnosis, or providers who would not take their concerns seriously, only offering antidepressants. I went through something similar myself so I could empathize with these patients and wanted deeply to find a way to help them. I knew at this point another shift was on the horizon.
I had gone back to work part-time after having my second child when the most unexpected opportunity fell into my lap. I was offered the opportunity to join an integrative and functional medicine practice that also offered aesthetic and regenerative medicine. I knew this was my next step. I began learning about balancing hormones and how to treat adrenal fatigue and the functional approach to medicine. I mean how many women are stressed out, burned out, not able to practice self-care, and living in a body that is begging them to slow down from the effects of stress on their bodies and appearance? Add on the hormonal changes that come with peri-menopause and suddenly all these mystery cases became clear
I became a member of The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) and began my training. I am currently working on my fellowship and board certification with A4M and am excited to share what I learn with my patients to further support them in their wellness. Although dermatology was my first love in medicine, I decided to leave dermatology and focus on anti-aging medicine and aesthetics as I believe this combination offers the most comprehensive approach to skin health, longevity, and aging well. Beauty is looking good AND feeling good from the inside and out. We all age, and to think we can stop that process is a misconception, but knowing that we can focus on aging well, health optimization, and beauty, as we move through this process, is what I am most passionate about. Aesthetics is truly about feeling good, increasing confidence, and matching how we see ourselves externally with how we feel internally.
In your Instagram profile bio, you mention that you’re a Reiki, Yoga Nidra, and Healing Touch, practitioner. Can you tell us a little more about that side of your practice?
I’ve practiced energy medicine for nearly 20 years in one capacity or another. I was first introduced to it when I was 13 years old. My parents enrolled me in a meditation course to help with anxiety. I had knee pain from a softball injury and happened to tell my meditation instructor about it. She asked permission to place her hands over the injured area and then proceeded to lay her hands on my knee. I felt a warm pulsing over the area and felt a sense of calmness come over me. The biggest surprise came the next day when the pain was gone. At 13 years old I didn’t understand the science or theory behind this, but I knew it was special and again something that would be part of my life.
The human body has an energy field, or biofield, just like a magnetic field radiating around a cell phone. You can’t see it but you can become sensitized to it and feel the warmth radiating from it. You can sense changes or irregularities in the field. There are scanning devices now that can map some layers of the biofield. It is about quantum physics. Different things such as environmental toxins, EMF, and stress can affect the energy field, reducing vitality and disrupting the flow of energy throughout the body. Energy flows where thoughts go, so if someone has negative thoughts, fears, or excessive worry, they will wear their bodies out and attract more of what they wish to change in their lives as their thoughts continue putting out that vibration from their field.
Reiki and Healing Touch are two modalities of energy medicine that work on the energy field, electromagnetic centers commonly referred to as chakras, and the meridians or energy channels that run throughout the body as taught in traditional Chinese Medicine. Reiki and Healing Touch sessions energize the physical body and biofield. Just like a nutrient deficiency or physical imbalance can disrupt your overall physical health and well-being, an energy imbalance can do the same in the energy field leading to low energy, dis-ease, feelings of deprivation, anxiety, and depression. Pain and autoimmune diseases can develop from physical injury, toxins, infections, and various other causes, but a heavy and stagnant energy field from thought processes, past traumas, false beliefs, and negative self-talk can also block the flow of energy, diminishing our vitality and ability to move through life with clarity and balance.
Many of us live in a state of “fight or flight” or sympathetic dominance. Energy work, just like meditation, breath work, and self-care practices can bring a sense of balance and shift your nervous system into a state of “rest and restore” or parasympathetic mode. It creates space to become aware of the changes we need to make in our lives to restore balance and heal ourselves with a more optimized flow of life force energy or prana.
This is where Yoga Nidra, another energy modality shines. It is often referred to as yogic sleep. The “I AM” method of Yoga Nidra, a guided meditation takes you into a deep state of relaxation and profound stillness where you create a new relationship with stress-producing thoughts and emotions. One 45-minute session is equivalent to 3 hours of deep, restorative sleep. It is being studied clinically in patients with PTSD, anxiety, and depression with promising results in improving their symptoms and regenerating gray matter in the brain. It reduces pain, and anxiety, and improves mental clarity. It balances the field, because we all know, where your thoughts go, the energy flows, right? The same goes for the body. We want to maintain that flow. Part of being healthy is not just looking good, but it’s feeling good, and being energetically clear and balanced. I love providing this modality of healing in addition to aesthetics and anti-aging practices, as it resonates with my core belief that wellness encompasses the mind, body, and spirit.
Do you find that being an energy medicine practitioner also helps you in your aesthetic practice?
Absolutely! My experience and training in energy medicine allow me to recognize the more subtle aspects and needs of my patients and offer different modalities to further support their self-care, as well as my own. We all have ups and downs in our lives and the growing pains that come with each decade. There have been many occasions where my patients come in and are picking themselves apart when they are going through a difficult time in their lives or under significant stress. Some begin to cry during a procedure as it is the only time in their day they had silence and were able to process and release their emotions and stressors. Other times they may be fearful or overstimulated and need some time to gather their thoughts and communicate their needs. In situations like this, even 5 minutes of energy work can promote relaxation and reduce some of the stress, bringing a sense of calmness and inner peace so that they can approach their decisions with clarity from a more grounded place.
What do you say to aesthetic medicine critics who say Botox and fillers are fake and that we should be embracing our wrinkles and age naturally?
It’s a matter of personal opinion. I don’t think there is a right or wrong. If that is a person’s opinion, I respect that. If somebody wants to naturally enhance their features and soften the changes that come with aging, I respect that as well. On the other hand, if a critic is saying this because they have seen outcomes that do not appeal to them, I would spend some time addressing their fears or concerns, and presenting them with cases demonstrating subtle techniques that produce natural results without altering a person’s natural anatomy while refreshing their appearance. Aesthetic treatments do not have to be trendy or unnatural. Learn as much as you can about your options and choose what feels right for you. There is a multitude of options to enhance the beauty and soften the signs of aging. Aesthetic procedures are clinically safe and effective, and an experienced practitioner will always educate their patient on all the risks and benefits to empower them to making an informed decision they can feel good about. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I will always recommend choosing options that resonate with the client so they can feel confident in their decision to elect aesthetic procedures or age gracefully.
Do you think aesthetic medicine plays a role in empowering women?
Absolutely! Every individual on this planet has their unique beauty. Imagine a field of wildflowers with a variety of colors, shapes, and textures. The beauty is in the collective diversity that brightens up the landscape, adds depth, and brings it to life. If every flower was the same shape, size, and color it would be a neutral landscape that would blend into its surroundings. Aesthetics is about empowering women. It’s about empowering them to embrace their features and proudly stand in their beauty. It is about providing them with a safe space to express their concerns without judgment and presenting them with medically safe and sound options to support their needs and treatment goals. It’s about customizing treatments that are appropriate for them. Aesthetic medicine helps women match their external appearance with the way they feel on the inside, to increase their confidence and sense of well-being. My experience in dermatology truly revealed the reality of aging. We are all going to age, it is a fact of life, so if we can make the process more gentle or glamorous, why not? It’s not always about being sexy. It’s about feeling good in your skin and personal expression. We are living now. Have fun, be happy, don’t overthink things, and do what makes you feel good! A little self-care goes a long way in our chaotic lives. I am honored to support our community of women in this process and empower them to confidently age with aesthetic medicine.
Can you tell us something about what you do for fun, not related to medicine?
I find true joy in exploring the local area with my two young children and experiencing life through their eyes. In my free time, I study pedal harp and get outside for a nice walk or hike to find solitude in nature to recharge. I love taking art and craft classes when I have the time. My happy place is anywhere near the ocean and date nights with my hubby. I also love all kinds of music, karaoke, intuitive movement, and a good book!
Thank you so much, Sanaz. This has been deeply insightful, and we think your patients will appreciate knowing all the incredible talents and passion you bring to the R+H Aesthetic Medicine practice.
My pleasure.
To schedule your Botox, filler, or any other aesthetic treatment with Sanaz, NP, contact us today.
R+H Aesthetic Medicine is the Greater Sacramento area's premier medical spa. Offering Botox, Fillers, Sculptra, Kybella, QWO, IPL photo facial, laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation with Morpheus8, medical grade chemical peels and skin care. You deserve self-care, let us help you look and feel like–The Best You!
By Albina Suarez-Ojedis
Cosmetic Injector with Healing Touch: Interview with Sanaz Mansourian, NP
“My cosmetic injector is also my therapist,” many of us often say this about our injectors. But imagine hearing, “My Botox injector is also an energy healer.” Sit down with us, as we interview our Nurse Practitioner, Sanaz Mansourian, who is also a certified Reiki Master, Healing Touch Practitioner, Advanced Yoga Nidra Instructor, and certified Energy Medicine Yoga Teacher.
Sanaz, how did you decide to become a Nurse Practitioner in aesthetic medicine?
Before nursing, I worked in the cosmetic industry while finishing my undergrad degree in Biotechnology. I was also very holistically oriented in health, wellness, and nutritional therapies. After receiving my bachelor’s degree I began working as a middle school science teacher and shortly after started teaching the school district’s health promotion and sexual education curriculum which sparked my interest in medicine, ultimately changing the trajectory of my career. I decided to apply to Samuel Merritt University, a local university specializing in healthcare and was fortunate enough to be selected for their Entry Levels Master's Program in Nursing.
Originally, I wanted to go into women’s health because I wanted to work with adolescent and adult women, and eventually open a wellness center specifically for women, supporting them in their health and wellness journeys with traditional and complementary medicine. After receiving my nursing license I began working in outpatient wound care and exploring aesthetic medicine which led to another turning point in my career. I fell in love with aesthetics and knew this would be part of my path. The final shift came during my women’s health rotation in my last year of grad school. I was enjoying this specialty and began seeing a lot of rashes and dermatologic issues as part of these visits. These can be very challenging and often hard to treat, so naturally, I wanted to immerse myself in an environment where I could learn more. I found a wonderful opportunity to precept in dermatology for six months and knew I found my home in medicine with my very first dermatology patient. There was no turning back! The experience changed everything for me and I fell in love with skin health which laid a strong foundation for aesthetics as well.
After receiving my Master’s degree and Nurse Practitioner license I began my career in general and cosmetic dermatology. After 5 years of practice, I started noticing similar complaints from women in their 30s and 40s in my practice. Sudden onset of autoimmune symptoms, rashes that would not go away, hair loss, fatigue, and weight gain in otherwise healthy women, followed by anxiety and depression from lack of a diagnosis, or providers who would not take their concerns seriously, only offering antidepressants. I went through something similar myself so I could empathize with these patients and wanted deeply to find a way to help them. I knew at this point another shift was on the horizon.
I had gone back to work part-time after having my second child when the most unexpected opportunity fell into my lap. I was offered the opportunity to join an integrative and functional medicine practice that also offered aesthetic and regenerative medicine. I knew this was my next step. I began learning about balancing hormones and how to treat adrenal fatigue and the functional approach to medicine. I mean how many women are stressed out, burned out, not able to practice self-care, and living in a body that is begging them to slow down from the effects of stress on their bodies and appearance? Add on the hormonal changes that come with peri-menopause and suddenly all these mystery cases became clear
I became a member of The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) and began my training. I am currently working on my fellowship and board certification with A4M and am excited to share what I learn with my patients to further support them in their wellness. Although dermatology was my first love in medicine, I decided to leave dermatology and focus on anti-aging medicine and aesthetics as I believe this combination offers the most comprehensive approach to skin health, longevity, and aging well. Beauty is looking good AND feeling good from the inside and out. We all age, and to think we can stop that process is a misconception, but knowing that we can focus on aging well, health optimization, and beauty, as we move through this process, is what I am most passionate about. Aesthetics is truly about feeling good, increasing confidence, and matching how we see ourselves externally with how we feel internally.
In your Instagram profile bio, you mention that you’re a Reiki, Yoga Nidra, and Healing Touch, practitioner. Can you tell us a little more about that side of your practice?
I’ve practiced energy medicine for nearly 20 years in one capacity or another. I was first introduced to it when I was 13 years old. My parents enrolled me in a meditation course to help with anxiety. I had knee pain from a softball injury and happened to tell my meditation instructor about it. She asked permission to place her hands over the injured area and then proceeded to lay her hands on my knee. I felt a warm pulsing over the area and felt a sense of calmness come over me. The biggest surprise came the next day when the pain was gone. At 13 years old I didn’t understand the science or theory behind this, but I knew it was special and again something that would be part of my life.
The human body has an energy field, or biofield, just like a magnetic field radiating around a cell phone. You can’t see it but you can become sensitized to it and feel the warmth radiating from it. You can sense changes or irregularities in the field. There are scanning devices now that can map some layers of the biofield. It is about quantum physics. Different things such as environmental toxins, EMF, and stress can affect the energy field, reducing vitality and disrupting the flow of energy throughout the body. Energy flows where thoughts go, so if someone has negative thoughts, fears, or excessive worry, they will wear their bodies out and attract more of what they wish to change in their lives as their thoughts continue putting out that vibration from their field.
Reiki and Healing Touch are two modalities of energy medicine that work on the energy field, electromagnetic centers commonly referred to as chakras, and the meridians or energy channels that run throughout the body as taught in traditional Chinese Medicine. Reiki and Healing Touch sessions energize the physical body and biofield. Just like a nutrient deficiency or physical imbalance can disrupt your overall physical health and well-being, an energy imbalance can do the same in the energy field leading to low energy, dis-ease, feelings of deprivation, anxiety, and depression. Pain and autoimmune diseases can develop from physical injury, toxins, infections, and various other causes, but a heavy and stagnant energy field from thought processes, past traumas, false beliefs, and negative self-talk can also block the flow of energy, diminishing our vitality and ability to move through life with clarity and balance.
Many of us live in a state of “fight or flight” or sympathetic dominance. Energy work, just like meditation, breath work, and self-care practices can bring a sense of balance and shift your nervous system into a state of “rest and restore” or parasympathetic mode. It creates space to become aware of the changes we need to make in our lives to restore balance and heal ourselves with a more optimized flow of life force energy or prana.
This is where Yoga Nidra, another energy modality shines. It is often referred to as yogic sleep. The “I AM” method of Yoga Nidra, a guided meditation takes you into a deep state of relaxation and profound stillness where you create a new relationship with stress-producing thoughts and emotions. One 45-minute session is equivalent to 3 hours of deep, restorative sleep. It is being studied clinically in patients with PTSD, anxiety, and depression with promising results in improving their symptoms and regenerating gray matter in the brain. It reduces pain, and anxiety, and improves mental clarity. It balances the field, because we all know, where your thoughts go, the energy flows, right? The same goes for the body. We want to maintain that flow. Part of being healthy is not just looking good, but it’s feeling good, and being energetically clear and balanced. I love providing this modality of healing in addition to aesthetics and anti-aging practices, as it resonates with my core belief that wellness encompasses the mind, body, and spirit.
Do you find that being an energy medicine practitioner also helps you in your aesthetic practice?
Absolutely! My experience and training in energy medicine allow me to recognize the more subtle aspects and needs of my patients and offer different modalities to further support their self-care, as well as my own. We all have ups and downs in our lives and the growing pains that come with each decade. There have been many occasions where my patients come in and are picking themselves apart when they are going through a difficult time in their lives or under significant stress. Some begin to cry during a procedure as it is the only time in their day they had silence and were able to process and release their emotions and stressors. Other times they may be fearful or overstimulated and need some time to gather their thoughts and communicate their needs. In situations like this, even 5 minutes of energy work can promote relaxation and reduce some of the stress, bringing a sense of calmness and inner peace so that they can approach their decisions with clarity from a more grounded place.
What do you say to aesthetic medicine critics who say Botox and fillers are fake and that we should be embracing our wrinkles and age naturally?
It’s a matter of personal opinion. I don’t think there is a right or wrong. If that is a person’s opinion, I respect that. If somebody wants to naturally enhance their features and soften the changes that come with aging, I respect that as well. On the other hand, if a critic is saying this because they have seen outcomes that do not appeal to them, I would spend some time addressing their fears or concerns, and presenting them with cases demonstrating subtle techniques that produce natural results without altering a person’s natural anatomy while refreshing their appearance. Aesthetic treatments do not have to be trendy or unnatural. Learn as much as you can about your options and choose what feels right for you. There is a multitude of options to enhance the beauty and soften the signs of aging. Aesthetic procedures are clinically safe and effective, and an experienced practitioner will always educate their patient on all the risks and benefits to empower them to making an informed decision they can feel good about. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I will always recommend choosing options that resonate with the client so they can feel confident in their decision to elect aesthetic procedures or age gracefully.
Do you think aesthetic medicine plays a role in empowering women?
Absolutely! Every individual on this planet has their unique beauty. Imagine a field of wildflowers with a variety of colors, shapes, and textures. The beauty is in the collective diversity that brightens up the landscape, adds depth, and brings it to life. If every flower was the same shape, size, and color it would be a neutral landscape that would blend into its surroundings. Aesthetics is about empowering women. It’s about empowering them to embrace their features and proudly stand in their beauty. It is about providing them with a safe space to express their concerns without judgment and presenting them with medically safe and sound options to support their needs and treatment goals. It’s about customizing treatments that are appropriate for them. Aesthetic medicine helps women match their external appearance with the way they feel on the inside, to increase their confidence and sense of well-being. My experience in dermatology truly revealed the reality of aging. We are all going to age, it is a fact of life, so if we can make the process more gentle or glamorous, why not? It’s not always about being sexy. It’s about feeling good in your skin and personal expression. We are living now. Have fun, be happy, don’t overthink things, and do what makes you feel good! A little self-care goes a long way in our chaotic lives. I am honored to support our community of women in this process and empower them to confidently age with aesthetic medicine.
Can you tell us something about what you do for fun, not related to medicine?
I find true joy in exploring the local area with my two young children and experiencing life through their eyes. In my free time, I study pedal harp and get outside for a nice walk or hike to find solitude in nature to recharge. I love taking art and craft classes when I have the time. My happy place is anywhere near the ocean and date nights with my hubby. I also love all kinds of music, karaoke, intuitive movement, and a good book!
Thank you so much, Sanaz. This has been deeply insightful, and we think your patients will appreciate knowing all the incredible talents and passion you bring to the R+H Aesthetic Medicine practice.
My pleasure.
To schedule your Botox, filler, or any other aesthetic treatment with Sanaz, NP, contact us today.
R+H Aesthetic Medicine is the Greater Sacramento area's premier medical spa. Offering Botox, Fillers, Sculptra, Kybella, QWO, IPL photo facial, laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation with Morpheus8, medical grade chemical peels and skin care. You deserve self-care, let us help you look and feel like–The Best You!
