(Today’s article is written by guest writer Heather Ryerson.)
According to the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, “Aesthetic Medicine comprises all medical procedures that are aimed at improving the physical appearance and satisfaction of the patient, using non-invasive to minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.” Elective medical procedures such as fillers, Botox, weight loss injectables and the like are gaining in popularity worldwide. The global medical aesthetic market is projected to reach USD 53 Billion.
Smiley Aesthetics is one woman’s answer to this booming market in Knoxville.
Mary Smiley Ford grew up in Nashville and moved to Knoxville after receiving her bachelor’s in nursing to pursue her Master’s degree in Nurse Anesthesiology at University of Tennessee. She married a local fella, who happens to own one of my family’s favorite eateries in downtown, Sweet P’s BBQ. They now have 2 little boys of their own. Mary has been a CRNA since 2016 but has been in the nursing/medical field for 11 years. After an injury and working through some personal struggles, Mary decided to take a break from anesthesiology and began working at a local med spa doing injectables.
Through her experience and training there, she found a passion for something new and reached out to her twin sister, Carla Smiley Pierson, to pitch an idea for their own business. Carla has an MBA and a Doctor of Nursing, practicing in Nashville. Together the two launched Smiley Aesthetics as a mobile/in-home provider in Feb. of 2022.
Mary provided services here in Knoxville and Carla provided services in Nashville. Seeing the success of the business, they began to explore ways to expand. This led to their 3rd partner, attorney Courtney Walker, in June of 2022. With a solid business plan designed and medical directors signed on as per TN state law, Mary opened the brick-and-mortar offices in Knoxville and Nashville later that summer.
Mary believes strongly in education, quality training, and safety in aesthetics. The website emphasizes:
Mary is an experienced and accredited aesthetic injectables trainer and educator with certifications from Allergan, International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine, American Medical Educators Training, and American Academy of Facial Esthetics. She has also received private training with Dr. Steve Weiner on ultrasound guided injections, Julie Horne’s masterclass on Advanced lip injections, and others. Here own trainings are accredited by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and Boards of Nursing. She is also an accredited speaker and is a current speaker for the 2022 CRNA Entrepreneur Mastermind Summit and for the Indiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
Through Mary’s education, the training, and the accredited certification Smiley Aesthetics provides, she has trained hundreds of medical providers from all over the country. Some choose to start their own business separate from Smiley Aesthetics, and some choose to pursue becoming a 1099 contract employee and open storefronts of their own while some stay mobile.
Smiley Aesthetics specializes in industry leading injectables, weight loss, and health and wellness. They have a passion for helping everyone enhance their natural beauty on the outside as well as improving health and wellbeing from the inside. This may come in the form of Botox, B12 injections, microneedling or fillers. They also have health and wellness products, collagen elixirs and more options to enhance many aspects of health and beauty. Mary offers free consultations and wants everyone who comes in to be comfortable and satisfied whether they choose to have a procedure or want to get more information.
Mary is taking new appointments at her downtown location at 525 Union Ave. She believes her safety record, compliance with industry standards, extensive training and the education she continues to pursue sets her apart from others in the young field of Botox and injectables. She offers patient appointments 2 days a week and training for medical professionals 2 days a week. You can find more information on the training offered on their website or reach out by email or phone to arrange a consultation to “own your beauty from the inside out.”
Phone: 1-615-319-4878
Email: mary@smileyaesthetics.com
If you are interested a mobile appointment, you can find providers trained by Mary on their website.
Shortly after our interview, Mary and Carla announced that they were chosen for the next season of “The Blox,” a TV show, created by MTV’s Wes Bergmann, that focuses on entrepreneurs. Over a weeklong competition, they receive entrepreneurship education while being surrounded 24/7 with other business owners sharing ideas and gives them promotional tools to use to continue the growth. You can view previous seasons and soon, watch this season on their free app.
Follow their social media here and here for specials and announcements.