This week on Medical Spa Insider, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex R. Thiersch, JD, sits down with Brittony Croasdell, MS, FNP-BC, APRN, co-owner of Fulcrum Aesthetics & Surgery, to unpack the evolving conversation around hyaluronic acid (HA) injectable fillers. From viral misinformation to the stigma surrounding aesthetic treatments, Croasdell shares real-world insights from her Chicago-based practice and dives deep into the findings of The Aesthetics Evolution: The Hyaluronic Acid Injectable Fillers Report, a groundbreaking new global report from Allergan Aesthetics. Whether you're a licensed injector, med spa owner, or a curious patient, this episode offers a candid look at:

• The top myths and fears patients have about HA fillers and how to address them;
• Why natural-looking results are the new gold standard in aesthetic medicine;
• How social media algorithms shape public perception and what providers can do to shift the narrative;
• The importance of provider education, transparency and patient trust;
• Tools and resources from the Naturally You with HA campaign to support informed decision-making.

Ready to reshape the conversation around HA fillers? Visit www.naturallyyouwithHA.com to download the full report and access educational materials.

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex R. Thiersch, JD, sits down with Dr. Rahi Sarbaziha, founder of The Aesthetic Room by Dr. Rahi, Integrative Aesthetics specialist and one of AmSpa’s Distinguished Women in Medical Aesthetics 2023. Dr. Rahi shares her journey from traditional medicine to pioneering a new path that blends integrative and regenerative wellness with aesthetics. Listen to hear:

• How Dr. Rahi’s dissatisfaction with the traditional medical system led her to integrative medicine;
• What “integrative aesthetics” means and its holistic approach to patient care;
• The rise of regenerative therapies like exosomes and PLLA injections in aesthetics;
• Why patient education is driving demand for bioregenerative treatments;
• Her mindset about competition in Beverly Hills’ bustling medical aesthetic market;
• Dr. Rahi’s entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned from building her own practice;
• Her reflections on the 2023 Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference and what excites her most about the future.

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This week, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex R. Thiersch, JD, sits down with Beto Casellas, executive vice president and CEO of health and wellness at Synchrony Financial, the parent company of CareCredit. They discuss the launch of a new consumer resource, the Fair Financing Principles, and talk about how financial education can empower patients to make informed decisions about their aesthetic and wellness care. Listen to hear:

• CareCredit’s credit card that can be used for health and wellness products and services;
• How economic uncertainty is shaping spending behavior in the med spa space;
• Fair Financing Principles: What they are and how they demystify patient financing for consumers;
• Why financial literacy matters, and how better understanding of billing and interest can protect your financial well-being;
• The growing trend of consumers investing in their health, and what it means for the future of wellness care;
• How med spas can use Fair Financing Principles to help patients prepare for the cost of care and make confident decisions.

Visit carecredit.com/ffp to explore the Fair Financing Principles and access tools that can help your aesthetic patients.

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In this greatest hits episode, we revisit a conversation between AmSpa President and CSO, Cathy Christensen, and top leadership coach and bestselling author Sohee Jun, PhD. They discuss the myth of balance, Jun’s 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;
• Her keynote at the 2023 Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference.

Reignite your passion to lead with mentorship from aesthetic innovators, entrepreneurs and renowned experts at the 2025 Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference, October 3 - 5 at Terranea Resort in Southern California. Learn more about the connections and experiences that await you at experiencewalc.com.

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This week, AmSpa President and CSO Cathy Christensen speaks with Cy Wakeman, drama researcher, New York Times bestselling author of No Ego, and 2023 world's number one leadership guru, to discuss reality-based leadership. They talk about common leadership challenges in medical spas, including managing diverse teams, implementing standardized processes, and balancing in-office and remote work. Their conversation includes:

• Why you should be managing the energy of your team, not their behavior;
• How to clean up your thinking, find your impact and take the next right action;
• Why stress comes from the story we make up about reality;
• Train to act, not react: Co-regulating to diffuse drama and look beyond ego;
• The four types of boundaries leaders must set in the workplace;
• Standardizing processes to eliminate errors and improve safe patient care;
• Cy’s upcoming keynote presentation at the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference (WALC).

For a masterclass on restoring sanity in the workplace and calling your team up to greatness, join Cy Wakeman at the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference October 3 - 5, 2025, at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Her closing keynote, “Reality-Based Leadership: Ditch the Drama and Turn Excuses Into Results” will give leaders the tools, techniques and proven coaching models to skillfully navigate the interferences of drama, hardwire personal accountability and help their teams deliver on their business goals. Learn more and register at experiencewalc.com.

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This week, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with RealSelf CEO Minou Clark to discuss the platform’s transformation into a dynamic, consumer-first destination for aesthetics. Clark shares how RealSelf is evolving to meet the needs of today’s beauty consumer by embracing med spas and amplifying the human side of aesthetics.

• Clark’s transition from Paris Hilton’s 11:11 Media to her first CEO role in aesthetics;
• RealSelf’s evolution from a plastic surgery directory to a multifaceted consumer platform;
• How social media shifted aesthetics from taboo to pop culture and self-actualization;
• RealSelf’s rebrand: modern UX, aspirational design and intuitive navigation for younger users;
• Launching seamless booking to remove friction and drive conversion across providers;
• Supporting coexistence between med spas, plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists;
• RealSelf’s commitment to vetting quality providers and elevating industry standards;
• Clark's vision for activism, how aesthetics changes lives, and more!

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This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Nena Kallopoulos, PA-C, founder of Drip Medi Spa in Englewood, New Jersey, to explore the realities of practicing aesthetic medicine as a physician assistant. With nearly two decades of clinical experience, Nena shares the challenges of building a compliant aesthetic practice and reflects on her experience navigating a license lapse and subsequent regulatory review. In this conversation:

• Transitioning from emergency and concierge medicine to IV therapy and aesthetics;
• Building a compliant med spa as a non-physician;
• The unexpected consequences of administrative oversights;
• Her experience with the state licensing board and broader implications for PAs;
• Why education, unity and advocacy are essential to the future of aesthetic medicine.

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This week, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex R. Thiersch, JD, sits down with Chris Suchánek, founder and CSO of Firm Media and creator of Ailm Atelier, a new online platform showcasing aesthetic doctors and their stories. They talk about Chris’s journey from the music business to specialty medical marketing, and how authenticity, storytelling, and innovation are reshaping how med spas and aesthetic practices connect with patients.

• How he transitioned from Grammy-winning music marketing to aesthetic advertising;
• The origin and mission of Ailm Atelier as a platform for storytelling and recognition;
• Why authenticity and patient trust are the new currency in aesthetic branding;
• The nomination-only process for Ailm’s featured top aesthetic doctors;
• How he redefined his personal brand with inspiration from a 90s billboard campaign;
• A mixed media marketing approach to target med spa patients in their homes;
• The future of Ailm as a consumer-facing, digital platform.

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