For generations, Black women have been praised for their ability to endure. They have been celebrated as resilient, dependable, self-sacrificing, and strong. They have carried families, communities, workplaces, and institutions on their backs. But increasingly, many Black women are asking a different question: What happens when strength is no longer measured solely by how much a woman can withstand?

That question is emerging across conversations about mental health, work-life balance, financial wellness, and increasingly, physical appearance and aging. According to Los Angeles based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Zoe Indigo , many of the women who walk through her doors are not seeking vanity. They are seeking themselves.

"I feel like people come to me when they're at their wits' end," shares Indigo. "Like the caretaker who is finally giving themselves a break or the grieving widow who's finally ready to pick herself back up."

As conversations around wellness evolve, aesthetic medicine is becoming part of a broader movement in which Black women are granting themselves permission to invest in their own wellbeing.

The Cost Of Always Being Strong

Researchers have long documented what scholars refer to as the Strong Black Woman or Superwoman Schema . The framework describes the pressure many Black women experience to remain resilient, suppress vulnerability, care for others, and persevere despite significant stressors. While resilience can be a source of strength, research suggests it can also come at a cost.

In fact a 2025 published in Open Nursing linked these expectations to elevated stress, emotional suppression, delayed healthcare utilization, burnout, and adverse physical health outcomes. In practical terms, the message many Black women internalize is simple: everyone else comes first. Children come first, partners come first, work comes first, community comes first, and the list goes on.

Personal needs often arrive somewhere near the bottom of the list. However, according to Indigo, younger generations of Black women appear increasingly willing to challenge those assumptions. Whether investing in therapy, hiring personal trainers, taking solo vacations, pursuing preventative healthcare, or exploring cosmetic treatments, many are redefining what self-care actually means.

Aesthetic Medicine As Self-Investment

Indigo believes that shift is reflected in her own practice. Originally from Detroit, she attended medical school before completing her dermatology training at UCLA. Her decision to specialize in dermatology was driven in part by the lack of representation she observed within the field.

"Even the way it's taught is very white-centered," she said. "A lot of the issues that concern us are either not studied, inconclusive, or not considered medical issues."

Historically, dermatology research has often centered lighter skin tones, contributing to disparities in diagnosis and treatment for patients with darker skin. For instance, a 2022 study from the Archives of Dermatological Research found a gap in representation among people of color in dermatological research and education which was linked to possible health disparities and incidences of racism.

At the same time, Black consumers have become one of the most influential forces in the beauty industry. While Black women have long shaped beauty culture, Indigo believes aesthetic medicine is finally beginning to catch up.

"Technology is finally catching up to us," she said. "Certain lasers weren't designed with Black skin in mind. Now that we have treatments that are safe for us and designed for us, we're seeing more Black women entering these spaces."

Indigo rejects the idea that cosmetic procedures are inherently superficial. Instead, she views them as tools that can help women feel more aligned with how they see themselves. "I can put filler in the cheeks and take somebody who looked sad and have them looking like they just got back from vacation," she said. Which explains why her practice offers services that range from medical such as treating skin tags and alopecia, to surgical, to cosmetic procedure such as microneedling, PRP, fillers, and Sculptra. Indigo also has a skincare line – Skintervention – featuring products including mineral sunscreen, hydrating creams, and foaming face cleanser.

Discussions surrounding aesthetic medicine often focus on appearance. But for many women, the motivation is less about perfection and more about confidence, control, and self-care. That distinction matters.

The same woman who invests in therapy may also invest in skincare. The same woman prioritizing her physical health may also decide to address concerns about aging that affect her confidence. Neither decision necessarily reflects insecurity.

Both may reflect a growing belief that she is worthy of care. Indigo frequently reminds patients that less is often more. "My goal isn't to sell as much Botox and filler as possible," she said. "I use it as a tool to help people feel confident and beautiful."

A New Definition Of Strength

For decades, strength has often been defined by what Black women could endure. Increasingly, however, many are embracing a different definition—one that includes rest, healing, preventative care, joy, and self-investment. Aesthetic medicine may not be for everyone, but the larger shift it represents is difficult to ignore. The question is no longer whether Black women can carry the weight of the world, but whether they should have to.