Kirsten Brennan, MSN, RN
Founder, Sweetwater Aesthetics Certified Aesthetic Nurse Injector
Kirsten has been a Registered Nurse for 18 years. She began her career in 2006 as an OB/GYN and Women’s Health Nurse, working on the Labor and Delivery and Mom/Baby Units at UPMC Magee Hospital in Pittsburgh. Kirsten has both inpatient and outpatient Nursing experience, which includes Medical Bariatrics/Weight loss, Health Coaching, and Public Health.
Kirsten completed each of her three Nursing degrees with Honors. She obtained her ASN from the Community College of Allegheny County, BSN from Waynesburg University and MSN in Nursing Education and Leadership from Carlow University.
Kirsten has been a Nurse Educator since 2010. Her experience includes serving as full-time Nursing Faculty at Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing and as Adjunct Nursing Faculty at several Schools of Nursing in the Pittsburgh area. Her areas of expertise include OB/Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Public Health, Mental Health, and Nursing Leadership. Staying true to her background as a Nurse Educator, Kirsten plans to offer Aesthetic clinical training and shadowing experiences for new and aspiring Nurse Injectors.
Kirsten is a proven Nurse Leader.
In 2010, she was chosen as an “Emerging Nurse Leader” by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN). She has worked in several leadership roles, including Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, and Nursing Supervisor. Kirsten has been a National and Regional speaker and presenter at various Nursing Conventions, Conferences, and Schools of Nursing. One of her favorite topics is “The importance of Self-Care in creating a Work/Life Balance.” She was honored to be part of a team of Nurse Researchers, Educators, and Leaders who developed and published a Journal article on Safe-Staffing Guidelines, which has been adopted by OB departments across the country, positively impacting patient safety.
Kirsten began her Aesthetics training in 2022. She has completed basic, advanced, and masters level training in Botulinum Toxins and Dermal Fillers, Kybella, and Sculptra by the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE), of which she’s a proud member. Kirsten has been trained by Allergan Aesthetics, Crown Aesthetics, Merz Aesthetics, Evolus, and Revance Aesthetics. She has also been trained in Medical-Grade Skincare by Alastin.
Kirsten and her husband, Shamus, have been married for 28 years and have lived in neighboring Moon Township for 26 years. They have three adult sons, three Siberian Huskies, and five cats.
Kirsten truly believes in the importance of self-care. To clear her mind, she practices mindfulness meditation, yoga, and enjoys reading.
In her free time, Kirsten enjoys the relaxed Sewickley Village nightlife and can often be found playing trivia, listening to live music, enjoying a glass of wine, or hand-crafted libation. The Brennan’s are avid travelers and enjoy getting away to explore both new and old travel destinations.
HER WHY: A Mother’s journey
Kirsten’s first son, Rhyan, was born with a dry skin disorder called Ichthyosis. His specific type is called Lamellar ichthyosis and is present at birth.
Ichthyosis refers to a group of skin disorders that lead to dry, itchy skin that appears scaly, rough, and red. The symptoms can range from mild to severe. Ichthyosis can affect only the skin, but some forms of the disease can affect internal organs as well. There are more than 30 distinct types of ichthyoses. There is currently no cure for ichthyosis. The goals of treatment include reducing the redness of the skin, thickness of the scales, and itching. Treatments can include:
• Hydrating the skin with creams, lotions, or ointments to help trap moisture in the skin and relieve dryness and scaling.
• Using an oral (isotretinoin and acitretin) or topical retinoid (Retin-A/Tretinoin) cream can decrease scaling. The retinoids are key components in the management of most types of ichthyosis.
Aesthetic Treatments, such as topical retinoid cream, microneedling with PRP/PRF, hydrating facial treatments, and the use of Exosomes are among the treatments that may benefit those clients who have dry skin conditions, such as Ichthyosis or Psoriasis.
Turning Pain into Passion
Kirsten was introduced to the world of Medical Aesthetics in 2019, following a car accident. She experienced debilitating chronic migraine headaches on a daily basis. After countless failed medication and other treatment attempts, her Neurologist recommended Botox. Within two weeks, her migraine headaches began to disappear. Receiving Botox injections every three months has completely changed and improved her life. She experienced pain relief and the added bonus of smooth and younger looking skin. Kirsten is a true believer in both the therapeutic and cosmetic benefits of Botox.
Kirsten began her Aesthetics training in 2022. She has completed basic, advanced, and masters level training in Botulinum Toxins and Dermal Fillers by the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE), of which she’s a proud member. She has also been trained by Allergan Aesthetics, Crown Aesthetics, Evolus, Galderma, Merz Aesthetics, and Revanese Aesthetics.
Additionally, Kirsten has been trained in Medical-Grade Skincare by Alastin Skincare. Kirsten can provide her clients with a personalized consultation and offer recommendations based on individual needs and goals. Healthy skin begins every morning and ends every evening with a good professional-grade skincare routine.
Kirsten and her husband, Shamus, have been married for 28 years and have lived in neighboring Moon Township for 26 years. They have three adult sons, three Siberian Huskies, and five cats.
Kirsten truly believes in the importance of self-care. To clear her mind, she practices mindfulness meditation, yoga, and enjoys reading.
In her free time, Kirsten enjoys the relaxed Sewickley Village nightlife and can often be found playing trivia, listening to live music, enjoying a glass of wine, or hand-crafted libation. The Brennan’s are avid travelers and enjoy getting away to explore both new and old travel destinations.
Garrett Cuppels, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Garrett Cuppels has been a board-certified physician for over 20 years. He began his career as an orthopedic surgeon with emphasis on sports injuries but then transitioned into the health and wellness space by starting his own supplement companies. He has served as the Medical Director for a number of clinics offering neurotoxins, dermal fillers, IV hydration, and a variety of other aesthetics treatments.
Dr. Cuppels takes pride in providing and overseeing quality care in a compassionate, responsible, and individualized manner.