Medical Spa Insider

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.

This week, we revisit our conversation with financial consultant Jessica Nunn. She dives into the ins and outs of finances in the medical aesthetic space. In this wide-ranging discussion, she covers:

• How data can help predict the future of your practice;
• Knowing your numbers in order to be proactive instead of reactive;
• Things you need to think about when starting up a new medical aesthetic practice;
• What to focus on when growing and scaling your practice;
• Ways to improve practices that are already doing well;
• Common financial mistakes that business owners make;
• Basic financial reports business owners need to understand;
• And more!

Skytale Group is hosting a Medical Spa Mergers & Acquisition (M&A) Summit on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at Medical Spa Show. Register now to reserve your space!

Nunn will present Financials 101 within The Business of Medical Spas education track at Medical Spa Show 2023 on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Wynn Las Vegas. Attend this session to learn the best ways to review your profit and loss statement and balance sheet, identify where your money is going in your medical spa and assess the financial health of your practice so you can make better decisions and make more money. 

In this episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Steven F. Weiner, MD, board-certified Head and Neck surgeon and founder of Sonosthetics and The Aesthetic Clinique. They discuss how ultrasound came to aesthetics, when and why to use it in your medical spa, and how you can learn this technology for the benefit of your patients. Their conversation covers:

• How Dr. Weiner first learned about incorporating ultrasound in aesthetics;
• Dialing in with ultrasound guidance;
• The value of ultrasound for complications, anatomy and injection techniques;
• How and where to use ultrasound in everyday practice;
• How an inside look reveals discrepancies from textbook anatomy;
• Patient response to ultrasound use;
• The two complications that make ultrasound use essential;
• How to become comfortable reading ultrasound;
• What to expect from his Ultrasound Fundamentals course;
• And more!

In this episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Patrick Urban, President of Merz Aesthetics North America. They take a macro look at the industry and discuss the first findings of new aggregate point-of-sale data, along with the impact of Gen Z and Millennials in medical spas, the patient journey, and the role of biostimulatory products. Their conversation covers:

-The advantages of being a privately-held company;

-How loyalty programs are supporting both practitioners and patients in tough economic times;

-Their pro-growth strategy across the industry;

-The shift in the demographic makeup of the medical spa patient population;

-How individuals are empowered to come forward and talk about treatments, clean ingredients, and sustainability;

-Upselling opportunities to build long-term trust relationships with patients;

-Retaining patients with your talent, experience, and expertise; 

-How biostimulatory products are contributing to the market;

-And much more!

This week, we revisit our conversation with triple-board-certified dermatopathologist Gretchen Frieling, MD, when she joined us to talk about her journey into medical aesthetics. In this wide-ranging conversation, she delves into the importance of trusting your gut when deciding your next move and how cohesive community can benefit everyone in the industry.

In this episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Loretta Nguyen Zanetti, APRN, of Erasable Inc. Medical Spa & Aesthetic Institute. Zanetti and co-owner Kristen Capo, APRN, and their physician partners, Andrew Walter, MD, and Nadia Pile, MD, lead the talented staff at their Tampa, Florida facility. They talk about the energy device industry, covering topics such as:

• The lack of education for energy-based devices and why it might be behind;
• How she got started in laser tattoo removal and built her business;
• The way she grew her practice, one device at a time;
• How she kept costs low when she first opened; 
• The timeline to profit with aesthetic devices;
• How she found her market and chose a business location, and much more!

Learn from Zanetti through advanced didactic education and live hands-on demonstrations during the Energy Device Master Class at Medical Spa Show 2023, on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at Wynn Las Vegas. View the agenda and register your team today at https://www.medicalspashow.com/.

In this week’s episode, we revisit our conversation with board-certified plastic surgeon and internationally recognized facial anatomist Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS. He talks about how the Academy for Injection Anatomy goes above and beyond to hone injectors’ knowledge of anatomy, skill with injectable treatments and ability to manage complications. He covers:

• Developing his passion for head and neck anatomy;
• His perspective as an injector, plastic surgeon and anatomist;
• The benefits of cadaveric dissection injectable training;
• Developing new ways to view and understand anatomy;
• How the hands-on course helps to understand the three-dimensional anatomy of the face;
• A quick breakdown of facial layers and his approach to teaching; and
• How use of ultrasound can lead to better injectable results.

This week we revisit our conversation with Christie Hutchinson, RN, MBA, of QCC Healthcare Consultants. She talks about OSHA and answers a number of compliance questions, including:

• What is OSHA?
• Where do majority of OSHA complaints come from?
• What are the most common OSHA violations?
• What are minimum compliance standards for light-emitting devices?
• What do you do in case of an OSHA investigation?

In another episode of Medical Spa Insider’s Member Spotlight miniseries, AmSpa’s membership relationship development specialist, Michela Bailey, speaks with Lily Nizam, PA-C, CPCP, of Alabama Surgical Arts. Their conversation covers some of the nitty-gritty details of working in the aesthetic industry, including:

• Applying the knowledge she gains from conferences;
• The skin care products she’s using;
• Her hobbies outside of the practice;
• Her relationship with needles;
• Inviting positive energy into her life;
• And much more!

Note: Episode may include explicit language.

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Skya Jones, MedSpa Education Manager, Boulevard. They discuss what medical spas can do to prioritize patient experience. Their conversation covers:

• Her spa management background and changes she made to boost business;
• How software companies have entered the medical spa vertical;
• Creating a streamlined client experience;
• The importance of prebooking and marketing for repeat patients;
• The crossover between salons and medical spas;
• What’s missing in aesthetic software;
• How and why to invest in your front desk team;
• And much more!

Note: Episode may include explicit language.

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

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Jill Behm, General Manager, CareCredit Specialty – Cosmetic and Spa, in a conversation on patient financing in aesthetics. They cover: 

• What makes aesthetic practices uniquely suited to patient financing;
• The importance of repeat patients in medical spas and the impact of financing on the average ticket;
• How to insert financing and payment options throughout the patient’s decision timeline;
• The process of incorporating CareCredit into an aesthetic practice;
• How deferred interest promotions help your patients avoid extra costs;
• The industry response from extending enrollment to nurse practitioners in states that allow independent practice;
• The benefits of having a patient financing option when an economic downturn comes;
• And much more!

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

In this episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Michael S. Byrd, JD, and Bradford E. Adatto, JD, of national business and health care law firm ByrdAdatto. They discuss the latest in aesthetics compliance concerns and what medical spas should know about IV therapy compliance. They cover:

• What’s on their radar for 2022 compliance issues in aesthetics: private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and the idea of integrated health care;
• How the corporate practice of medicine and scope of practice regulations compare for IV bars vs. traditional medical settings;
• Standing orders and who can use independent medical judgment to make IV therapy treatment determinations;
• How nursing boards view administering IVs;
• What the risks are for noncompliance in IV therapy;
• Delegation and good faith exams in IV bars;
• How pharmacy boards regulate licensing and compounding IV medication;
• What the enforcement atmosphere is at the moment, and more!

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

In this week’s episode, AmSpa Founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, and AmSpa Membership Relationship Development Specialist, Michela Bailey, team up to speak with Michele Pelafas, Founder and Artistic Director of Michele Pelafas, Inc. After a tour of Pelafas’ Chicago area design studio + salon equipment showroom, they sat down to talk about interior design for beauty. Their conversation covers:

• Finding the clinical, spa and beauty connection;
• How her team identifies what the client wants;
• Reflecting brand identity into medical spa design;
• The phases of the design process;
• How Pelafas came to fill the holes in the market;
• Making business decisions that align with purpose and vision;
• How startups should prepare for interior design;
• What’s next for her business, and much more!

This week, AmSpa Founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Jonathan Kaplan, MD, MPH, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in San Francisco and Founder and CEO of BuildMyHealth, a price transparency/lead generation platform. They speak about the No Surprises Act and how it impacts medical spas. Their conversation covers:

• Dr. Kaplan’s history with price transparency and the resources he developed for providers;
• The three recent legislation efforts governing price transparency;
• How medical aesthetics is affected by new measures against surprise bills;
• What you need to include in a good faith estimate;
• Why medical spas should care about complying with the No Surprises Act;
• Who is required to get a good faith estimate;
• Why it’s taken so long to get medical practices to share their pricing;
• And more!

In this episode, AmSpa Founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Travis Mahan, EVP Global Sales & Marketing, Advalight EPS; President, Advalight Corp. Mahan joins us to share his insight on laser devices after more than 20 years in the industry. Their conversation covers:

• What equipment a startup practice might consider;
• Metrics to determine return on investment for a laser in your practice;
• Aligning your device purchase with your business plan;
• What medical spas should ask laser reps before purchasing a device;
• Understanding the reality of purchasing and operating the device;
• Red flags when working with sales reps and device companies;
• How to calculate your treatment price;
• And much more!

This week, AmSpa Founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Leslie Tracey, Founder and Principal of Tracey Donavan Insurance & Retirement Services. They discuss how she brings a women first approach to business and the importance of planning for risk. Their conversation covers:

• Teaching owners to protect themselves, their businesses and their people;
• Where to focus during the three phases of business;
• The importance of defining your vision for your business;
• How to build regimens and commit to routines;
• The responsibility medical providers carry for the practice;
• How to plan for risk;
• What to look for in a financial advisor;
• And much more!

This week we revisit our conversation with Erin Hennessey, APRN, when she stopped by to talk about all facets of energy-based skin treatment. In this wide-ranging discussion, she covered:

• Her path from energy-based treatments for burn injuries to scar treatment to skin rejuvenation;
• The importance of listening to what the patient wants to improve first;
• Steps to take before opening your own practice;
• Ways she gets patients to adopt energy-based treatments;
• The importance of social media in marketing energy-based treatments;
• How to decide when to add devices to your practice;
• What to consider when choosing which device to add;
• Ablative vs. non-ablative lasers and legislative trends with regard to supervision; and
• Who should be able to provide laser treatments.

This week we revisit our conversation with Michael S. Byrd, JD and Brad E. Adatto, JD of ByrdAdatto when they took a deep dive into the legal issues regarding medical spa ownership and the specifics of the corporate practice of medicine. They covered questions like:

• What is the corporate practice of medicine?
• Why does the corporate practice of medicine matter?
• Who can legally own a medical spa?
• What are the risks of not following the corporate practice of medicine?
• What is a Management Services Organization (MSO)?
• What is driving regulatory focus on MSOs in California?
• How does the corporate practice of medicine affect medical spas in Texas?
• And more!

In the first anniversary episode of Medical Spa Insider’s Membership Spotlight series, AmSpa’s membership relationship development specialist, Michela Bailey, reunites with her first podcast guest, Jackie Spagnuolo, MSN, NP, of Beauty Nurse NYC. Their conversation covers Spagnuolo’s history with AmSpa and what she’s been up to in the past year, including:

-How she heard about AmSpa and why she decided to join;

-Opening her mobile IV therapy business;

-Why she teaches an introduction to aesthetic injectables;

-What she does for fun outside of her business ventures;

-Her favorite treatments and skin care at the moment;

-And much more!

Note: Episode may include explicit language.

In this week’s podcast, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Brooke Bower, director of marketing research for Gordian Solutions Group. They discuss the making of the 2022 Medical Spa State of the Industry Report and its results, including:

• Filling the gap in market research for medical spas;
• The great majority of single-owner “mom-and-pop” medical spas;
• How the report was put together;
• The findings that stood out to her;
• Which results changed since the start of the pandemic; and
• Medical spa growth, revenue, patient volume, expenditures, margins, patient demographics and more.

This week, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Michael Kelleher, MMS, PA-C, founder and sole provider of (R)Evolution by MKAesthetics, a cosmetic injectable practice in Decatur, Georgia. Their discussion covers his journey in aesthetics and the following:

• His approach to his work;
• How he runs his business with the help of technology;
• Marketing in an untapped market;
• How he got introduced to aesthetics; and
• What it takes to succeed in this rewarding industry.

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Jennifer Walden, MD, FACS, President of The Aesthetic Society (The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, or ASAPS). Dr. Walden also has a thriving aesthetic surgery practice and multiple medical spas in Texas and New York. She joins Alex in a conversation that covers:

• Her journey to becoming the first female plastic surgeon president of The Aesthetic Society;
• How she built and expanded her practices as her family grew;
• Her early adoption of social media to brand her business;
• The business support she has received in her career;
• How the aesthetic industry has expanded to include non-core and non-physicians;
• The importance of having a knowledgeable medical director; and
• How The Aesthetic Society is enhancing internal and external relationships.

In another episode of Medical Spa Insider’s Member Spotlight miniseries, AmSpa’s membership relationship development specialist, Michela Bailey, speaks with La-Tasha Walker, RN, owner of La-Mon'e Aesthetics Spa. Their conversation covers some of the nitty-gritty details of working in the aesthetic industry, including:

• Her journey from cosmetologist to nurse;
• How she got started with body contouring treatments;
• The importance of self-care and a skin routine;
• Her favorite providers;
• What’s currently keeping her entertained;
• And much, much more!

Note: Episode may include explicit language.

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with two members of Operation Mend, a charity operation out of UCLA that provides advanced treatment to post-9/11 military members, veterans and their families. Executive director Jo Sornborger, PsyD, and Christopher Crisera, MD, plastic surgeon and founder of the program, both join Alex in a conversation that covers:

• The origins of Operation Mend and the importance of their work with veterans; 
• The intersection between mental health needs and reconstructive surgery; 
• How involving caregivers in the program led to better outcomes; 
• How needs are assessed; 
• Why there is so much difficulty in getting treatment for veterans;
• How trauma can affect the entire family unit; 
• The personal impact from working with Operation Mend; and
• How listeners can become involved in their mission.

Note: Episode may include explicit language.

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Jen Handler, founder of MedModel. Alex and Jen discuss the business model behind her app, covering topics like:

• What need does MedModel fill?;
• Jen’s background in aesthetic sales;
• How the app filters models to ensure good matches;
• What it’s like to create an app from scratch; and
• How models can be converted into patients.

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Sara Trammell, MD, owner of The Beauty Bus, and Chris Kappes, account executive with Craftsmen Industries. Alex, Chris and Dr. Sara discuss all aspects of owning and operating a mobile medical spa, including:

• How Dr. Sara built her mobile business;
• Craftsmen’s previous enterprises in the mobilization market;
• How mobile options can facilitate entrepreneurship;
• The obstacles to being mobile;
• The importance of customer experience and convenience; and
• The branding benefits of a mobile medical spa.

This week we revisit our conversation with Nicole Chiaramonte when she joined us to talk about the world of medical spa ownership. She touched on topics pertinent to both new owners and medical spa professionals looking to make their exit, including:

• How she grew to 14 locations in nine states;
• How her philosophy of “profits with integrity” has led to her success;
• What she looks for in a partner when investing in a medical spa;
• How much medical spas are worth in the market right now;
• What is driving private equity investor interest in the industry;
• How owners should approach their exit plan;
• Advice to help get ready to sell;
• The importance of compensating appropriately;
• And more!

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, continues his conversation with Dominic Mazzone, entrepreneur extraordinaire and CEO of Med Spa Partners, a medical spa management company based in Canada. Alex and Dominic delve further into the MSO structure and other business-related issues, covering topics such as:

• How to pick a good partner for your business;
• The separation of profit and medicine;
• What happens after acquisition;
• How to identify the problems plaguing your business;
• The emergence of hormone replacement therapy and women’s health in the medical spa space; and
• The importance of succession plans.

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Alain Gazaui, president of SpaKinect, a telehealth company devoted aesthetics. Alex and Alain discuss the changing digital landscape as it relates to medical spas, covering topics such as:

• • Maintaining compliance with telehealth;
  • The importance of good-faith exams;
  • What attracted Alain to the aesthetics industry;
  • How to create human connections virtually;
  • The importance of patience vs. speed when it comes to adapting technology;
  • The “flywheel” concept and its application in customer experience;
  • And much, much more!

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, is joined by Shannon King, BSN, RN, and Christal Parker, MSN, FNP-C. Alex, Shannon and Christal engage in an overdue discussion of diversity in aesthetics, covering topics that include:

• Shannon and Christal’s individual journeys into aesthetics;
• The barriers to entry and growth that exist in the industry;
• How issues of gender, race, sexuality and ethnicity all intersect and impact diversity in aesthetics;
• Why representation and education matter, not just for patients but also for providers;
• How client experience is negatively impacted by a lack of diversity in marketing;
• Tolerance vs. acceptance;
• How additional conversations on the importance of diversity can be initiated and fostered;
• And much, much more!

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Pat Altavilla, CEO of Suneva Medical Inc while attending The Aesthetic Meeting 2022, in San Diego. They cover topics such as:

• Pat’s more than 30 years in the industry;
• What it’s like to roll out new products during the pandemic;
• Regenerative aesthetics;
• The products and procedures that Pat is most excited about; and
• How attitudes towards aesthetics have changed.

In this week’s episode, AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Dominic Mazzone, entrepreneur extraordinaire and CEO of Med Spa Partners, a medical spa management company based in Canada. Alex and Dominic speak in depth about the business side of running a medical spa, covering topics such as:

• Dominic’s business experience and what eventually drew him to the aesthetics industry;
• What a partnership with a management company entails;
• What makes medical spas attractive for acquisition;
• The importance of patient retention;
• Differences between Canadian and American medical spas; and
• How the business acumen in the industry can be improved.