Inside Aesthetics

Episode 223 is a little bit different... instead of our usual episode style with one or two guests, we go big!  A fortnight ago Dr Jake & David appeared at one of Australia's biggest conferences, 'Aesthetics'. This annual meeting is convened by Dr Steven Liew, a renowned Plastic Surgeon and previous guest on IA on episodes 64, 126 &192. The goal of the Aesthetics conference is to disrupt the current way of doing things and to explore innovative ideas on how to improve safety and efficacy for both industry professionals and patients.  This year was no different and Dr Jake & David were invited to also do something totally new - a live podcast with a large selection of guests - in only 23 minutes! The brief from Steven was simple, 'Make people think'. Our expert injector panel consisted of: Dr Lee Walker Dr Tapan Patel Dr Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha Dr Dalvi Humzah Dr Zunaid Alli Dr Beatriz Molina  You can watch the entire panel discussion on our YouTube Channel here Thank you to Steven for invitin

Episode 222 hosts Marissa Dennis, a Nurse Practitioner from Kelowna, Canada.  Marissa has been injecting since 2015 and is the owner of Onyx Beauty Lab. She also founded Medical Aesthetics and Injection Academy (MAIA) that help train new injectors from all over Canada.  'The Business of Injecting' episodes host injectors to discuss all aspects of their business. We analyse their struggles and challenges, difficult decisions, friction points, financials, staffing, hiring, firing and other topics relevant for aesthetic business owners. In Chapter 8, we explore: Marissa's career prior to becoming an injector The pros and cons of working for someone else Why she chose to open her own clinic How working a brand expert can help clarify your business identity Her business strategy when she started her clinic Her approach to finding staff How to price yourself Why she set up her training school MAIA The minefield of marketing SPECIAL OFFER! Get 15% off in person and online training opportunities with MAIA! Click he

Episode 221 hosts Dr Askari Townshend, a Cosmetic Physician & an entrepreneur from London, UK. Like all cosmetic injectors, Askari needed a clinical management software to run his practice and database. But he couldn't find anything suitable for his needs. And so he embarked on building his own CRM system called 'Collums'. This proved very successful and future developments were planned to take Collums to the USA and other markets. But just three weeks ago out of nowhere, agreed funding for future investment in the software was pulled, leaving the future of Collums on a knife edge. We explore: Askari's background The challenges of creating clinical software Why there will never be a perfect clinical management software for injectors  Why software is so expensive to develop The mismatch between this cost and what injectors are willing to pay to run their practices What happened with his investor  What the future holds for Collums   SUPPORT THE PODCAST: If you enjoy listening to IA every week and would li

Episode 220 showcases our hosts Dr Jake Sloane, David Segal & a guest appearance from our new Marketing Manager Kendel Young. (This was a totally unplanned chat where we hit the record button in our studio after a team meeting!) In an already congested social media world, Meta has launched a new app called 'Threads'. In just a few days it became the fastest downloaded app ever, even beating ChatGPT and boasting over 100 million users by week one. But is an app that has seemingly been created to take on Twitter also relevant to aesthetic businesses? We explore: What Threads is exactly What Twitter is traditionally used for and who was using it How Threads is so similar to Twitter - but why it also has a massive advantage What the basic functionality of Threads is How a text-based app feels different compared to visual mediums like Instagram Whether this can lead to more authenticity and a better connection with your followers Why you shouldn't replicate your other social media content on Threads How to si

Episode 219 hosts Professor Syed Haq, a Cosmetic Physician from London, UK. Syed divides his time between preventative medicine & aesthetics. He has previously been an advisory board member for Ipsen, Allergan Aesthetics and is a Hugel Aesthetics KOL for Letybo.  In this mini series 'The Tox Talks', we feature expert injectors who have significant experience in using botulinum toxins. These episodes explore our guests experiences using particular brands, the evolution of their injecting techniques and we get special insights into the subtle nuances of getting the best out of toxins. In chapter 6 we focus on a newly-launched product called Letybo (Letibotulinum Toxin A), a toxin produced by Hugel Aesthetics. Letybo is also known as Botulax and has been used in the Asian market since 2009.  We explore: Syed's training and career to date His role as a consultant for several pharma companies & most recently Hugel Aesthetics His insights into how the use of toxins has changed over the years The science be

Episode 218 showcases our hosts Dr Jake Sloane & David Segal. As injectors and clinic-owners, we don't always get things right. And even when we do, our patients don't always see it that way. Complaints can vary from mild nuisances to full blown medicolegal nightmares. They will always occur in some form and they can cause significant anxiety for businesses and injectors alike.  In this episode we delve into how we can do better at improving our communication bwetween ourselves and our patients. We explore: Why patients complain Real complaints vs annoying patients Dealing with a 'Karen'! 'Silent complaints' - the patients who don't come back How to dissect a complaint without emotion How and why you should ask for feeeback from your patients Google reviews - the pros and cons Malicious reviews and what to do about them The implications with refunding a patient How to tackle complaints amongst your injecting team How to politely 'fire' a patient Learning from complaints   SUPPORT THE PODCAST: If you enj

Episode 217 hosts Deborah Farnworth-Ward, an entrepreneur from the Gold Coast, Australia.  Deb is the founder of Australian Skin Clinics (ASC) franchise, growing from 1 to 60 locations in just five years. She is an MBA graduate, a Certified Franchise Executive and a serial entrepreneur. She has an incredible vision and passion for the aesthetics industry where she has immersed herself for 15 years. We learn how her career prior to aesthetics helped her vision, managing large multi-disciplinary healthcare organizations including pharmacies, GP services, surgical facilities, dietetics and counseling services. We discuss: Her early career in the UK where she discovered her gift of developing policies, processes & scaling ideas How a chance conversation with Sir Alan Sugar changed her life forever Her consulting experience in the UK health system & government, learning the art of problem solving & collaborating with different professionals How she aimed to retire in Australia - and how wrong she was!

Episode 216 hosts Audrey Rose, a nurse practitioner from Boston, USA Audrey joins us in the 14th Chapter of our series called 'The Injector Diaries'. These episodes feature in depth conversations, stories and experiences from injectors around the globe. Each injector brings their own unique take on things and we showcase every level of type of injector, from newbies to masters. We'll explore how and why they chose to inject, why they favour using certain products, look under the hoods of their clinics and aim to inspire our injector listeners. We discuss: Audrey's background & motivations for getting into the industry Her initial training experiences & how this motivated her to create her own training school How patients tend to seek out injectors who look like themselves Some of the common aesthetic requests & concerns of Afro-American patients  The recent trend amongst skincare & pharma companies to celebrate and showcase diversity  How we could further improve the

Episode 215 showcases our hosts Dr Jake Sloane & David Segal David was recently invited to talk at the Merz Nurse Academy in Sydney. In this episode he and Dr Jake discuss an overview of his presentation, covering some of the key trends that he sees in the Australian industry.  We discuss: How average filler volumes usage is down & the reasons why this might be The impending regulatory changes expected by AHPRA & how this might change the nurse/doctor scripting process Whether this is the start of even more regulatory changes in the future The growing trend for biostimulatory treatments on the body as well as the face A new liquid biostimulator product currently being trialled in Australia Competition between various clinic models including chains, boutique clinics & independent nurse injectors A possible scenario where nurses who recently set up independently decide with hindsight to re-collaborate with doctors & chains again Whether a 'We Work'-type shared space for injectors might be a

Episode 214 hosts Kelly George, a Registered Nurse from Tamworth, Australia.  Kelly is based in regional New South Wales. Originally working in the marketing department for Allergan Aesthetics, Kelly became a nurse injector and has since become a respected speaker & business coach. 'The Business of Injecting' episodes host injectors to discuss all aspects of their business. We analyse their struggles and challenges, difficult decisions, friction points that aren't yet solved, financial concerns, staffing, hiring, firing and other relevant topics for aesthetic business owners. In Chapter 8, we explore: Kelly's career prior to becoming an injector The pros and cons of working in a regional city Her business plan when she started her clinic Her approach to team building for her staff How she incorporates body sculpting into her practice  Her role as a KOL and speaker Her podcast Skin & Sass - and the challenges of recording and running this Her plans to open a second location    SUPPORT THE PODCAST: If

Episode 213 showcases our hosts Dr Jake Sloane & David Segal. Dr Jake catches up with David after another work trip abroad - this time to Japan. We first get some insight into how David's business consultations work.  We then recap on how IA Patreon (our online subscription platform) works and how we can support injectors and aesthetic clinics globally. We then get into the main topic of the podcast exploring why Dr Jake went to Japan and what he learnt. We discuss: What the REFINE meeting is all about (REgional Faculty INnovation Exchange by Allergan Aesthetics)  Apple's new device Vision Pro & how new tech might change how we interact with the world Vogue Singapore & how high end fashion influences beauty & aesthetic ideals How tech and beauty can work together - or potentially even be harmful Insights into how local culture and the economy can influence beauty standards The concept of 'beauty capital' - the correlation between beauty & success in life The spectrum of gender, gender dys

Episode 212 hosts Dr Nichola Conlon a Molecular Biologist from Newcastle, UK. Nichola is an academic scientist with a particular interest in how and why we age. She's the founder of Nuchido, a company who's mission is to help bring affordable anti-aging strategies to the public domain. When we started the IA podcast back in 2019, some of our older episodes covered wellness topics that looked at the relationship between looking good & feeling good. But we didn't address aging itself or the evolving field of what many now refer to as  'regenerative medicine'. Research being conducted here is becoming more and more profound - with some scientists now confident that aging can not only be slowed but even reversed. What will come of this new emerging field we don't know yet, but it's likely to be especially relevant for aesthetic clinics who until now have only had the tools to 'camouflage' the external signs of aging.  We discuss: Nichola's background and training What regenerative medicine is How we age and

Episode 211 hosts Brittony Croasdell, a Nurse Practitioner based in Chicago, USA.  Brittony is a highly experienced injector, trainer and international speaker. She has mentored hundreds of injectors through both the Allergan Medical Institute (AMI) & Galderma Aesthetic Injector Network (GAIN). Brittony is also a board member of the Complications in Medical Aesthetics Collaborative (CMAC) - an influential international consortium dedicated to improvement in complication management amongst medical providers.  This is the 2nd chapter in our mini-series called ‘Disasters & Solutions’. Here we look at some of the unusual, difficult or outright disasterous outcomes for patients caused by injectables. We speak to the injectors who managed the case and go through what happened, step by step. We’ll learn about what might have been done to prevent the problem and what injectors can do in their own practice to be safer practitioners.     In Chapter 2 we discuss a case concerning a patient who was treated

Episode 210 hosts Rick O'Neill, a digital marketing expert from Brighton, UK. (Previously joining us in episodes 134, 193, 197 & 202)  Rick has over 20 years of experience and is the founder of Look Touch Feel (LTF), an award winning digital marketing agency who specialise in supporting aesthetic practitioners & plastic surgeons. This is the fourth and final chapter of our mini-series called the 'The Digital Deep Dive' (sponsored by LTF). Over the four chapters we've covered some of the core pillars of digital marketing to help injectors and clinics get to grips with this side of their business.  Chapter 4 focusses on digital automation. We explore: What we mean by automation? Why automated tasks are so important for aesthetic clinics  Why understanding your patients journey in your clinic is so important How automation creates consistency and removes the risk of human error How to connect your current CRM system to a 3rd party automation platform Creating triggers and work flows for a variety of a

Episode 209 hosts Samantha Shepherd, a nurse practitioner from Atlanta, USA. Samantha joins us in the 13th Chapter of our series called 'The Injector Diaries'. These episodes feature in depth conversations, stories and experiences from injectors around the globe. Each injector brings their own unique take on things and we showcase every level of type of injector, from newbies to masters. We'll explore how and why they chose to inject, why they favour using certain products, look under the hoods of their clinics and aim to inspire our injector listeners.We thank Samantha again for voluntering very last minute and with no preparation to do this podcast with us! We discuss: - Samantha's background and training - Her previous career in medical device sales - and how this helped her feel comfortable talking about pricing- Treatment planning with patients and the concept of 'good, better and best' - The power of word of mouth referrals and getting to know your local community - How and why Samantha started her ow

Episode 208 hosts Dr Pouria Moradi (Plastic Surgeon & Reconstructive Surgeon from Sydney, Australia) & Sheri-lee Knoop (Registered Nurse & President of the Cosmetic Nurses Association from Perth, Australia) Pouria and Sheri-Lee joined us to share their thoughts and insights into the proposed new Australia cosmetic regulations that have been announced by AHPRA (the Australian health practitioner regulator). These new rules affect both surgeons and non-surgical practitioners and come into force on July 1st 2023.  For years there have been arguments between the various cosmetic stakeholders over which practitioners have the right to treat patients, who can and can't offer the various procedures and heated debates over the standards expected of cosmetic practioners. Last year's enquiry by AHPRA into cosmetic surgery led to a full scale review of all cosmetic procedures. This has culminated in a set of sweeping new regulations - and some have voiced that it's a self-inflicted wound on an industry that

Episode 207 hosts Babak Moini, the founder of Laser Clinics Australia (LCA). LCA started in 2008 and have become the world's largest aesthetic and skin chain of clinics with over 200 locations in Australia, Singapore, UK and Canada. Since then, numerous other competitor chain clinic brands have competed with each other for the same demographic of patients (including Silk Laser Clinics, Evolution Clinics, Australian Skin Clinics, Clear Complexion Clinics and several other brands) The universal feature of the chain clinics includes offering discounted and high volume treatments, often in high foot traffic locations and shopping malls. Babak sold his final shares in LCA in 2017 and has observed from the sidelines how the aesthetic chain clinic model that he started has evolved. We discuss: Babak's backstory and how LCA came to be His assessment of the current strategy of his previous company LCA His opinions on the franchisor vs franchisee relationship  His views on why adding additional services to an aestheti

Episode 206 showcases our hosts Dr Jake Sloane & David Segal. Dr Jake has been abroad numerous times in the past 8 weeks for various conferences and meetings. We recorded this episode whilst he was in Dubai (so apologies for his sides poorer sound quality) but we decided to explore what he was up to and what some of the key learnings from his trips were. We discuss: AMWC Monaco, one of the biggest global aesthetic meetings and what's on offer What the best live injection he saw was and why How to best plan for being at such a large conference  Our IA Patron group get together in Monaco and how our Patrons helped one another  AMWC Miami (a new leg of the AMWC  tour) & Dr Jake's three talks here What the best talk he saw was His visit to see Dr Felix Bertram at his clinic in Zurich  The dilemma of seeing overly augmented injectors and whether this is a problem or not  Recapping what IA Patreon is and what we offer in addition to our podcasts We're going on an Easter break now and will be back with epi

Episode 205 hosts Dr Phillip Singh, a dermatologist based in Perth, Australia & Helen Planting, Clinical Development Manager for Alocuro. Alocuro are a privately-owned Australian company that supplies medical devices for use in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) procedures.  We revisit the topic of PRP having first covered it way back in episodes 19 & 20. We explore: Phillip and Helen's backgrounds What PRP is exactly Why platelet concentration is so important How PRP is harvested How the Alocuro system differs to previous generations of PRP devices What the proposed mechanism of action of PRP is How your health and nutrition can impact the quality of PRP  Why injectors might have previously been underwhelmed by PRP PRP for hair loss What 'biofiller' is This episode was supported by Alocuro.   SUPPORT THE PODCAST: If you enjoy listening to IA every week and would like to help support the podcast in a small way, we have a simple donation option: Buy us a coffee   IA PATREON: Did you know that we have an onli

Episode 204 hosts Melissa Isaia, co-founder of Juvae and the CNA (Cosmetic Nurses Association) & Nicole Schmid, Registered Nurse, co-founder of Juvae & the CNA. Melissa & Nicole created 'Juvae' back in 2008, an all in one solution for the training, business support and connecting of nurse injectors to clinics. At that time, the Australian injectable market was very immature. The chain clinics hadn't yet formed, social media was in it's infancy, hyalase wasn't a thing and in many ways, the aesthetic world was far simpler. In Chapter 7 of 'The Business of Injecting' episodes, we explore: Melissa and Nicole's backgrounds How and why they created Juvae Get insight into how Juvae assesses 'competency' amongst their injectors The dilemma with new student nurses specifically training to become injectors   What the CNA is and why Melissa and Nicole helped found it What happens behind closed doors when bodies like the CNA meet with with the regulators, AHPRA The future of injecting and the how the market