Debra Mezistrano-Boer, LME, MA, LSO, LHRP
Debra Mezistrano-Boer is a Laser & Medical Aesthetics Instructor and Practitioner based in Spring, Texas, currently serving as an instructor at La Vida Laser and Aesthetics Institute. She also works as a clinical applications trainer for Cutera Lasers and maintains an active clinical practice at Houston Wellness and Aesthetics, where she performs laser aesthetics treatments and injectable procedures including Botox, Dysport, and dermal fillers. Her work spans both education and hands-on patient care, giving her a well-rounded perspective in the medical aesthetics field. Debra began her healthcare career as a respiratory therapist, spending nine years working in intensive care before experiencing burnout and seeking a more balanced path that would also protect her young children from hospital exposure. In 2001, she made a pivotal transition into medical aesthetics, a field that allowed her to continue helping patients in a more positive, preventative, and transformative way. Her teaching career began unexpectedly while working in a dermatology office in Houston’s medical center, when a laser company representative recognized her clinical expertise and invited her to become a trainer. Encouraged by her physician and motivated by the opportunity, she stepped into education—launching what would become a long and passionate career in training. Since then, Debra has become a respected educator and industry trainer, traveling nationally and internationally to teach physicians and clinical staff. She has trained with Cutera for nearly six years, served as lead laser instructor for three different schools, and continues to stay actively involved in clinical practice two days a week to ensure her teaching remains current and relevant. She is known for her commitment to continuous learning, ethical practice, and empowering others through education. For Debra, teaching is not only a profession but a passion—driven by the fulfillment of seeing students grow, gain confidence, and succeed in an ever-evolving field she deeply respects.
• CLHRP (Certified Laser Hair Removal Professional)
• LE (Licensed Esthetician)
• St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants
Cert., Medical Assistant
• MA medical Assistant
• Plasma Elite Technician
• Highline College - AS, Respiratory Therapy
• CLHRP
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a lot of patience, which is essential in both teaching and working with clients. What really drives me is seeing people get excited about what I'm teaching them, even when I've done certain procedures so many times that they don't excite me as much anymore. That fulfillment from watching others learn and grow is incredibly rewarding. Making people look better and feel better about themselves is what it's all about for me. I'm not in it for the money, though of course that helps. I think it's a very rewarding career if you look at it that way. I'm also a lifelong learner, which has been crucial to my success. This is an ever-changing industry, and you really have to keep up. If there's something new and people are asking about it, I'm going to research it and learn about it so I can talk about it knowledgeably. Just yesterday someone said I was so smart, and I told them it's just all in my head, but I can learn. Every day there's something new, and if it's something I don't know about, I'm going to research it and learn about it. I think being ethical and honest is the most important thing in my career, because there are a lot of people out there that will take people's money and not give them what they want. I've always been very ethical, even if it would cost me, even if somebody doesn't like what I say. I'm very honest, and I tell them up front, and people actually respect that.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from a laser company salesperson who recognized how much I knew about lasers and encouraged me to become a trainer. I was working for a dermatology office in the medical center here in Houston, and this woman came in trying to sell us their laser. We were talking about the differences in lasers and what we would have to believe to try it, and she told me, 'You know a lot about lasers. We're looking for trainers.' I asked my doctor if it would be okay for me to do clinical training for Cutera on certain days, and he thought they only paid about $50 a day. When I told him no, they pay alot more a day, he said 'You go, girl!' That was the starting point of my education career. I had never originally planned to go into teaching, but I just kind of fell into it, and it's become my passion. That advice to pursue training opened the door to a career path that has been deeply fulfilling and impactful for me.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this industry to learn as many applications as they can, and be good at it. Take it one at a time, be good at what you do with one application, and then go on to another. Don't try to do everything at once. If you're going to teach, you have to be very, very well versed and get a lot of experience behind your belt before you can teach. You really need about 10 years of experience behind you before you can get into the teaching side of this industry, because we're dealing with physicians all across the country, and if you don't know what you're talking about, they're going to call you on it. It's not going to be pretty, it's embarrassing. So you need a lot of experience. Start by educating the people you work on. That's important and it's a great way to build your skills. I've had people come in and want to do a treatment and say that someone down the street is cheaper, and I tell them, if money's important to you, you're more than welcome to go there, but here you may pay a little bit more, but you're paying for the experience. And they understand that. Above all, be ethical and honest in everything you do, because your reputation is everything in this industry.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In my industry, especially on the teaching side, there are opportunities but they require a lot of experience. The laser and aesthetics field really wants people who have extensive knowledge and hands-on practice. We're dealing with physicians all across the country, and if you don't know what you're talking about, they're going to call you on it. It's not going to be pretty, it's embarrassing. So the teaching opportunities require a lot of experience, about 10 years of experience behind you before you can really get into that aspect. People always ask me how to get into teaching, and I tell them you need that solid foundation first. The challenge is that this is an ever-changing industry, so you really have to keep up with new technologies and treatments. If there's something new and people are asking about it, I'm going to research it and learn about it so I can speak knowledgeably about it. You have to be a lifelong learner to succeed in this field.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are being ethical and honest. I think that's the most important thing in my career, because there are a lot of people out there that will take people's money and not give them what they want. I've always been very ethical, even if it would cost me, even if somebody doesn't like what I say. I'm very honest, and I tell them up front, and people actually respect that. Family is also very important to me. That was one of the reasons I leftthe hospital setting - I had two small children and I didn't want to bring all the germs home to them. I used to take my scrubs off in the garage before I would even go in the house. Now that my kids are older and my husband is asking me to travel more with him, I'm making that a priority this year because he's at the point where he says he wants to go places together. Outside of work, I restore myself by playing golf with my husband, swimming, reading, and sometimes doing a little painting. For me, relaxing is basically exercising and reading a good book. I love swimming, though right now it's a little cold for that. These activities help me recharge so I can show up as my best self in my work and relationships.