Getting to Know…Rebecca Altomonte, FACE by Rebecca

Meet Rebecca from FACE by Rebecca

(Inner West Mums can take advantage of a special offer – scroll to the end of the article for more info)

Between school lunches, work deadlines, drop-offs and everything else on the family to-do list, looking after yourself can end up somewhere near the bottom.

Rebecca Altomonte knows that juggle firsthand. A Hunters Hill local and mum of two, she built her career in cosmetic nursing while raising her children, eventually turning a one-room Drummoyne clinic into FACE by Rebecca, a six-treatment-room clinic with an all-female team.

Her philosophy? “Look better, not different.”

We caught up with Rebecca about building a business as a mum, what women are really asking for when it comes to their skin and where to start if you’ve been putting yourself last for a little too long.

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get into cosmetic nursing?

I’ve been a nurse for more than 30 years and started my career in intensive care at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. That gave me a strong grounding in clinical assessment, patient safety and evidence-based care, which has stayed with me throughout my career.

I moved into aesthetic medicine almost 20 years ago. At the time, I was a single mum raising two children and determined to build a career while still putting them first.

In those early years, I travelled all over Sydney to see clients, sometimes working 15-hour days. I always had a vision of opening a clinic closer to home, combining medical expertise, skin health and a more natural approach to aesthetics.

And that eventually became FACE by Rebecca?

Yes. I opened FACE by Rebecca in Drummoyne in 2017 with one treatment room. Today we have six treatment rooms and an all-female team spanning nursing, medicine and dermal therapies.

Education has also become a big part of my career. I spent six years as a trainer with Galderma, a global pharmaceutical company specialising in dermatology and aesthetic medicine, educating healthcare professionals in aesthetics, and I now work as a clinical educator, trainer and Key Opinion Leader.

I’ve always been passionate about improving education and clinical standards within the industry. The more informed women are, the more confident they can feel about making decisions that are right for them.

There seems to be a real move away from the “overdone” aesthetic. What are women asking for now?

Definitely. Women are looking for much subtler, more natural results.

For us, it has always been about “look better, not different.” Most women don’t want to walk out looking like someone else. They want to look fresher and healthier, while still looking like themselves.

That might mean addressing pigmentation, improving texture or hydration, finding skincare that actually works or simply getting good advice about something that’s been bothering them.

We’re also seeing more women interested in prevention and addressing smaller concerns earlier rather than feeling they need something more radical later.

For the mum who looks in the mirror and thinks, “I don’t even know where to start”, what would you tell her?

Start with a consultation, not a treatment.

You shouldn’t have to walk into a clinic already knowing what you need. Our role is to understand your skin, what’s concerning you and what you’d realistically like to achieve.

We look at medical history, current skincare and individual concerns, and can also use MoreMe digital skin analysis to help us understand what’s happening beyond the surface. Sometimes women come in thinking they need something quite significant and the answer may actually be much simpler. Not everybody needs everything.

Women are asking more about skin for concerns such as texture, acne scarring and overall skin quality, although whether it’s appropriate always depends on the individual. There are so many options and it can be confusing for the consumer so it’s best to start with a consultation. The end goal is to stimulate collagen.


What are women in their 40s and 50s asking you about most?

Pigmentation, changes in texture and tone, dehydration, firmness and generally feeling like their skin doesn’t look as fresh as it once did are all common.

We’re also seeing more women in their 40s and 50s using GLP-1 medicines for weight management. Significant or rapid weight loss can sometimes bring changes to facial volume and skin quality, so we’re having more conversations about how women can support their skin and overall appearance as their body changes.

That’s also where having a broader medical team is valuable. Dr Bonnie Hawthorne works in women’s hormone health and metabolic weight management, allowing us to look at the whole person rather than one concern in isolation.

The aesthetics industry can feel like a bit of a minefield. How can women tell whether they’re in good hands?

Ask questions.

Find out who is performing the treatment, what their qualifications and experience are, what device or treatment is being recommended and why it’s considered appropriate for you.

You should feel comfortable asking about risks, expected outcomes and other options. You should also feel comfortable being told that you don’t need something.

A good treatment plan should prioritise clinical assessment and patient safety, understand the person sitting in front of you and recommend only what makes sense for them and meets their expectations. 

You’ve built all of this while raising a family. How much has motherhood shaped the business?

Enormously.

I know firsthand what it’s like to juggle kids, work and finances. That experience has shaped both how I relate to clients and the workplace I’ve tried to create. We’re an all-female team and, wherever possible, I try to give the women who work with me flexibility around their families.

I’m also very conscious that family budgets matter, which is why our Partnership Wallets allow clients to contribute weekly or monthly towards future treatments.

After almost two decades in aesthetics, what’s the one thing you wish more women knew?

That looking after yourself doesn’t mean you have to change the way you look. It’s not about looking younger. It’s about looking great for your age. Great for 30, 40 or great for 50 and beyond. 

There is so much noise around women and ageing, and I don’t think the answer should be making everyone look the same. Sometimes that might mean a treatment, better skincare or simply getting good advice.

The best result for us isn’t someone asking, “What have you had done?”

It’s someone saying, “You look really well.”

Keep an eye out for upcoming FACE events exploring women’s health, aesthetics, fashion and beauty by following FACE by Rebecca on Instagram and subscribe to FACE INSIDER for clinic news, education and event updates.

FACE by Rebecca
📍 12/50-52 Lyons Rd, 2 Marlborough St, Drummoyne NSW 2047
🌏 FACE by Rebecca
☎️ 0419 158 238

🌟 Special offer for Inner West Mums: Experience the benefits of medical grade microneedling for only $199! Click here to avail of this offer

About Author

Francesca Millena

Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.

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