LIMITLESS: A Collaborative Effort Between Allergan, The Aesthetic Society, and The American Society of Plastic Surgeons

“I like to say I'm on this leading lip of the tsunami of women plastic surgeons coming along, and it's so exciting to see all these incredible talents behind me,” Melinda (Mindy) Haws, MD, said. “And I want to give back and I want to help them climb on my shoulders and go higher, and Allergan gives me a podium to do that and has allowed me to really reach more women than I could have on my own.”

In a previous interview with Dermatology Times, Haws, immediate past president of The Aesthetic Society and a private practitioner in Nashville, Tennessee, spoke about the importance of the LIMITLESS program, which focuses on empowering women leaders in aesthetic medicine. The initiative is a collaboration with Allergan Aesthetics, The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and The Aesthetic Society, supporting women in leadership roles within plastic surgery and dermatology.

Allergan, ASPS, and The Aesthetic Society have been instrumental in creating platforms for female leaders. The organizations offer comprehensive collaboration by providing video support, training, and educational resources for physicians across their practices and academic institutions. Allergan’s dedication extends beyond product distribution, ensuring that their aesthetic treatments, such as Botox, are used safely and effectively by well-trained practitioners. Haws emphasized the importance of quality training in maintaining the safety and reputation of aesthetic procedures, noting that any negative result reflects on the entire field. Through these training programs, physicians are better equipped, which benefits their practices and promotes long-term loyalty to the brands.

For female dermatologists and aesthetic clinicians, Haws stressed that leadership extends beyond traditional, large-scale roles and is not solely about holding high-ranking positions such as society president or department head.

“As physicians, we are all leaders of our team, and whether you're a surgeon and that's in the operating room, whether you're a dermatologist, and that's in your office, we do better learning to lead,” Haws said.

Leadership skills can always be refined, according to Haws, and the LIMITLESS program provides a valuable opportunity for women to learn and grow in these areas. She also highlighted that while the challenges women face in their careers are not necessarily harder than those of men, they are distinct. Balancing family responsibilities, such as caring for children or aging relatives, often adds complexity to a woman’s professional life. Allergan, The Aesthetic Society, and ASPS understand these unique challenges and provide tools and support to help women manage their practices, enhance their leadership capabilities, and explore this personal journey.