When Dr. Hayley DeGraaff opened Advanced Life Clinic in 2004, aesthetic medicine looked very different than it does today.

“At that time, it was unusual for somebody with a primary care background to step into aesthetics,” DeGraaff said. “It really was a pioneering field.”

Her vision for Advanced Life Clinic included functional hormone wellness, anti-aging medicine, and a small aesthetic component. But as aesthetic medicine became more popular and the introduction of Botox and dermal fillers transformed cosmetic care, that side of the clinic grew quickly, and DeGraaff found herself at the center of the aesthetic medicine boom.

Despite increased popularity and acceptance of aesthetic medicine, DeGraaff said it’s still a common misconception that aesthetic and anti-aging medicine is purely frivolous or vanity-driven and therefore not really medicine. In reality, she says, the work often carries deep emotional and psychological benefits for patients.

“These things aren’t just cosmetic,” DeGraaff explained. “They help people re-enter life, re-enter the workforce, or simply feel like themselves again.”

Another common assumption is that aesthetic care is unaffordable. While many treatments are not covered by insurance, DeGraaff clarified that some treatments are more affordable than people might expect, especially when compared to surgical alternatives.

“Most of the companies that sell the products that we use have patient loyalty programs with coupons and rebates, and incentives that really help our patients keep this affordable,” DeGraaff explained. “There are price points for all ages, and it’s mostly all-inclusive. We have lasers that we can use on most skin types and products, and injectables that are available for either gender or any budget, and all age groups.”

There’s a lot of enthusiasm right now around regenerative medicine, DeGraaff said, where the body’s own regenerative healing properties are used to regenerate and restore. Treatments like Platelet Rich Plasma are now at the forefront of the clinic’s offerings. PRP involves drawing a patient’s blood, processing it without additives, and reinjecting it into targeted areas to stimulate healing and regeneration.

Advanced Life Clinic (Courtesy)

“We can use it on the face, hands, or anywhere we want to regenerate tissue,” DeGraaff said. “It’s the same concept used in orthopedics for athletes, it just has an aesthetic application here.”

As the practice has matured, so has DeGraaff’s role. While she’s trained across a wide spectrum of services, she’s gravitated toward the work she finds most fulfilling.

“I really love injectables—Botox, fillers, PRP—more than lasers, and even more than hormone management,” she said.

Over time, she’s delegated many services to skilled laser technicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners, allowing her to focus on patient care that plays to her strengths.

“When you first start out, you have to be a jack of all trades,” she said. “But as you grow, it’s nice to get to a place where you can delegate and really focus on what you enjoy.”

Originally from Arkansas, DeGraaff has called Huntsville home for nearly 30 years, and her Huntsville roots run deep. She raised her children in Huntsville, watched them graduate from Huntsville High, and built a practice that has served generations of patients here.

“This is home,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere.”