Medical Spa Insider

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Thiersch sits down with plastic surgeon, researcher, and LYMA Life Aesthetic Director Dr. Graeme Glass to examine the science behind photobiomodulation and its impact on the medical aesthetics industry. Dr. Glass shares how his background in immunology and stem cell research led him to question traditional "no pain, no gain" aesthetics—where tissue damage and pro-inflammatory responses are required to stimulate repair—and explore non-thermal, gene-modifying cellular rejuvenation. The discussion points include The Physics of Photobiomodulation Laser vs. LED Technology Shifting from Repair to Rejuvenation Integrating At-Home Cold Lasers with Clinical Treatments Disrupting Modern Skincare Formulations

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, Alex Thiersch is joined by Patrick Urban, President of Merz Aesthetics North America, and Cheryl Haseeb, DNP, FNP-BC, founder of Pura Medical Aesthetics and the Aesthetic National Institute. They delve into the major shifts transforming the aesthetic medicine landscape, starting with Merz's recent FDA approvals for Belotero Volume and Belotero Intense, and what these additions mean for addressing consumer "filler fatigue" with natural-looking, tissue-integrated results. Discussion points include: 02:08 FDA Approval of Belotero for Lips and Cheeks 03:53 The Shift Towards Natural Results 06:49 Regenerative Aesthetics and Industry Evolution 11:01 Patient Expectations and Education 13:47 The Role of Proper Training and Technique 17:11 Industry Collaboration and Standards 23:49 The Importance of Evidence-Based Practice 28:12 Younger Patients and Preventative Care

Many medical spa owners excel at patient care but struggle to navigate the complex financial realities of running a business. In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Thiersch sits down with Whitney Morrison, CFP, founder and CEO of Holistic Money and fractional CFO for service-based businesses. Whitney shares her personal journey into financial management and breaks down why high-revenue med spas often struggle with cash flow. Together, they walk through a practical breakdown of a $100,000/month med spa P&L, introducing key benchmarks for inventory, direct clinician labor, marketing, and overhead. Whitney explains her custom "cost of delivery" concept, how to set target multiples for injector revenue generation, and how owners can structure their compensation between salary and profit distributions to optimize tax efficiency and build long-term wealth. Discussion Points - Moving Beyond Bank-Balance Decisions - The "Cost of Delivery" Framework - Evaluating Injector ROI - Optimizing Operational & Marketing Allocations - Structuring Owner Compensation & Tax Strategies

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Thiersch sits down with industry veteran Marco Valle, founder of Aesthetic Sales Hero and Slate Labs. Drawing from his extensive background in corporate aesthetic sales and marketing, Marco shares his unique philosophy on "ethical sales" and explains why providers must reframe consultations around patient-centric education rather than high-pressure tactics.   The conversation explores the balance between human connection and emerging technology. Marco breaks down why practices need to perform an "AI gut check" and details how his new company, Slate Labs, uses targeted AI tools to scale high-touch provider training. Rather than replacing authentic interaction, Marco explains how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to "build better humans," refine practice workflows, and ultimately improve the long-term lifetime value of elective care patients.  Discussion includes: 00:39 – Marco Valle's journey to aesthetic entrepreneurship  07:57 – Defining "ethical sales" in aesthetics 21:50 – The concepts driving Slate Labs 27:47 – Performing an "AI gut check"  34:21 – Strategies for long-term patient relationship management

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Thiersch sits down with Daniyal Azal, CEO and co-founder of Decoda Health. Daniyal shares how his team leveraged their background in Y Combinator to build a consolidated, AI-driven operating system designed specifically for elective care practices, including med spas, longevity clinics, and anti-aging centers. They discuss the pitfalls of relying on disconnected point solutions—from booking engines and standalone phone systems to separate EMRs—and why having full contextual visibility across patient conversations, lab results, and prescriptions is essential for personalized care. Discussion points include: 00:33 Decoda Health's Origin Story and Focus on Healthcare 05:56 Replacing Point Solutions with an All-in-One System 13:46 Leveraging AI as an Operational Force Multiplier 28:15 How Modern Med Spas are Utilizing AI  42:27 The Future of Healthcare

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, recorded live on the floor at Medical Spa Show 2026, Derek Hauk sits down with four prominent industry voices to examine the evolving state of the aesthetic industry. Michael Zanetti discusses the vital role of state chapters in lobbying for sensible hyper-local regulations and translating military leadership principles into practice management. Lisa Lefanty shares how conference networking blossomed into a long-distance peer partnership and why committing to professional organizations raises standards across the board. Barbara Krikorian Tryk, a 20+ year industry veteran and COO of Mystique Medical Spa, breaks down the absolute necessity of strict legal compliance, state-specific resources, and crisis-era peer collaboration. Finally, Vrinkley Pruna reflects on her seven-year career evolution, the responsibilities of chapter leaders in highly regulated states, and the power of finding a true professional family. 00:32 Michael Zanetti on Chapters and State Specific Challenges 10:26 Lisa Lefanty on how AmSpa helped her build a peer network  18:43 Barbara Krikorian Tryk on the Importance of Compliance and AmSpa Legal Updates 27:19 Vrinkley Pruna on how AmSpa has supported every step of her career

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Thiersch welcomes Dr. Terry Dubrow—board-certified plastic surgeon, star of Botched, and expert consultant for the California Medical Board. Together, they explore the rapidly evolving landscape of peptide therapy, med spa legal compliance, and the regulatory challenges practitioners face today. Dr. Dubrow breaks down the medical board’s stance on unapproved compounds, the critical importance of documentation, and how non-physician providers can safely navigate their scope of practice. Discussion points include: 05:21 — Regulatory Scrutiny 14:29 — The Importance of Documentation 20:05 — The Danger of Stacking Peptides and Experimentation 27:05 — What is Retatrutide and How Should Practitioners Approach It 35:21 — Scope of Practice and Responsible Procedures AmSpa Members can enjoy an additional 15 minutes of content from this session by logging into their user accounts and accessing their on-demand learning library!

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Thiersch connects with Lori Werner, founder of Medical Marketing Whiz, to discuss why personal, word-of-mouth referral networks remain the ultimate growth engine for medical spas—even in an era dominated by AI and digital ads. Lori breaks down how practice owners can leverage emerging AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT without losing the human element that builds long-term patient loyalty. She outlines actionable ways to cross-promote with local boutique businesses, establish provider referral networks, and turn happy patients into active practice ambassadors. Discussion includes 01:35 Navigating the AI Shift 06:44 The Case for Human Connection 18:54 Patient Referral Strategies 33:07 Unique Patient Outreach Ideas

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Tiersch sits down with Hugo Fernandez, CEO of Just Digital Inc., for an eye-opening conversation on the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and medical spa marketing. With 14 years in the digital space, Hugo shares how recent breakthroughs in agentic AI, changing search engine behaviors, and shifting algorithms are fundamentally altering how patients find and book aesthetic providers. But while technology continues to shift, the foundation of a successful medical spa remains the same: authentic human experiences, solid technical setups, and strong patient relationships. Whether you're curious about how AI agents will handle future appointment scheduling or looking for simple ways to make your practice crawlable and discoverable online, this episode offers practical, high-level insights for every practice owner. Topics include: The AI Resurgence: How new AI tools act as an "amplifier" for creative, operational, and marketing efficiency. Human Experience as Original Content: Why real, unique stories in your treatment room are your greatest defense against generic "AI slop". The Future of Discovery: How AI platforms (like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini) crawl websites, reviews, and Google profiles to make hyper-personalized recommendations to users. Agentic AI & Direct Bookings: What to expect as AI agents begin interacting directly with calendars, EMRs, and patient schedules. Technical Marketing Fundamentals: Why structured FAQs, location clarity, schema markup, and proper source tracking still matter more than ever.

In this special episode of Medical Spa Insider, recorded live during Medical Spa Show weekend, AmSpa founder Alex Thiersch sits down with four prominent female leaders driving innovation and excellence across the medical aesthetics industry: Marlee Bruno, Melanie Speed, Shakira Cabrera, and Limor Weinberg (joined by Chloe Cell). Together, they explore the personal and professional evolutions required to transition from clinical backgrounds—including emergency medicine, trauma reconstructive surgery, and primary care—into successful med spa ownership, coaching, and international training. Key themes covered in this episode: Marlee Bruno shares her transition from ER medicine to owning a med spa, master life coaching, and the importance of "bootcamp-style" training for serious aesthetic providers. Melanie Speed breaks down the unique, filler-dominated demographic of Las Vegas and Beverly Hills, the shift toward youthful preventative treatments, and the critical need for industry training standards to avoid poor outcomes. Shakira Cabrera discusses leveraging a background in level-1 trauma plastic surgery to build systems-driven med spas, topically applied regenerative therapies, and educating practice owners on business sustainability. Limor Weinberg & Chloe Cell discuss the power of drive, shameless networking, and turning clinical expertise into scalable educational platforms like Limor’s national Lip Recipes tour.