For the past eight years, Illume Aesthetics has set the standard for advanced skin care and aesthetic medicine in Ashland. Led by Jen Bullock, FNP, Illume is more than a medical spa — it’s a place where science, artistry, and compassion come together to help clients look and feel their best. With over 750 five-star reviews, a highly trained team including two expert nurses, and the latest innovations in laser, injectables, hormone, weight loss and peptide therapies, Illume continues to raise the bar for results-driven aesthetic care. As we head into “laser season,” Jen joins us to reintroduce Illume to the community, share what makes their approach unique, and offer insights into choosing the right aesthetic provider.
Jen, congratulations on eight years of excellence and more than 750 five-star reviews! That level of consistent satisfaction is incredibly rare. What does this milestone mean to you and your team?
It’s amazing to me how fast the last eight years have flown by. It has been so much fun to build and create this business. I have been really fortunate over the years to consistently draw the incredibly kind and talented team I have. My team is a big part of our success. I feel incredibly grateful to have been so well received by the community over the years and to still be able to do what I love every day. It is a dream come true.
For readers who may be new to Illume Aesthetics, can you reintroduce us to who you are and speak to your vision and mission of Illume?
When I started Illume, it was because I was noticing how MY skin and face were aging and changing.
I wanted to soften and slow the process, without losing any of the spark that made me look like me. I sought out the knowledge and expertise to guide my own anti-aging process and over the years have created a unique methodology that seems to resonate with a lot of people.
For someone seeking anti-aging services, I think it is important to have a provider you can know, trust and grow with. Someone who knows you and your history. Our methodology is built around relationships and building out long term treatment plans that take into account the primary causes of aging. As we age, our skin changes and loses collagen and elastin causing sagging skin and changes in texture. We start to see wrinkles, brown sun spots and little broken capillaries. We also see changes in volume like flattening of the cheeks, thinning and wrinkled lips, tired under eyes and jowls. With multiple things causing the changes in the health and appearance of our skin we need more than a single approach to address aging. We use a combination of clinical grade skincare to protect and nourish the skin, injectables like Botox, Filler, Sculptra, or Platelet Rich Plasma to soften lines and replace lost volume, and finally we use energy based devices like lasers or light therapies to repair and reverse the physical signs of aging.
Not everyone arrives ready to dive into treatments like Botox or Filler and that is okay. Even starting by getting on a great clinical grade skincare regimen, a person will see huge shifts in the health and appearance of their skin.
In our first encounter, the client sits down with one of our providers and goes over their health history, reasons for coming in and discusses overall goals. We take a diagnostic scan of the skin that lets us see things like textural irregularities, pore size, sun damage, fine lines, wrinkles and even inflammatory bacterial count on the surface of the skin. It allows us to get an up close look at what’s happening to focus and prioritize the treatment plan. We can also use the scans to track individual progress and the health of the skin over time. Then we build out an individualized treatment plan that takes into account a person’s overall goals, results of the scan, comfort level with specific treatments and of course budget. The treatment plan consists of the recommendations and education needed to make an informed decision about treatments. There are so many confusing options out there and my goal is to provide a simple plan for each person to follow.
You often describe this as the best job you’ve ever had. Can you share what makes the work so fulfilling and meaningful for you personally?
I am a relationship person. I love people. Most of my patients have been patients for years, some since I opened. My job is so fulfilling because I get to come to work every day and help some of the best people in the world feel and look their best.
You’ve built an extraordinary team — from facial artists to experienced nurses. Tell us more about your team and what makes them so exceptional at what they do.
As I said initially, my staff are a key piece in what makes Illume really special. My team has over 30 years of combined experience in the aesthetics space. From our front desk girls to each of my providers, everyone brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that combine to create a really exceptional experience.
Illume is known for combining artistry with science. How do you balance the creative and clinical sides of aesthetics to achieve such natural, beautiful results?
When I started college, I was initially an art major and a science nerd who started dabbling in pre-nursing courses. I ended up ultimately changing course and choosing a medical career path, because I thought that the prospects of a more stable financial life looked better in health care. I worked in traditional medicine roles for almost 15 years. When I started as a provider in aesthetics it was like the heavens opened up and all was right in the world. I found it blends my love of art and eye for beauty with my passion for science. I have never looked back.
On the technology front, Illume is always evolving. Can you tell us about some of the new innovations you’ve added recently, like the cold laser, hormone therapies, and peptide treatments?
It’s an exciting time in the medical aesthetics space. There are new treatments and technologies coming out all the time. Over the last year or two, I have seen a move towards patients seeking and expecting better solutions to aging. I think people want more and more holistic approaches to address their concerns. Our methodology really speaks to that holistic approach. Our treatment plans are designed to be an annual plan and to address the 3 primary causes of aging.
Our cold laser, the Ultraclear, is the newest advancement in resurfacing treatments and provides incredible results for helping reverse signs of aging, addressing multiple skin conditions in one treatment to help patients look their best—quickly, safely, and effectively. What is really unique about this technology is that we get great results with much less downtime than traditional resurfacing treatments.
The other part is that people want to look good, of course, but they also want to feel good. We are starting to see more people interested in bioidentical hormone replacement and utilizing things like biologics and peptides to not only look good, but to actually treat some of the root causes of aging. We have been providing those services off and on for about 5 years and have really started to focus on that again. We will be expanding our menu over the coming year to bring back our IV infusion services, increase our peptide offerings, and really focus on whole body solutions.
You’ve mentioned that training and education are a huge part of your success. What does ongoing learning look like for you and your staff, and how does it impact patient outcomes?
We are consistently learning and training. We do 3-4 laser trainings a year, multiple injectable trainings a year, and attend conferences. Medical Aesthetics is a rapidly changing and growing field and it’s imperative that providers stay current with technology and changing trends to ensure we can provide the best experience and outcomes for people and work to keep them safe.
You’ve seen what happens when patients go elsewhere and end up in difficult situations. What are some of the most important questions someone should ask before choosing an aesthetic provider?
That’s a great question. I think you should know what kind of license your provider carries. Are they a Doctor, PA, Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse, Advanced Aesthetician, or are they an aesthetician or a medical assistant working under a provider? You want a licensed provider who has gone to school and trained in anatomy and understands the how and the why, not someone working under someone else’s license who has simply learned how to do a procedure.
You want to know if the person you are seeing requires a medical director and if so do they have one onsite or someone on call if there is an emergency? I unfortunately end up seeing patients who have injuries from providers who don’t have access to that. You also want to know if the service you are seeking is the person’s main job or are they injecting or doing lasers as a fun side hustle? If it’s a side hustle, it may be cheaper, but it’s often cheaper because the provider is learning and you are the model or they don’t work often enough to have a lot of experience. Finally, how long have they been providing services? Generally speaking the longer the better.
There’s a big misconception that all injectors or laser technicians offer the same quality of care. What do you want people to understand about the skill, training, and medical oversight that go into safe, effective treatment?
I think it really comes down to safety. When we are talking about medical treatments like injectables or laser treatments, you want to ensure you have someone with experience. Even in the best situations, there are still some risks involved and when you are dealing with something as important as your face, you want a provider who has experience and will work to ensure you are taken care of if something does happen.
Illume’s atmosphere feels warm, human, and real; everyone looks like a real person. How do you and your team create such a grounded, confidence-building experience for your clients?
I think that sometimes the idea of going into an aesthetics practice can be kind of intimidating. I had one of my long-time patients tell me she was nervous about what to wear to the first appointment because she thought it would be a really formal environment. I think sometimes social media portrays the industry as being super chic with supermodel looking providers walking around carrying designer handbags. I see so much filtering of images and really I think it does a disservice to the patients as a whole. I try not to filter any of our posts. We are all imperfect and I want what you see online to match pretty close to what you see when you come in for an appointment.
We work to provide a friendly, warm environment. Everyone that works here is a real looking person, with natural looking enhancements. We all happen to be super passionate about skincare and lasers and use them regularly to maintain healthy glowy skin. As a rule, I am generally kind of low maintenance. Everything I do in aesthetics is to support that so I don’t have to do too much on the daily. I think that resonates with a lot of people.
Jen, can you please share some recent customer testimonials with us?
“My treatment was fast and the vibe was supportive and the staff super friendly and welcoming. Their expertise is obvious and puts me at ease. Thank you. I highly recommend.” Laurie
“Illume has been wonderful in every way—from the warm, friendly welcomes to the great customer perks and top-notch services. My skin has never looked better!” Vanessa
“I love going to Illume. I always receive amazing service from the whole team. Jessica is very knowledgeable and easy to chat with. Lauri is always so kind when I get my Botox. Every poke is made with love! Jen made my laser treatment so quick and the results are amazing. My skin has never looked better. Great results from a great team.” Jinna
“I am new to Illume Aesthetics and I couldn’t be happier! I appreciate the thorough treatment experience and the professional service. Lauri is so sweet and explains the treatments clearly. My appointments are prompt and the women in the front office are kind and efficient. Illume is definitely a whole vibe! I’ll be a long term client!” Brenda
As we head into “laser season,” what treatments do you recommend right now, and how can people experience the Illume difference for themselves?
I generally recommend coming in for consultation to start. If you aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into the deeper treatments, you can start with some foundational skincare. 80% of what our skin looks like daily is what we are doing at home. Clinical grade skincare and a facial from a skilled professional is always a great place to start. We also are hosting our 8th annual Holiday Soiree on November 22nd at the Ashland Hills Hotel from 4-7 pm. The evening is a great opportunity to connect with us, enjoy some incredible food and drink and get access to our Holiday specials. There will be some great door prizes and incredible gifts with purchase. It sells out every year.
As far as lasers go, our intense pulsed light (IPL) photo facial is probably the most utilized procedure annually.
It is ideal to treat and remove brown spots, sun damage and broken capillaries. It additionally helps reverse cellular aging and helps prevent the development of cancer.
Our most sought after laser combination is our Profound and C02. Some people refer to it as the “non-surgical facelift.” It is a combination of RF microneedling which provides overall skin tightening and the C02 is a resurfacing treatment that addresses fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, and brown spots from sun damage.
Laser hair removal (LHR) and prep for summer actually happens now, in the winter. LHR often takes anywhere from 6-8 sessions, spaced about 4-6 weeks apart to get full hair clearance.
Core Intima is one of my favorites for addressing women’s sexual health. It helps address vaginal dryness, treats and improves stress incontinence, addresses loss of vaginal tone and overall laxity, and improves overall sexual satisfaction.
As far as treatment options go, I like to think we have a little something for everyone. If you want to find out what is right for you, give us a call or come on in for a consultation. We would love to meet you!
Learn More:
Illume Aesthetics
|www.illumeaesthetics.com
541-631-8387
info@illumeaesthetics.com
