About
Dr. Nerissa Prieto built one of Northern California's most clinically diverse boutique practices on a foundation that most aesthetic and wellness providers lack: twenty years as a board-certified anesthesiologist. She earned her M.S. at UCLA with an emphasis in cellular physiology and neuroscience. During her undergraduate years she contributed to neuroscience, psychiatry, and molecular biology research at MIT and Harvard. She went on to complete medical school, a surgical internship, and an anesthesiology residency at Rutgers University, formerly Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. In 2007 she became the 113th graduate of Stanford's ICU fellowship program since its founding more than fifty years prior. That same year her award-winning research on alcohol withdrawal in the ICU earned recognition at a national conference and later citation as seminal work in the field.
Before medicine, Dr. Prieto worked as an investment banker on Wall Street. That analytical precision carries into her clinical work today. She has maintained surgical privileges at multiple Chico centers throughout her career and serves as Director of Clinical Trials at FACTORFIVE Skincare. She co-authored a chapter on surgical management of skin and soft-tissue cancers and contributes to Dermatology Times. Her current clinical focus spans regional pain management and ketamine infusion therapy. In March 2022 she co-coordinated the medical response to a mass casualty incident at a Redding daycare; all children survived. She has called Chico home since 2007, choosing the community over a return to the East Coast.
Education & Training
Undergraduate
B.A. in Psychobiology, Wellesley College
Medical School
Rutgers University (formerly Robert Wood Johnson Medical School)
Residency
Anesthesiology residency, Rutgers University (formerly Robert Wood Johnson Medical School); Surgical internship, Rutgers University (formerly Robert Wood Johnson Medical School)
Fellowship
ICU Fellowship, Stanford University (2007, 113th graduate of the program)
Additional Training
M.S. with emphasis in cellular physiology and neuroscience, UCLA; Neuroscience, psychiatry, and molecular biology research contributions at MIT and Harvard (undergraduate)
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Prieto right for?
Dr. Prieto is a strong fit for adults seeking science-driven preventive and aesthetic care. Patients dealing with chronic pain, joint issues, or tendinitis benefit from her regional pain management expertise. Those exploring ketamine infusion therapy for pain or mood-related conditions will find her critical care background highly relevant. She also serves patients pursuing NAD+ therapy, medical weight loss with semaglutide, or advanced aesthetic treatments like RF microneedling and CO2 laser resurfacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Prieto treats chronic pain, joint and bursitis conditions, tendinitis, and patients seeking ketamine infusion therapy. She also supports patients pursuing medical weight loss with semaglutide, IV nutritional therapy, and a full range of regenerative aesthetic concerns including skin texture, volume loss, and acne.
Yes, Dr. Prieto holds board certification in anesthesiology. She also completed specialty training in intensive care medicine through Stanford's ICU fellowship program, where she became the 113th graduate in the program's fifty-plus-year history.
Dr. Prieto completed medical school, a surgical internship, and her anesthesiology residency at Rutgers University, formerly Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She then completed her ICU fellowship at Stanford in 2007. S. A. in Psychobiology from Wellesley College.
Dr. Prieto practices around a predict-and-prevent model. She draws on two decades of critical care, trauma, and surgical experience to identify and address health risks before they escalate. That same precision guides her aesthetic and wellness work.
Yes, Dr. Prieto has a strong research background. Her work on alcohol withdrawal in the ICU earned recognition at a national conference and later citation as a seminal reference in the field. She also co-authored a chapter on surgical management of skin and soft-tissue cancers and contributes to Dermatology Times.
Dr. Prieto serves as Director of Clinical Trials at FACTORFIVE Skincare. She also maintains surgical privileges at multiple centers in the Chico area, keeping her connected to active clinical environments beyond her boutique practice.
Dr. Prieto spends approximately 37 minutes with each patient. Pain management appointments typically run 30 to 45 minutes. That time allows her to assess each patient thoroughly and tailor a plan to their specific needs.
Dr. Prieto offers BOTOX Cosmetic, Dysport, Xeomin, Letybo neuromodulator, JUVÉDERM, Restylane, and Radiesse dermal fillers. She also provides IPL therapy, RF microneedling, AviClear acne laser treatment, CO2 laser resurfacing, Laser Genesis, and laser hair reduction. Privvy is the only Chico-area medical spa offering Letybo.
Doctor profile last updated March 21, 2026