Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Williams, RN.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Nursing wasn’t my first career. I graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism at Mizzou and spent two and a half years in advertising. I loved the people I worked with, but I eventually realized the work itself just wasn’t for me. My sister suggested nursing, and I was fortunate to be accepted into an accelerated BSN program. I graduated in 2007 and never looked back.
My nursing career began in the operating room at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and each role I took after that became a little less clinical and a little more aesthetic. In 2015, I trained as a cosmetic nurse injector and knew right away I’d found my calling. Today, I’m a nurse injector at SOKO Aesthetics & Wellness, an award-winning med spa in Leawood, Kansas, where I help patients from across the Kansas City area, including Overland Park, Leawood, and Johnson County, look and feel their best.
One of the biggest challenges in this field is social media. It shows people what’s possible, but it’s also full of filters and edited photos. A big part of my job is honest education: helping patients understand what injectables can realistically achieve and what’s really surgery or photo editing.
What I love most is the relationships. Some of my patients I’ve treated for many years. We’ve celebrated together, laughed together, and occasionally cried together, and they love keeping up with my life and my daughter. Being voted Kansas City Magazine’s Best Botox Injector in 2020 and 2023, and a top-five injector in 2021, 2022, and 2024, means so much because it comes from those relationships.
Today, I’m proud to be part of the award-winning team at SOKO Aesthetics & Wellness in Leawood, where natural-looking results, honest guidance, and genuine care come first.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all, and I think that’s what makes me appreciate where I am today.
The first big leap was leaving advertising. I had a degree, a good job, and people I loved working with, and walking away to start over in nursing was scary. Going through an accelerated BSN program meant packing a huge amount of learning into a very short time. It was intense, but it confirmed I’d made the right choice.
When I first started injecting, my appointments were few and far between. I wasn’t doing Botox or dermal filler every day, or even every week, and it’s hard to build skill and confidence without consistency. Once injecting became my full-time focus, my confidence grew, my results improved, and my patients were happier. I still attend advanced injector trainings and conferences every year, because medical aesthetics never stands still, and I don’t want to either.
One of the biggest leaps of my career came more recently. After so many years at one practice, I made the decision to join SOKO Aesthetics & Wellness in Leawood. Leaving a place where you’ve grown so much is never easy, and it truly was a leap of faith. But I knew I wanted to keep pushing myself, to keep expanding my injecting skills, and to be part of a team that’s constantly learning and raising the bar. At SOKO, I’m surrounded by award-winning injectors and providers who challenge and inspire me every day. I’m also able to offer a more complete experience, from Botox, dermal fillers, and biostimulators to Laser Genesis, advanced skin treatments, and comprehensive wellness services like lab work and hormone optimization. Change can be scary, but I knew it would pay off, and it already has.
Social media has been an ongoing challenge too. It’s wonderful for showing people what’s possible, but it’s also full of filters, edited photos, and misinformation. Patients often bring in inspiration photos that aren’t realistic, and some of those looks came from plastic surgery or photo editing, not injectables. A big part of my job is honest, kind education about what Botox, lip filler, and other injectable treatments can actually achieve so every patient leaves with natural-looking results they love.
Every challenge has made me a better injector and a better listener, and I’m grateful for each one.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a nurse injector at SOKO Aesthetics & Wellness in Leawood, specializing in neuromodulators like Botox, Dysport, and Daxxify for forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet, as well as dermal fillers for lips, cheeks, chin, and jawline. I also love biostimulators, which help rebuild collagen for longer-lasting, natural rejuvenation. My aesthetic is all about subtle, natural-looking results. I want my patients to look refreshed and confident, never “done.”
But honestly, I’d say I specialize in relationships and confidence-building. Some of my patients I’ve treated for many years. We’ve celebrated together, laughed together, and occasionally cried together, and they love keeping up with my life and my daughter. Sometimes an appointment turns into a little therapy session, and I love that.
I’m most proud that those relationships have been recognized by the community. I was voted Kansas City Magazine’s Best Botox Injector in 2020 and 2023, and named a top-five injector in Kansas City in 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026. Those awards mean the world to me because they come from my patients.
I think what sets me apart is my background. Before nursing, I studied journalism and worked in advertising, so communication has always been at the heart of what I do. I listen carefully, I’m honest about what’s realistic, and I take the time to make sure every patient understands their options. That philosophy is a perfect fit at SOKO, which was named Best Med Spa in Kansas City by readers of The Pitch and is a Top 1% Galderma provider. Our team offers everything from Botox and fillers to Laser Genesis, advanced facials, and wellness services like hormone optimization, so patients can find complete, personalized care in one place.
What does success mean to you?
To me, success is a patient who looks in the mirror and feels like the best version of herself, and then comes back year after year because she trusts me. Awards are wonderful, but the real measure is the relationships: patients who refer their sisters, mothers, and best friends, and who feel comfortable telling me what they truly want from their Botox or filler treatment.
Success is also balance. Being present for my daughter while doing work I genuinely love is something I don’t take for granted. And it’s continuing to grow. If I’m still learning, still improving my craft, and still excited to walk into SOKO every morning, I’m successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sokomedspa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aestheticallyashleyrn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sokoaesthetics/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soko-aesthetics-wellness
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SOKOAesthetics
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/soko-aesthetics-and-wellness-leawood
