Photo Credit: Mindy Briar
This week’s Meet a Mom interview is with Melissa Pulcini-Buttine, PA-C, owner of ELIVATE Med Spa in Old Greenwich. September is National Skincare Awareness Month, so it’s the perfect time to share our chat with this New Canaan mom of three. ELIVATE will be hosting a community event on September 30th—visit their Old Greenwich office between 10 am and 1 pm, or 3 pm and 7 pm, for drinks and light bites, shopping, special offers and to learn more about this local business! In the meantime, read below to get to know Melissa and ELIVATE!
Can you please tell us a bit about yourself and your family?
I am a mom to three very busy kids – Jack (16), Brad (14) and Bella (12). We’ve lived in New Canaan for five years and before that we lived in Rowayton. I grew up in Westchester but always loved this area of Connecticut and knew I would raise a family here.
Why did you choose to base your business here?
I wanted to open ELIVATE Med Spa in Greenwich because it’s synonymous with my business in that it’s the best of both worlds— a mix of a fast-paced lifestyle with a laid back vibe. It’s also close enough to the city to service my NYC clients, but also my friends and family throughout Westchester and Connecticut.
Can you tell us about Elivate Med Spa?
ELIVATE is a boutique aesthetic medicine and wellness practice that specializes in treatments and experiences that make you feel, look and “LIV” your best self. Our services range from Health & Wellness treatments, like custom IV drip therapy and booster shots, to Aesthetic & Beauty treatments like facials and the latest injectables, as well as Body treatments including Accufit, which is muscle activation technology. I always want to be cutting edge and have the latest innovations, but I only provide services that I’ve thoroughly vetted, which I know will provide meaningful results.
Photo Credit: Mindy Briar
How did you become interested in this field?
Health and the science of how our bodies optimally work has always been a passion of mine. I was a Community Health major in college before working for a surgeon on Fifth Avenue and then pursuing a Master’s in Health Sciences to become a board-certified Physician Assistant and certified Nutrition Specialist. I’ve spent the last two decades mastering in-patient medical services and non-invasive aesthetic procedures including custom IV vitamin therapy, laser treatments, anti-aging modalities and injectables, among other services. I also teach as a professor of Anatomy & Physiology at Sacred Heart University.
How does your medical background impact your work?
I knew from the beginning I wanted to specialize in preventative care. That’s really a focus on proactively making people happy aesthetically and nutritionally when they aren’t sick. I have the luxury of listening to what my patients are trying to achieve, and developing the most efficient and effective roadmap for them to get there.
The foundation of my business is to help change people’s lives in both big and small ways. It’s so rewarding that every day at ELIVATE, I get to help people who want to improve their health, their looks and/or their longevity. The icing on the cake is being a professor and getting to teach that same philosophy to the next generation of medical professionals and entrepreneurs.
What newer service are you most excited about?
Accufit is a new comprehensive muscle activation system that enables patients to rapidly engage muscle groups not usually targeted by their typical workouts. But it also allows you to focus on specific areas where you want to see results, like upper or lower abs, which are in high demand right now going into bathing suit season. One newer treatment I have used on myself, my mother and all my closest friends is Vivace, which combines microneedling and radiofrequency to alleviate fine lines and wrinkles, tighten skin and minimizes pore size with immediate results, no pain and minimal downtime. You can’t ask for much more than that! And the best treatment I have seen in a long time for my male clients is Keralase, which is a laser treatment that promotes new hair growth – it’s actually shocking how far technology has come with this treatment for hair loss. And, while it’s not new, IV vitamin therapy remains incredibly popular for both my male and female clients of all ages because it’s incredibly effective.
How do you handle the life/work juggle with kids?
Anyone who says there is such a thing as “work-life balance” is a luckier woman than I am! But the truth is, I get so much satisfaction from showing my kids the benefits of working hard, taking smart risks, and pursuing a purpose in life. The best “working mom” advice I can give to others is to accept help when it’s offered. I am blessed to have a supportive network of friends and family who are as committed to my success as I am. It’s not always easy, but I believe it’s important to show our kids everything we can accomplish if we focus our efforts, and always show gratitude for those that support us.
What’s the thing you hear most often from clients?
Sometimes people misunderstand this line of work and assume it’s all about vanity. The truth is, it’s about confidence. Hearing about new found confidence from my clients is the thing I love to hear the most and, fortunately, what I hear the most often. Just this week I got a voicemail from a client about how her life has changed since we started working together. It’s easy to underestimate, but when people feel better and look better, everything about their outlook on life changes.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I firmly believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and each person’s definition of feeling and looking good is different. When someone isn’t sure what they want and asks for advice on services, I consider what my sister and mother would want and give them multiple options to consider. It’s not my job to persuade people to think of beauty the same way that I do, or insist that there is one ideal look that should work for all my patients. It’s my job to listen and then provide solutions that help people achieve their personal goals.
This story is sponsored by ELIVATE.
Visit ELIVATE at 1455 E. Putnam in Old Greenwich; call (203) 990-3700 or email [email protected] for an appointment. Follow ELIVATE on Instagram @elivatemedspa for more!
