Women in Aesthetics: Nicole Chiaramonte

Nicole Chiaramonte is a serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in start-up management. Her CV includes 19 years of management service organization (MSO) ownership and executive management in the legal and medical fields.

Since 2012, she has been focused on the aesthetics industry. As a location owner, partner, private investor, and Founder/CEO of Advanced Medaesthetic Partners, a 28 location platform, there is not much Nicole hasn’t already done in the realm of medical aesthetics.

Nicole holds first-hand buy and sell-side M&A experience having acquired seven aesthetic practices and executed multiple successful businesses. Her newest venture is at the helm of Advanced Medaesthetic Partners (AMP) where she oversees a hand-picked team of industry veterans. AMP is growing rapidly across the US with 28 locations at the time of this writing. 

With all of the movement in aesthetic medicine post-pandemic, we talked to Nicole to find out more about what she sees as the future of the industry and what she is most passionate about.

WL: How did you get your start in the aesthetics field?

Nicole: After more than 16 years leading start-ups and successful MSO model management in the legal space, I had an exit which allowed me to take some time off and focus on family.  After a couple years of diving into new hobbies, parenting and homemaking with the same vigor I bring to start-up environments, I learned about a laser that sounded intriguing and was introduced to a doctor in Beverly Hills who was very successful with the machine.  It seemed like an interesting opportunity and I decided to purchase the machine. A friend who is an Oculoplastic surgeon agreed to be the physician on record and medical director, and we set up an MSO to run it out of his office.  We had one room with one machine, and I kept telling my husband that I was not going to open a medspa; this was just a fun “retirement hobby” and to be honest I think my friends, family and local PTA were happy to see me move that intensity back into the business space.

I ended up buying a second machine within four months and at the end of our first year, decided to move into full-scale medspa services.  From that point, I was hooked. Helping small businesses grow, creating jobs people want, and seeing the confidence in patients after our treatments became addictive; it is a very special and personal space.  Now, 10+ years later I think we are poised to take aesthetics to a whole different level.  But at the end of the day, I love the feel of being an owner and understanding what it means to pour your heart and soul into your business.

Who are some of your mentors throughout your career, and how did they influence your management style today?

Nicole: I had a mentor in the first company for which I worked. Despite my young age, she demanded excellence, maturity, and integrity over all else. She took the time to point out the business decisions the company faced and let me walk the path with her as we made those tough short-term/long-term tradeoffs and grew a company for long-term stability and growth. She also emphasized that to be a woman in business is a superpower or a weakness, determined entirely by my mindset.

As a result, I have seen every sleight of being underestimated as a woman in business not as an offense, but as an obstacle to make me stronger and better; I thrive in the chaos and pain of the start-up, short-term difficulties which lay the foundation for a long-term stable company.

My father is also a life-long mentor and always expected more of me than I thought possible, then let me rise to the occasion. I try to do that with my teams. It is the best and worst part of working for me. I am going to stretch you to your limits to show you what you are capable of. Some break under that; others break through and go farther than they thought possible in their careers.

How do you think your colleagues and team would describe you as a leader?

Nicole: My colleagues and team would describe me as a servant leader with the best of intentions who is heavily invested in the development and happiness of my team.

What advice can you offer women who are rising stars in medical aesthetics?

Nicole: First and foremost, know what your own goals are. Some people are motivated by a high-level work-life balance, and being able to spend their time with their family is the ultimate success for them. Others are driven to grow their business as much as possible and aspire to open five to ten locations. There’s a place in aesthetics for every single one of those people. Define what success is for you and don’t measure it against what you see on Instagram.

What are your pet causes?

Nicole: My pet cause is small business ownership in America. I have been an angel investor for over 20 years—supporting entrepreneurs to develop their businesses and realize their dreams. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our country; they support families, provide jobs, bring communities together, and collectively support charities worldwide.

What quote best describes your philosophy?

Nicole: “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value”—Albert Einstein.