True to Form Podcast

Host Audrey Neff brings on Kim Pezzetti, VP of Practice Development & Strategy, for Cartessa Aesthetics to break down all things related to branding and finding your competitive edge in medical aesthetics. The pair's discussion delves into common branding mistakes and challenges, along with practical approaches for determining your niche and harnessing grassroots marketing efforts within your local community. Kim also provides actionable takeaways around staff training, credentialing, social media, and the utmost importance of knowing your big ‘WHY.’

In this week's episode, host Audrey Neff speaks with Dr. Mark (Swers) Swierczewski, a dentist by trade and owner of Luminescence Medical Esthetics. Dr. Swers shares his journey from dentistry to the aesthetics world and discusses his practice’s unique approach to developing lifetime experiences, building strong retail skincare revenue streams, navigating difficult patient conversations, managing expectations, increasing ROI with energy-based devices, and so much more.

In this engaging episode, host Audrey Neff welcomes back Maegen Kennedy PA-C for a part two discussion. Maegen, owner of Windermere Medical Spa & Laser Institute, shares her insights on scaling her business from one to three locations by the end of summer 2024, as well as tips for choosing the right location & real estate. Other key discussion topics include: -Diving into her unique training and hiring protocol for new injectors -Why open communication and setting realistic goals are essential for patient satisfaction and managing expectations -Tips and tricks for having a bulletproof before & after photo process in your practice -The art of saying "no" to patients and how to master the conversation -The importance of having a confident, yet calm presence in the treatment room with patients -Her expert advice around cannula vs. needle, using ultrasound, and so much more..

Audrey Neff sits down with Maegen Kennedy, PA-C, owner of Windermere Medical Spa & Laser Institute, as well as one of AmSpa's Top 30 Most Distinguished Women of Medical Aesthetics, to kick off part one of this special two-part series. The pair unpack Maegen's inspiring journey in aesthetics and dive into an extensive list of critical topics, pertinent to all med spa owners, including: - Successes & failures of her membership program, which is now bringing in $150k MRR - Her unique approach to the consultation & how to avoid de-valuing yourself - Creating elegant, sophisticated experiences for patients - How to raise prices while still growing your client base - Introducing new technology and devices into your practice - Building a loyal team that is aligned on the same vision - And so much more...

Ben Hernandez, the CEO and Managing Director of Skytale Group, talks with Audrey Neff about the past, current, and future outlook of mergers and acquisitions in the medical aesthetics field. As the challenging 2023 year for M&A concludes, Ben provides valuable insights for practice owners looking to sell and advice around beginning with the end in mind. This episode covers a wide array of essential topics including exit strategy, preparing your business for a potential sale, optimizing valuation, selecting the right partners and buyers, considerations with deal structure, and other crucial components to consider when growing, scaling, or selling your medical aesthetics practice in 2024 & beyond.

Audrey Neff is joined by MedShift's CEO, Joe Gasque, and Chief Commercial Officer, Sean Shapiro, in this week's episode of True to Form. With over 80 percent of the medical aesthetics landscape still being made up of predominantly single location practices, small business owners often deal with financing challenges, balancing overhead, limited resources, COGS, and paying off debt. To solve this gap in the industry and create more opportunities for small to midsize aesthetic practices, MedShift was formed. Now boasting a portfolio of 113 devices, 2,300 practice accounts, and 25 aesthetic manufacturer partnerships, MedShift has evolved into one of the emerging companies to watch in the industry. Tune in to hear how MedShift's unique business model is helping practices focus on their true mission of treating & retaining patients, while also building a financially healthy business. Plus -- the three discuss the exciting launch of the new MedShift Store -- a first-ever aesthetic ecosystem offering a one-stop online marketplace for aesthetic supplies, top brands, device consumable and product bundles. Through the new MedShift Store, aesthetic practices can maximize their savings with new programs designed to make practices more profitable while reducing the cost of operating their business.

Audrey Neff kicks off Season 7 with an authentic conversation with Bita Ardakani-Akrawi PA-C, MPH, MEP-C, owner of Florida-based medical spa, Naples Skin Clinic. This episode takes a deep dive into some of the biggest do's and don'ts entrepreneurs can avoid when launching and growing a new aesthetics practice. Tune in to hear impactful advice around purchasing used lasers, capital device investments, real estate, grassroots marketing, and building an intention-led business.

In this episode, Audrey Neff speaks with Tim Sawyer, two-time Inc. 500 entrepreneur, motivational speaker, business advisor, and practice owner, on the advancements and innovations in the sexual wellness field, particularly those related to men's health. As an advisor and investor in REGENmax® (which just received the only global patent for the reversal of ED) and a partner of Tru Male Medical, a men's-only health & wellness clinic in Oakbrook, IL, Tim breaks down the economics of offering sexual wellness treatments in your practice and the concept of "profit with purpose." In today's current state, with males continuing to represent a valuable addressable market in both wellness & aesthetics, incorporating sexual wellness in your practice not only can create an opportunity for higher returns, but more importantly, an opportunity to provide life-changing care for the 30+ million men across the U.S. who currently suffer from erectile dysfunction.

This week's episode features Tracy Olson, owner of Youthtopia Med Spa and founder of the Aesthetic Injector Academy, a groundbreaking online platform that offers comprehensive training for medically licensed injectors. Audrey Neff and Tracy dive into her journey from a successful career in corporate finance to acquiring an existing practice in Alpharetta, GA -- Youthtopia Med Spa, which now employs five highly skilled injectors. The pair also discuss the prominent issue in the industry around the lack of an official certification for "aesthetics" in addition to the driving factors behind founding the AIA to assist with providing essential education for nurses trying to break into this industry - further helping bridge the gap of the nationwide shortage of trained, qualified injectors.

Francis X. Acunzo, President of Princeton Medspa Partners & CEO of Acara Partners, returns to discuss the current and future state of medical aesthetics with host Audrey Neff. This episode picks up where Part 1 earlier this season left off and covers all things relating to industry consolidation, partnering with invesment groups, private equity, advice when exiting your business, economic health & potential impacts, plus trends that will continue to mold the future of the $18B medical aesthetics industry.

Audrey Neff brings on special guest, Yvonne Dellos, MSN, FNP-BC -- master injector, successful entrepreneur, industry KOL, national speaker, business coach, and founder of Medical Aesthetic Art Institute (MAAI). The pair dive into an insightful conversation around finding purpose, improving mindset, and exiting the comfort zone. Yvonne also shares her inspiring journey of overcoming adversity and how it eventually drove her into medical aesthetics -- where she now dedicates her career to empowering injectors to not only advance their clinical skill set, but to uncover their true potential, create financial independence, and build successful businesses.

With over 16 years of executive-level leadership in solo practices, small group practices, and large-scale national brands, Judy Kozlicki, Director of Aesthetics at Skytale Group, appears as this week's guest to chat with host Audrey Neff. This power-packed episode covers so much ground from expert tips around building your team, front desk strategies, sealing profit leaks, rebooking tactics, differentiating your practice, and so much more...

In this episode of True to Form, host Audrey Neff leads a transparent conversation with Heather Allan -- Mom, speaker, clinical trainer, and owner of two-location medical spa, Bright Esthetics & Body Wellness. Heather shares countless powerful pearls and challenges behind becoming an employer and boss, managing a team of ten, plus some of her biggest branding & marketing mistakes she's made along the way in scaling her practice.

Joe Stanoszek, Founder, and Ryan Rao, Chief Development Officer of VIO Med Spa, sit down with host Audrey Neff on this week's episode of True to Form. Joe and Ryan discuss the journey behind how a Cleveland-based single location practice evolved into a now 28-location medical spa franchise with 75 estimated to be open by the end of 2024. The pair also unpack the major benefits that franchising brings to entrepreneurs including injector recruiting & training, volume pricing, vendor relationships, plus the power behind VIO's strong support community between fellow franchisees to help ensure business success across all med spa locations.

Host Audrey Neff sits down with Chase Howard, attorney at Florida Healthcare Law Firm, to unpack the basis for recent legal action pertaining to semaglutide taken against several U.S.-based practices. Chase also dives into the top compliance issues practices face when either opening an IV therapy clinic from the ground up or when adding IV therapy services into an existing practice model. Thinking of offering these services? This is an episode you don't want to miss.

Krystie Lennox PA - industry trailblazer, founder of Lennox Aesthetics, and co-founder of the Aesthetic Extender Symposium - appears as this week's guest to dive into her M.O. behind developing one of the industry's most successful medical conferences tailored specifically for advancing aesthetic extenders' clinical skill sets & business acumen. Krystie also shares her start-up journey since opening the doors to her South Florida-based practice, Lennox Aesthetics, back in April 2023. Tune in to hear Krystie's journey, how she identified her niche, developing a "fresh approach to aesthetic medicine," how she retains patients, and so much more.

Kara Moncrief, International Speaker & Director of Clinical Communications for Sinclair North America, joins Audrey Neff to share her expert knowledge around the top three categories of skin aging and how identifying these can dramatically assist your consultation process when building value in long-term treatment plans & combination therapy approaches. Plus - the pair dive into several key topics surrounding capital device investments and discuss what men & Millennials are seeking in aesthetic medicine...

Katie Martin, PA-C -- VP of Clinical Operations at Holden Timeless Beauty, Galderma GAIN Trainer, and national speaker -- joins True to Form to break down HTB's unique interviewing & hiring process for providers based on their mission, vision, and core values. Not only that, Katie dives into how to master the non-surgical aesthetic consultation to build lasting relationships, instill patient confidence, achieve better outcomes, and drive lifetime value. This is an episode you won't want to miss.

Patrick Tighe and Kimberly DeOrsey, Founder & President of CoverWell, join Audrey Neff on True to Form to discuss the driving factors behind launching the medical aesthetic industry's first pay-per-procedure insurance offering. Tune into this week's episode to hear a breakdown of how to effectively mitigate risk in your medical spa, adding extra safety nets for both your business and patients, plus how practices can protect themselves against damaging lawsuits related to aesthetic treatment complications.

Audrey Neff sits down with Dr. Amanda Holden -- Mom, wife, speaker, trainer, master injector, and owner of 5-location practice, Holden Timeless Beauty -- who shares gem after gem in this power-packed episode all around finding & reaching your true potential both in business and life. Tune in to hear the importance of having a growth mindset, finding your balance, removing negativity, and the power of surrounding yourself with people who are not just unconditional supporters of your ambitions & dreams, but people who are going -- or have already gone -- where you want to go.