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

In this episode of Medspa Mayhem, Dr. Kate Dee, along with physician assistants Paige Savage and Hannah West, delve into the critical issue of vascular occlusions in the field of medical aesthetics. They explain what vascular occlusions are, the protocols for treating them, and the importance of being prepared with the right materials, such as hyaluronidase. The discussion also highlights real-lif...

Dr. Kate Dee is joined by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Christopher Rex to discuss comprehensive hair loss therapy. Dr. Rex shares his diverse background, experience in low-income clinics, and the journey to founding Peak Dermatology in Arizona. They delve into various aspects of hair loss treatments, the importance of timely intervention, and the effectiveness of different therapeutic approac...

In this episode, Dr. Kate Dee talks with Dr. Aaron Fletcher, a highly accomplished ENT and facial plastic surgeon based in Atlanta, Georgia. They delve into Dr. Fletcher's extensive educational background and training, the rising trend of men seeking aesthetic procedures, and the specific types of treatments that are popular among male patients. The discussion also covers the nuances of perfo...

In this episode, host Dr. Kate Dee discusses two significant legal cases in Oklahoma's med spa industry with journalist Jazz Wolfe. The first case involves Kay Sanders, a nurse who illegally imported Botox from Canada and practiced without proper medical supervision. The second case concerns Dr. Darter, whose lack of oversight at Pure Derma Med Spa led to severe patient injuries. Both cases h...

Is Ozempic for you? Dr. Kate Dee and Dr. Judy Rubin discuss the use of Ozempic and other weight loss drugs. They cover the importance of a medical examination before starting these medications, the potential side effects, and the need for proper monitoring. They also discuss the different drugs available and their mechanisms of action. The conversation highlights the success of these drugs in help...

In this episode of MedSpa Mayhem, Dr. Kate Dee interviews Dr. Dahlia Rice, a board certified plastic surgeon from Chicago. They discuss various aspects of dermal fillers including the types of fillers, techniques, potential complications, and corrective measures. Dr. Rice emphasizes the importance of choosing a qualified injector to ensure safety and satisfactory aesthetic results. They also delve...

In this episode of Med Spa Mayhem, Dr. Kate Dee welcomes Dr. Judith Borger to discuss their mutual favorite aesthetic treatment: RF microneedling. They delve into why this treatment has become so popular, likening it to 'the Taylor Swift of aesthetics'. The episode covers how RF microneedling works, how it compares to traditional microneedling, and why it is effective for stimulating col...

The tables are turned today as Dr. Judith Borger interviews Dr. Kate Dee, owner of Glow Med Spa in Seattle and author of the newly released book 'Med Spa Mayhem'. They discuss Dr. Dee's accidental yet fulfilling journey into the aesthetics industry, the impetus behind writing her book, and the critical need for consumer education in an unregulated market. Highlighting the good, bad,...

In this episode, Dr. Kate Dee and regulatory attorney Becky Hsiao delve into two significant medical fraud cases in Washington state. The first case involves Dr. Tami, a Seattle-based doctor who was fined $500,000 for selling unproven stem cell treatments for various diseases, including COVID-19. The second case revisits Dr. Sajan, a cosmetic surgeon who was fined $5 million for a range of fraudul...

Dr. Kate Dee interviews ER physician Nadia Nabavi to explore the critical issues surrounding med spa complications and cosmetic procedures. They discuss the recent rise in botulism cases due to fake Botox, the risks associated with filler complications, and two gripping cases of liposuction gone wrong. Additionally, Nadia introduces her innovative company, Green Dot, which aims to revolutionize ac...

In this episode, Dr. Kate Dee interviews Dr. Kristen Jacobs, an experienced aesthetic medicine doctor and trainer, about the nuances of aesthetic practice and how to choose a qualified provider. Dr. Jacobs shares her personal journey into aesthetics, the importance of ongoing training, and the risks associated with poorly trained practitioners. They discuss the critical points patients should cons...

Dr. Kate Dee hosts Elizabeth Gersten, a licensed esthetician for over 29 years.' Elizabeth recounts various unsafe and unhygienic practices in spas, including bribing inspectors, reusing contaminated products, and lack of proper training among staff. The discussion highlights the importance of proper training, licensing, and adherence to sanitation protocols. They also delve into differences...

Dr. Kate Dee interviews Dr. Troy Woodman to discuss various aspects of facial plastic surgery, including proper consultation procedures and safety standards. The episode opens with a harrowing story about a patient receiving surgery under suboptimal conditions, highlighting the importance of choosing a qualified surgeon and understanding the standard of care. Dr. Woodman shares his extensive exper...

In this episode, Dr. Kate Dee discusses the importance of good faith exams and their role in ensuring patient safety in medical spas. Joined by Polina Riedler, RN and co-founder of Spakinect, the conversation covers how her company provides virtual good faith exams across the country, ensuring compliance with state regulations. They delve into the framework of these exams, explain who is qualified...

Dr. Kate Dee and attorney Becky Hsiao discuss a civil lawsuit filed against a cosmetic surgeon in Seattle for violating the law by requiring patients to sign illegal nondisclosure agreements. The lawsuit also includes claims of intimidating and bribing patients to remove negative reviews, posting fake positive reviews, and altering before and after photos. They explore the legality of offering fre...

Bea Amma shares her experience at an unlicensed medical spa in California where she received illegal and dangerous treatments. She was injected with a combination of B12 and deoxycholic acid, which is a fat dissolver, all over her body. After the injections, she experienced severe symptoms, including fever, nodules under her skin, and open flesh wounds. She was diagnosed with a mycobacterium infec...

Krysta Carson, also known as Disfigured Beauty, shares her traumatic experience with dermal filler that led to disfigurement. She had been getting filler injections for five years without any issues until the last injection in 2020. After the injection, she experienced numbness and tingling on the left side of her face, which worsened over time. Her face turned black, blistered, and eventually, a...

In this episode of Med Spa Mayhem, Dr. Kate Dee interviews Brad Adatto, a healthcare attorney, about the basics of med spa law. They discuss the definition of a med spa and what constitutes the practice of medicine. They also explore who can practice medicine and who can inject Botox or perform medical procedures. The conversation touches on the concept of corporate practice of medicine (CPOM) and...

In this conversation, Dr. Kate Dee and Joe Amaral discuss the topics of SEO and SEM, specifically focusing on Google and its algorithms. They explain the difference between organic search and paid search, as well as how Google determines authority and ranks websites. They also discuss the challenges of AI-generated content and the constant changes in Google's algorithm. Joe Amaral highlights...

Dr. Kate Dee and Becky Hsiao discuss the recent headlines about fake Botox - “faux-tox” - sending patients to the hospital and the regulatory aspects of medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Becky, a regulatory attorney, explains the complexities of ensuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs and devices. Fake Botox cases have been reported in multiple states, causing harm to patients.. It is im...

In Part 2 of our conversation about medspa terminology, Dr. Kate Dee and Dr. Desiree Otto discuss various common terms related to skincare and aesthetic treatments. They cover topics such as dermal fillers, including the difference between Botox and filler, common filler complications like duck lips and pillow face, the use of hyaluronic acid in fillers, and the role of growth factors and exosomes...

In Part 1, Dr. Kate Dee and Dr. Desiree Otto discuss basic MedSpa terminology as it relates to Botox and Botox treatments. They explain the different neurotoxins available in the US, including Botox, Disport, Xeomin, Daxxi, and Jeuveau. They define terms like 11s, forehead lines, crow's feet, accordion lines, bunny lines, smokers lines, marionette lines, tear trough, gummy smile, and more. Th...

Dr. Kate Dee and Dr. Desiree Otto discuss lip filler and its popularity. They explain that people seek lip filler for various reasons, including wanting fuller lips, correcting asymmetry, and restoring volume loss due to aging. They emphasize the importance of achieving a natural look and avoiding the overfilled 'ducky lip' appearance. The doctors also discuss the procedure, including th...

Dr. Kate Dee and Dr. George Davis discuss the issues surrounding medical aesthetics in Texas. They highlight the lack of regulation and oversight in the industry, particularly in regards to who can perform injections and the use of fake or illegal products. They also discuss the dangers of improper injections and the importance of proper training and knowledge of facial anatomy. The conversation e...

In this conversation, Dr. Kate Dee and Stephen Moritz discuss the importance of reviews in the medical spa industry and why so many are fake. They focus on Google and Yelp reviews and mention RealSelf as an alternative review platform for plastic surgeons. This conversation explores the limitations and challenges of relying on reviews for evaluating medical spas and doctors. They also touch on oth...