For The Record Hosted by Tiphany Hall, PhD

Season 4 of For The Record is coming to a close, but we’re going out on a very high note in Episode 80: Hustle & Heart: A Rise to the Top with Erika Barry, NP-C and Libby Dysart.
This dynamic duo has been working together for several years, and the proof of their combined powers is unmistakable. What Erika brings to the table as an expert injector, top trainer and KOL, Libby matches with brand management experience, social media expertise, and a knack for contract negotiations and influencer management.


Erika started her IG in 2015 and quicky begin to grow her following. Her page was a combination of before & afters and an authentic look at her life- something that improved her patient relationships and become a calling card for her business.  But Libby encouraged her do more, and she took over in 2018. Now Erika’s follower number is at an impressive 295k! But that’s not even close to the whole story...
With Libby’s insight into Patreon and Erika’s ability to connect with injectors and create a community that was hungry for more knowledge, they launched Erika’s account in 2017, the first in the medical Aesthetics field. Her Patreon has grown into a massive following and become a powerhouse business of its own. In 2023, Libby launched her own Patreon to share best practices for brand management and how to slay at social media, stepping out into her own light as an influencer!


But while the social media influencer version of Erika is what you may see, behind that persona is a tremendous amount of hard work and hustle. She is extremely disciplined and professional in everything she does, and let’s face it, she does more in a day than most of us do in a week!  She’s the co-owner of award-winning Potomac, MD based medspa Moksha Aesthetics with another well-respected trainer & KOL, Hania Khorshidi. Recently, Libby finally turned over the reins to the Moksha brand to someone else, freeing up more time to focus on Erika’s many endeavors!


In addition to Patreon and Moksha, Erika co-founded Aesthetic Intel with her longtime mentor and friend, Waseem Garbia, PA-C, another big name in the Aesthetic industry. Who hasn’t heard of the Injector’s Club consultation pads? This invaluable resource was the jumping off point for Erika and fellow industry veteran, injector and KOL, Shakira Cabrera, MPAS, PA-C, to start the Injector’s Club. Their joint venture not only supplies helpful tools like consultation pads and anatomy boards, but they frequently train on business building & injecting. No surprise, Libby is behind the curtain of both of these companies, masterminding a social media and brand strategy that has resulted in national recognition in a very short time.


When Erika’s not involved in one of her businesses, she can be found touring all over the country speaking on behalf of companies taking the stage at conferences, advising manufacturers on product plans, and doing hands-on training.  Libby is her constant sounding board and confident, and together they have a unique balance of tough love and unwavering support that is the epitome of straightening another woman’s crown.


As Erika’s star grows, Libby’s role has shifted to a talent manager- making sure Erika’s contracts, projects, compensation and schedule are the right fit for her brand and her role as a wife and a mom. With Libby’s success of the Bunny brand, she’s become a hot commodity all her own is  now in demand to share her knowledge and consult on the growth of other brands across the industry.
From the humble beginnings in 2015 to the top of the class in 2024, these two are the perfect pair we never knew we needed. They’ve got heart, and there’s no question they’ve got the hustle, and they’ve earned their success every step of the way!


To learn more, visit:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/injectorbunny/
https://www.instagram.com/socialbylibby/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Botoxbunny1
https://www.patreon.c

We’re sharing the best kept secret in Aesthetics this week and pulling the curtain back on the 2023 Nexties winner for Training Institution of the Year, Beautiphi Academy & its founder, Kelly Hermans, CRNA. Based in Rochester Hill, MI, Kelly is on a mission to empower new injectors and business owners with her training academy, and Kelly and her team are also simultaneously delivering a high-touch patient experience and exceptional patient outcomes and at her medspa, Beautiphi Aesthetic Boutique.

Kelly was a practicing CRNA, but after some unexpected life events, she found herself in a unique position to dive headfirst into aesthetics. Like so many, when she decided to start her own practice, Kelly had more questions than answers. Over the next year, after a lot of digging and trial and error, Kelly found what she needed, and in 2018, Beautiphi opened. Her experience was a catalyst for building what would become Beautiphi Academy. As her success grew, fellow CRNAs across the US sought Kelly out for her advice and her help to start their own practices. Fast forward 6 years, and she has amassed a following of more than 700 trainees who are actively involved in the Beautiphi community.  There’s no better word to describe this close-knit group of entrepreneurs who are learning, sharing, and overcoming the challenges of owning a practice together. No gatekeeping, no drama, and no frills!

At the helm is of this group sits Kelly who is constantly advocating for lower pricing, more opportunities and better service from vendors across the industry, and it’s paid off. Beautiphi has become a well-oiled machine – Kelly finds the right vendors, handles the negotiations and then passes the benefits on to the community. Meanwhile, they all work together to share best practices, protocols, watchouts and successes among a curated list of products and services. Frankly, it’s genius, and it all started because Kelly found herself without a tribe and without access to the answers and the training she needed when she entered aesthetics.

Manufacturers have certainly taken notice of what Kelly’s built.  She’s a national educator for Merz, Aerolase, and Rohrer Aesthetics in addition to being a thought leader for Revance, and of course, Aesthetic Record & LeadAR! And, while all this is going on, she’s running a very busy practice where she and her 5 injectors and her staff are offering cutting-edge treatments and pouring into their patient relationships.

What you can’t help but love about Kelly is that she always shows up as her authentic self, and that means spending time where it’s most productive, even if it’s not popular. She’s not big on Instagram, she isn’t one for the glitz and glam, but what she IS focused on is working tirelessly to bring value to her Beautiphi community, to provide the best experience for her patients, and most importantly, to be a good mom and wife. That means showing her kids what it means to work hard, be ethical, and be someone others can depend on.  Even when others spend time stirring up drama and trying to drag her down, she’s remains steadfast in her commitment to prioritize what’s important and keep her head above the fray.

What she’s been able to build is truly remarkable, especially when you consider that she’s done it all exclusively with word-of-mouth advertising and referrals from existing trainees, a testament to the constant investment of her time and her passion for helping fellow entrepreneurs to build successful businesses.  Her community is 700 strong and growing day by day, and she’s not slowing down. Beautiphi Academy may be a best kept secret, but it is long overdue, as is Kelly,  for the recognition it and she deserves, and we are more than happy to share it!!!  



Find out more about Kelly & Beautiphi:

Visit Beautiphi Aesthetic Boutique: www.Beautiphiyou.com

Visit Beautiphi Academy: www.theBeautiphiAcademy.com

Follow Kelly on IG: www.instagra

This week we are focusing on what drives growth in your Aesthetic practice and how to harness the power of systems, scale, technology, and digital marketing. We are joined by serial entrepreneur and aesthetic industry veteran, Cameron Hemphill,CEO of Growth99. Their focus as a company is on scaling your business through effective digital marketing and marketing automation strategies.

As the medspa landscape continues to change, with new technologies emerging and private equity taking an increasing interest, we talk about the gaps that are starting to show in the industry. Patient perception is changing, so our businesses must change, too. Cameron’s company is known for building beautiful websites, and in his own words, the website is like a second location and the BEST place to start. It should be invested in and cared about to the same degree as a physical practice- a good website drives everything else you’ll need in your digital strategy. From there, Cameron reiterates that it’s about building a strong tech stack to handle your data exchange between your CRM, EMR, Ads, Social, etc. With disparate systems, it’s nearly impossible to scale!

Some of our Favorite Takeaways with Cameron:

1.     The Evolution of the Medspa Industry: Cameron provides an overview of how the industry has shifted, highlighting the introduction of private equity and new weight loss treatments and discussing the importance of staying informed and adaptable.

2.     The Importance of Technology and Systems: We take a deep dive into the role of technology in scaling a medical practice. You need a customer relationship management (CRM) platform that can handle marketing automation and social media. Cameron talks about his own journey at G99 from offering managed services to developing a successful SaaS model so practices can manage their operations more independently and
efficiently.

3.    The Gap in Utilization & Knowledge: Our discussion uncovers a common issue where practices invest in technology but fail to leverage its full potential- as a software vendor we want you to use it all! What are you missing? How does that impact the practice? Your tech stack is only as strong as your use of your tools!

4.     Building and Leveraging a Digital Presence: We talk about what your website really needs- It’s a way to collect data, enable online booking capabilities, and convert visitors into clients. It’s about strong SEO, easy functionality, and a strategy that connects to your ads, local SEO, social and more.

5.     Running a Successful Business: Cameron has decades of experience as a successful tech entrepreneur. He shares the lessons he’s learned and the blueprint for scale: SOPs, connected systems, a highly educated staff, and a dedication to clients.

Some Key Takeaways for Medspa Owners:


Embrace technology and systems to scale your practice
effectively
Fully utilize the tools and platforms you invest in to
enhance your operational efficiency
Pay attention to your digital presence, ensuring the website serves as an active tool for growth and client engagement
Continuously educate yourself and your team on the
latest industry trends and technologies
Remember, success in the medspa industry requires a balance between being a skilled practitioner and a savvy business owner

Building Your Tech Stack to Scale offers a comprehensive guide for medspa owners and injectors looking to navigate the complexities of the industry while also building beautiful websites, effective digital content and collecting data at every stage. Cameron is one of the leading voices in digital marketing in our industry, and his advice is incredibly valuable! This is one episode you MUST listen to and then GO take action- it’s packed full of impactful strategies to build systems and successfully. scale.



Learn more about Growth99 at https://growth99.com/

Checkout their Instagram at https://growth99.com/

This week, we're going to "skinny things up" by diving into the popular yet controversial world of weight loss. We're joined by a weight loss expert, Nikki Plourde, NP-C a nurse practitioner specializing in family medicine who turned her focus to weight loss and aesthetics in 2021. She's the co-owner of Nurturher in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, and in addition to her own busy patient load, she has trained thousands of Providers on implementing weight loss strategies with the ever growing list of demand for GLP-1s.

In this episode, Nikki shares her journey from ICU nursing to family medicine and eventually to aesthetics and weight loss. She has watched the positive business impact of the weight loss boom firsthand- after working with Wegovy in her prior role, she knew the opportunity that had been laid at her feet when it was approved for weight management in 2021!

She talks about how jumping in with semaglutide as soon as it was available was a catalyst for growth at Nurturher. They went from 2 Providers in a small space to a commercial property with 11 staff members, much of that growth she attributes to the semaglutide tidal wave.  But, she’s also passionate about helping others get started with semaglutide or tirzepatide the right way- with proper training and protocols in place.

Nikki felt a strong calling to begin her own training program after seeing the lack of education available. She’s a stickler for BMI requirements, and her motto is to stick with the least effective dose, because, well, it works! And, it helps to mitigate the pesky side effects.  She has a consistent routine for how often she sees her patients & she arms them with tons of educational information and resources to promote a FULL lifestyle change - not just a shot. 

In our short hour, she shares so much knowledge & critical information from how to dose and assess patients to how to market and price weight loss medications. She also talks about the overall health benefits of weight loss via GLP-1s including the ability to be more physically active, improved cardiac health and a better quality of life- something that we should communicate more to the public (and less about skinny celebrities!)

 Key takeaways from this episode include:

 1. Expert Insights on Semaglutide: Nikki provides in-depth knowledge on how to effectively use semaglutide in weight loss, discussing the right patient profiles, dosing strategies, and managing side effects.

2. Integrating Weight Loss into Practice: Learn how to incorporate weight loss treatments into your practice, from the medical aspects to marketing strategies. Nikki shares her experience in making weight loss a successful part of her practice.

3. Patient-Centric Approach: Discover the importance of a personalized approach in weight loss treatments, considering factors like BMI, individual health conditions, and long-term goals.

4. Marketing and Growth: Insights into how weight loss services can be marketed and how they contribute to the growth and expansion of a medical practice – and how to think about your pricing strategy so you can complete the “full picture” of weight loss.

5. The Future of Weight Loss Medication: Discussion on the evolving landscape of weight loss drugs and what medical professionals can expect in the future.

This episode is a must-listen for Providers looking to expand their knowledge in weight loss treatments, particularly in using GLP-1s like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Whether you're looking for dosing information, the best compounders, how to market or build a program, Nikki is an invaluable resource!

Find out more about her training programs and & monthly
support at www.Weightmanagementcourse.com

Find Nikki on IG at https://www.instagram.com/nikki_nurturher/

Learn more about Nurturher at www.nurturheraesthetic.com

This week we are heading to Kansas City to chat with one of the legacy injectors, a real OG, who has been part of our industry for more than 2 decades, Georgia Cirese, RN, CANS. Georgia began her journey in a Plastic Surgery office, pre-Botox, and found her niche in the science and artistry of injecting. She worked in a dermatology clinic for years after, but she felt the entrepreneurial pull 4 years ago when she opened Georgous Aesthetic Bar.

Situated in the high-end Country Club Plaza in KC, she and her daughter have collaborated to build a world-class medspa that focuses on exceptional outcomes and patient experience. Georgia is part of the founding group of injectors who came together 20+ years ago to, in her words, slay the jungle of aesthetics. With little training and an even smaller portfolio of products, that veteran cohort of injectors laid the foundation for what would become a thriving industry decades later. Georgia was exactly where she needed to be when the Botox brand took off- she was assisting Dr. Jerome Lamb, a plastic surgeon in KC, in the OR as he performed face lifts and other aesthetic procedures.

 Her surgical knowledge coupled with her own experience from her first Botox injections were the catalyst for her career. She understood the artistry, the anatomy, and she knew a gentle touch was a necessity if patients were going to want to come back! She enrolled in an Aesthetic Advancements course early on which helped to build the necessary skills to really thrive. Now she’s a trainer for the organization and has been for many years. It had a positive impact on her learning journey, and she’s paying it forward.   

Catching up to modern day, Georgia is a well-known national trainer for Allergan and AAI, and she’s been on podiums throughout the industry. Looking back on where she started, she talks about the rise in influence of the medspa and the “non-core” injector and what it means to be faculty on podium and to be the respected expert in the room. That hasn’t always been the case Those are stripes she has definitely earned with years and years of practice, mentoring and training others, and acting as an advisor to the industry.

 

This year she was appointed to the board at ISPAN – a full circle moment. She was one of the original nurses to earn the Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist designation. Over the last several years, ISPAN has worked diligently to get the CANS certification recognized as a true board certification, and they’ve done it! As that organization expands to include more nurses and hopefully other licensures as well, Georgia is in a position to continue her advocacy of industry-wide standards and regulations to create a safer and better skilled specialty.

 

As an entrepreneur, she’s busy building her business with continued growth, including being named a top 10 Allergan account in Missouri. More than 50% of her patients come from word of mouth, and it’s not surprising when you hear her talk about her staff and the investment in hiring the right people to fit her culture. She’s creating a unique experience for patients through her team, and it’s her careful hiring and onboarding process that ensure it’s sustainable. She has her daughter as her
right hand managing the business operations and marketing. Together, they have created a practice that is as well known for Georgia’s incredible skill as it is for that of her Providers.

As Georgia continues to train, she doesn’t discount her own need to constantly learn and evolve. After 20 years in aesthetics, thousands of patients, and more injections than one can imagine, she’s still eager to constantly improve…..THAT is why she’s still slaying the jungle and remains one of the most respected injectors two decades later!

Learn more about Georgia: https://georgouskc.com/

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgousinjections/

Follow GAB on Instagram: https://www.instagram

We are shaking things up toward the end of the season with an innovative concept that marries the high-touch aspects of concierge medicine with the dedicated space and treatment room of a brick & mortar spa.

In recent years, we've watched Aesthetic vendors take their businesses on the road with luxury RVs providing treatments in the middle of Times Square, to cadaver buses rolling up to conferences for a day of learning. It's no surprise that now, injectors are catching on to the benefits of going mobile!

This week we sit down with Nurse Practitioner and new(ish) entrepreneur Michelle Chapman, APRN to learn more about how she's building out her dream business, MC Aesthetics, on 4 wheels!

Michelle comes from an ICU background, but like so many, she decided she wanted more post-COVID. She moved on to travel nursing and she worked at a retail clinic with no windows, a tiny space, a crazy quota, and an experience that she just couldn't imagine doing forever. In walks Aesthetics.... she took a course and was immediately in love with her next career move. She saved up her travel nursing money to pay for a long list of trainings to build her skills- and as we discuss, some great, and others not so good!

As she was learning her new craft, she decided to also take the entrepreneurial leap. It never occurred to her to open up a brick & mortar space. Perhaps it was her prior roll in that tiny retail clinic, but she wanted the freedom to move! So, MC Aesthetics, a luxury mobile med spa, was born.

In this episode, we talk about the challenges of learning how to run a business. In all the trainings and all the conferences, the nuts and bolts of business ownership is rarely discussed. Knowing this from the start, Michelle elicited help from experts in the legal and compliance field to make sure she was doing everything right from the start. She also purchased a van and had it outfitted by a company specializing in corporate conversions. While it's not tied to a lease, don't be fooled into thinking it's cheaper or less work! The cost to build out a custom van is definitely on par with a brick & mortar build out, but where Michelle goes, her business follows without worrying about how she'll relocate!

So far, her concept has proven to be a successful one! She travels between Tampa and Orlando, carefully scheduling her visits to ensure she has time to complete her signature facial balancing treatments as she goes from one location to the next. It's not unusual for her to park outside an office building and do a patient's lips over lunch or turn the home-based "botox party" into something more sophisticated by treating patients in a dedicated treatment room that just happens to be on wheels!

She's received a lot of press and interest from local publications and bloggers in the Tampa / Orlando area despite only being open for a year - something that typically doesn't happen- but the concept is so inviting and so different, that people can't help but take notice. She is a rolling billboard with fellow drivers calling her after seeing her wrapped van advertising her services. Her patient reviews are fantastic, many of them mentioning convenience as a big part of the initial draw, but her skill and aesthetic eye is what keeps them coming back.

Because the concept is so novel, it would be easy to rely on that alone as a competitive advantage. But not Michelle! She's focused on delivering fabulous outcomes- just ask her patients! Next, she has plans to grow her mobile med spa business either through franchising or expanding her own fleet. Regardless of how it happens, growth is inevitable. In a time where we are all in a hurry and Door Dash and Instacart have replaced dinners out and grocery runs, it only makes sense that we want our aesthetic treatments when we want them and where we want them!

Learn more about Michelle at www.michellechapmanaesthetics.com

Follow her on IG at https://www.instagram.com/mc_aesthetics__/