As a way to help women and men feel as young and vibrant on the outside as they do on the inside, Trish Gulbranson founded Derma Health Skin & Laser. In just 15 years, Tempeheadquartered Derma Health has become the No. 1 provider of facial fillers and Botox in the Southwest and is ranked as a top 1-percent med-spa in the nation. More than 50,000 patients have received treatments and services at the fullservice medical spa’s five Valley locations, which administer 5,000 Botox and filler injections each month. Gulbranson serves as CEO and is responsible for driving the success of the organization, along with her multifaceted team.
Before embarking on the empire-building journey, Gulbranson spent 10 years with one of the “Big 4” accounting firms as a certified public accountant and later became president and CEO of an international software company. When that company sold, she was filled with entrepreneurial spirit, felt empowered to take risks and was encouraged to do so by her former boss. At the time, Botox had been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for cosmetic use just three years prior. Gulbranson took a leap of faith and decided to venture into the relatively new industry, opening Derma Health Skin & Laser’s first location in Chandler.
“Leaving the security of a high-paying career in the software industry to follow my passion and start my own business was risky,” says Gulbranson. “The career pivot ultimately turned out to be the most rewarding professional decision I ever made.”
Even though Gulbranson had extensive business and finance experience, the bank did not initially approve funding for the new company. The treatments and injections she wanted to offer were not as popular as they are today. After leveraging her home and operating the business successfully for three months, Derma Health had earned enough profit so that a female employee at the bank could convince her colleagues to approve the funding.
While early services included injectables such as Botox, as regulations changed and technology improved, additional services were added, including HydraFacial, CoolSculpting, microneedling and Plasma Pen. Due to the wide range of services and Gulbranson’s approach to patient care, she is committed to providing Derma Health’s doctors, registered nurses and aestheticians with ongoing training in the most advanced techniques in all services. The aestheticians alone have more than 73 years of combined experience. The focus is not only skin and physical appearance, but also overall health and wellbeing.
“Our dedication to safety and quality care through highly trained medical professionals, as well as educating and empowering clients, has created an above-and-beyond medspa experience,” says Gulbranson. “By uplifting, inspiring and encouraging each member of the Derma Health community, we strive to help people be the very best they can be.”
That same approach applies to Derma Health’s personnel, who are both supported and encouraged to pursue opportunities for professional development, even if that means traveling out of state for advanced certifications. Gulbranson feels that when her employees feel they are learning, growing and achieving personal success, she achieves success.
Outside of Derma Health, Gulbranson takes the mission to uplift, inspire and encourage others into a variety of volunteer positions and outreach opportunities. As of July 2019, she serves as past chair of the ASU Alumni Association and the National Alumni Council boards of directors. She remains on an ASU Board of Trustees.
For Gulbranson, it’s not just a job; it’s personal. Her belief in what Derma Health provides is stronger than ever and it’s based on transformations of both patients and herself. Before a service is added to the locations, she undergoes the treatment. When comparing before and after photos, she not only sees the difference, but also feels the shift in her confidence. Through simply improving her skin health, tone, tightness and texture with laser procedures, fillers and skin care products, her daily life has forever changed.
While skin health is important, Derma Health is about providing so much more. The knowledge that Derma Health’s results transform patient’s lives, not just faces, is the driving factor behind the company’s continued growth and reach in the Valley. The care that varies from prevention to correction is a part of the holistic continuum that enhances beauty, inside and out.
Through taking the time to provide education and talk about the various treatment options available, Derma Health clinics work hard to achieve the optimal results for patients. The No. 1 source of new patients is current client referrals, and that, as Gulbranson explains, is the Derma Health difference.
Entering New Communities
Derma Health Skin & Laser plans to open its newest location at Desert Ridge in fall 2019. The new medical spa space will mark a unique transition for the company after 15 years of service, evolving from a clinical environment to a retail setting. A full range of aesthetic services provided by highly trained medical professionals will be available, along with extended weekday and weekend hours to accommodate busy schedules.
