Medical Spa Insider

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Robin Ntoh, VP of Aesthetics at Nextech. They discuss the evolution of the aesthetics industry, solutions specific to the needs of medical spas, and what she’s excited about in the future of medical aesthetics. Their conversation includes:

• What aesthetics looked like as it expanded beyond plastic surgery;
• Tailoring software solutions to the needs of medical spas;
• How to differentiate your med spa from the competition;
• The trends of 2023 and anticipated trends for 2024;
• Strategies for and pain points of patient retention;
• Understanding Gen X, Millennial and Gen Z patients;
• And much more!

This week on the podcast, we revisit our conversation with Wendy Collier, renowned business coach for entrepreneurial women. She speaks about locking in to your meaning and drive (your “soul fuel”), as well as what it’s like to be an entrepreneur in the aesthetic space; how to develop the entrepreneurial mindset; and how to overcome fears in business.

This week, AmSpa Membership Development Coordinator, Michela Bailey, speaks with Sarah Balladares, PA-C, aesthetic injector and founder of Smooth Aesthetics. This lively chat covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Her “I did it” moment;
• What it takes to become a trainer;
• Aesthetic treatments and skincare;
• Conquering your moments of doubt;
• Travel tips and stress ball alternatives;
• Her path to physician assistant school;
• Asking for help when you need it;
• And much more!

(SPOILER ALERT: Contains plot details for the 2019 film Midsommar.)

This week, we revisit this shutdown-era conversation with Mary Beth Hagen, founder and CEO of TITAN Aesthetic Recruiting. She joins AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, to discuss aesthetic injector salaries, what makes a quality injector, and all things surrounding aesthetic recruiting and placement.

This week, AmSpa Membership Development Coordinator, Michela Bailey, speaks with Silvia Tuthill, DNP, ANP-C, co-owner of Tenth Avenue Aesthetics and Tenth Avenue Aesthetics Artistry and Institute. They chat about her career and involvement in medical aesthetics and

• When she decided she needed to become a member of AmSpa;
• Her growing business and involvement in the industry;
• Advice to reach the next level in medical aesthetics;
• Her favorite aesthetic treatments, skin care and hobbies;
• Who she follows for positive, engaging content;
• What she’s known for in her practice;
• And more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

This week AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Nick Liguori, CPA, founder of Liguori Accounting. They discuss the bookkeeping challenges medical spas face and the steps you can take throughout the year to prepare for tax season. Their conversation includes:

• The different roles of accountants, bookkeepers and advisors;
• Common tax mistakes new business owners make;
• The way you have to think about and plan for taxes;
• Systems and assistance medical spa owners need to get their time back;
• How to handle MSOs from a tax standpoint;
• Key metrics your aesthetic practice should be tracking;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

This week, AmSpa Membership Development Coordinator, Michela Bailey, speaks with Vrinkley Pruna, MSN, NP, nurse injector and Co-Owner of Shape & Skin Medical Spa & Weight Loss. They delve further into Pruna’s experience in aesthetics, changes in weight loss medicine, and her life currently. Their conversation includes:

• What brought her to AmSpa
• Her favorite events and travel stories
• The boom in popularity of weight loss solutions
• Working with her family
• Opinions on locations and lifestyles
• Her skincare, treatments and hobbies
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

This week’s podcast was recorded live from AmSpa’s first annual Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference in Miami. Listen in as Carrie Strom, senior vice president of AbbVie and president of Global Allergan Aesthetics, chats with Sara Blakely, founder and executive chairwoman of SPANX. Following a brief introduction from Strom and AmSpa founder, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, this keynote conversation explores the founding of a household name, along with leadership insight on confidence, failure, purpose, mindset, and much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

This week, we revisit our conversation with Taylor Siemens, NP-C, founder of Aesthetic Care NP and clinical director of Vitalyc Medspa. She joined us to speak about her commitment to training medical aesthetic practitioners, covering:

• The lack of training standards in medical aesthetics;
• The appetite for more training among injectors;
• The power of sharing knowledge with other aesthetic injectors;
• The benefits and limitations of training provided by injectable vendors;
• The reputation of medical spas among core doctors;
• The need to bring more NPs and PAs into the industry;
• Her upcoming aesthetic practitioner training app;
• And more!

This week, AmSpa founder, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Michael Olson, practice growth consultant at MyAdvice. They discuss the changes in marketing strategy that medical spas need to make as they grow. Their conversation includes:

• Marketing needs specific to the aesthetic industry;
• How partnerships with marketing firms should work;
• What to look for when choosing a digital marketing company;
• Changing your marketing strategy as your practice grows;
• How your online presence gets people in the door;
• Big changes that would require you to rethink your marketing;
• Marketing to retain your top providers;
• And more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Kent “Kye” Higdon, MD, FACS, board-certified plastic surgeon and Communications Commissioner of The Aesthetic Society. They discuss and contextualize the findings of the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank Statistics for 2022. Their conversation includes:

• What might be driving the demand for surgical and nonsurgical treatments;
• The evolving dynamic between plastic surgery practices and medical spas;
• How aesthetic patient demographics are shifting;
• Understanding price fluctuations in 2022;
• How 2023 is shaping up for aesthetic practices;
• And much more!

Get the full picture when you view the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Statistics for 2022 and the 2022 Medical Spa State of the Industry Report.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Michael Byrd, JD, and Jay Reyero, JD, of national healthcare law firm ByrdAdatto. They discuss an incident at a Texas medical spa, the state medical board’s reaction, and the larger implications of compliance for medical spas and IV therapy. Their conversation includes:

• The tragic death of a Texas woman after visiting a medical spa;
• The lay of the land for these types of treatments;
• How state boards have commented on IV therapy;
• Legal basics to set up IV therapy in a medical spa;
• A dose of empathy for medical spa owners; and
• Potential outcomes as states react to this case.

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Albert Miles, vice president of Xite Realty. They discuss the timeline and process that medical spa owners can expect when they look for aesthetics real estate. Their conversation includes:

• The formal process behind real estate selection;
• Educating prospective medical spa owners;
• Targeting your ideal patient with data;
• Real estate location as advertising;
• Roadblocks and misconceptions;
• What goes into real estate costs;
• Cautions and advice for prospective owners;
• And much more!

Note: Episode may include explicit language.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

This week, AmSpa President and COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Dani Sher, PA-C, founder of Sparkle Aesthetics. They discuss Sher’s comedy background and ultrasound in aesthetics. Their conversation includes:

• Her non-linear path to aesthetics;
• Bringing comedy to aesthetic medicine;
• Finding the everyday truths that exist in this world;
• How she brought ultrasound from the ER to facial aesthetics;
• Mitigating risk and the question of malpractice;
• How much training is needed to adopt ultrasound;
• Credentialing for facial ultrasound;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD and Podium. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com and https://www.podium.com/amspa/ to learn more!

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, catches up with Ryan Rao, chief development officer, and Ryan Rose, CEO, of VIO Med Spa. They discuss medical spa trends on a national scale, the business benefits of wellness treatments and what newcomers learn before investing in medical spas. Their conversation includes:

• An update on location growth, sales trends and service lines;
• The process of introducing wellness treatment plans;
• How mental health intersects with medical aesthetics;
• What makes the learning curve steeper for new medical spa owners;
• Building a brand with a backbone of compliance;
• Dichotomies of leadership and developing culture within a medical spa;
• Perceptions and realities of franchising in the medical spa category;
• And much more!

Listen to their previous conversation on franchise development and the launch of VIO Med Spa here: Franchise Development with VIO Med Spa: from Single Unit to National Name

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD, HansBiomed and Podium. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com; https://www.mintliftsummit.com/; and https://www.podium.com/amspa/ to learn more!

This week, AmSpa President and COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Sohee Jun, PhD, top leadership coach and bestselling author. They discuss the myth of balance, her journey into leadership coaching and her advice for overcoming challenges as a business leader. Their conversation includes:

• Why she’s allergic to the word “balance;”
• Integrating our priorities and thinking about our values;
• Her journey to organizational psychology and leadership coaching;
• What working with a leadership coach looks like and who her clients are;
• Advice for cultivating a team of leaders;
• Recognizing when to pivot and elevate your leadership style;
• The challenge of leading multigenerational teams;
• And much more!

Learn more from Dr. Jun during her closing keynote at the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference from November 1 – 3, 2023 in Miami.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD, HansBiomed and Podium. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com; https://www.mintliftsummit.com/; and https://www.podium.com/amspa/ to learn more!

This week, AmSpa President and COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Dr. Toby Makmel, cosmetic physician and Co-founder and Head Medical Advisor at Clinicminds. They discuss the aesthetic medicine use case for EHR, the ways his software adapts to the needs of providers across the globe, and how the business of medical aesthetics compares in the Netherlands. Their conversation includes:

• How Clinicminds expanded across countries, languages and time zones;
• Differences in software focus from Amsterdam to the U.S.;
• Aesthetics regulation and compliance landscapes in the U.S. and Amsterdam;
• The vital components of treatment registration;
• How medical spa EHR software updates with the changing landscape;
• Which medical professionals are entering cosmetic medicine in the Netherlands;
• Running a successful video consultation;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD, HansBiomed and Podium. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com; https://www.mintliftsummit.com/; and https://www.podium.com/amspa/ to learn more!

This week, AmSpa President and COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Erika Barry, NP-C, MSN, international trainer and founder of Moksha Aesthetics. They discuss aesthetic detective work, personal branding and the importance of a pause. Their conversation includes:

• Barry’s journey from hospital to cosmetic clinic and medical spas;
• What led her to Patreon and how she became @injectorbunny;
• Stepping back and assessing the clues in a patient’s face;
• Her talent for patience with employees, marketing and patients;
• Marketing tips and how you make someone feel;
• The distinction between your reputation and your personal brand;
• Giving yourself the time to make a decision;
• And much more!

Foster community with Barry and fellow aesthetic visionaries as you re-energize at AmSpa’s Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference November 1 – 3, 2023 in Miami.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD and HansBiomed. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com and https://www.mintliftsummit.com to learn more!

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Shannon Blake, senior partner manager at Podium, and Cortney Hall, clinic director and COO at Imago Medical. They speak about the increasing usage of AI in medical spas and how AI is streamlining text marketing for medical aesthetics. Their conversation covers:

• Automating features to get your time back;
• How AI assistants answer patient questions;
• What differentiates text marketing from email;
• Taking emotion out of communication with generative AI;
• What’s next with AI in medical spa marketing;
• Maintaining the human element;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

This week, AmSpa President and COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Nicci Levy, founder and CEO of Alchemy 43. They discuss how she built and defined a niche for Alchemy 43, best practices for her nationwide brand, and how becoming a mother has impacted her leadership. Their conversation covers:

• The story of Levy’s path to aesthetics and founding Alchemy 43;
• Advice for opening locations in new markets;
• Defining her brand’s focus on microtreatments;
• Supporting profit margins in an injectables-focused model;
• What the process of raising capital looks like and how to work with investors;
• The challenge of recruiting, training and retaining skilled injectors;
• Finding harmony between business leadership and family as a woman entrepreneur;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD and Boulevard. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com and https://get.joinblvd.com/amspa/ to learn more!

This week, AmSpa President and COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Paula Davis, JD, MAPP, founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute. They discuss the experience of burnout in the workplace, elements that contribute to this stress, and what leaders can do when they recognize burnout. Their conversation covers:

• How to handle the feelings associated with burnout;
• Sources of uncertainty and chronic stress in the workplace;
• The effects of a leader’s burnout on the team;
• The necessary process of introspection;
• Recognizing the line between stress and burnout;
• Davis’ mini checklist to recognize burnout;
• How to support recovery from stress and burnout;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD and Boulevard. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com and https://get.joinblvd.com/amspa/ to learn more!

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Liam Degnan, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Compliancy Group. They speak about HIPAA compliance in the medical spa space, where to start and how it benefits your business. Their conversation covers:

• How to mitigate your liability and make patients feel comfortable;
• The profitability of compliant businesses;
• Identifying risks and deficiencies in your workflows;
• Why your business needs personalized policies and forms;
• What training your employees need;
• Sources of trouble in your medical spa’s compliance;
• When you get fined and how to protect your business;
• And much more!

Read more about complying with HIPAA in AmSpa’s recent blog post.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD and Boulevard. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com and https://get.joinblvd.com/amspa/ to learn more!

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Mitra Silva, founder of medical interior design firm Simour Design. They discuss how medical spas can utilize their vertical real estate to level up profitability, efficiency and the patient experience. Their conversation covers:

• Designing for your business workflow to maximize profitability and efficiency;
• Using every inch of real estate with vertical square footage;
• Allocating space based on your practice’s budgetary breakdown;
• Costs of renovation and ROI on spending for your space;
• Pain points for medical spa spaces;
• Applying psychology in intentional design;
• How lighting, location and decluttering engage your patients;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD and Boulevard. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com and https://get.joinblvd.com/amspa/ to learn more!

In this week's episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Kathy Taranto, managing partner at AesthetiCare Medspa and MINT Aesthetics. They discuss how her business has grown over time, the partnership that has built a network of medical aesthetic clinics across the country, and the practices that make her team successful. Their conversation includes:

• Her history in aesthetics, growth and expansion;
• Teaming up with Cosmetic Physician Partners;
• How to increase your buying power and why;
• What changed her mind about partnering and its impact on her business;
• Trends in patient behavior and economic fears;
• Finding the right team members and training them for success;
• How a medical spa can increase its repeat patients;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

This week, AmSpa President and COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Bryan Durocher, founder of Essentials Spa Consulting and Durocher Enterprises. They discuss how he got his start in the beauty industry and business education, finding the right mix of services for your medical spa, and the business strategy he shares with clients. Their conversation includes:

• The perspective he brings to his clients;
• What’s changed in the advice he shares today;
• Good practices of medical spa memberships;
• Having a plan for your services;
• Educating patients on the options available;
• Training and empowering your staff to convert;
• Industry growth, competition and predictions for the future;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

In this week’s episode, AmSpa COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Heather Hickman, VP of education at Dermalogica. They discuss the role of aestheticians in medical spas and what practices should look for in a skin care line. Their conversation includes:

• The value that aestheticians bring to medical spas;
• Skills that an aesthetician needs to be elevated in a medical spa field;
• An aesthetician’s role in safety and pre-treatment care;
• Dermalogica’s MediSpa Professional Accreditation program;
• What to look for in an ideal aesthetician for your medical spa;
• The trust factor for aesthetic patient relationships;
• What to look for when choosing a skin care line;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com to learn more!

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Bill Fukui, senior VP of business development at MedShark Digital. One of the most experienced medical and dental marketers, Fukui details the ways digital marketing has evolved since he first entered the field in 1995 and shares best practices for medical spa owners who want to get more leads from search traffic. Their conversation covers:

• The beginnings of the SEO model and adapting marketing practices;
• Challenges for practitioners trying to level the search playing field;
• How to strengthen your domain authority;
• What type of content to put on your website and where to source ideas;
• How to reach micromarkets using Google Map Pack;
• Using traffic data and timing to improve your marketing;
• Low-hanging fruit for medical spa advertising;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com/
to learn more!

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Dr. Brittny Williams Howell, board-certified vascular surgeon and CEO of Morph Med Spa in Ridgefield, Connecticut. They discuss medical weight loss programs, the effectiveness of weight loss solutions and the financial implications of working with a compound pharmacy vs. health insurance. Their conversation covers:

• Elements of a sustainable weight loss journey;
• Comparing the effectiveness of medication for weight loss;
• The science of GLP-1 and insulin for your metabolism;
• Public misconceptions about semaglutide;
• Why some medical spas work with compounding pharmacies;
• How she handles working with insurance;
• The future of medication for weight loss;
• And more!

Read more about the ongoing lawsuits filed by Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, at the AmSpa Now blog. Stay tuned for new updates on the subject as more info becomes available.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com/
to learn more!

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Patrick O’Brien, JD, of AmSpa and ByrdAdatto, to discuss the legal concerns with compounded semaglutide and its name-brand drugs. They talk about the basic legal implications of Ozempic and recent lawsuits, compounding pharmacy issues and general guidelines for navigating this area of the law. Their conversation includes:

• How compounding pharmacies began compounding semaglutide;
• Patent protections for the name-brand manufacturer;
• Semaglutide salts and FDA warnings about base ingredients;
• The recent lawsuits and the issues at play;
• Trademarks, advertising and claims;
• How your medical spa can stay compliant when offering compounded semaglutide;
• And more!

Read more about the ongoing lawsuits filed by Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, at the AmSpa Now blog. Stay tuned for new updates on the subject as more info becomes available.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com/ to learn more!

This week, AmSpa COO, Cathy Christensen, is in conversation with Christin Trujillo and Jessica Nunn, co-partners of Maven Financial Partners. They discuss the benchmarks in medical spa financials, setting aesthetic practices up for success and their upcoming master class event. Their conversation includes:

• The story that financial data tells;
• Industry-wide trends from their benchmarking report, in context;
• The experts and reports you need on your side;
• How to know when you can raise prices, move to a bigger space or hire more people;
• What to expect at Advanced Practice Management Symposium: Medical Spa Finances;
• Using data analysis to course-correct and create a roadmap for where you want to go;
• And much more!

If your aesthetic practice has been open and successful for at least three years and you want gain a deeper understanding of your financial story with the experts at Maven Financial Partners, register at https://americanmedspa.org/medspafinances2023
to sign up for Advanced Practice Management Symposium: Medical Spa Finances on August 19 – 20, 2023. Space is limited, so register today to reserve your seat!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com/ to learn more!

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Taylor Siemens, NP-C, founder of Aesthetic Care NP and clinical director of Vitalyc Medspa. They discuss medical weight loss programs and protocols for offering semaglutide in your aesthetic practice. Their conversation includes:

• Semaglutide’s history and current usage;
• Controversy over supply and compounding;
• Determining whether someone is a candidate for the medication;
• Following FDA guidelines and designing a protocol;
• Health screening, follow-up and monitoring patients on this medication;
• Mechanism of action and potential side effects of semaglutide;
• And more!

Read more about the ongoing lawsuits filed by Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, at the AmSpa Now blog. Stay tuned for new updates on the subject as more info becomes available.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com/ to learn more!

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Cameron Hemphill, founder and CEO of Growth99. They talk about the start-up, growth, mature and exit phases of medical aesthetics and how to effectively market your practice. Their conversation covers:

• Preparing for market situations to mitigate risk;
• Setting up a digital foundation when opening a medical aesthetic practice;
• Client retention recommendations for the growth phase;
• Where to invest in marketing for the aesthetic audience;
• Competing for search result visibility and the cost of lead generation;
• Giving up control and getting your time back in the mature phase;
• Recognizing which stage you’re in to continue your growth trajectory;
• The two types of businesses and the exit phase;
• And much more!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com/ to learn more!

This week, AmSpa COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Shawna Chrisman, NP, about her “case study” journey in aesthetics since founding Destination Aesthetics in 2011. They talk about her business' growth and where she’s going as a leading woman in aesthetics.

• Destination Aesthetics’ evolution and mission;
• Current trends within her patient spending;
• How to pivot and where to invest when you see a revenue decrease;
• Why she decided to scale her medical spa;
• The next stage in Chrisman’s career;
• Navigating that transition after partnering with private equity;
• Being present and her thoughts on “balance;”
• Excitement for the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference;
• And much more!
• Note: Episode may include explicit language.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com/ to learn more!

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Bree Black, co-founder of Job Snob. They discuss their specialized medical spa job board, recruitment in aesthetics, and more. Their conversation covers:

• The value of a database and job board for the aesthetic industry;
• Which roles are suited for concierge recruiting;
• Job Snob’s signature recruitment process;
• How to attract and retain the best talent;
• What’s important to medical spa employees;
• Turnover and the status of the job market;
• How Job Snob has grown to meet a need for hiring resources;
• Which health care practitioners are transitioning to aesthetics;
• And more!

AmSpa Members save 10% on job postings at https://americanmedspa.org/medical-spa-job-board. Check your welcome email or contact us for your exclusive promo code.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by RepeatMD. Visit https://www.repeatmd.com/ to learn more!

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Ryan Rao, chief development officer, and Ryan Rose, CEO, of VIO Med Spa. They discuss what drew them into medical aesthetics, how they launched the VIO Med Spa franchise, and what advantages franchising brings for owners. This conversation covers:

• How they evolved from a single unit med spa to launching a franchise;
• Creating a comprehensive guest experience;
• Challenges and bootstrapping during the pandemic;
• Generational differences in adopting medical spa treatments;
• Investment, returns and the unit economics of franchising;
• Why aesthetics lends itself to franchises;
• What they offer for training and development, vendor negotiation, marketing and branding;
• The learning curve, community support and how they protect franchises with compliance;
• How franchising works: investment, timeframe, site selection, templates, community impact;
• And much more!

In this week’s episode, AmSpa COO, Cathy Christensen, continues her conversation from an April 2023 primetime webinar with industry experts Beto Casellas of Synchrony; Paul Edwards of CEDR HR Solutions; Kaeli Lindholm of KLC Consulting; Lauren Olson, PA-C, of Radiance Medical Aesthetics & Wellness; Alex R. Thiersch, JD, of AmSpa; and Christin Trujillo of Maven Financial Partners. They discuss the present economic concerns and offer strategies to medical spa owners shoring up their businesses. In Part 2, they cover:

• Which key performance indicators (KPIs) medical spa owners should be tracking;
• How to take care of your team;
• Capturing market share in turbulent times;
• Value and price when patients have tighter budgets;
• Insight from business owners during the 2008 recession;
• Setting up your medical spa to thrive;
• Finding partners and resources to make smart business decisions;
• And more!

Visit AmSpa’s Webinar Library to watch the full webinar, view speaker information and explore the educational content of more than 180 recorded webinars.

In this discussion from an April 2023 webinar, AmSpa’s COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Beto Casellas of Synchrony; Paul Edwards of CEDR HR Solutions; Kaeli Lindholm of KLC Consulting; Lauren Olson, PA-C, of Radiance Medical Aesthetics & Wellness; Alex R. Thiersch, JD, of AmSpa; and Christin Trujillo of Maven Financial Partners. These industry experts discuss the present economic concerns and offer strategies to medical spa owners shoring up their businesses. In Part 1, they cover:

• How economists define a recession;
• What medical spa owners are seeing on the ground;
• Trends in aesthetic practice revenue and patient behavior;
• Tactics to financially strengthen your medical spa;
• The consumerism of health care and being transparent with patient costs;
• How well-engaged employees can help you succeed;
• Capitalizing on opportunity with expansions;
• And more!

Stay tuned for Part 2 to learn more about how they have weathered financial storms in the past and come away with strategies that can help you protect your business.

In this episode, AmSpa’s COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Paul Edwards, CEO and founder of CEDR HR Solutions. They discuss how businesses can recognize, resolve and prevent conflict in the workplace, drawing on Edwards’ over 30 years of experience as a manager and business owner. Their conversation covers:

• Understanding the baggage we have when giving feedback;
• How conflict can look at different stages of management;
• What kinds of conflict occur, with examples;
• The first steps to resolving conflict;
• Advice on multigenerational differences between employees;
• Using core values as a guiding principle for the business;
• Nurturing employee relationships to foster a better workplace;
• And more!

Read more about how to attack the conflict, not the people, with the help of CEDR HR Solutions’s Conflict Resolution Guide.

This week, we revisit our conversation with Hermine Warren, DNP, APRN, CANS, owner of Facialogy Medical. She took the leap into the world of aesthetics almost 20 years ago and hasn't looked back since. In this podcast, Warren shares her tips for success, including why she recommends an entire year of aesthetic training before you start injecting. They discuss:                        


• How Warren made her way into the aesthetics arena;
• Connecting with her patients as a participant in the field;
• The business model that helps patients feel prioritized instead of commoditized;
• How to control your expenses and prepare for patient safety as a solo practitioner;
• Her philosophy around sharing knowledge and networking with colleagues;
• How she gets business without self-promotion on social media;
• The importance of communicating realistic expectations with your aesthetic clients;
• And much more!

This week we revisit our conversation with Hally Pinaud, VP of product marketing at Podium. She spoke on all things marketing in the medical aesthetic space, covering:

• The power of online reputation management;
• How to arm small businesses to compete in the age of Amazon;
• The need to be innovative to market in the medical spa industry;
• Consumer research around local businesses;
• How small business owners feel about their prospects going forward in 2022;
• The consumer focus on ease of doing business, and what that specifically means for medical spas;
• The importance of being involved in your community;
• How text message marketing can be a game-changer for local businesses;
• And more!

In this Medical Spa Show edition of Medical Spa Insider’s Member Spotlight series, AmSpa’s Membership Relationship Development Specialist Michela Bailey sits down with Lindsay Perkins, FNP-C, APRN, MSN, of Spa Trouvé; Cameron Moskos, PA-C and her team from Cameo Facial Aesthetics; and Ally Rucker, NP, of Spa Trouvé. Bailey hears about their Vegas and MSS experiences, covering:

• Their travel skin care lineup;
• The people, support and empowerment at MSS;
• Dinner reservations and entertainment in Vegas;
• Free samples and noteworthy booths at the Expo Hall;
• Favorite education tracks and the compliance factor;
• This year’s Opening Night Party;
• And much more!

Note: Episode may include explicit language.

In this Medical Spa Show edition of Medical Spa Insider’s Member Spotlight series, AmSpa’s Membership Relationship Development Specialist Michela Bailey sits down with Roxanne White, NP-C, MSN, of Radiance by Roxanne; Kat Lofley, DNP, APRN, CNM, WHNP-BC, of Renewal Aesthetics and Sexual Wellness; and Vrinkley Pruna, MSN, NP, of Shape & Skin Medical Spa and Weight Loss. Bailey learns about their MSS experiences, including:

• Why they keep coming back to MSS;
• Their Vegas club and food preferences;
• The experience of two first-time faculty;
• Learning and new education tracks;
• Their favorite vendors on the show floor;
• Seeing the bigger picture;
• And more!

Note: Episode may include explicit language.

In this Medical Spa Show edition of Medical Spa Insider’s Member Spotlight series, AmSpa’s Membership Relationship Development Specialist Michela Bailey sits down with Brandon Mullen, BSN, RN-BC, of Aiyana Atelier, Neekan Rivera, PA, of Aere Aesthetic, and Brandy Thompson, APRN-BC, of Prescription Beauty Medical Aesthetics. Bailey learns about their MSS experience, plus:

• Their dedication to skin care while traveling;
• How they spend their time in Vegas;
• What keeps them coming back to Medical Spa Show;
• Standout vendors in the Expo Hall;
• How fast the industry is growing;
• And more!

Note: Episode may include explicit language.

In this episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, checks in with Dr. Kay Durairaj, internationally renowned facial plastic surgeon and founder of Beauty By Dr. Kay, on site at Wynn Las Vegas during Medical Spa Show 2023. Their conversation covers:

• Building the foundation of the face with biostimulators;
• Her favorite parts of the conference;
• Takeaways from the diversity in aesthetics panel;
• Her thoughts on an accreditation system for injectors;
• The reality of adverse events and how to prepare for them;
• Her passions and future exit plan;
• Countering red flags in the industry;
• And much more!

Leading up to Medical Spa Show 2023, we met up with some of our talented presenters! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to catch each of these lightning round preview episodes.

In this episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with George Baxter-Holder, DNP, ARNP, CANS, and Hermine Warren, DNP, APRN, CANS, original faculty of AIA Foundations of Injection Anatomy and Practice. They discuss the course and giving back to the industry as aesthetic trainers. This conversation covers:

• How they have supported their educational growth in aesthetics;
• The importance of credentialing yourself and continuing to learn;
• Giving new injectors a foundation in safety and excellence;
• What makes the AIA Foundations course stand out;
• How the fundamentals of aesthetics help attendees determine their career trajectory;
• Learning from the mistakes of others;
• Demystifying the glamour of running an aesthetic business;
• And more!

Baxter-Holder and Warren will be presenting Foundations of Injection Anatomy at Medical Spa Show on Friday, February 3, 2023 at Wynn Las Vegas. Check out the 2023 course dates for AIA Foundations of Injection Anatomy and Practice at https://americanmedspa.org/aiafoundations.

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by AestheticsPro. Visit aestheticspro.com/amspa to learn more!

Leading up to Medical Spa Show 2023, we met up with some of our talented presenters! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to catch each of these lightning round preview episodes.

In this episode, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with RepeatMD co-founders Christopher Chomenko and Philipp Sitter. They speak about what inflation means to medical spas and what they can do about it, along with strategies for patient retention. Their conversation covers:

• Inflation as part of the cyclical economic life cycle;
• How Gen Z and Millennial spending habits continue to support aesthetics;
• Why now is the time to know your numbers;
• How to keep your employees motivated in tough times;
• The value of recurring revenue;
• How patient financing gives clients access to their desired outcomes;
• Using loyalty and referral programs to introduce patients to new services;
• And much more!

Leading up to Medical Spa Show 2023, we met up with some of our talented presenters! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to catch each of these lightning round preview episodes.

In this episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Erin Hennessey, APRN, DNP, owner of Blush Aesthetics and course chair of Turning Your Practice Up to 11: Energy Device Master Class at Medical Spa Show 2023. She speaks about the impetus for putting on this course, introduces its expert instructors and discusses the value of energy device training for new and existing practices. Their conversation covers:

• Her history in nursing, cosmetic injectables and laser energy devices;
• Building and growing practices with laser devices;
• Empowering providers with the background knowledge to ask the right questions;
• Learning from the experience of other aesthetic providers;
• What you can expect to learn from the energy device master class;
• Utilizing the devices you have and determining what you need;
• And more!

Learn from Hennessey; Loretta Zanetti, ARNP; and Jordan White, ACNP-S, BSN, RN, CNI, during Turning Your Practice Up to 11: Energy Device Master Class on February 2, 2023 at Medical Spa Show. If you're looking to enhance your clinical skills, make sure to sign up ASAP while seats are still available!

This episode of Medical Spa Insider is sponsored by AestheticsPro. Visit aestheticspro.com/amspa to learn more!

In this week’s episode we’re flashing back to our chat with Jeffrey Segal, founder of eMerit, as he unpacks the risks and opportunities of reputation management in the aesthetics space. Is there a strong correlation between online reviews and the efficacy of medical spas? Find out how you can best prepare your practice for negative reviews.

Jeffrey J. Segal, MD, JD, is a neurosurgeon turned serial entrepreneur turned attorney at ByrdAdatto who has literally been in both business and medicine. Segal was a neurosurgeon in private practice before beginning the second phase of his career as a serial entrepreneur in the healthcare field. He then founded or co-founded four separate health care startups. Segal lives and breathes healthcare and understands it viscerally.