In an industry filled with quick fixes and sketchy promises, aesthetician Stephanie McChesney is an authentic, ethical voice. With more than three decades of experience, she has earned a reputation that attracts clients from all walks of life, including locals and celebrities, who seek her gentle wisdom and remarkable results. What sets McChesney apart is her firm belief that most people who think they need plastic surgery don’t need it to get the results they want.
This philosophy forms the cornerstone of Skin by Stephanie, McChesney’s medical aesthetic clinic, which offers individualized skincare programs that prioritize noninvasive solutions over surgical interventions. First and foremost, McChesney considers her work a calling, something she discovered while doing pre- and post-operative work with cosmetic surgery patients in Charleston in the 1990s.
She realized that many patients could have achieved similar or better results through noninvasive methods, so she and her husband relocated to Miami to study with experts. Her talent eventually led her to become head aesthetician at the prestigious Doral Saturnia Spa, where she worked with celebrities who sought alternatives to surgery.
McChesney takes a thoughtful, holistic approach to each client. Before recommending treatments, she considers their lifestyle, work, recreation habits and personal goals. This comprehensive perspective allows her to develop customized solutions for common skincare challenges, including aging and acne.
Known for her compassionate approach and faith-based values, McChesney’s first order of business is to educate her clients so they can make their own decisions about the inundation of marketing campaigns that mislead or overpromise on expensive treatments and procedures. “People are vulnerable when they feel like they don’t look their best, so they do things they don’t need to,” she says. “They know what they want to look like, but they’re being misled about how to get there; 50% of results depend on the active ingredients and 50% is the treatment approach.”
Concerned about the industry’s misleading marketing and potentially harmful products, McChesney developed her skincare line, Science Ceuticals. These products offer effective age-defying treatments while adhering to the highest standards. They are vegan and not tested on animals, and they are free from fragrances, parabens, gluten and GMOs. McChesney knows the exact source of every ingredient in her products.
“I tell my first-time clients, ‘You do need to use quality skincare products, but you won’t be spending $100K getting a facelift,’” she says. “Understanding products is very important. For example, peptides are the alternatives to surgery, and all of ours come from France. If you’re not using peptides, it’s not the alternative.”
Peptides are short-chain amino acids that can be combined to work magic on the skin, including firming, accelerating healing and reducing fine lines. McChesney’s line features advanced ingredients like Uplevity, an antigravity tetrapeptide (a combination of four peptides), that enhances natural elements, maintaining collagen and elastin fibers.
“People hear about me from a friend or family and come to me because they’re tired of spending thousands of dollars or getting sucked into marketing that doesn’t produce results,” McChesney says. “My clients and their families have access to me 24-7. I advise on everything from SPF clothing to the ingredients in the products you and your family use.”
Some of McChesney’s clients fly in from around the globe, but many are locals who are effusive in their praise. After struggling with uneven, sensitive skin and cystic adult acne, Mary Lang followed McChesney’s prescribed routines for just 35 days with remarkable results. “I was just carded by my optometrist, and I will be 50 next year,” she says.
Debra Koch, 65, sought McChesney’s help to age gracefully without Botox, fillers or surgery. She experienced such excellent results that her daughter has also become a client. Caroline Hash started going to McChesney to see if she could rejuvenate her tired-looking skin. She tried numerous skincare products and procedures but wasn’t pleased with the results. “After a few sessions with Stephanie and incorporating her clean and natural Science Ceuticals skincare products into my daily routine, I started noticing a difference in my appearance. My skin now looks brighter, healthier and more radiant,” she says.
Today, McChesney continues to revolutionize the skincare industry with her personalized approach and unwavering commitment to natural solutions. As her waitlist grows and testimonials pour in, she remains grounded in her mission: empowering clients with knowledge while delivering transformative results without surgical intervention. *
Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.
Full article can be seen online at Charleston Style & Design.
