Ep 339 How to Launch a New Conference: The Australian Aesthetic Symposium | Jessica Ferris

Episode 344 Part 1 hosts Dr David Eccleston (Cosmetic Physician from Birmingham, UK) In our 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. Part 1 (this episode) is available to listen to on all of your favourite podcast apps.  Part 2 will be available exclusively on our new app called IA Community launching in May (Click here to join our waitlist) In Chapter 12 Part 1 we discuss what injectors learn when they are first taught about toxins. We get into topics including discuss on vs off-label use of toxins, the limitations of pharma-led training, myths around toxin aftercare, preserved vs normal saline, needle considerations and the issues with toxins and pregnancy or breastfeeding . 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Meet Our Guest: Dr David Eccleston 01:50 Part One vs App Exclusive 03:30 David Background Journey 05:05 How Toxins Evolved 07:00 Early Days With Botox 09:40 Consultation Framework 13:40 Handling Top Ups Pricing 14:20 Managing TikTok Patients 20:35 Off Label Ethics Safety 23:40 Learning Off Label Properly 25:50 Choosing Your Go To Toxin 26:25 Six Ds Technique Begins 29:55 Injection Technique Details 30:20 Switching Toxins Safely 31:40 Aftercare Advice Today 34:40 Aftercare Myths Explained 37:10 Pregnancy Breastfeeding Policy 41:10 Bruising Pain Expectations 43:25 Preserved Saline Benefits 46:20 Reducing Bruising Strategies 49:40 Needle Size Brand Choices 50:45 Systemic Risk Online Claims 55:55 Aminoglycosides Contraindication 57:50 Wrap Up & Part Two Teaser JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR IA COMMUNITY (OUR NEW APP) ALL IA LINKS & CONTACT INFORMATION

Episode 343 hosts Rick O'Neill (Digital Marketing Expert from Brighton, UK) We discuss the major shifts in aesthetic marketing over the past 12–24 months - driven by AI technology and the changing behavior of patients. We explore: How SEO and website optimisation are more important due to how tools like ChatGPT search the web. How patients can take up to 12 months with numerous touchpoints before converting to a booking The requirement for an 'always-on, multi-channel' ecosystem beyond Instagram. Tool likes 'AnswerThePublic' to understand what patients are Googling The benefit of writing experience-based blog articles on your website TLDR summaries for AI visibility Email marketing segmentation Cautious AI tool use inclusing chatbots and note-takers LTF's new 'Black Belt Digital' platform - offering AI-built websites, education, templates and resources IA Community - Inside Aesthetic's new upcoming app 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Special Guest: Rick O'Neil - Returns and AI Shift 01:37 MCAS Recap and Business Focus 02:46 Rick Background and LTF Story 07:10 Big Digital Changes Explained 11:54 Zero Moment of Truth 18:08 Build a Content Ecosystem 18:44 Answer the Public Workflow 20:37 Write Blogs That Rank 22:32 Repurpose and TLDR for AI 26:58 Client Adoption and Practical Tips 29:49 Budgeting and Marketing Mindset 33:56 Content Creation vs Distribution 38:07 SEO Basics and Technical Fixes 42:56 SEO Intent Signals 44:28 AI Tools for Clinics 48:04 Websites in 2026 51:12 Social Media That Converts 56:50 Search Meets Instagram 58:20 Black Belt Digital Platform 01:07:52 Listener Questions 01:12:08 Future Patient Journey 01:15:36 Where to Start Now 01:18:17 Final Wrap and Plugs Black Belt Digital - Discover Black Belt Digital: LTF's new platform dedicated to helping clinics with their aesthetic digital business marketing success. Get expert marketing knowledge, free resources and a professional website builder. JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR IA COMMUNITY (OUR NEW APP) ALL IA LINKS & CONTACT INFORMATION

Episode 342 hosts Aisling Walsh (Registered Nurse from Sydney, Australia). In 'The Business of Injecting' episodes we host injectors and clinic owners to discuss all aspects of the business side of their clinic. We analyse their financial struggles and challenges, difficult decisions, friction points, staffing, hiring, firing and other topics relevant for aesthetic business owners. In Chapter 22 we discuss Aisling's story where she become the business owner of the clinic where she first started injecting. All whilst balancing motherhood and the new responsibilites that come with being a business owner.  00:00 Introduction  00:41 Special Guest: Aisling Walsh  02:21 From Ireland To Australia 04:25 From Nursing To Aesthetics 06:25 First Injecting Training And Mentorship 09:49 Building Skills Safety And Clientele 12:12 Balancing Mum Life And Business 14:08 Becoming An Owner And Outsourcing 16:58 Buying The Clinic 22:00 Valuation Risk And Worst Cases 27:55 Owner Reality: Admin Days 31:47 Skin First Philosophy 32:15 Injecting Day Breakdown 34:10 Team Management Tips 36:59 Regulations And Competition 39:30 Buying The Right Device 41:54 Results Over Products 44:41 Brand Refresh And Socials 50:28 Pricing And Patient Journey 54:44 Future Plans And Exit 57:27 Summary and End JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR IA COMMUNITY (OUR NEW APP) ALL IA LINKS & CONTACT INFORMATION

Episode 341 hosts Dr John Leonardo (Anaesthesiologist from Toronto, Canada) John join us in Chapter 13 of our Masterclass series of episodes. Here we host global experts with significant experience to teach us about fillers, bio-stimulators, bio-remodellers, polynucleotides, other injectable products and techniques. (For toxin insights, check out our other mini-series, 'The Tox Talks') In Chapter 13 we discuss a sub-niche of aesthetics that John has developed - male sexual aesthetics. We first explore the taboo and stereotypes behind these sorts of male concerns as well as unpacking some of the functional issues that may also need addressing.  We then outline the five main treatments that John offers:  Penile toxins (GroTox®) for flaccid hang and erectile function Penile filler (P-Girth®) for girth +/- gland enhancement Scrotal toxin (ScroGro®) to relax scrotal retraction, reduce wrinkles and treat hyperhidrosis Scrotal filler (ScroGro®) to increase scrotal size Anal toxin (RimTox®) to relax the internal sphincter for receptive anal sex. John discusses his consultation technique with male aesthetic patients and for each treatment we cover dosing, techniques, product choice, aftercare, costs and complications.  00:00 Introduction  00:40 Meet Dr John Leonardo 01:28 What Is Male Sexual Aesthetics? 03:46 Consultation and Psychology 06:06 How John He Entered The Niche 10:07 Grotox® Mechanism 14:36 Grotox® Protocol and Dosing 21:16 Aftercare, Risks & Longevity 26:34 Pricing, Naming and Industry Context 31:37 P-Girth® - Penile Fillers 35:51 Hybrid Filler and Technique 39:48 Inducing Erections Before Filling 43:32 Penis Sculpting 49:13 Penile Vascular Occlusions 59:12 ScroGro® Toxin Benefits and Method 01:02:24 ScroGro® Filler Protocol 01:06:42 RimTox® 01:13:12 Wrap Up and Resources 01:16:19 Final Outro and Links JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR IA COMMUNITY (OUR NEW APP) ALL IA LINKS & CONTACT INFORMATION  

Episode 340 hosts Dr John Leonardo (Anaesthesiologist from Toronto, Canada) John joins us in the 32nd 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. 00:00 Introduction 01:27 IA Community App Preview 02:15 Special Guest: Dr John Leonardo  02:33 From DJ to Anesthesiologist 08:16 PRP Results and Patient Selection 11:49 Canadian Aesthetics Trends 15:43 Practice Mix - Sexual Aesthetics 24:55 Exosomes and Hair Growth 29:24 Filler Anxiety and Technique 35:56 Ethics of Exosomes 37:48 Stocking New Products 43:35 Sculptra vs Radiesse Strategy 45:57 Skin Boosters vs Topicals 47:59 Male Sexual Aesthetics 101 49:20 Stigma and Market Reality 57:06 Provider Fit and Corrections 01:02:14 Longevity Advice and Wrap JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR IA COMMUNITY (OUR NEW APP) ALL IA LINKS & CONTACT INFORMATION    

Episode 339 hosts Jessica Ferris (Registered Nurse & CEO of Australian Aesthetic Symposium) In this episode we explore the logistics and motivations behind launching a new aesthetic conference. Australia Aesthetic Symposium (AAS) was held for the first time last years in Perth, Western Australia and is hosted and founded by Jessica. Jessica shares her background in event management, teaching, nursing and most recently into cosmetic injecting. She explains her reasoning to create a new and independent educational event, designed specifically for aesthetic professionals in her home state. We learn about the logistics and costs to launch a conference, working with sponsors and the finances needed, the challenges of being an unknown organizer, and the problems encountered behind the scenes.  This podcast is sponsored by the Australian Aesthetic Symposium. To save 20% off tickets to this years AAS, click here to buy tickets and use the promo code IA20  00:00 Introduction 01:08 Special Guest: Jessica Ferris from AAS 03:14 Why Perth Needed AAS 05:25 Jessica's Background and Youth Lab 07:36 Learning to Inject in WA 08:42 AAS Idea and Early Hustle 10:07 Partnering with Dr Mike 12:13 Keeping the Conference Fresh 13:38 Building the Event Blueprint 15:09 Budgeting and Hidden Costs 16:58 Selling Tickets and Sponsor ROI 20:31 WA Community and Remote Delegates 23:11 Designing the Program 23:29 Curating Conference Topics 25:30 Safety Business and Diversity 26:32 Why Live Demos Fall Flat 29:26 Cadaver Course Deep Dive 32:28 Making Attendance Worth It 36:28 Behind the Scenes Challenges 39:35 Delegation and Event Day Flow 42:35 Who Should Attend 44:45 Speakers Tickets and Farewell 46:27 Closing Credits  ALL IA LINKS & CONTACT INFORMATION JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR IA COMMUNITY (OUR NEW APP)  

Episode 338 hosts Chloe McGrath (Founder & Director of The Aesthetic Collective from Sydney, Australia)⁠ *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-698d4bd9-a8a0-83a0-b2ce-a185f2795c72-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-8" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> In this episode we explore how cosmetic clinics should market and brand themselves in 2026. Chloe shares her background in aesthetics and explains why her agency works exclusively within the sector, prioritising compliance and close alignment with the regulators. We discuss common misconceptions including the belief that clinical skills alone can build a successful clinic and the serious risk of regulatory breaches when using a non-aesthetic marketing agency. Our conversation covers key growth drivers including the limitations of word-of-mouth referrals, the importance of multiple patient touchpoints before booking, and the challenge of accurately tracking attribution. We on practical, capacity-based marketing strategies for solo injectors versus scaling clinics, highlighting Meta ads as a cost-effective option when geographically and demographically targeted. 00:00 Introduction 04:15 Regulations, Compliance & Why Conservative Marketing Wins 06:37 Clinician vs Entrepreneur: How Mature Are Clinics in 2026? 10:58 When Marketing Goes Wrong: Distressed Clinics, Debt & TGA Letters 13:36 What Actually Drives Growth: Word of Mouth Limits & 7–10 Touchpoints 16:45 Content Myths: Posting Frequency, Quality vs Spam & The Algorithm 19:17 Brand Foundations: Defining Your Identity, Values & Target Patient 22:41 Men in Aesthetics: Why It's Still 90% Women + The Longevity Angle 27:39 What Makes a Clinic Successful Now: Beyond Price & Chain Clinics 29:10 Scaling the Team: Getting Patients to Trust New Injectors 32:22 Capacity vs Growth: Balancing Regulars, New Patients & Rebookings 33:24 Choosing Your Business Model: Solo Injector vs Scaling a Clinic 37:28 Branding Beyond a Logo: Consistency Across Every Touchpoint 41:14 Culture Is the Brand: Team Energy, Retention & Patient Experience 44:12 From DIY to Pro: Rebrands, Diplomacy & Why Cohesion Builds Credibility 45:51 Marketing Budgets That Work: Meta Ads, Content Shoots & What to Spend 55:35 Word of Mouth vs Acquisition: Retention Math & Why You Still Need Marketing 57:49 Action Steps + The Future: Fix Your Basics, Sanity-Check Messaging & Wrap-Up ALL IA LINKS & CONTACT INFORMATION JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR IA COMMUNITY (OUR NEW APP)  

Episode 337 hosts Dr Abishek Settipalli (aka 'Dr Abs', Dentist from London, UK) & Dr Ben Coyle (General Practitioner from Leicester, UK)  Abs and Ben join us in Chapter 12 of our Masterclass series of episodes. Here we host global experts with significant experience to teach us about fillers, bio-stimulators, bio-remodellers, polynucleotides, exosomes and other injectable products. (For toxin insights, check out our other mini-series, 'The Tox Talks') In Chapter 12 we discuss Sunekos, a new product in Australia and distributed by Xytide. Our discussion begins with a discussion about regenerative aesthetics and what this term really means. We then cover the science of the skin and what happens when we age. Importantly we get a better understanding about the key building blocks of the skin including the various types of collagen, elastin and fibronectin. Sunekos is marketed as a 'bioregenerator' and we underpack what is it, how it works, what patients are suitable, how it's used in clinical practice and much more. 00:00 Introduction  00:52 Special Guests: Dr Abishek Settipalli & Dr Ben Coyle 03:29 Discussion on Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine 06:37 Challenges in the UK Aesthetics Market 08:46 Understanding Regenerative Medicine 10:09 Patient Demographics and Treatment Approaches 16:47 Trends in Aesthetic Treatments 29:19 Understanding HA and Amino Acids 29:44 Nutrient Sensing and Human Biology 31:58 Inflammation and Aging 33:32 Amino Acids: Ingestion vs. Injection 35:31 Collagen and Skin Health 43:55 Patient Experiences and Results 53:01 Combination Therapies and Treatment Limitations 01:02:25 Addressing Ageing Hands 01:02:57 Face Injection Protocols 01:05:22 Cellulite Treatment Insights 01:06:56 Neck Treatment Challenges 01:08:19 Injection Techniques and Training 01:14:39 Commercial Aspects of Treatments 01:21:39 Future of Aesthetic Treatments 01:25:05 Final Thoughts and Farewell ALL IA LINKS & CONTACT INFORMATION JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR IA COMMUNITY (OUR NEW APP)

Episode 336 showcases our hosts Dr Jake Sloane & David Segal In this episode we go through our list of strategies and ideas for clinics to thrive and grow in 2026. We discuss the concept of examining and diagnosing your 'financial health' with a detailed explanation of profit margins, balance sheets and the importance of analyzing your costs vs prices.  We also cover team management, tips to improve patient retention, rebooking strategies as well as the importance of committing to a social media and marketing strategy. 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Starting the New Year: Business Reflections 02:28 Analysing Business Performance 05:07 Understanding Financial Reports 11:02 Managing Stock and Profit Margins 33:36 Skincare and Retail Strategies 39:39 Creating Your Own White Label Brand 40:45 Memberships and Subscriptions 45:45 Income Streams: Training and Mentorship 50:41 Managing Teams and Staff Performance 56:37 Patient Retention and Rebooking Strategies 01:11:47 Marketing and Social Media Strategies 01:17:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ALL IA LINKS & CONTACT INFORMATION JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR IA COMMUNITY (OUR NEW APP)

Episode 335 showcases our hosts Dr Jake Sloane & David Segal. In our 'What's trending in Aesthetics?' episodes we discuss popular topics doing the rounds on social media, issues being debated in injector forums or items showcased on the news. We'll cover controversies, big stories and themes that have got injectors and our industry talking.

 In Chapter 16 we delve into the key overall trends that we predict will influence the year ahead. We discuss: The shift towards 'slow ageing' (long term planning and smaller but more frequent treatments)  The rise of bio-stimulators vs traditional hyaluronic acid fillers - and whether this trend will balance itself out or not The rationalisation of devices in clinics - multiplatform devices vs multiple machines The professionalisation of aesthetics - getting serious about business and regulations The increasing sophistication of patients - how they are arming themselves with knowledge to pick and choose only the best injectors We also share our HUGE news and the impending the launch of our new app called 'IA Community'. (Due out in March/April 2026) This new platform and app will bring together the entire aesthetics community including HCP's, business owners and brands for networking, support, advice, education, promotions, events and much, much more.  00:00 Introduction  00:40 Welcoming the New Year and Episode Introduction 01:22 Maintenance and Longevity in Aesthetics 02:57 The Professionalise of Aesthetics 04:20 Exciting News: Launching the IA Community App 07:17 Maintenance and Longevity Based Aesthetics 19:53 The Rise and Fall of HA Fillers 28:01 Future of Regenerative Medicine 28:48 Combining HA and Bio Stimulants 29:32 Evolution of Treatment Approaches 31:18 Device Rationalisation and Platform Thinking 35:48 Professionalise of Aesthetics 50:48 AI and the Future of Aesthetic Treatments 54:58 Conclusion and Future Trends ALL IA LINKS & CONTACT INFORMATION