Sydney Buxbaum is a board certified Registered Nurse and will be receiving her Nurse Practitioner License in May 2025. Sydney has been born and raised in San Diego and has 5 years of medical experience in both the hospital setting as well as the aesthetic field.
She uses both her skills gained from hospital experience, as well as her experience gained in Medical Aesthetics, to create individually crafted patient experiences. She uses her critical thinking abilities and artistic eye to enhance the natural features of each patient and ensure best possible results safely for everyone.
When she’s not using her passions working in the medical aesthetic world you can catch her doing Pilates, trying new happy hour spots, or spending time with family and friends. She can’t wait to use her knowledge and skills to promote wellness and confidence everyday at Aesthetically Pleasing.
Andrea is a licensed registered nurse in the state of California with a strong foundation in health, wellness, and patient care. Born and raised in San Diego, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from California State University San Marcos and later completed her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing at West Coast University.
With experience working on a high-acuity medical-surgical unit and in outpatient wellness, Andrea brings a well-rounded clinical background to her aesthetic practice. Driven by her passion for cosmetic care and wellness, she transitioned into aesthetics to help patients achieve their unique skincare goals.
Andrea thrives on the positive energy that comes from empowering patients to enhance their natural beauty. She is dedicated to providing personalized, safe, and effective treatments that leave patients feeling confident and rejuvenated. Andrea is excited to combine her skills and passion to provide exceptional care at Aesthetically Pleasing.
Jennifer brings a wealth of experience in aesthetics, rooted in a lifelong passion for beauty and fitness. Her journey began as a makeup artist and skincare consultant, where she helped women feel confident and empowered through personalized beauty routines. She was a nail technician for many years while earning a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and became a certified fitness and yoga instructor and personal trainer, teaching a variety of classes.
Her career has taken her across the globe, representing some of the most prestigious 5-star hotel brands, all while deepening her expertise in beauty and wellness. Jennifer eventually transitioned into medical aesthetics as a medical aesthetic consultant, where she encourages a holistic approach to natural beauty. She advocates for subtle, refreshing enhancements—never overdone—and believes in supporting skin health through a combination of medical-grade products, clean eating, and hydration.
Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys Pilates, yoga, pickleball and even a throwback favorite—Step Aerobics. She loves traveling, getting lost in a new city or mountain adventure, watching streaming series with her husband, and vibing up close at music festivals, fully immersed in the moment.
Hailey Melillo, a licensed aesthetician and graduate of Bellus Academy, has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, with more than six years of experience at a medical spa. As a lead aesthetician, Hailey has honed her expertise in managing treatment rooms, providing exceptional patient care, and delivering exceptional skincare treatments. Passionate about enhancing patient experiences and promoting wellness, she is dedicated to providing exceptional service and support to every patient.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Hailey enjoys spending her free time at the beach, immersing herself in the tranquility of nature, and spending time with her cat, Nugget.
Vivian Tan is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner with a passion for natural, confidence-boosting aesthetic treatments. She earned her nursing degree in 2017 and then completed her masters in 2020. Before moving to San Diego, she gained extensive experience working in an outpatient surgery center and as an aesthetic injector in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A dedicated wife and mother of two, she loves fitness, family time, and helping patients feel their best. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to patient care, Vivian ensures safe, expert treatments tailored to enhance each patient’s natural beauty.
Stacy graduated from Loma Linda University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science-Nursing & later completed a Master’s in Nursing in 2017, to support her thriving business. She holds an advanced board certification through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Stacy’s professional journey began in primary care then moved into a role as a surgical clinical trainer for several medical device companies. In 2003, Stacy founded Aesthetically Pleasing Medical Spa, Inc. after realizing her gift & passion was in aesthetics.
Stacy has built a robust aesthetics practice, highly sought by patients seeking to regain their youthful appearance. She leads her team, with a patient-focused philosophy, which is based-upon the premise that a natural artistic ability combined with continual education and advancement in aesthetic techniques is key to providing superior outcomes for patients.
Stacy also enjoys training fellow colleagues as a Faculty and National Trainer for both Allergan Aesthetics (Abbvie) & Endo Pharmaceuticals. She welcomes the opportunity to share her vast aesthetic experience with other practitioners and believes in collaboration-over-competition is what will make our industry maintain its strength.
Rebecca came on board with AP Med Spa in 2023 as our Patient Care Coordinator, and after 2 years of hard work and dedication, she’s now our Practice Manager! As a Licensed Aesthetician, Becca uses her skincare expertise to help our patients not only understand the treatments we offer but also make tailored recommendations to enhance their skincare journey. Passionate about skincare and medical aesthetics, she loves helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. Becca’s commitment to delivering exceptional customer service is unmatched. Before joining our team, Becca spent 5 years excelling in customer service at a prestigious Forbes-Rated 5-Star Resort, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her with us. Now, as Practice Manager, Becca is eager to bring her skincare knowledge and top-tier patient care to all who walk through our doors.
Melina is our dedicated and passionate Medical Assistant at AP Med Spa. With a background in plastic surgery, she brings valuable skills and knowledge to the practice, ensuring patients feel cared for and comfortable. Her love for aesthetics and patient care drives her to continually expand her expertise—she’s currently furthering her education to enhance her skills and provide the best possible experience for every patient. Nothing makes her happier than helping others feel confident, radiant, and the best version of themselves. Outside of work and school, she enjoys unwinding with Pilates or cozy nights at home with her beloved pets.
Victoria is a dedicated professional who brings a passion for patient care and results to every treatment. With a diverse taste in music—from country and EDM to rock and house—Victoria finds inspiration everywhere. Outside of work, she’s an avid runner, having completed her first half marathon and already looking forward to the next.
What truly drives Victoria is witnessing the transformation in her patients. “Seeing their confidence boost immediately after a treatment is the most rewarding part of my job,” she says.
With the personal motto, “Life has no limitations except the ones you make,” Victoria approaches both life and work with positivity and determination.
From the age of seven, Dr Monsanto knew she would become a doctor. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology, at the University of Texas – Austin. During her pre-med studies, she discovered the profoundly positive effects naturopathic medicine had on the energy and quality of life for a close family member during the fight against cancer. Fascinated by her new found knowledge (that health and healing were more than just the science of pills and medicines) she realized that she had found her calling.
Dr. Monsanto passionately began investigating the wide realm of holistic medicine. This led her to complete a Naturopathic Medical degree from the prestigious Bastyr University. In addition to this coveted degree, she took steps to further prepare herself by completing an optional residency program in general practice, deepening her expertise in alternative medicine.
Dr. Monsanto specializes in thyroid disease, adrenal dysfunction, gut health, hormone balancing, and preventative medicine. She utilizes functional lab testing and modern diagnostic methods to determine individualized treatment plans for each patient. Along with lifestyle and nutrition, she employs medicinal herbs, supplements, vitamins, and sometimes pharmaceuticals (when appropriate) to help her patients heal. Additionally, she uses nutrient IV therapy for its impressive impact on recovery and healing. Her goal for you is optimal health with longevity. You may use Dr Monsanto as your primary provider, or she will work alongside your healthcare team to provide an integrative and functional perspective.
Dr. Diana Hoppe is a distinguished Obstetrics/Gynecology physician, highly respected international clinical researcher and public speaker. Dr. Hoppe earned her medical degree at the University of California, San Diego, where she also completed her internship and residency, in 1994.
Co-founder of Pacific Coast Women’s Health (1998), Spa Pacifica (2000), and Aesthetically Pleasing Medical Spa (2005) are just a few of Dr. Hoppe’s clinical accomplishments. She has appeared on numerous local (multiple news stations) and national television (Dr. Oz Show) and radio shows (Dr. Christiane Northrupon Hay House radio). She is a frequent medical expert for women’s health magazines, including Vogue, Women’s Health Magazine, Fit Pregnancy and Brides Magazine.
Dr. Hoppe is currently a solo practitioner with a thriving Wellness and Gynecology practice, here in Encinitas, just steps away from our Medical Spa.
Hi! My name is Rachel and I am a Master Aesthetician. I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. Immediately after graduating high school, I moved to Utah and attended Skin Science Institute. I successfully completed 1200 hours in aesthetic training and earned many advanced certifications.
My passion for skincare started when I was a teenager struggling with acne. I knew from early on that I wanted to help people embrace their natural beauty and gain confidence through skincare. My favorite treatments are HydraFacials, chemical peels, and dermaplaning. I am a very result driven aesthetician and I have found these to be tried and true treatments that can transform your skin.
My favorite thing to do when I’m not working is spending time with my 3 year old daughter.
Tobi is our front desk liaison and in-house social media content creator. She came to us with a long history in aesthetics. Her passion for this industry began in 1995 with a cosmetology degree. She refined her art while fine tuning her customer service skills. Growing an interest in medical aesthetics, she sought out a rewarding career in this industry. Tobi’s keen sense of patients’ needs, mixed with her creativity, makes her well suited for this role.
Selena graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor’s in Nursing. Her career began with a background in surgery. And as she worked with the plastic surgeons, Selena was drawn to aesthetics. Moving from Maryland to San Diego became a reality when she was offered a position to work for a prominent medical practice, as an aesthetic provider.
Selena comes to AP Med Spa with a strong foundation of aesthetics and finds her passion is educating her patients while helping others feel beautiful and confident in their own skin.
Julie joined our team in early 2022 and has quickly become an invaluable addition as a front desk associate, medical assistant & a licensed phlebotomist. Julie is a hardworking graduate student with a growing interest in medical aesthetics. Julie received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University before returning to San Diego where she found her path towards Aesthetics and Wellness. True to her San Diego roots, Julie loves the ocean and spending her free time at the beach. She enjoys cooking, working out, and spending time with family and friends.Julie is a graduate student with a growing interest in medical aesthetics.
Anne joined AP Med Spa in 2017 as Practice Manager. She is loyal to the success of AP Med Spa, while dedicated to delivering value to our patients. Anne manages our front desk team and oversees much of the administrative duties. She is most regarded for her strong work ethic.
Anne’s professional background includes a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (CSUF) and her role as district manager for a major pharmaceutical company. After taking time off to raise her daughters, Anne easily re-entered the workforce, enjoyed multiple administrative and fitness positions, but knew her love was in the health and beauty industry.
