The image of the butterfly evokes thoughts of transformation, beauty, and hope. And that is the symbol Lizette Alvarado uses to offer patients change at her enterprise, Syn Skin Aesthetics and Wellness.
“My dad, Dr. Luis Alvarado, is an Internal Medicine Specialist. At the young age of 10, I knew I wanted to be like him, offering hope and help to people. My mom was the inspiration for my love of aesthetics. She taught me the importance of caring for yourself and putting your best face forward. She passed away four years ago at about the same time I was starting the business. The butterflies in my logo and med spa décor represent the beauty of metamorphosis, and they are all for her.”
The business took flight quickly as Lizette chased her dream and made significant changes of her own. A Family Nurse Practitioner for 16 years, Lizette invested in herself, undertaking extensive, advanced training. She was determined to open her wings to new career heights. “Both my undergraduate degrees were from Southeastern. Then I went on to get my Advanced Practice Registered Nurse graduate degree from Loyola. I’ve armed myself with experience and knowledge so that I can give my patients the highest level of safe, quality care. To become a Master Injector, I’ve trained with top experts like Dr. Khoubehi and continue traveling to learn from other industry leaders and bring new knowledge back to Louisiana.”
This ambitious caregiver says that combining the influences of both of her parents is what makes her practice unique. “I’m drawn to aesthetics from my mother’s philosophy that looking good goes hand in hand with feeling good. But I also know that beauty is more than skin deep and share my father’s dedication to treating the whole person. I’m proud to have him as the Medical Director of Syn Skin where we address areas including medical weight loss, hormone imbalance, diabetes, hypertension and thyroid disorders.”
She explains that the “Syn” in the clinic’s name is short for synergy – the combination of two things producing an effect greater than the sum of its parts. “With my experience in urgent care and home health, I can uniquely treat patients holistically and am able to enhance their natural beauty with fillers, neurotoxins like Botox, lasers, HydraFacials® and more, while prioritizing their overall health and wellness.”
While deeply invested in caring for patients locally and in California, where she is also licensed, Lizette knows balance is essential to her own health and well-being and that of her family. “I’m the single mom of three who’s done it on my own and continue to do so. We like the adventure of traveling together but also enjoy the simple pleasures of going to the park or to the pool and cooking and baking together.”
Also proud to represent her Cuban and Nicaraguan heritage, her flair for style and beauty is represented in the chic interior design of her upscale facility. Part art gallery-inspired, part boutique vibe, and all deeply personal to her, the floral themes, sparkling chandeliers, and beauty-themed artwork honor her mother while mirroring her passion. “We are bilingual and the only Latino-owned med spa on the Northshore, which is reflected in Syn Skin’s bright and colorful style. Our space is welcoming and upbeat with the promise of beautiful things to come.”
For Lizette, balance also includes giving back to the community, the importance of which was instilled in her at a young age. “When I was about ten, we went to Haiti with my dad where we lived for almost two years. I went to work with him and watched him perform surgeries that changed people’s lives. I knew then that, like him, I wanted to pursue medicine, but it was hard to see the struggles of the impoverished people he helped. I learned not to take things for granted and haven’t forgotten to be grateful for food, water and simple comforts like air conditioning. It made me humble and gave me a desire to help those in need through philanthropy.”
“I’m on the board of Access Louisiana which puts on BOO Fest, benefiting children with disabilities. I’ve worked with Sideline Pass, an NFL charity focused on empowering women; helped son of a Saint, which mentors fatherless boys; contribute to New Heights Therapy Center every year; and walk the runway for Mutts to Models. It’s an honor to be in a position to help, and I do so as much as I can.”
At the heart of Lizette’s personal, family, community and professional endeavors is the desire to enable transformative change. “I’m drawn to helping people in their most vulnerable state because I’ve had past health issues and can empathize with them. To gain a patient’s trust when they come in crying or feeling at their lowest point is so fulfilling. Then, to bring them to their ‘butterfly moment,’ the point where they feel healthy, beautiful, and the best version of themselves – that’s my passion and who I’ve worked so hard to become.”