This week, we revisit our conversation with George Baxter-Holder, DNP, ARNP, CANS, renowned aesthetic trainer and chair of the AmSpa Aesthetic Safety Council (AASC). In this wide-ranging talk, he covers: The AASC looking at the practice guidelines with fresh eyes; The priorities when fine-tuning the practice guidelines; Determining the intent of practice guidelines; Looking at the practice guidelines as a position statement rather than a policy statement; Coming to a consensus on minimum standards for medical aesthetic practices; Trying to define “medical director,” including training and qualifications; The resiliency of medical spa industry during COVID-19; His involvement with the Academy for Injection Anatomy; and The benefits of getting a hands-on, 3D view of anatomy for injectors. See here for more information on the AmSpa Aesthetic Safety Council. See here for more information on the Academy for Injection Anatomy. Music by Ghost Score.

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Janie Futch, BSN, RN, and Martina Kolovich, MSN, NP-C, co-owners of Altera Aesthetix in Savannah, Georgia. They discuss how they grew their medical aesthetic practice from two girls in a living room to a rebranded franchise, including the investment they made in training, their approach to the Savannah market and their mission to empower women business owners. Their conversation includes: How they built their careers in aesthetics without sacrificing family time; The capital, time and patient volume invested in their first year of injectable training; Why the natural approach to treatment helps them retain patients; Their decision to rebrand from Refine Medical Aesthetics to Altera Aesthetix; How their franchise model ensures compliance with medical aesthetic regulations; Their excitement and goals for the future of AmSpa’s state chapters; And more! Music by Ghost Score.

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Shannon Blake, director of medical spa partnerships at Podium. They talk about Podium’s new HIPAA compliant AI patient coordinator, discussing how it leverages technology to understand your brand, manage leads and communicate based on the long-term needs of your medical spa. Their conversation includes: Introducing Podium’s new 24/7 AI employee, Avery; How they train Avery to know every detail of your medical spa; Speed to lead: managing leads long-term and reengaging at set intervals; How Avery deescalates and empathizes when handling bad outcomes; Future plans to integrate with the leading aesthetic EMR systems; How Podium’s new relationship with AmSpa strengthens the industry; And more! Listen back to hear more about Podium’s automated text marketing solutions in this previous episode: Using AI to Reach Your Leads Faster. Music by Ghost Score.

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Melissa Rogne, founder and president of Chapter Aesthetic Studio. AmSpa was welcomed into the Chicago headquarters of Chapter Aesthetic Studio and The Aspen Group for an inside tour to see first-hand Melissa’s professional growth and the rapid expansion of Chapter. They reflect on a conversation at the start of this partnership as they discuss how Melissa is recreating her beloved brand at a much larger scale, attracting consumers as they take the leap into aesthetic care, and building a brand that is synonymous with safety and trust. Their conversation includes: How they execute a 14-week timeline to open 10 locations in a year; Chapter University’s learning and development resources; Key markers for success and how she thinks about these differently; Learning to be successful as a leader within a corporate organization; Team dynamics, chemistry and creating team culture vs. star individuals; Removing barriers to care and building trust for aesthetic naïve patients; And much more! Listen back to our conversation with Melissa in 2021, when her partnership with The Aspen Group first began: From Small-market Medical Spa to Acquisition to Expansion Music by Ghost Score.

This week, AmSpa Membership Engagement and Advocacy Specialist Michela Bailey, speaks with Carthy Craft, founder and owner, Esse MedSpa + Premier Permanent Makeup. This lively chat covers a wide range of topics, including: How she became an AmSpa member; Favorite travel spots; Favorite treatments; And much more! Music by Ghost Score

This week we present Cary Deuber, CRNFA, CANS, on site at Wynn Las Vegas during Medical Spa Show 2024. In her keynote presentation, Deuber shared her journey to aesthetics, explained the practice of observing and studying energies, and offered principles to guide fellow business leaders. Her keynote contains: Her first job and early mentorship; Giving people your energy and establishing trust; How she found her way to the medical field; The decision to open Lemmon Avenue; Three principles of leadership; And more! Music by Ghost Score.

Annie Robertson Hockey, management consultant, shares tips on prepping to sell your med spa including transitioning to a leader, improving operations, and customer retention. Discussion also includes navigating regulations and finding growth opportunities.

Paul Edwards, HR expert, discusses employee classification rules in the medical spa industry. Topics include non-compete agreements, exempt vs. non-exempt employees, injector classification, and penalties for misclassification.

Live from the 2024 Medical Spa Show in Las Vegas, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex Thiersch, JD, shares fresh insights on the rapid growth of the industry and an exclusive preview of their upcoming State of the Industry Report. Twelve years ago, Alex’s work as an attorney helping a solo medical spa owner led him to establish AmSpa to offer essential guidance on compliance and safety for others within the industry. Since then, he and his team have introduced much-needed resources for med spa owners including boot camps and courses for business, legal, and safety training. With legislative work happening behind the scenes in every state to develop rules and regulations, often without the input of those in the medical aesthetics industry, Alex emphasizes the importance of staying organized and having a seat at the table as new laws are introduced. Host Tyler Terry, Director of Sales, MedSpa at Nextech Guest Alex Thiersch, Founder and CEO of AmSpa Presented by Nextech, Aesthetically Speaking delves into the world of aesthetic practices, where art meets science, and innovation transforms beauty. Learn more about Nextech’s industry-leading software for dermatology, medical spas, ophthalmology, orthopedics, and plastic surgery at https://www.nextech.com/.

This week, AmSpa President and COO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Shawna Chrisman, NP, CEO and founder of Destination Aesthetics, and Maegen Kennedy, PA-C, co-founder and clinical director of Windermere Medical Spa & Laser Institute. They speak about the current stage of their medical spas, dig into the details of scaling a business, and share insider tips to help new and growing medical spas reach their goals. Their conversation includes: What they’ve learned through expanding to multiple locations; How to prepare for expansion and train your employees; Strategies that have helped their med spas find success; Tracking and responding to the data in your practice; Which KPIs show you the health of your business; Advice for med spas starting out or looking to reach the next level; An original membership model and loyalty program; And much more! Music by Ghost Score.