About Chrome Aesthetics Spa
Aesthetic care
led by real clinicians
Chrome Aesthetics is a locally owned, nurse practitioner-led medical spa in Northwest Albuquerque founded on the belief that patients deserve honest guidance, medically sound care, and results that look like them, only better. Not overdone. Not templated. Genuinely, confidently themselves.
1,000+
Happy clients
served
2,000+
Procedures
performed
10
Years of
excellence
Built on a belief the industry needed to hear
From the very beginning, Chrome Aesthetics was built on a simple belief: clients deserve to feel relevant, confident, and empowered at every stage of life. Founder Barbara Franklin saw too many patients walking away from aesthetic treatments feeling overdone, under-educated, and unsure who to trust.
She recognized that the real problem wasn't age or appearance it was an industry that too often prioritized quick fixes over patient education and safety. So she built something different: a practice where the clinical expertise of an advanced-practice nurse is paired with genuine care for long-term outcomes.
At the heart of everything we do are three values compassion, a sense of humor, and a commitment to long-term relationships. These guide every consultation, every treatment, and every follow-up visit.
Every treatment at Chrome Aesthetics is grounded in real medical training not a weekend certification.
Compassion
Every patient is a person with a real story. We listen before we recommend, and we care about outcomes that serve your life not just your appointment.
Honesty
We will never recommend a treatment you don't need. If something isn't right for you, we'll say so and explain why, clearly.
Education First
You should understand exactly what is being done and why before any treatment begins. Informed consent isn't a formality here it's a standard.
Natural Results
Our aesthetic philosophy centers on subtle, gradual improvement that enhances your features rather than altering them. Results that age gracefully and look genuinely like you.
Long-Term Relationships
We're not a walk-in clinic. We keep records, remember your history, and track your results over time so that every visit builds on the last.
Sense of Humor
Aesthetic care should feel approachable, not intimidating. We keep the atmosphere warm, real, and occasionally funny because that's how we'd want to be treated.
Our Lead Providers
The people behind your treatment plan
Barbara Franklin
CFNP · NP-C · MEP-C · Founder
Founder & Clinical Lead
35+ years of medical experience.
16+ years making women feel amazing.
After 33 years in healthcare, Barbara has seen it all. She started her career in nursing, became a family nurse practitioner, spent years in gynecology helping women with their health concerns, and for the past 16 years has been perfecting the art of clinical aesthetics.
When Barbara was working in gynecology, her patients kept asking about aesthetic treatments. They trusted her medical expertise and wanted her guidance on looking and feeling their best. So Barbara dove deep into clinical aesthetics training with the best providers in the field, earning advanced credentials, and never stopping her education.
"The thing I love most is the ability to continue to learn all along the way. Every day, I get to help women feel more confident and beautiful in their own skin."
Barbara has been working with BioTE Hormone Therapy since 2012, understanding deeply how hormones affect everything from energy to skin quality. She brings that clinical foundation to every aesthetic consultation because good aesthetics starts with understanding the whole person.
✦ University of New Mexico College of Nursing (1990)
✦ Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner — Creighton University (2007)
✦ 16+ years of specialized aesthetic training
✦ BioTE Hormone Therapy provider since 2012
✦ Member of 7 professional medical organizations
✦ Developed Chrome Academy an aesthetic injector training program
Real Medical Training
Board-certified family nurse practitioner with advanced aesthetic credentials and decades of clinical practice not a weekend certification.
Hormone Expertise
One of few aesthetic providers who understands the hormonal dimension of skin aging and can address both through integrated care.
No-Pressure Approach
Barbara will never pressure you into treatments you don't need or can't afford. Honest assessments and gradual improvement, always.
Always Learning
Currently developing an educational platform to train the next generation of aesthetic providers because excellence in this field requires it.
Marisa Escobar
MSN · FNP-C · BSN, RN · MEP-C
Lead Injector & GAIN Trainer
10+ years of medical experience.
7+ years boosting patient confidence.
Marisa Escobar is a highly skilled Nurse Practitioner specializing in facial aesthetics whose approach goes beyond the treatment itself. She focuses on building trust, fostering self-assurance, and creating meaningful connections that make every visit a positive, empowering experience.
Since partnering with Barbara in 2018 to expand Chrome Aesthetics, Marisa has continued to elevate the standard of care combining expert skill with genuine compassion. Her patients describe her as knowledgeable, kind, and exceptionally talented: a standout provider known for delivering high-quality, trustworthy, and transformative aesthetic results.
Marisa has earned a reputation for artistry, safety, and results that inspire lasting confidence.
✦ Grand Canyon University — BSN (2012)
✦ Walden University — Master of Science, Family NP (2017)
✦ 7+ years of aesthetic specialized training
✦ GAIN Trainer for Galderma — mentors other injectors nationally
✦ MEP-C certified (Medical Aesthetic Procedures)
Expertise & Precision
Advanced medical credentials combined with years of aesthetic practice delivering results that are natural, balanced, and never overdone.
Educator & Innovator
As a Galderma GAIN Trainer, Marisa mentors other injectors on evidence-based techniques, advancing safety and excellence across the field.
Client-Centered Care
Known for warmth, clear communication, and genuine compassion every patient leaves feeling understood and confident in their plan.
Artistry First
An aesthetic eye trained to see balance and proportion not just treating the area presented, but understanding how it fits the whole face.
Our Team
The people who make every visit exceptional
Michael Sanchez
BSN · RN · MEP-C
With 16+ years of nursing experience in med-surg, emergency, and hospitalist triage, Michael brings extensive clinical expertise to Chrome Aesthetics. Starting at Presbyterian in 2008, he advanced quickly to charge nurse and earned his BSN in 2020. Since joining Chrome in 2025, he has blended his medical background with a passion for patient care, providing treatments and IV therapy.
Janelle Anderson
Licensed Aesthetician
Passionate about skincare and dedicated to exceptional care. A graduate of the Paul Mitchell School of Albuquerque, she values respect, kindness, and hard work rooted in her Sandia Pueblo upbringing. Outside of work, she treasures time with her two children, carrying her grandmother's wisdom to "be happy and never be stingy with your hands."
Joey Gutierrez
Licensed Aesthetician
Beginning as a freelance makeup artist in 2001 and spending a decade with MAC Cosmetics, Joey built a strong foundation in beauty. He then expanded into esthetics, deepening his expertise in skin health. In 2020, he and his husband opened their own salon offering combined hair and skin services. He brings his artistry and experience to the Chrome team with a passion for continued learning.
Joleen Bingham
Office Assistant
With over a decade of experience as a medical assistant including 13 years working alongside Barbara Joleen brings both skill and warmth to Chrome Aesthetics. After a brief retirement, she joined Chrome to continue supporting patients with compassionate care. A proud grandmother and great-grandmother, she enjoys gardening, sewing, and spending time with her family.
Loreliz Stark
Office Manager
As office manager, Loreliz keeps Chrome Aesthetics running smoothly supporting providers, coordinating client needs, planning events, and assisting with social media and marketing. Often the first friendly face clients see, she ensures every visit starts with a warm welcome and ends with excellent care.
Kendall Bri
Assistant Office Coordinator
Supporting the team every Saturday, Kendall keeps operations running smoothly, manages schedules, and ensures the office stays organized. Her dedication, attention to detail, and friendly approach make every Saturday more efficient and welcoming for staff and clients alike.
How We Got Here
A practice built on
what patients actually needed
Chrome Aesthetics didn't start as a business plan. It started with Barbara's patients in gynecology asking for her help with aesthetic concerns. They trusted her medical expertise and wanted guidance from someone who actually understood their bodies, their health, and their goals.
So Barbara dove into clinical aesthetics the same way she approached everything else in her career with deep training, honest assessment, and an absolute refusal to cut corners. She brought Marisa on in 2018 and has steadily built a team that reflects those same values: clinically credentialed, genuinely caring, and always learning.
Today Chrome Aesthetics serves more than 1,000 patients and has performed over 2,000 procedures not because of aggressive marketing or discounting, but because patients refer their friends, families, and colleagues.
1990
Nursing Begins
Barbara graduates from UNM College of Nursing and begins her healthcare career.
2007
Family NP Credential
Barbara earns her Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner from Creighton University.
2012
BioTE & Aesthetics
Barbara begins working with BioTE hormone therapy and deepens her clinical aesthetics training in response to patient demand.
2015
Chrome Aesthetics Opens
Chrome Aesthetics Spa opens in Northwest Albuquerque, bringing NP-led aesthetic care to the community.
2018
Marisa Joins the Team
Marisa Escobar, MSN, FNP-C, partners with Barbara to expand Chrome Aesthetics and elevate the standard of care.
2025
Team Expansion
Michael Sanchez, BSN, RN, MEP-C joins, bringing 16+ years of clinical nursing experience to Chrome's care team.
Now
Chrome Academy Development
Barbara is built an educational platform to train the next generation of aesthetic injectors because this field needs better standards.
Common Questions
What patients want to know before their first visit
What is Chrome Aesthetics Spa?
Chrome Aesthetics Spa is a clinical aesthetics practice in Albuquerque, NM. We blend advanced medical techniques with a holistic and compassionate approach. We help clients achieve natural looking, subtle enhancements that make them feel like the best version of themselves.
Who founded Chrome Aesthetics, and what is their background?
Barbara Franklin, NP (CFNP, NP-C, MEP-C), founded Chrome Aesthetics. With 35 plus years in healthcare (including gynecology) and 16 plus years specializing in clinical aesthetics, she brings deep medical expertise, hormone optimization knowledge (BioTE since 2012), and a passion for patient education and natural results.
Who are the key providers on your team?
Our core team includes Barbara Franklin, NP, and Marisa Escobar, MSN, FNP-C (GAIN Trainer for Galderma with 10 plus years medical experience and 7 plus years in facial aesthetics). We are supported by Michael Sanchez, BSN, RN, MEP-C; licensed estheticians Janelle Anderson and Joey Gutierrez; medical assistant Joleen Bingham; office manager Loreliz Stark; and assistant Kendall Bri.
What makes your providers different?
All injectables are performed exclusively by credentialed Nurse Practitioners. We emphasize real medical training, ongoing education, artistic precision for natural outcomes, no pressure consultations, and genuine client connections. Marisa is a GAIN Trainer, and Barbara is developing an aesthetics academy to train other providers.
What is your philosophy at Chrome Aesthetics?
We believe clients deserve to feel relevant, confident, and empowered at every stage of life. We prioritize compassion, honesty, education, long term relationships, and subtle results over quick fixes or overdone appearances. Safety, trust, and personalized care come first.
How many clients and procedures has your team supported?
We have helped more than 1,000 happy clients through 2,000+ procedures over 10 years of excellence. We deliver safe, transformative results with a focus on natural beauty and confidence.
Do you offer hormone therapy or wellness services?
Yes. Barbara has extensive experience with BioTE hormone optimization since 2012. We address how hormones impact energy, skin, mood, and overall wellness as part of our holistic approach.
What is your approach to consultations and treatments?
We provide honest, no pressure assessments tailored to your goals, budget, and needs. Treatments focus on gradual, natural improvements with clear education so you feel informed and confident every step of the way.
Are you involved in training or education?
Yes. Barbara is developing an educational platform for other providers. Marisa serves as a GAIN Trainer for Galderma, mentoring injectors on evidence based techniques. We also host hands on trainings and cadaver labs.
Where is Chrome Aesthetics located and how do I contact you?
We are at 3613 NM-528 Suite H, Albuquerque, NM 87114. Call us at (505) 897-5065 or email [email protected]
Book online via our scheduling link.
Chrome Academy & Education
Training the next generation of aesthetic providers
Barbara's commitment to excellence doesn't stop at her own patients. She is actively developing Chrome Academy an educational platform designed to train other aesthetic injectors in evidence-based technique, patient safety, and the clinical foundations that separate exceptional providers from average ones.
Marisa complements this through her role as a GAIN Trainer for Galderma, mentoring injectors across the country on best practices in filler and neuromodulator administration.
If you're a provider looking to advance your aesthetic training, or if you want to understand the depth of expertise behind your treatment team, these programs reflect the standard we hold ourselves to at Chrome.
