Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Alber.
Hi Crystal, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born, raised, and bred in St. Louis, Missouri. I began my career in healthcare at the bedside as a critical care nursing assistant, caring for critically ill patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. That experience shaped me and sparked a desire to learn more which eventually led me toward the highly specialized field of anesthesiology. In 2011, I became a Board Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist (CRNA), providing anesthesia to patients for surgery as well as epidurals for women in labor.
I loved being a CRNA, but after nearly a decade in practice, I just wanted more.
More knowledge. More experiences. More opportunities to grow and the opportunity to create something of my own.
I have always had an appreciation for aesthetics, and with my clinical background, transitioning into medical aesthetics felt like a natural evolution. I began in 2018, offering concierge aesthetic services aka, Botox parties and finally opened the doors of Aesthetically Pleasing in 2020.
Two weeks later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and the age of 39.
In an instant, one of the most exciting chapters of my life collided with one of the most frightening. I was facing 2+ years of cancer treatments and I was terrified. I could have put everything on hold, but I made the conscious decision that cancer was not going to define what came next.
So, I just kept going.
Throughout treatment, I continued working full time as a CRNA while simultaneously building Aesthetically Pleasing and treating clients before and after chemotherapy or radiation appointments. Surgery slowed me down a bit, but I remember being just two days post-op with 4 drains and a wound vac, but made my husband drive me to the office for a meeting. In my mind, I had something I needed to accomplish—and I was determined to make it happen.
Looking back, I realize that building Aesthetically Pleasing gave me something cancer couldn’t take away: purpose.
Starting a business from scratch is truly a labor of love. Watching an idea that existed only in my mind slowly become something real, meaningful, and beautiful gave me somewhere positive to direct my energy when life became incredibly difficult. My passion for what I was creating helped carry me through some of my hardest days.
At the time, the timing of my diagnosis felt catastrophic. I had taken one of the biggest risks of my life, only to be handed a challenge I never could have anticipated.
In hindsight, I see it differently.
That chapter became a blessing in ways I never expected. Aside from my incredible family, my clients became some of my greatest cheerleaders. They encouraged me, supported me, and gave me reasons to keep showing up. What began as a business relationship with many of them grew into something far more meaningful.
My journey taught me that resilience isn’t about never struggling. It’s about continuing to move forward, even when the path looks nothing like the one you planned.
I built a business while maintaining a demanding career in anesthesia. I spent years caring for patients, only to suddenly become a patient myself. I underwent chemotherapy, many surgeries, and treatment while continuing to pursue a vision I refused to abandon.
And through it all, my desire for “more” never disappeared. It evolved.
Today, “more” isn’t simply about achieving the next goal. It is about continuing to learn, creating something meaningful, serving others, embracing new opportunities, and refusing to allow fear or circumstance to determine the limits of what I can accomplish.
Navigating the physical and emotional complexities of recovery has been a challenge—albeit, a challenge accepted. Somewhere along my healing journey, I found my way back to myself. Not the person I was before cancer, but a new version of me—stronger, more intentional, and profoundly grateful for the second chance I had been given.
With that second chance came a renewed sense of purpose. An abundance of appreciation and gratitude inspired me to turn my experience into something meaningful—not only for myself, but for other women navigating life after breast cancer. I wanted to help them rediscover their confidence, reclaim a sense of self, and recognize that surviving can be the beginning of something extraordinary.
That purpose became A Thriving Chance, the nonprofit organization I founded to help breast cancer survivors embrace their second chance—not simply to survive, but to heal, rediscover themselves, and truly thrive.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Many complications during treatment. A severe radiation burn led to an unplanned surgery to use my latissiumus dorsi muscle on my back to patch the burn. This left me limited physically, I lost movement, coordination and strength. Plus the emotional turmoil of bilateral mastectomies and not recognizing yourself in the mirror.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
All of the above choices! I explained in more detail within my first answer.
As far as aesthetics, I am known for beautiful and natural results. I achieve this by utilizing regenerative aesthetic treatments whenever possible. Aesthetics is a blend of science & art and allowed me to embrace my own inner artist.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Riding in my grandpas police car and my dad’s firetruck.
Pricing:
- Consultations are always FREE
- Customized treatment plans.
- Flexible hours for working women.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.apstlmedspa.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stl_injector?igsh=N3lvbTNtMHUzZXg0&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ERUF83oCi/?mibextid=wwXIfr
