Behind the Needle

The Science Behind Hair Removal and Restoration With Kristi Kay

Most people assume laser hair treatments and permanent hair removal are the same thing. According to electrologist and business owner Kristi Kay, they're not even close. In this episode of Behind the Needle, Kristi Kay, owner of Electrolysis & Co., discusses the often misunderstood world of permanent hair removal, the science behind electrolysis, and why it remains the only FDA-recognized method of permanent hair removal. The conversation expands beyond hair removal into one of the fastest-growing areas of aesthetic medicine: hair restoration. Kristi explains how Electrolysis & Co. approaches hair loss through comprehensive consultations, lab testing, and advanced technologies like TED Hair Restoration.  This episode is packed with practical information for anyone considering hair removal or looking for answers about thinning hair before it's too late to intervene. In this episode: * Why electrolysis remains the only FDA-recognized method of permanent hair removal * The biggest differences between electrolysis and laser hair reduction * What the electrolysis process actually looks like and what patients can expect * Common misconceptions about permanent hair removal * Why early intervention is critical when it comes to hair loss * How hormone imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, COVID, and GLP-1 medications can contribute to hair thinning * What patients should know before starting a hair restoration journey Resources + Links Work with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/ [https://medspamediagroup.com/] Book with Electrolysis & Co.: https://www.electrolysisandco.com/ [https://www.electrolysisandco.com/] Follow Mike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/ [https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/] MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/ [https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/] Electrolysis & Co.: https://www.instagram.com/electrolysisandco/ [https://www.instagram.com/electrolysisandco/]

Why you NEED to LOVE what you do with Nina Traster

Success in aesthetics isn't just about technique, business strategy, or social media. According to Nina Traster, it starts with loving what you do. In this episode of Behind the Needle, Danielle sits down with Nina Traster, physician assistant and owner of iConcierge Med Spa in St. Petersburg, Florida, to discuss the role passion has played in her career. From working full-time in family medicine while building her aesthetics practice on nights and weekends to growing a thriving business of her own, Nina shares why genuine excitement for the work has been the driving force behind her success. This episode is for anyone building a career, growing a business, or searching for work that energizes rather than drains them. In this episode: * How Nina balanced family medicine and aesthetics while building her business from the ground up * The moment she decided to transition into aesthetics full-time * Why loving your work is one of the best defenses against burnout * The benefits of a patient-centered, concierge-style practice model * How she manages a high-volume schedule while maintaining quality patient care * The systems, preparation, and delegation strategies that keep her practice running smoothly * Why continuous education is essential in the rapidly evolving aesthetics industry * Her advice for new injectors looking to grow their skills and confidence * Why staying focused on your own patients and your own journey matters more than social media competition Resources + Links Work with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/ [https://medspamediagroup.com/] Book with iConcierge: https://iconciergemedspa.com/ [https://iconciergemedspa.com/] Follow Mike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/ [https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/] MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/ [https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/] iConcierge Medspa: https://www.instagram.com/iconcierge_medspa/ [https://www.instagram.com/iconcierge_medspa/]

Building a Practice Around Prevention, Not Prescriptions With Brittany Bunjovac

Long before she became a nurse practitioner, Brittany Bunjovac was the kid leading a protest for healthier school lunches.  That same passion for understanding the connection between nutrition, wellness, and long-term health eventually led her into aesthetics, hormone optimization, and preventative medicine. In this episode, Brittany shares how a serious complication from a nose filler treatment sparked her interest in aesthetic medicine, why she pursued becoming a nurse practitioner to gain more autonomy in patient care, and how she built BBUN Beauty Injectables and Wellness around a philosophy of treating root causes instead of chasing symptoms. In this episode: * How Brittany's childhood passion for nutrition shaped her career path into wellness medicine * Why she left traditional nursing behind to become a nurse practitioner and business owner * The difference between reactive healthcare and proactive wellness care * How she helps patients uncover root causes instead of simply treating symptoms * Her approach to hormone optimization and why "normal" lab values don't always mean optimal health * The personal hormone challenges she faced and how they impacted her physically and mentally * The growing popularity of peptides and the risks associated with purchasing them online without medical supervision * The role of aesthetics within a larger wellness and longevity strategy Resources + Links Work with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/ [https://medspamediagroup.com/] Book with BBUN Beauty: https://www.bbunbeauty.com/ [https://www.bbunbeauty.com/] Follow Mike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/ [https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/] MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/ [https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/] BBUN Beauty: https://www.instagram.com/bbunbeauty_aesthetics_wellness/ [https://www.instagram.com/bbunbeauty_aesthetics_wellness/] Brittany Bunjovac: https://www.instagram.com/bbunbeauty_fnpinjector [https://www.instagram.com/bbunbeauty_fnpinjector]

The Injector Who Puts Skin Health Before Everything Else with Megan Mallory

She turned a front-row seat to plastic surgery into a thriving injecting career, and now she is one of the most education-driven aesthetic providers in Southern Arizona. Megan Mallory started in aesthetics in 2013 as an aesthetician, became a laser technician after moving to Arizona, and eventually went back to school to become an RN. Now she runs Canvas Skin Clinic in Oro Valley as a full-time injector and business owner, closing in on her Nurse Practitioner degree with about six months left. She does all of this as a mom of three, with her husband in her corner. What drives Megan is a belief that most patients are skipping the most important step. Before the filler, before the laser, before any of it -- the skin has to be ready. Her whole practice is built around that idea, and this conversation gets into why she thinks the aesthetic industry too often puts the cart before the horse, what it actually takes to build a treatment plan that lasts, and how real patient education changes outcomes in ways that no single in-office treatment ever could. In this episode: * Why Megan built her entire practice around a "skin first" philosophy and what it actually means to prime the canvas before you ever pick up a syringe * The real difference between medical-grade skincare and what is on the shelf at the drugstore, and why it matters more than most patients realize * The conversation she has with almost every new patient about what their at-home routine looks like and how that shapes everything that comes after * How she thinks about sequencing treatments and why rushing a patient into injectables before their skin is ready can actually work against the result * How she approaches treatments in the Arizona summer heat, which lasers she pauses on and which she keeps running, and why patients with melasma or deeper skin tones need extra consideration in high-heat months * Where she sees Canvas Skin Clinic going after graduation, and the vision for expanding into integrative, holistic medicine without losing the intimate feel her patients count on * What post-care protocols tell you about a provider before you ever sit in their chair Resources + Links Work with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/ [https://medspamediagroup.com/] Book with Canvas Skin Clinic: https://canvasskinclinic.com/team/ [https://canvasskinclinic.com/team/] Follow Mike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/ [https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/] MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/ [https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/] Canvas Skin Clinic: https://www.instagram.com/canvasskinclinic/ [https://www.instagram.com/canvasskinclinic/] Megan Mallory: https://www.instagram.com/megmalloryaesthetics/ [https://www.instagram.com/megmalloryaesthetics/]

How to Create a Winning Culture for Your Customers with Jordan Stansbury

She started injecting in the middle of a pandemic out of a single rented room, and four years later she was running a five room storefront with a full team and a name everyone in Clark County knows. Jordan Stansbury launched her practice in 2020 and by 2023 knew the brand needed to change. Juicy Aesthetics was born, Clark County took notice, and the votes for best med spa came in two years straight. But behind the recognition is a story about the work, the numbers she was afraid to look at, the tasks she had to let go of, and what it actually takes to build a culture that her team wants to be part of and her clients keep coming back to, all while staying true to who she is. This episode is for anyone building something from scratch and trying to figure out the business side before the business side figures them out. In this episode: * Why she rebranded to Juicy Aesthetics and what made her realize the original name was not telling the right story * The financial metrics she wishes she had understood from the beginning and why she thinks too many new med spa owners are afraid of their own numbers * Her take on inventory management and why she advises new owners to resist the pressure to place large orders just to lower the cost per syringe * The mindset shift that came with moving from nurse to business owner and what learning to have honest sales conversations with clients actually required * How she recently expanded into hormone replacement therapy and women's health services and why she sees internal wellness as inseparable from aesthetic results * What she has learned about peptides, which ones she trusts, and why she is vocal about the risks of buying unregulated products from unverified sources * How Juicy Aesthetics builds the kind of client retention that does not rely on discounts, and the quarterly community events that keep people coming back Resources + Links Work with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/ [https://medspamediagroup.com/] Book with Juicy Aesthetics: https://www.instagram.com/juicymedspa [https://www.instagram.com/juicymedspa] Follow Mike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/ [https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/] MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/ [https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/] Juicy Aesthetics: https://www.instagram.com/juicymedspa [https://www.instagram.com/juicymedspa] Jordan Stansbury: https://www.instagram.com/injectorjuicy/ [https://www.instagram.com/injectorjuicy/]