Inside Aesthetics

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

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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

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Episode 338 hosts Chloe McGrath (Founder & Director of The Aesthetic Collective from Sydney, Australia)⁠

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

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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

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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

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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

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Episode 334 hosts Dr Kourosh Tavakoli (Plastic Surgeon from Sydney, Australia)

In this episode we discuss the latest trends and innovations in plastic surgery. We cover the rising popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs and the significant impact they are having on surgical trends and procedures.

We then do a deep dive into the current preferences in breast aesthetics and the continuing evolution in techniques including as implant technology, lipo filling and the use of mesh for 'internal bra' support. We also cover the rare complications of breast implants known colloquially as 'breast implant illness' and 'breast implant associated cancer'.

Our conversation also touches on the challenges faced by Australian surgeons given the stringent marketing regulation changes and the pros and cons of patient education through social media.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:40 Holiday Reflections and Introducing Dr Kourosh Tavakoli 02:29 Trends in Cosmetic Surgery 02:53 Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Cosmetic Procedures 04:03 Breast Implant Trends and Patient Preferences 28:28 Breast Implant Illness and Patient Education 33:12 Practical Approach to Diagnosing Breast Implant Illness 34:06 Debunking Myths About Injectables and Chronic Symptoms 36:05 Advancements in Breast Surgery Techniques 37:46 Liposuction and Lipo Filling for Breast Enhancement 41:24 The Role of Internal Bras in Breast Surgery 50:22 Regulations and Social Media in Plastic Surgery 59:17 Challenges for New Plastic Surgeons 01:05:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Episode 333 hosts Mike Clague (Nurse Injector from Melbourne, Australia)

In 'The Tox Talks' episodes 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.

In chapter 11 we talk about Relfydess, a new Botulinum Toxin A manufactured by Galderma.

We first re-introduce Mike (previously on episode 276) and his clinical background. We then cover his involvement in the pre-launch trials using Relfydess and his clinical experience with the product. We covers the efficacy and onset of Relfydess compared to other toxins, its performance in various facial areas, and discuss practical tips for injectors.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:40 Welcome to Chapter 11: The Tox Talks 00:53 Introducing Mike Clague and Relfydess Toxin 01:28 Mike's Background and Experience 03:31 Discussion on Toxin Efficacy and Longevity 06:20 Practical Insights and Injection Techniques 12:53 Patient Experiences and Feedback 24:10 Manufacturing and Purity of Toxins 27:09 Discussion on Antibody Levels 27:44 Patient Reactions to Treatment Onset 28:24 Dosage and Treatment Techniques 31:00 Commercial Implications of Treatment Frequency 32:34 Longevity and Variability of Treatment Effects 42:57 Training and Mentorship in Medical Practice 46:53 Regulations and Compliance in Medical Advertising 50:07 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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Episode 332 hosts Dr Steven Sorr (Naturopathic Doctor from Arizona, USA)

Steven joins us in the 31st 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 01:08 Meet Dr. Steven: Integrating Health and Aesthetics 01:43 Understanding Naturopathic Medicine 03:52 Patient Approach and Treatment Philosophy 11:02 Challenges and Education in Modern Medicine 17:41 The Importance of Lifestyle and Preventative Care 20:14 Discussing Education and Curiosity 20:37 Integrating Aesthetics and Wellness 20:57 Exploring Methylation and Genetics 22:41 Debunking Misinformation in Health 25:19 Epigenetics and Environmental Impact 26:26 Aesthetic Trends and Patient Demographics 27:38 Commercial Aspects of Regenerative Medicine 31:50 Ethical Challenges in Aesthetics 34:32 Quick Fire Questions and Wrap-Up

***Special Offer: As mentioned in this podcast Steven runs his own course called ULTRAWELL ACADEMY. This gives injectors foundational knowledge in functional medicine and focuses on the core principles of personalized, patient-centered healthcare.

The Foundations of Functional Medicine course guides injectors through evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, combining scientific understanding with practical skills to support improved patient outcomes. Choose your course, and use the code IA10 in the checkout to save 10%. Click this link to apply***

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Episode 331 hosts Dr Bita Farrell (Anaesthesiologist from California, USA) & Dr Roni Munk (Dermatologist from Montreal, Canada)

Back in September 2025 Dr Jake and David were attendance as speakers at the Canadian Aesthetic Expo. They took the opportunity to record with two other leading KOL speakers; Bita (previously on Episode 283) & Roni.

We first get an understanding of our guests own patient demographics and their recent experiences of dealing with filler anxiety expressed by their patients. We explore the nuances of an effective patient consultations and cover the aspects of winning trust, education and the role of personalised consultations. We then discuss the growing prominence of regenerative medicine including insights into exosomes, PRP, PDGF and effective combination therapies.

Our guests share their own experiences, philosophies, emphasize a patient-centric approach and the role of lifelong learning to achieve success.

00:00 Introduction 01:03 Meet the Guests: Dr Bita Farrell and Dr Roni Munk 01:43 Roni's Practice and Insights 02:32 Bita's Background 04:39 Trends and Challenges in Aesthetic Treatments 08:13 Exosomes, PRP, and Regenerative Medicine 15:18 Consultation and Building Trust with Patients 18:02 The Life of a Speaker and Live Injecting 19:33 The Challenges of On-Stage Consultations 20:25 The Importance of Authenticity and Preparation 20:49 Building Trust Through Pre-Consultations 23:18 The Role of Consultation in Treatment Success 24:53 Training and Continuous Learning in Aesthetics 31:15 The Evolution of Practice and Learning from Peers 34:29 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

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