Med Spa Confidential - Exposing the Risks, Rewards, and Business of Beauty

You finally lost the weight. So why do you look older?

The emotional side of dramatic weight loss is real and complicated. You spent months, maybe years, working toward a goal. You hit it and then you're blindsided by something you never anticipated. 

Dr. Kate Dee hears this every single week in her consultation room. Patients who worked incredibly hard, who did everything right, and now they're sitting across from her trying to figure out why their face doesn't match how they feel inside. Some of them have cried and not because they're vain. 

She pulls no punches here and breaks down the real clinical options, the ones that actually restore what rapid weight loss takes away. Dr. Dee also names the treatments that sound good on Instagram but deliver nothing, and there are more of those than you'd think. 

If you're on a GLP-1 right now, thinking about starting one, or you've already noticed changes in your face, this episode is for you.

Press play and learn why getting the timing wrong and you could flush thousands of dollars down the drain. 

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide

Follower Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE 

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Med Spa Confidential with Dr. Kate Dee exposes illegal practices, compliance failures, and patient safety risks inside the medical aesthetics industry. Consumers learn how to find licensed injectors, avoid counterfeit products, and make safer treatment decisions. Med spa owners and providers get real accountability, industry standards, and a pa...

What if the person who hurt you was someone you trusted completely?

Dr. Kate Dee sits down with nurse practitioner Sarah Kabalka, a 13-year veteran of medical aesthetics who knew the questions to ask, knew the red flags to look for, and still walked out of a treatment room with injuries she'll carry for the rest of her life.

Trust overrode instinct. And what happened next is something far too many patients never see coming.

Chapters:
00:03:32 - She Was Listed as Medical Director Without Knowing
00:04:13 - The Treatment Went Dangerously Too Deep
00:06:30 - Why Uninsulated RF Microneedling Can Scar
00:08:30 - Burns, Infection, and Permanent Damage
00:10:30 - The Questions She Wishes She Had Asked
00:13:01 - Why a Medical Director Is Your First Safety Check
00:17:21 - She Just Said She’d Pray for Me
00:19:30 - How the Injury Changed Her Practice Forever
00:24:30 - The Truth About Rent-a-Medical-Director Setups
00:32:05 - The Transparency Steps She Takes With Every Patient

Sarah's story reveals how a non-FDA approved device ends up in a spa that looks completely legitimate, why a medical director on paper doesn't mean anyone is actually protecting you, and what it means when a provider lists someone as their medical director without that person's knowledge.

If you get Botox regularly, you're curious about RF microneedling, or you just want to walk into any med spa and ask smarter questions, this conversation will change how you see trust and safety in this industry.

Stay until the end because the most shocking part of Sarah's story is something that could affect you the next time you book any aesthetic treatment.

Press play and learn what no one in this industry wants you to know.

Connect with Sarah: https://www.skinaddictionhealth.com/

Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide

Follower Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE 

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Med Spa Confidential with Dr. Kate Dee exposes illegal practices, compliance failures, and patient safety risks inside the medical aesthetics industry. Consumers learn how to find licensed injectors, avoid counterfeit products, and make safer treatment decisions. Med spa owners and providers get real accountability, industry standards, and a pa...

What if the clinic promising to save your life was the most dangerous place you could walk into?

A Colorado man flew to Seattle for a stem cell treatment he believed would save him. A King County jury just awarded his family $24 million. 

Host Dr. Kate Dee breaks down what happened inside that clinic and why this case is bigger than one family's tragedy.

Stem cells are real. The "cures" being sold to desperate patients? That's a very different story. Dr. Kate Dee separates the legitimate science from the dangerous fiction, and what she found will make you think twice before booking anything.

If you or someone you love has ever considered stem cell therapy, this episode could be the most important thing you hear all year.

Press play to understand what stem cells actually are and what the clinics selling them are not telling you.

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide

Follower Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE 

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Med Spa Confidential with Dr. Kate Dee exposes illegal practices, compliance failures, and patient safety risks inside the medical aesthetics industry. Consumers learn how to find licensed injectors, avoid counterfeit products, and make safer treatment decisions. Med spa owners and providers get real accountability, industry standards, and a pa...

What if the person about to inject your face isn't licensed to touch you at all?

It's not a worst-case scenario anymore. It's a pattern. Providers are getting arrested across the country, and the patients sitting in those chairs had no idea. The websites looked polished. The staff seemed professional. Nothing felt off until it was.

Dr. Kate Dee sits down with Dr. Judith Borger, a physician with over a decade in aesthetic medicine, to break down exactly what's driving this wave of arrests. 

They also cut through the hype on the K-beauty version of Botox - Letybo. The Korean neurotoxin everyone's suddenly talking about. Is it worth it? Dr. Kate Dee goes straight to the science, and the answer might surprise you.

Chapters:
03:38 - The Fake Med Spa That Looks Legit
05:08 - What Board Certification Really Means
06:23 - Why Patients Cannot Easily Spot Red Flags
09:38 - One Aggressive Laser or Three Safer Treatments
19:41 - Can Certification Elevate the Entire Industry
21:03 - Korea’s Answer to Botox and FDA Reality
25:30 - What Programs Influence What You Are Injected With
34:42 - The New Six Month Toxin Claim
37:51 - Why Longer Lasting Neurotoxins May Not Make Biological Sense

Here's something most patients don't know. The toxin your provider chooses can be influenced by more than just clinical preference.. You'll hear exactly what quietly influences what gets injected into your face. 

Press play and learn what every patient deserves to know before their next appointment.

Connect with Dr. Judith Borger: https://www.conciergemedicalarts.com/

Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide

Follower Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE 

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Med Spa Confidential with Dr. Kate Dee exposes illegal practices, compliance failures, and patient safety risks inside the medical aesthetics industry. Consumers learn how to find licensed injectors, avoid counterfeit products, and make safer treatment decisions. Med spa owners and providers get real accountability, industry standards, and a pa...

What happens when a billion-dollar company decides it's done playing nice with the telehealth giants undercutting its patents?

Novo Nordisk just dropped a lawsuit against Hims & Hers, and the ripple effects could reshape how millions of people access GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. 

Dr. Kate Dee breaks down what's really behind this legal fight, why the timing matters, and what it means for anyone who's been relying on compounded versions of these drugs to manage their weight and health.

If you've ever used a compounded semaglutide prescription, or you're thinking about it, this episode is going to answer questions you didn't even know to ask.

Dr. Dee cuts through the legal noise and explains the compounding loophole that let telehealth companies thrive during the shortage years, why that window is closing fast, and what the difference is between a compounded drug that works and one that's little more than a very expensive placebo.

By the end, you'll understand why Dr. Dee sees Tirzepatide as the stronger option, what these patents actually protect, and how to think about your own GLP-1 access as this lawsuit plays out in court.

Press play and learn what this lawsuit could mean for your health decisions.

Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide

Follower Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE 

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Med Spa Confidential with Dr. Kate Dee exposes illegal practices, compliance failures, and patient safety risks inside the medical aesthetics industry. Consumers learn how to find licensed injectors, avoid counterfeit products, and make safer treatment decisions. Med spa owners and providers get real accountability, industry standards, and a pa...

What if the person injecting you had no license, no training, and no idea what was actually in the syringe?

Dr. Kate Dee breaks down a disturbing Florida arrest that's making headlines. A woman was running a full cosmetic clinic out of her home, charging patients thousands of dollars for injections she claimed were professional-grade treatments. 

What doctors found inside the victim's body tells a very different story. And when the suspect walked out of her bail hearing without expressing any remorse. Dr. Kate Dee brought in the one guest who could speak to this story better than anyone else.

Past guest Bea Amma lived through something almost identical back in 2021. Now, five years later, she's back with a raw and honest update on where her recovery actually stands. From three months in the hospital to years of daily IV antibiotics to surgeries she wasn't sure she'd survive, Bea's story puts a human face on what these cases really cost. This isn't just a news story. 
For Bea, it never stopped being personal.

Chapters:
00:03:15- She Thought It Was Hyaluronic Acid
00:07:40- When Swelling Turns Into Infection
00:12:05- Five Years of Surgeries and Recovery
00:17:30- The Florida Home Clinic Arrest
00:22:10- Why Illegal Med Spas Keep Operating
00:27:45- The Medical Director No One Ever Met
00:33:20- How Counterfeit Fillers Enter the Supply Chain
00:38:55- The Red Flags Most Women Miss
00:44:30- What Ethical Med Spa Owners Must Do
00:53:40- How to Protect Your Face and Your Health

Together they dig into why these illegal clinics keep operating, why victims rarely see justice, and why even a high-profile arrest doesn't guarantee the problem gets solved. If you've ever booked a cosmetic treatment without asking the right questions, this conversation will change how you think about that decision.

Press play and learn what Bea knows now that she wishes she had known before her very first appointment.

Connect with guest: https://www.instagram.com/beatriz.amma/?hl=en

Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide

Follower Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE 

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Med Spa Confidential with Dr. Kate Dee exposes illegal practices, compliance failures, and patient safety risks inside the medical aesthetics industry. Consumers learn how to find licensed injectors, avoid counterfeit products, and make safer treatment decisions. Med spa owners and providers get real accountability, industry standards, and a pa...

Med spas are now selling gut healing programs for hundreds of dollars a month. But who's actually qualified to tell you what's wrong with your gut?

Gut health is everywhere right now. Walk into almost any wellness clinic and you'll find supplement stacks, IV drips, and probiotic blends all promising to fix your digestion.  But most of them aren't backed by a gastroenterologist. 

Dr. Kate Dee sits down with Dr. Tina Storage, a board-certified gastroenterologist who treats real digestive disorders every day, to find out what gut health actually looks like when the science drives the conversation.

Dr. Storage explains why so many people are struggling with bloating, constipation, brain fog, and digestive issues, and why the answer is probably simpler and cheaper than what any wellness clinic is selling you. 

Chapters:
00:01:19 - The Core Risk: Big Claims Without GI Training
00:04:30 - Dysbiosis: Why Modern Guts Are Getting Worse
00:07:30 - Leaky Gut Explained
00:11:19 - Soluble vs Insoluble Fiber
00:16:41 - Sugar, Processed Foods, Seed Oils
00:20:00 - The Fart Walk Window
00:27:30 - When Stress Becomes Symptoms
00:32:30 - Microplastics and Supplements: What’s Legit vs Wellness Marketing
00:38:30 - Avoiding Supplement Sales Traps
00:41:44 - The Wrap Up: Evidence Based Gut Care and Red Flags to Watch

If you've ever spent money on a gut health protocol and wondered whether it was worth it, this episode gives you the framework to know the difference between real care and expensive guesswork. You'll walk away knowing exactly what questions to ask before you hand over your credit card.

Dr. Kate Dee closes the episode with four specific questions you need to ask any med spa or wellness clinic before starting a gut health program. Don't skip the end. Those four questions could save you hundreds of dollars and a lot of frustration.

Listen and Learn what a board-certified GI doctor actually recommends for a healthier gut, and how to spot a wellness program that's more about profit than your health.

Connect with Dr. Storage: https://www.instagram.com/drtinastorage/ 

FREE Health Tips From 2 of the Best Gut Health Doctors in America https://doctorversus.com/

Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide

Follower Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE 

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Med Spa Confidential with Dr. Kate Dee exposes illegal practices, compliance failures, and patient safety risks inside the medical aesthetics industry. Consumers learn how to find licensed injectors, avoid counterfeit products, and make safer treatment decisions. Med spa owners and providers get real accountability, industry standards, and a pa...

What happens when an emergency order becomes the foundation of an entire business and then suddenly disappears?

New Jersey has reverted to pre-COVID regulations, ending temporary pandemic-era rules that allowed nurse practitioners to operate independently. As a result, many med spas opened over the last six years are now scrambling to secure collaborating physicians or shut down within 30 days.

Dr. Kate Dee breaks down what happened, why it matters, and what it means if you're getting treatments in states with similar regulations.

Chapters:
01:07 - Why New Jersey changed the rules back
02:17 - How COVID laws reshaped med spas
03:30 - The risk of building on temporary permission
04:25 - Florida as the warning example
06:00 - When emergency orders expire and reality hits
09:30 - Why physician oversight exists at all
12:18 - Training gaps and where things go wrong
15:25 - Why aesthetics should be held to a higher standard
17:10 - What consumers and owners must check now

This issue reaches far beyond New Jersey. Dr. Dee connects the dots between emergency orders, compounded GLP-1 medications, and the broader question of nurse practitioner independence. She explains the training gaps, regulatory turf wars, and real-world risks that emerge when businesses cut costs by replacing physicians with mid-level providers in high-risk settings.

Whether you're a patient trying to confirm your injector is operating legally or a provider navigating state-by-state regulatory chaos, this episode explains how to verify licenses, recognize red flags, and understand what “scope of practice” actually means in today’s shifting landscape.

Press play and learn how to protect yourself in a system that's constantly shifting.

Clip from: https://www.instagram.com/ivsbytheseas/

Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide

Follower Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE 

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Med Spa Confidential with Dr. Kate Dee exposes illegal practices, compliance failures, and patient safety risks inside the medical aesthetics industry. Consumers learn how to find licensed injectors, avoid counterfeit products, and make safer treatment decisions. Med spa owners and providers get real accountability, industry standards, and a pa...

What if looking like a swollen pumpkin for three days meant better skin for the next year? 

Host Dr. Kate Dee takes you behind the scenes of her own RF microneedling and laser resurfacing treatment, showing you exactly what happens from the moment numbing cream goes on to the final recovery stages. 

No filters, no editing out the swelling, just the real experience. You'll see how powerful topical anesthetics work, what the procedure actually feels like, and why some medspas can't legally offer the same level of numbing that makes this treatment tolerable. 

Chapters:
01:15 – Why Real Numbing Protocols Can Matter More Than the Device
04:00 – What RF Microneedling and Laser Actually Feel Like
06:00 – Swelling Redness and the First 24 Hours After Treatment
08:10 – Real Costs What This Treatment Actually Runs
11:10 – Choosing the Right Device and Avoiding Fat Loss Risks
15:40 – Who This Is Safe For and the Questions You Must Ask Before Booking

Dr. Dee breaks down the difference between insulated and uninsulated needles, explains why not all RF microneedling devices are created equal, and shares the exact protocols that prevent complications like fat loss and scarring.

You’ll understand what questions to ask before booking RF microneedling anywhere. You'll learn how to spot red flags in pricing, why proper licensing matters for this procedure, and what realistic results look like over time. Dr. Dee also covers maintenance schedules, cost ranges in major cities, and why some patients end up with hyperpigmentation while others don't.

Stay until the end to hear the three essential questions you must ask any provider before letting them perform this treatment on your skin. Dr. Dee explains exactly what answers should make you walk away and what responses signal you've found a safe, qualified practice.

Press play and learn how to make smarter, safer decisions about RF microneedling. 

Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide

Follower Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE 

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Med Spa Confidential with Dr. Kate Dee exposes illegal practices, compliance failures, and patient safety risks inside the medical aesthetics industry. Consumers learn how to find licensed injectors, avoid counterfeit products, and make safer treatment decisions. Med spa owners and providers get real accountability, industry standards, and a pa...

What happens when state investigators walk into over 200 med spas? 

Host Dr. Kate Dee walks you through the shocking results of New York's investigation, where inspectors found cosmetologists injecting mystery substances and estheticians causing dangerous MRSA infections. 

Now dermatology groups and lawmakers want to crack down hard, but their solution might accidentally target the good med spas along with the bad ones.

Chapters:
02:30 - When Nurses Cross the Legal Line
03:30 - How the Med Spa Industry Exploded to 20,000 Locations
03:47 - Unknown Injections and Fake Botox Exposed
07:30 - Dermatologists Push for New Laws After the Findings
10:30 - Why Not All Medical Spas Are the Same
12:30 - The Real Difference Between Legal and Illegal Med Spas
15:00 - How Even Doctors Can Operate Out of Compliance
18:30 - Why Over Half of Med Spas May Still Be Illegal
19:10 - What Changes Are Coming and Who Will Survive
20:30 - How Certification Protects Patients and Ethical Providers

Illegal practices aren't just happening in sketchy salons. Dr. Dee explains why even some board-certified doctors end up on the wrong side of the law, what makes a nurse-owned med spa legally risky, and how to spot the difference between a real medical practice and a business that's just pretending to be one.

If you're trying to find a safe place for your treatments or you own a med spa and want to stay ahead of what's coming, this episode gives you what you need to know. You'll walk away understanding how the best med spas can not only survive this but actually thrive.

Press play and Learn how to protect yourself by knowing the real difference between licensed medical care and unlicensed aesthetic services.

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide

Follower Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE 

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Med Spa Confidential with Dr. Kate Dee exposes illegal practices, compliance failures, and patient safety risks inside the medical aesthetics industry. Consumers learn how to find licensed injectors, avoid counterfeit products, and make safer treatment decisions. Med spa owners and providers get real accountability, industry standards, and a pa...