Is optometry the next frontier for aesthetic medicine? In this insightful episode of Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman welcomes double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Chelsea Kesty to explore a booming opportunity: aesthetic procedures in and around the eye, and how optometrists can responsibly and profitably tap into it.  

Dr. Chelsea Kesty brings both lineage and expertise — daughter of two ophthalmologists and a laser medicine expert herself, she’s pioneered laser-based cosmetic procedures that focus on rejuvenation, wrinkle correction, and even dry eye symptom relief. This episode begins with a technical deep dive into the science behind CO2 lasers, IPL, microneedling, and radiofrequency devices. For practitioners considering integrating these services, the first 20 minutes alone serve as a detailed primer on how these tools work, what skin layers they target, and the biological repair mechanisms they activate. 

Eugene and Dr. Kesty then shift gears to the business case for aesthetics. With patients spending between $5,000–$10,000 annually, and returning for ongoing treatments — she outlines why these services represent not just a clinical adjunct but a scalable revenue stream. They also discuss her unique laser blepharoplasty technique, which combines precision, reduced recovery time, and long-lasting results. 

More importantly, this conversation demystifies how optometrists can start offering aesthetic services — from mastering IPL for dry eye to expanding into toxin injections and Erbium lasers for rejuvenation. It’s not about competing with Groupon-level med spas, it’s about offering trusted, medical-grade care to patients you already know. 

Whether you’re curious about aesthetics, already offering dry eye treatments, or looking for ways to increase patient care and revenue, this episode reveals the mindset, tools, and strategies that can set your practice apart. The future of aesthetics isn’t only for dermatologists and plastic surgeons, it could be for you. 

• • Laser-Based Skin Rejuvenation: Learn how CO₂ and Erbium lasers stimulate new collagen production, reduce wrinkles, and achieve visible anti-aging effects— technologies that can complement ocular aesthetics in your practice. 
  • IPL as a Cross-Specialty Asset: Understand why Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is not just for dry eye therapy but also effective for treating rosacea, pigmentation, and cosmetic skin concerns — making it a versatile investment for optometry clinics. 
  • The Business of Aesthetic Patients: Discover how aesthetic patients typically spend $5,000–$10,000 annually and return for ongoing treatments, offering a new high-value revenue stream for optometric practices. 
  • Integrating Aesthetics into Optometry: Explore how optometrists can responsibly and legally begin offering aesthetic services, from toxins and fillers to lasers, starting with their existing patient relationships and training. 
  • Training, Safety & Team Readiness: Get an overview of the essential training, equipment, and safety protocols needed to deliver aesthetic care confidently, with guidance on how to educate and prepare your team. 
  • Trust Over Price: Competing Beyond Discounts: Learn why patient loyalty, safety, and clinical expertise will always win over low-cost providers, and how to position your practice accordingly. 
  • Advanced Laser Blepharoplasty Techniques: Hear how Dr. Kesty’s innovative laser blepharoplasty delivers long-lasting results, and what it reveals about evolving technologies optometrists may refer for, or even eventually offer. 

• 00:00 – Introduction 
• 03:00 – How a dermatology practice merges medicine and aesthetics 
• 07:00 – Explaining CO2 & Erbium lasers for wrinkle reduction 
• 10:00 – The science of collagen renewal and skin vaporization 
• 12:00 – IPL for dry eye and cosmetic concerns 
• 15:00 – Targeting melanin, hemoglobin, and water with laser types 
• 20:00 – Fillers vs. neurotoxins: When and why to use each 
• 23:00 – What an aesthetic patient typically spends and how often they return 
• 27:00 – The critical importance of doctor-led procedures 
• 30:00 – Laser blepharoplasty: Technique, healing, and innovation 
• 35:00 – Can optometrists offer aesthetics? 
• 38:00 – Recommended starter technology for optometrists 
• 43:00 – Marketing through relationships 
• 47:00 – Training, safety, and the future of regulated aesthetic care 

Connect with Dr. Chelsea Kesty 

Dr. Chelsea Kesty is a double board‑certified dermatologist, holding credentials in Dermatology and Mohs Micrographic Surgery, and is fellowship-trained in cosmetic and laser dermatology. She leads the cosmetic and laser efforts at St. Petersburg Skin & Laser in Florida, where together with her sister — she offers advanced treatments including Botox, fillers, and a suite of over 30 laser modalities. 

Dr. Kesty has performed over 5,000 laser and cosmetic procedures, specializing notably in rejuvenation techniques and a pioneering novel laser blepharoplasty that combines eyelid lifting with resurfacing for optimal results. She has contributed to more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and serves as an expert reviewer for journals including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 

Website: https://stpeteskinandlaser.com/

Connect with Eugene Shatsman:

Website – https://www.eugeneshatsman.com/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugeneshatsman