Rising From the Mud: How Stacy Thomas Is Reinventing Herself with Lotus Laser Aesthetics

It was the end of 2020, Stacy Thomas had just lost her second husband to cancer.  Her life again, had been turned upside down.  After close to 20 years of teaching, all the changes in the field caused Stacy to reevaluate where she wanted to spend the next 20 years of her career.  Teaching was just not fitting right anymore.  To shake things up even more, she was soon going to be an empty-nester, her only son was off to college soon.

She was determined to grow despite her struggles.  She started to change things around her and within.  One obstacle she decided to try to overcome was PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).  Among its many symptoms comes abnormal hair growth, so as a way to make life easier and combat it, she decided to try laser hair removal as a client.

Not having luck in the past with laser hair removal, she studied up on the best treatment.  To her delight, someone talked her into trying it again. Technology had come so far.  This time… it worked.  Stacy fell in love with the procedure and all it entailed.

“I asked the tech lots of questions about how she got into it,” Stacy said.  With no laser school close, and her last year of teaching, she opted to go to Arizona, to the National Laser Institute.  It was an intense 120-hour course, slipped into 14 days.

And now, what began as a passion for hair removal, turned into even more.  She learned much more about skin rejuvenation, treatment of skin disorders, and (what turned out to even be more of a passion), laser tattoo removal.

“I never, ever would have guessed lasering tattoos would have ever been an interest,” Stacy said.  “I never figured I’d be a “laser geek”, with the physics and biology of what it entails, but I find it fascinating.”

Now, sometime later in her journey, she’s close to celebrating her first anniversary at Lotus Laser Aesthetics, where she offers painless laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, skin disorder treatments, and her favorite procedure, laser tattoo removal.  Thomas has the only tattoo removal shop in Central Minnesota.

“I feel like building myself up through tough times helps me build my brand and relate to people,”  Stacy said.  “We all have things we want to change about ourselves, and I am so happy I can help with some of those changes for so many people who are “reinventing” themselves, too.”

The company’s name, of course, was inspired by the lotus flower and its symbolic meaning.  It’s a flower that grows from the mud, often compared to growth in life after personal struggle.  As you can see from her logo, her inspiration also came from Rosie Riveter’s muscle pose.

“She brings to me how important it is to be strong in life, and she is a common working woman who inspires many,” Stacy said.  “To me she’s relatable to all walks of life.  She helps me bring the message that I welcome all into my shop, no matter class, sex, occupation, etc.”

Stacy makes a point not to over-promise what the technology can deliver.  But, she also strongly believes in her product.

“Buying cutting-edge technology was very important to me to deliver the best service I can”, she said.  “I don’t want anyone leaving the shop with an investment in a failed procedure, like I did years ago. I want to build my business on honesty, as well as quality.  I am not out to charge outrageous prices, or charge for little extras like many franchises do."

Besides her, her team includes Aesthetician in Training, Ella Riedeman, and Medical Director, Suzie Mattison, CNP.  She’s proud of the comfortable, welcoming space she has established for clients, and she’s looking forward to growing her client roster even more in the upcoming year.

To learn more and/or schedule a consultation, visit lotuslaseraesthetics.com or call 320-423-5127.