Community Highlights: Meet Dr. Alexandra Mayer of Ethos Integrative Medicine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Alexandra Mayer.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
From as long as I can remember, I had always been immersed in the health and aesthetics world. My aunt, one of my biggest role models, was very into health and wellness, and owned a high end spa based in Canada. She introduced me to quality skin care products and techniques, and showed me how to best care for my skin. My love for healthy, glowing skin and all things aesthetics stem from these personal experiences growing up, and inspired me to pursue naturopathic medicine in the aesthetics world!

In 2010, I graduated from the University of Western Ontario, Canada with an undergraduate degree in Honors Health Sciences, and I received my Naturopathic Medical Degree from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2014. In 2015, my vision of having my own practice turned into a reality; I co-founded Ethos Integrative Medicine with (my now husband) Dr. Matthew Hernandez. We founded Ethos because we wanted to bring patients quality, integrative care that balances immediate improvement with long term results. To this day, I strive to get my patients feeling great in their skin and great in their overall health.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There was certainly a learning curve to get to where we are today. We definitely came from humble beginnings as we didn’t know ANYTHING about being business owners. They don’t teach you that in med school. Matt and I read a decent stack of business and marketing books – even learning to network and put ourselves out there was a challenge. Then we made it out into the real world and had to figure out how to apply all the knowledge we absorbed from our business books.

Naturally, it was slow to get our practice up and running. A typical day started with teaching in the morning, networking at lunch (or seeing a few patients if we were lucky), then teaching night school. Matt also drove for Amazon at night. At one point, my student visa expired so I could no longer teach, but simultaneously my practice was growing so I focused my energy towards building it up and fostering those relationships with my patients. Matt continued to teach and work on the side until we were at a point where our practice was gaining enough traction for us to focus our whole energies on Ethos.

In 2019, we started a skin care and massage studio called Bodisense. The spa world is something I’ve always been very passionate about, and it was a dream of mine to potentially own a spa one day. It was a risk we took (having never owned a massage studio), and of course, 2020 came with a whole challenge that nobody was expecting: a pandemic. We learned a LOT about staffing challenges, and with the massage industry being shut down in quarantine longer than other businesses or services, we ultimately had to make the choice where to focus our energy and resources. Ethos and our patients are #1 and have always been, so we decided to close the door on Bodisense and prioritize Ethos and our patients.

During different phases in our business, there have been different challenges. But I see it as a chance to learn, grow, and become equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and wisdom to conquer new challenges that arise.

I love being a doctor and doing what I do, but more than that I love growing, nurturing, and running a business. I love that we created Ethos from scratch and built something that’s authentically ours. It’s fulfilling to see my exact vision turn into a reality and it’s great to know that I can not only provide my patients with the best care, but can also support the amazing team we have.

I am proud of how much Ethos has grown since we started our practice in 2015. We’ve created a welcoming office atmosphere and great community of patients, and have such a wonderful, dedicated team of doctors and support staff who genuinely enjoy building relationships with patients and help our office run as smoothly as possible. Our goal for Ethos is to continue our legacy of delivering quality, integrative care as we expand at our new office space.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
What do you do/ What do you specialize in? I am a Naturopathic Physician with a specialty in Medical Aesthetics and Women’s Hormones, and I am the co-owner of Ethos Integrative Medicine.

A lot of clinics are a one-trick pony, one-stop filler shop. Injectable treatments can be a great option for a lot of patients, but at Ethos, we are all about assessing the various factors that play a role in a patient’s skincare and health, and creating an integrative treatment plan that gets patients feeling great in their skin and great in their overall health. The best treatment plan is a personalized plan that helps my patient achieve their aesthetic goals and get their energy and confidence back so they can feel mentally sharp, perform well at work, meet their personal goals, and level up in their life.

My approach to aesthetics is a “skin-first approach” designed to balance immediate improvement with long term results. I provide my patients with medical aesthetic treatments for skin laxity, acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, rosacea, and hair loss and thinning. I know that hormones can play a big role in looking and feeling your best, so I also focus on treating hormonal concerns including low energy, hypothyroidism, menopause, hormonal imbalances, low libido, and weight changes. Ultimately, my biggest drive is to help my strong female patients show up as the best version of themself.

I am ecstatic that we have had the opportunity to launch our own Ethos Skincare line. I am always looking to curate the best medical skin care products, and what we haven’t been able to find, we have brought into our own brand. My patients know that I’m the pickiest person when it comes to skincare and they trust me to develop a line that I’m confident in and know they’ll love. Maintaining your natural glow and rejuvenated skin after an aesthetics treatment means following up with good skincare. Our Ethos Skincare line brings patients high-quality, medical-grade products that give them long-lasting results.

My patients rave about our HA Mineral Defense sunscreen and tell me it’s the best sunscreen they’ve ever used. We literally can’t keep it on our shelves! My goal is to continue bringing in great products for our line and expand to online retail to make it more convenient for patients to purchase their favorite products!

Additionally, I’ve taken my passion for helping my female patients show up big in their lives, and have funneled my creative energy into my own YouTube Channel: Dr. Alexandra Mayer. I wanted to create an online, accessible resource rich with educational content and expert knowledge on all things women’s health, hormones, and aesthetics.

Feeling “old” isn’t an option for strong, high-powered women. There are integrative treatment options that will help you to achieve the skin of your dreams and balance your hormones so you can have the energy and stamina to take on the world.

Botox: Aging gracefully is an art, and we’ve got the tools and expertise to help our patients achieve rejuvenated, natural-looking, youthful skin. Our Botox and Xeomin injections are a popular treatment for patients looking to erase fine lines, correct undesirable facial movement, and achieve smooth skin. A little goes a long way, so I target areas which relax and erase those fine lines while still maintaining the face’s natural movement.

RF Microneedling: RF Microneedling is our ultimate skin-tightening treatment! Our patients LOVE it because there’s virtually zero downtime and the treatment results in brighter, tighter, more youthful skin. It’s an excellent option for both women and men who want to lift, tone, and tighten the skin while tackling the core of aging. I love RF Microneedling because it really is a holy-grail treatment. It boosts your natural collagen and elastin production and targets skin laxity, fine lines, deep wrinkles, and unwanted scarring!

Hair Restoration: In my practice, I’ve noticed that women don’t get good treatment options for their hair loss – and hair loss in women is a big deal! It can be a devastating blow to their confidence. I have a lot of patients who come in for PRP Hair Restoration. The platelet rich plasma helps to stimulate hair production and encourage new hair growth! With this tool, I can help my female patients tackle their concerns of excessive hair shedding, hair thinning, and female pattern baldness.

Hormone Treatments: If you’re aging and trying to treat your skin or hair, but you’re not paying attention to the internal, hormone piece of the puzzle, then you are missing a key component! My patients understand that hormone replacement therapy is equally important for feeling energized and confident. Getting results for my patients means bridging that gap between aesthetic treatments and hormone balancing.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Currently, I am reading “Making Money is Killing Your Business” by Chuck Blakeman, and our team at Ethos is working through “Never Lose a Customer Again” by Joey Coleman. I read a TON of books, and my reading list changes all the time depending on what I’m wanting to learn. I find myself gravitating to business books because I think it’s important to take inspiration from other industries. I think in the medical community there is a status quo that happens where we forget about customer service and truly connecting with our patients. Being a cash-pay medical practice, we pride ourselves on getting to know our patients, getting them results, and really taking care of them.

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@ethosscottsdale.com
• Website: ethosscottsdale.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralexmayer/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwbbqD3oyGgF-kL09Ki–kQ

Image Credits
Lauren Hansen (Be Peachie)