Photo Credit: Mindy Briar
Melissa Pulcini-Buttine founded ELIVATE to help patients feel and look better while also creating an enlightened space for learning and guiding others to live a more empowered way of life. Melissa believes that when we start healing ourselves from the inside out, we can truly learn to love the skin we’re in and live our best lives. To learn more about what ELIVATE has to offer and what continues to keeps them unique, Haute Beauty sat down with Buttine. Here's what she shared:
Was there a personal and/or professional experience that inspired you to open your practice?
The vision I have now for ELIVATE actually started manifesting at a very early age. When I was just six years old, I began working on inventions that were designed to help people. My first idea was a bubble gum machine with a daily dose of vitamins to make everyone feel healthy. This passion stayed with me and eventually turned into a career in medicine where I would also become a professor of Anatomy. I am enamored by the human body, how it works and how I can keep it healthy. After 20 years in the medical field, this journey led me to open my own practice where I am able to bring my beliefs to life – healing ourselves from the inside out, in order to truly love to learn the skin we’re in.
What was your mission at the start of opening your practice? Has it changed?
The mission of ELIVATE has always been to create a place where people could Feel, Look and LIV their best lives. The LIV is literally derived from ELIVATE and is meant to inspire and motivate you to be the best version of yourself. I wanted to create a brand that emphasizes positivity, embraces beauty from within, and empowers my patients to understand that health is wealth. ELIVATE opened just before Covid-19 hit in early 2020 and I was forced to shut down at a time that was meant to be celebrated. Having to quickly pivot and identify ways to stay connected to the community and my patients during the shutdown gave me a new perspective and a chance to get creative in how I truly wanted to market and create my brand.
Photo Credit: Mindy Briar
If you had to pick three words to describe the vibe of your practice, what would they be and why?
The vibe of ELIVATE in three words would be: unique, rejuvenating and empowering. With a plethora of med spas in the area, it’s important to find ways to stand apart and be that unique unicorn where patients feel welcome, special and comfortable. I wanted ELIVATE to be a boutique practice where you felt like family in an atmosphere that was elegant and calming all at the same time. I know my team and I have done our job right when I see our patients leave feeling refreshed, renewed and rejuvenated. I also work to provide educational insights that will guide and encourage patients to live a more empowered way of life.
How did you come up with the name of your practice?
After struggling during several journaling and brainstorming sessions, I realized the answer was right in front of me. I thought to myself, “What am I doing with my life? What is the goal for myself and those around me? Why am I embarking on this new journey of entrepreneurship?” The answer became very clear: I wanted to elevate myself, I wanted to be the best I could be and I wanted to help others do the same. This became my mission and goal – to create a place where people felt good, looked good and lived good. So, I took the definition of elevate and made it my own by putting my version of “LIVE” in the middle and that is how ELIVATE was born.
Photo Credit: Mindy Briar
What are the most popular services requested?
The best part about ELIVATE is that we have something for everyone (both women and men), depending on your interests and preference. I always wanted to be cutting edge and have the latest innovations, but I only provide services that I’ve thoroughly vetted, which I know will provide meaningful results. At ELIVATE, we offer injectables, laser treatments, body contouring, IV therapy, nutrition, PRP, PRF, facials, micro-needling with RF, weight loss programs, skincare and more. Patients may start coming to ELIVATE for injectables, which is a popular service for us, and we will end up creating a plan that is fully customized to the individual to support their long-term personal skin and body goals. I always say to protect your investment! You can’t come in for a service once or twice a year and except results. At the very least, it’s about quality skincare and supporting treatments in between.
What is the future of your field?
The future of our field is always evolving based on trends and what Americans want, which I personally believe will continue to be the desire to LIVE well longer. People want to feel healthy and look good doing it. The good news is that this field is endless and we continue to learn new science every day. It excites me that I am not just a professor, but also a student – I love the new and ever-growing field of anti-aging, health and aesthetic medicine. I look forward to seeing where the industry takes us.
What are you best known for?
I would say that I am most known for personalized care. ELIVATE is not – and never will be – just an injectable factory. I pride myself on having a caring nature while paying particularly close attention to every detail during each visit. Patients leave feeling good about themselves. I treat the whole body, which includes the connection between inside health and outside beauty.
What is unique about your practice?
I was a dancer growing up, which gave me incredible confidence to stand out and be unique while also expressive. I have incorporated these lessons into everything I’ve done since hanging up my dance shoes, including opening ELIVATE. My practice is unlike others, where I take a boutique approach that is about quality over quantity. I also work hard for people to know they can trust me and my opinion. I get to know everyone personally and would never suggest something unnatural or over the top – only treatments that will make them feel their best.
Are there any new services you are excited to offer?
Yes, particularly for hair loss, which has been a big stressor for so many of us post-pandemic. KeraLase is a revolutionary new laser treatment that promotes new hair growth and improves scalp health. Patients have been blown away by the treatment and its results. I am excited to be at the forefront of offering this breakthrough treatment and technology. Additionally, Semaglutide for weight loss is now available for patients following a medical clearance and consultation with myself. Semaglutide is a new potent once weekly weight loss injection that increases the feeling of fullness and reduces appetite and food cravings.
What is one underrated service that doesn’t receive as much press as it should?
Many people forget that real beauty comes from the inside out, and that includes treating your body with respect by fueling it with the correct stimulation it needs. We are happy to offer options and treatment plans, including personalized evaluations, for anyone who wants to take charge of their health. We run labs to evaluate and see how your body can run optimally and feel your best by giving your body the fuel it needs via improving nutrition and supplementation. We also can personalize IV therapy vitamin treatments.
For more information, visit ELIVATE MedSpa Wellness's social media:
