Medical Spa Insider

If a regulator walked into your med spa today, would your daily operations match your written policies? In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Thiersch talks with Joel Slesinger, CHC, CPHC, senior compliance professional at MedSafe, about the compliance risk he’d tell every med spa owner to address first: improper or absent physician oversight. Drawing on 25 years in dental, medical and aesthetic compliance, Joel explains why owners underestimate the rules, how a single new hire can unravel a compliant practice, and why cookie-cutter programs create liability. Plus, learn how to prepare for an audit and take the first steps toward a compliance program your team will actually follow. Discussion points include: 11:05 The Physician Oversight Gap 14:32 Putting Policies Into Practice 17:35 Making Training Stick Through Turnover 19:13 Avoiding Cookie-Cutter Compliance 24:50 Preparing for Audits and Inspections

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Thiersch sits down with Olivia Salmen, FNP-BC, CPSN, a renowned nurse practitioner, certified plastic surgery nurse, and prominent industry speaker working alongside Cool Springs Plastic Surgery in Nashville. With 11 years dedicated to a single plastic surgery practice, Olivia shares her remarkable journey from the operating room to heading up the non-surgical side of a thriving aesthetic practice. Alex and Olivia explore the massive shift in nursing school pipelines—examining how social media has sparked a massive rush among younger nurses to enter aesthetics—and why foundational clinical experience in surgical settings remains the gold standard. They also dive into why Olivia has resisted the allure of opening her own independent shop in favor of stability, partnership, and lifestyle design, how she developed her commanding stage presence as a national speaker, and what she is most excited about in the future of aesthetic medicine, including the growing excitement around peptide therapies.

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