Gail Coleman
Forever Young
By Ed Bertha
Photography by Giovanni Lunardi
Layout by Christian Lunardi
Meet Gail Coleman, the founder of Estetika Skin & Laser Specialists [1]. Through her leadership and determination, Estetika is the only Black Diamond Thermage and Fraxel Provider in Milwaukee, WI and Sarasota, FL, the only CoolSculpting Center of Excellence and a Premier Crystal award winning CoolSculpting provider in Florida and Wisconsin.
I ask Gail what makes Estetika different? “Experience, education and our safety record. We have performed more non-surgical facelifts (Thermage) and cryolypolysis (CoolSculpting) procedures than any provider in the Milwaukee or Sarasota markets,” she says proudly.
Born Gail Ann Martin, she grew up on the north side of Kenosha, WI, the second of four children. Her father was a laborer for Wisconsin Natural Gas Company and, with drive, worked his way up the corporate ladder as the children were growing up. He taught Gail that there are no obstacles in life, only those we create. Gail shares, “My father taught me that I could be anything I wanted to be.”
[2]Her stay at home mother was a self-taught professional seamstress who instilled a strong moral compass and a drive for perfectionism in young Gail. “My mother’s influence has served me well in my music career and in my cosmetic dermatology career,” she reflects. Even with the family’s modest means the children enjoyed a private education along with music education as part of their childhood experiences.
Gail attended Catholic grade school and graduated from Mary D. Bradford H.S. with high honors, a tribute to her parent’s beliefs and guidance. Continuing with the determination imparted by her parents she earned a Bachelor Degree of Music from Lawrence University and later a Master Degree of Physician Assistant Studies from Marquette University. With a sad note in her voice Gail reflects, “My parents passed away within six months of each other. It was a very sad period for all of us.”
Gail started out teaching voice and piano lessons, both in private and at elementary/middle school in the general music education program. To this day Gail continues to sing and play piano, as evidenced by the baby grand piano just outside her living room. Making a name for herself, Gail was recruited by State Farm to run her own agency. She assembled the pieces and ran a successful agency in Delafield, WI, for ten years.
Fate would then intervene. Her husband at the time suffered from a rare liver disease, had a liver transplant and spent 6 months in the hospital in recovery. During his hospital stay it reignited a passion that Gail always had in medicine. ”I began taking refresher science courses to follow my lifelong passion of becoming an MD. After much discussion with my husband we collectively decided Physician Assistant was the safer and quicker path to take rather than medical school,” she remarks. Unfortunately her husband would not share in her journey, dying of post-transplant lymphoma three weeks prior to Gail starting Physician Assistant School. Left with a 9 year old daughter and 5 year old son her life was turned upside down. “The three of us rallied through the tough times, I completed my degree and embarked on my medical career with a start in Emergency Medicine.”
After 3 years of ER experience, Gail began her lifelong dream in cosmetic dermatology, working with a number of local Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists in Wisconsin. In 2006 she branched out on her own and started Estetika Skin & Laser Specialists. “I found the need to do things my way, the natural way. I bucked the norm of forcing Botox and fillers on everyone that walked through our door. I wanted to do things safely, naturally and without risk,” she quips. Continuing she adds, “I already lived a life of risk after losing my husband to a 1% chance of post-transplant lymphoma. I wanted things different for my patients. Because of my philosophy we have become a leading force and role model in the field of cosmetic dermatology.”
Gail’s interest in treating the skin began during her Physician Assistant training as one of her electives was in Plastic Surgery. With that elective and 3 years of experience in the Emergency Room, Gail found she had a high aptitude for suturing and most importantly for fine motor, intricate procedures, something that she enjoys doing everyday now.
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Gail performing Thermage, a non-surgical facelift with no down time, on a patient
Smiling Gail adds, “The most important personal satisfaction that I get from practicing cosmetic dermatology is seeing my work walking around like mobile billboards. Our patients are so much happier with their refreshed, healthy natural looking skin.”
The industry is not without its own challenges with the need to keep ahead of the ever changing technology. Gail states, “We evaluate and educate ourselves on everything that hits the market, whether good or bad, to stay state of the art. Procedures are becoming faster, safer and more comfortable than ever before.”
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Estetika’s state of the art facility
As many are, Gail was drawn to Sarasota by her best friend from grade school who relocated to Sarasota taking a position at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in pediatrics. “I visited her in Sarasota often and fell in love with the beauty of the water and fine arts offered here.” A very familiar story.
Since moving to Sarasota and starting her second Estetika location, Gail’s philanthropic efforts have found her contributing to numerous charity events such as Wine Women and Shoes, Girls Inc. Porch Light, Ringling School of the Arts, and Pine Dinner at Selby Gardens.
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Playing piano and singing are a few of Gail’s favorite activities
With a busy practice how does Gail unwind? With no hesitation she parts with “I sing and play the piano to relax. I am a gourmet cook and love throwing dinner parties! For exercise I love biking, boating, sailing, kayaking, water skiing and paddle boarding. I am a water nut. I have lived on the water since 1986 and intend to stay on the water forever!”
Come visit Gail Coleman at Estetika Skin & Laser Specialists for glowing results. You owe it to yourself. Estetika Skin & Laser Specialists renewing skin the natural way!
Gail Coleman
Estetika Skin & Laser Specialists
(414) 339.6435
info@EstetikaSkin.com [6]
www.EstetikaSkin.com [1]
4141 South Tamiami Trail
(Inside the Inner Circle Spa)
Sarasota, FL 34231
Copyright © 2016 REAL Exclusive Magazine [7]
Links to this article are encouraged
Photography used under license from Giovanni Lunardi Photography [8]
Photography Copyright © 2016 Giovanni Lunardi Photography
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