Medical Spa Insider

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Robin Ntoh, VP of Aesthetics at Nextech, to demystify change management as a practical, everyday leadership tool for med spa owners and managers. This discussion highlights why aesthetic practices often struggle with change, how structured approaches can turn disruption into opportunity, and what simple frameworks leaders can apply right away. Listen in for: Join the conversation October 3 - 5, 2025 at the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference (WALC) as Robin Ntoh, Terri Ross and Amy Lynn Birkenstamm, RN, CANS share their tips and tricks with The People Puzzle: Solving for Culture, Capability and Change. Learn more and register today at experiencewalc.com. --- Music by Ghost Score

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: 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: -- Music by Ghost Score

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: Visit carecredit.com/ffp to explore the Fair Financing Principles and access tools that can help your patients. --- Music by Ghost Score

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: 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. --- Music by Ghost Score

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: 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. --- Music by Ghost Score

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. -- Music by Ghost Score

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: -- Music by Ghost Score

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. — Music by Ghost Score

In this greatest hits episode, we revisit an empowering keynote recorded live at AmSpa’s inaugural Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference (WALC) in 2023. Listen in as Carrie Strom, senior vice president of AbbVie and president of Global Allergan Aesthetics, chats with Sara Blakely, founder and executive chairwoman of SPANX. Following a brief introduction from Strom and AmSpa founder Alex R. Thiersch, JD, this keynote conversation explores the founding of a household name, along with leadership insight on confidence, failure, purpose, mindset, and much more! This year, AmSpa's WALC is honored to present keynote speaker Jamie Kern Lima, founder of IT Cosmetics. Join us October 3, 2025, for “Becoming Unstoppable,” an inspiring keynote where Jamie shares her inspiring journey from rejection and self-doubt to resilience and success. --- Music by Ghost Score

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex Thiersch, JD, speaks with Lisa Lickstein, MSW, MBA, co-owner and COO of Lickstein Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa. She previews her upcoming talk at the 2025 Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference and shares how the concept of “unreasonable hospitality,” inspired by Will Guidara’s renowned book, has reshaped her approach to leadership, team development and the patient experience. This conversation includes: Join Lisa at https://experiencewalc.com/, for her session: “Achieving Competitive Advantage and Increased Profitability Through Unreasonable Hospitality.” -- Music by Ghost Score

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Lori Werner, founder and chief marketing whiz at Medical Marketing Whiz, a woman-led marketing agency that specializes in marketing for wellness and medical aesthetics practices. They talk about her path from medical device sales to entrepreneurship and how her team helps med spas get discovered online using answer engine optimization (AI-SEO). For more on this topic, check out Medical Marketing Whiz’s recent webinar: Answer Engine Optimization (AI-SEO): How to Become the Recommended Provider in ChatGPT and Other AI Platforms --- Music by Ghost Score

This week, AmSpa President and CSO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, celebrated entrepreneur, founder of BrainTrust and author of The Beauty of Success: Start, Grow and Accelerate Your Brand. They discuss her entrepreneurial journey from building brands to owning in the beauty space, how she evaluates opportunities, and the ways she protects her mental wellness with the help of her community. Listen for: Kendra shares more about the power of building your brain trust in her presentation “Community and Counsel: Building Your Brain Trust” on October 4, 2025, at the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference. Register to learn why no founder should navigate the path alone and how you can build the counsel you need for sustainable leadership and self-motivation. -- Music by Ghost Score

In this Medical Spa Show edition of Medical Spa Insider, AmSpa’s Alex Thiersch, JD, speaks with Shannon Blake, director of medical spa partnerships at Podium. They chat about what makes MSS her favorite aesthetic conference and trade show, along with the exciting new voice capabilities Podium is building into its AI-powered lead management and client communication platform. Listen to hear: --- Music by Ghost Score

“For med spas, it’s so important to know who you are, what you stand for, and deliver on that with discipline.” This week, AmSpa’s Alex Thiersch sits down with Lowinn Kibbey, President of North America at Cynosure Lutronic, to discuss the landmark merger of two global energy-based device leaders and what it means for the future of medical aesthetics. They talk about: --- Music by Ghost Score

Thiersch, JD, speaks with Alex Lirtsman, founder and CEO of CorralData, to explore how medical spas can unlock real-time, HIPAA-compliant insights without changing their existing systems. CorralData integrates everything from your EMR to marketing, payroll, and finance systems, giving med spas the ability to uncover actionable insights that drive profitability, patient retention, and scalable growth. Listen for strategies to ask smarter questions of your data, including: -- Music by Ghost Score

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Emma Snowball-Robinson, APRN, founder of PURE Medical Aesthetics and PURE Evolution Academy. They chat about her incredible journey from modeling and marrying a rock star to putting herself through nursing school and founding a thriving aesthetic practice. Emma opens up about her reinvention and why “keep showing up” has been her guiding motto. Listen to hear: --- Music by Ghost Score

In this special MSS edition of Medical Spa Insider, Michela Bailey sits down with AmSpa State Chapter leaders from California and Utah, recorded live at Medical Spa Show 2025! Meet California co-chair Sahar Saghezchi, of Cupertino Facial Esthetics; Utah co-chair Terri Hancock, DNP, ACNP-BC, of Bellissima Medical Aesthetic; and Utah co-chair Amanda Hopper, of St. George Med Spa. They share their excitement to reconnect at MSS and the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference (WALC), and the ways they are bringing their communities together through state-specific resources, networking and collaboration. Connect and collaborate with the med spas growing alongside you when you join your AmSpa State Chapter today. --- Music by Ghost Score

Join AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, as he discusses with Courtney Smith, account executive, and Jon Romano, SVP of sales at Darwill, how med spas can leverage data-driven direct mail to overcome digital fatigue and achieve significant growth. Recorded at AmSpa’s Chicago headquarters, this episode explores the evolution of traditional marketing and how direct mail can create genuine, lasting impressions that boost ROI when integrated with CRM and digital strategies. Key insights include: --- Music by Ghost Score

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, sits down with Dr. Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS—board-certified plastic surgeon, internationally recognized facial anatomist, and founder and director of the Academy for Injection Anatomy (AIA)—to discuss the new AIA Alumni Reunion and Refresher course. Designed exclusively for advanced cadaver training alumni, this event offers a higher level, more intense training experience with live full face injections, layered and cross-sectional dissections, and simultaneous ultrasound assessments. Dr. Surek also talks about his new textbook, co-authored with Dr. Steven Weiner, and the power of mentorship and networking within the AIA community. Learn why building your safety community is just as essential as mastering anatomy and register for the AIA Alumni Reunion and Refresher course at americanmedspa.org/aiaalumni. --- Music by Ghost Score