Contributor
A new clinic on Belmont Street combines the feeling of a spa with that of a dermatology office, providing patrons with a spot for all their dermatologic needs.
Renascence is for “anyone who wants to look like a refreshed, more youthful version of themselves,” according to owner Katie O’Brien a nurse practitioner with 16 years of medical dermatology experience.
“I take a conservative approach, and my patients never look like they had something done,” she said, adding that Renascence is also for:
- Younger people who might want to start taking better care of their skin and preventing signs of aging on their skin
- Anyone who has a medical problem with their skin and “doesn’t want to wait an eternity to be seen”
- People who may not be interested in injectable procedures but still want to maintain or improve their skin
- People who are experiencing any type of hair loss
“Hair loss has been my top area of interest throughout my career,” O’Brien said. “I love to help people with this complex problem.”
O’Brien thoroughly assesses each client before recommending a treatment plan tailored to their needs and budget.
Working with a medical aesthetician who has more than 30 years of experience, O’Brien will offer cosmetic treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers, Hydrafacials, chemical peels, collagen induction therapy, removal of skin tags and other benign skin lesions, and, in the future, laser treatments.
She’ll also evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients for a variety of skin conditions, such as acne, rosacea, cysts, warts, and hair loss. She can also perform body skin exams to screen for skin cancer. While Brouillard is able to perform skin biopsies and treat certain types of skin cancers, “if a patient needs more extensive surgery for a skin cancer, they will be referred to the appropriate surgeon.”
“I come from a medical family, and I love caring for people and having such an impact on [the] lives of others,” O’Brien said in response to what led her to dermatology. “I love how the skin is a window into the human body. So much of what is going on inside the body can be detected on the skin.”
O’Brien said she also found cosmetic procedures like Botox and fillers to be “really fun and interesting.”
“I was trying to figure out what I would do after graduating and wasn’t sure if I could convince a dermatologist to hire me and train me directly out of school,” she recalled.
O’Brien decided to apply for a competitive fellowship at Lahey Clinic, which is affiliated with Harvard Medical School’s dermatology residency program. “That was a pivotal moment for my career.”
Renascence Aesthetic Dermatology will be open Monday through Friday and some Saturdays. Appointments can be made online, by phone, or in person. The practice doesn’t accept insurance. Brouillard said one can expect to get an appointment within two weeks as opposed to the typical dermatology office, such as where she worked previously, where new patients had to wait about four months. O’Brien does not treat children under 12.
O’Brien said customers “can expect to walk into a clean, gorgeously decorated, cozy waiting area, where you will be checked in and offered a beverage” such as sparkling water or cucumber water.
She chose Belmont in part because she’s a resident.
“I [wanted to] serve my local community, do what I love, and be close to home,” she said, noting she has a young child in Belmont schools. “I am looking forward to engaging with the local community and developing relationships with my new patients.”
The grand opening at 293 Belmont St. will take place Thursday, Aug. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. and will include a raffle, procedure demonstrations, and special offers. More details about the opening and other clinic updates can be found at renascencema.com or by following Brouillard on Instagram at boston.derm.np.
