Nicola Lowrey, PA-C

Above: L to R, back: Ashley Lundy, Cambria Hunter, Diana Rand, Hilary Moore; front: Nicola Lowrey, Emmalee Hershberger, Amanda Trutanich, Natasha Dutko

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N2 Aesthetics offers skin care, injectables such as Botox and fillers, and regenerative treatments such as microneedling and PRF. The business was founded by Nicola Lowrey, who has practiced medicine for 19 years. She spent many years working in emergency medicine after graduating from Keck School of Medicine of USC. In 2004 she became certified as a cosmetic injector and split her time working in both specialties. Five years ago Nicola started her journey as a clinical educator in the aesthetics industry and retired from the emergency room. She opened N2 Aesthetics early this year and celebrated with an official grand opening in Manhattan Beach in June.

What is the #1 thing you do to ensure your business is successful?

It’s all about the team. No business can be successful if there isn’t a team of people working in concert toward that common goal. I have hired some of the most talented, intelligent, sophisticated and experienced injectors. We spent months together training on all of my signature techniques so I could ensure that each provider is offering the same level of care to our patients.

I have learned that creating success is creating a reproducible model where the experience you provide is always at a level that is expected. This doesn’t happen often in aesthetics. Outcomes often vary greatly from provider to provider. It takes time invested in the consistent education of your providers, and I offer this to our amazing team. Whether you see Diana, Ashely, Cambria or me, you can trust that your results will be natural, consistent, safe and beautiful.

Tell us something our readers may not know about you.

I am a big health nut. I love to run. I live for delicious, healthy food. I truly believe that youth and beauty start from the inside out. Nutrition. Exercise. Restorative sleep. These are passions of mine and have been since I was in my early 20s. My undergrad degree was in exercise science, and it laid a strong foundation for my lifestyle choices. I think it’s one of the reasons I love living in the South Bay. We are all aligned with our lifestyle and health choices—it makes it easy to maintain.

Why did you go into aesthetics?

I have always been artistic. I was a ballerina growing up. I am a Libra and eternally attracted to beauty. Somehow I was able to mesh my love of science, anatomy and beauty and turn it into a career with many facets of complex yet fulfilling opportunities!

How does social media impact your business?

As a medical provider, never in a million years could I have guessed what social media could do for my practice. Four years ago I was hesitant to start marketing myself on Instagram. Now, 78,000 followers later and with more patients on my waitlist than I could ever imagine, I realize the magnitude of what social media platforms can do.

Who is your role model?

One of my greatest role models and mentors is our medical director, Dr. Steve Yoelin. I met Steve over 12 years ago. He was one of the first and most impactful educators in my career and one of the kindest, most generous humans I had ever met. He was once my teacher, and now we often share the stage and present together! I am so grateful and feel so blessed to be able to partner with him now at N2 Aesthetics.

Describe your leadership style. 

It’s funny—I have a hard time identifying as a “leader,” even though I am often told that I am one. I feel like I am still learning every day what it means to lead well. Heck, I am still learning after 15 years how to be a better parent! But I think it’s important that we continually work at it. I value honesty, vulnerability and hard work. The best leaders lead by example, and I hope that how I am choosing to live my life both professionally and personally helps my team evolve as individuals and collectively. 

What role does your family play in your career?

My husband is a huge part of my career. Not only is he my #1 cheerleader (OK, my mom would say she’s #1), but he runs the business side of N2 Aesthetics. There is no one I trust more in this world, and I’m so lucky to do this with him. It’s no longer my goal, it’s our goal!

What advice do you give your kids?

Giving advice to kids doesn’t work. Believe me, I have two teenage boys! I hope my kids see how hard I work and how much I love what I do, and that this sets an example for them. I hope they can appreciate that achieving your dreams comes from a deep passion, major grit and a willingness to work hard for what you want.

How do you balance work and play?

This is the eternal struggle. I need balance. I don’t perform well in any of my roles in life without it. But opening a business and having a very busy career will tend to squash this. It’s been a challenging couple of years, but I am realizing it is all for nothing if I don’t take care of myself. I am scheduling it in. I am making it a priority. It is just as important as anything else. That’s it! Non-negotiable.

Tell us your favorite quote.

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”   — Theodore Roosevelt