Q: At what age did you decide to dedicate your future career to the world of aesthetic medicine?
SS: At 16, I was in a serious car accident that left me with multiple facial injuries and years of reconstructive procedures ahead of me. Seeing firsthand what skilled medical care could do - that’s what inspired me to pursue medicine. 

I spent 5 years in emergency medicine. It’s a high-pressure environment, and at some point, I started to look for something different. That's when I discovered injectables — and honestly, it felt like the piece I didn't know was missing. It was the perfect mix of artistry and medicine. 

Q: Five years in Emergency Medicine must have been intense! How does this experience influence the way you handle aesthetic procedures today?
SS: Emergency medicine shaped me in ways I couldn't have anticipated. Working in the ED, you develop precision and calm under pressure that very few other environments can replicate. I performed thousands of procedures there, and that's where I discovered I was good and fast with my hands. Those skills transferred directly into injectables.

I approach every treatment with the same structured mindset: assess the full picture first, understand what the patient actually needs versus what they think they want, and execute with confidence. Emergency medicine also taught me what it means to treat someone in a truly vulnerable moment, and that never left me. My patients aren't in crisis, but they're trusting me with how they look and feel about themselves. I don't take that lightly.

Q: You named your medspa "The Aesthetic Method." What's the story behind the name?
SS: The word 'method' was intentional. I knew I wanted to take a deliberate, structured approach to helping each patient reach their personal aesthetic goals. I wanted there to be a method behind every treatment. And that's what we do. We look at the whole picture, understand the root causes behind each concern, and only suggest what our patients truly need. 

Q: You're advocating for a 'holistic approach' to aesthetics treatments. Could you explain what it means in practice for your patients?
SS: When a patient sits in my chair and says, 'I want lip filler,' I don't just look at their lips. I look at their entire face, temples, midface, jawline, chin, the relationship between every feature. Because often, what makes someone look tired or older has nothing to do with their lips. If I only address what the patient points to, I'm not giving them the best result. The goal is that when people see our clients, they can't quite put their finger on why they look so good — they just know they do. You will never walk out of The Aesthetic Method looking overdone or unnatural.

Q: You founded your medspa back in 2019. Did you start as a one-woman operation, or did you have a team by your side from day one?
SS: I started very small. In the beginning, it was mostly me. I knew what I was good at, I knew the kind of care I wanted to deliver, and I focused on doing that exceptionally well before anything else. The team grew organically from there. Seven years later, we have a dream team of ten, and I am more proud of that team than anything else we've built. But it didn't happen overnight, and it wasn't supposed to.

Q: Managing a growing business and a 'dream team' of 10 is a significant undertaking. Do you still find time to work directly with patients as an aesthetic specialist?
SS: Absolutely. Staying hands-on keeps me grounded and keeps me sharp. It also keeps me connected to the reason I built this in the first place: those patient relationships.

Q: Appearance plays such a big role in confidence. Do you have a favorite patient story where your work truly boosted their self-esteem? 
SS: There are so many that it’s hard to pick up a favorite… Just a random one that came up quickly to my mind. A patient who came in feeling like she had lost herself after having children — volume loss, hollowness under her eyes, just wanting to feel like herself again. We started with Jeuveau, then followed up with filler across her midcheeks, tear troughs, chin and lips. She was so pleased with her results and so happy she did something for herself.

Q: You've mentioned that giving back to the community is a core value for your medspa. Which local Detroit initiatives are you most passionate about supporting?
SS: Giving back to our community is deeply important to us, and we’re proud to support several local initiatives that reflect our core values of inclusivity, compassion, and empowerment.

Each year, we sponsor Ferndale Pride—the largest Pride celebration in Michigan—which is especially meaningful to us because inclusivity has always been at the heart of our practice. We’re also passionate about supporting animal welfare. Through our “Wag Wednesdays” program, we feature adoptable dogs and help raise awareness, and on Giving Tuesday, we host an annual fundraiser for Detroit Dog Rescue, matching donations to increase our impact.

In addition, we host an annual International Women’s Day event to celebrate and uplift local women-owned businesses, creating space to recognize the incredible entrepreneurs who strengthen our community. Supporting these initiatives allows us to stay connected to Detroit in a meaningful way and give back to the people—and pets—who make this city so special.

Q: As a small business owner and a mother of two, what advice would you give to women striving to find balance between work and family life?
SS: It ultimately comes down to your team. You cannot do it all alone and trying to will break you. When you trust the people around you, you can actually be present at home without guilt. Our society tells us we can’t have it all, but I strongly disagree and try to prove them wrong every day. Women can have it all, and they deserve to.

Q: If you could identify a current trend in aesthetic medicine, how do you see patients' goals and expectations evolving in 2026?
SS: Of course, we continue to see our patients aim for very subtle changes. Just looking like the best, most rested version of themselves. And more recently, younger patients are coming in earlier, thinking about prevention rather than correction.

Another trend we will see more of in 2026 is more regenerative medicine and ways to age from the inside out. 

Six Things About Stephanie Stewart

1. Your favorite thing about Ferndale?
I love how inclusive and small business oriented it is. Everyone belongs here if you support one another. 

2. What is your favorite spot in the Detroit area to grab a coffee or a meal with your family?
My favorite place to go on a date night with my husband is SheWolf, best food in the city. We are also addicts of Redhook Coffee and thank goodness there are multiple locations. In terms of where I would take my kids in the Detroit area, let’s just say there is no safe place for a crazy toddler ;) 

3. Your Daily Ritual: Between running a premier medspa and being a mom of two, what is the one non-negotiable "me-time" ritual that keeps you grounded?
I love working out at a local gym that focuses on pre- and post-natal wellness. I also love what I call “moving product” on Facebook Marketplace. I love to sell things we don’t need and find hidden gems. It’s also a great way to reduce waste and my ode to saving the planet. 

4. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one professional-grade skincare product, what would it be?
Alastin Hydratint. I used to think being stranded on a desert island would be awful, now that thought of some quiet time alone sounds amazing. Moms- you know what I’m talking about

5. Your favorite aesthetic treatment to perform?
A full face of toxin, biostimulators and some filler to correct volume loss. However, this would not be in one visit. Instead, we would come up with a long-term maintenance plan. I love it when patients trust the whole long game. 

6. Your favorite aesthetic treatment to receive?
Sculptra has been a game changer for me. The results take time, but they are the thing that people ask the most about… “you look so good, but I don’t know what you did.”