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

Dr. Kate Dee | Medical Spa Founder & Safety Advocate

Exposing the Good, the Bad and the Ugly secrets of the Medical Aesthetics Industry.Dr. Kate Dee takes you inside the medical spa industry, an unregulated mix of medicine and marketing where the results can be stunning… or dangerous. As a board-certified Physician who left hospital medicine to found GLOW Med Spa, she’s seen both sides: the art, the science, and the shady practices that put patients at risk.You’ll hear insider stories, expert conversations, and practical advice that help you spot who’s qualified, who’s not, and how to stay safe while still looking your best.Subscribe to become a smarter patient and find out what questions to ask and how to figure out who is cutting corners in the wild west of the medspa world

  1. 5H AGO

    This Skin Tightening Device SKIPPED Human Trials (It's in Med Spas) ft. Dr. Corinne Erickson - Dermatologist | EP 101

    What if the skin-tightening device your med spa is pushing on you has zero human safety data? Not outdated data. Not limited data. Zero. That's the reality behind one of the most hyped devices in aesthetics right now, and Dr. Kate Dee isn't staying quiet about it. Dr. Kate Dee sits down with Dr. Corrine Erickson, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Georgia Skin Specialists in Atlanta, to cut through the noise on non-invasive skin tightening. These treatments are everywhere right now, and so is the misinformation. They name the devices that had good ideas but poor execution, including some that are still being sold today. Then they break down what the newer generation of RF technology actually does, how it works, and why the science behind it matters more than the marketing. Dr. Erickson chose her device based on published clinical data, head-to-head studies, and real-world outcomes. Not Instagram hype. Actual evidence. Meanwhile, Dr. Dee raises serious questions about one device flying off shelves right now whose only published safety study was done on two-to-three-month-old pigs. That device is being sold in med spas across the country right now. Maybe even yours. Chapters: 00:03:02 - The Real Problem With Older RF Devices 00:04:18 - The New Generation of Skin Tightening Machines 00:07:12 - Is Korean Technology Leading This Space? 00:08:35 - The Mistake That Causes Facial Fat Loss 00:12:22 - What Skin Tightening Actually Feels Like Now 00:15:18 - How Long Results Really Take to Show Up 00:18:33 - The Temporary Tightening Effect Patients Mistake for Results 00:20:48 - The Red Flags Around Zerf and Deeper RF Claims 00:24:52 - SofWave is Still Raising Concerns 00:27:05 - The One Treatment You Should Use Before Events 00:29:22 - The Skin Tightening Add-On Patients Don’t Expect 00:30:12 - The New Treatment for “Sleevage” 00:33:18 - Non-Surgical Body Tightening Limits 00:35:05 - The Device You Should Avoid 00:36:02 - The Biggest Red Flag in Aesthetic Marketing 00:37:02 - Why Consumers Need to Verify Licenses and Oversight 00:39:32 - Why RF Microneedling Devices Keep Causing Injuries If you've ever considered a skin-tightening treatment, or you've already had one and wondered whether it was the right call, this episode gives you the questions you should have been asking before you walked in the door. Press play and learn exactly what to ask before you book any skin-tightening treatment you've seen all over social media. Connect with Dr. Connie Erickson: https://georgiaskinspecialists.com/providers/corinne-erickson/ Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/ Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE Have a question, story, or insight to share? → https://drkatedee.com Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas. Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com 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.

    44 min
  2. MAY 20

    100 Patients Injected With Illegal GLP-1 at This Med Spa

    The Safer Way to Choose a Medspa → MedspaBoard.com What if the "FDA-approved" weight loss shot you just got… wasn't? The headlines reduced this story to a clinic shutdown and a few thousand dollars in penalties. But Dr. Kate Dee exposes what may have actually happened behind the scenes: roughly 100 patients allegedly injected with research-grade peptides never intended for human use. This could be happening right now in your state, possibly at a clinic down the street, and most patients would never know until something goes wrong. Dr. Kate Dee breaks down the real Alabama case that should have made national headlines. According to the complaint, a med spa allegedly injected patients with substances labeled “not suitable for direct human consumption” while patients believed they were receiving FDA approved GLP-1 medications. She explains how a gray-market peptide supplier, questionable oversight, and loopholes inside the med spa industry created the perfect storm for patient harm and why the consequences handed down barely reflect how serious this case really was. Press play before ordering your next weight loss shot. Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/ Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE Have a question, story, or insight to share? → https://drkatedee.com Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas. Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com 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.

    19 min
  3. MAY 13

    Is Your Surgeon FAKING Deep Plane Facelift? (Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon Explains) - Dr. William Harris | EP 99

    Get Your Medspa Certified → https://medspaboard.com/ What if the facelift you're planning could leave you looking worse than before you started? Facelifts are more popular than ever, but not all of them are created equal. The deep plane technique is being marketed heavily right now and it sounds impressive on paper. Book the wrong surgeon and you could end up with a pulled, windswept result that requires another surgery to fix. Dr. Kate Dee sits down with Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon Dr. William Harris to talk about what's actually happening in operating rooms right now. Dr. Harris specializes in extended deep plane facelifts and he's also the surgeon people call when someone else's work goes wrong. Chapters: 00:02:09 - Why Facelifts Look Pulled 00:04:29 - Does Dr. Harris Avoids Threads 00:06:02 - New Treatments Younger Patients Want 00:08:18 - Why 28-Year-Olds Get Neck Lifts 00:10:00 - Kybella Fails 00:15:09 - The Most Common Facelift Mistakes 00:18:00 - Why Plastic Surgeons Close Skin Differently 00:21:07 - How to Choose the Right Surgeon 00:25:07 - Hair Transplant Horror Story 00:27:27 - The Reality of Medical Tourism 00:29:39 - The Biggest Red Flag in Aesthetics 00:30:24 - Why Good Surgeons Say No They cover the exact questions you need to ask before you sit in a consultation chair, why the words "cosmetic surgeon" on a door sign should make you stop and think, and what actually separates a result that ages beautifully from one that falls apart in three years. Press play and learn what your surgeon might not be telling you. Connect with Dr. Harris: https://www.harrisfacialplastics.com/ Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/ Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE Have a question, story, or insight to share? → https://drkatedee.com Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas. Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com 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.

    34 min
  4. IV Therapy Death Leads to Murder Charges (Justice for Jennifer Cleveland)  | EP 98

    MAY 6

    IV Therapy Death Leads to Murder Charges (Justice for Jennifer Cleveland) | EP 98

    What if the person who gave you your last IV drip had zero medical training? It happened and Jennifer Cleveland never made it home. This week, the story that shook the entire med spa industry just got a major update and it's one you cannot afford to ignore. Dr. Kate Dee and med spa attorney Courtney Walker are exposing the dirty secret hiding inside thousands of "medical" spas right now. Unlicensed operators running the show. Doctors are renting out their licenses with ZERO oversight and people are dying. This isn't rare.  You'll find out exactly what was in that IV, who administered it, and where the supervising doctor actually was when Jennifer died. You'll never walk into a wellness center the same way again. Press play and learn how the law is finally catching up and you need to hear this before your next appointment. Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE Have a question, story, or insight to share? → https://drkatedee.com Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas. Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com 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.

    13 min
  5. APR 29

    The FDA Opened the Door on Peptides… Here’s the Risk | ft. Dr. Furhan Qureshi | EP 97

    What if the injection your provider is offering you has never been tested on a single human being? You are hearing a lot of people claiming they've healed their chronic pain, boosted their performance, and turned back the clock.  But some of the most popular peptides on the market today are technically illegal to prescribe, sourced from unknown suppliers, and have zero completed human trials behind them. The FDA just made a major announcement that could change all of that. And you need to know what it means before anyone injects anything into your body. In this episode, Dr. Kate Dee sits down with Dr. Furhan Qureshi, an internal medicine physician and med spa owner practicing outside Washington, D.C. Together, they break down what peptides actually are, why the hype exploded after the GLP-1 boom, and why the most popular one right now is still banned by professional sports anti-doping agencies. Chapters: 00:03:21 - Why GLP-1 success created a peptide gold rush 00:04:13 - FDA ban and sudden reversal explained 00:08:27 - Where peptides cross into unsafe territory 00:11:42 - Why social media is driving demand 00:13:18 - The peptide linked to melanoma and seizures 00:19:47 - Growth hormone peptides and cancer concerns 00:21:28 - The allergic reactions raising red flags 00:25:12 - Infection and contamination risks explained 00:28:11 - The compounding pharmacy loophole 00:35:14 - The limits of current treatments 00:38:41 - Why most peptide studies are unreliable 00:40:03 - What real evidence should look like 00:43:39 - The stem cell warning for patients 00:45:06 - The cost barrier to real research 00:48:09 - What real clinical trials could look like You'll find out which peptide Dr. Dee says no one should be using. You'll learn what the FDA's new policy actually changes, and what it doesn't. And you'll hear two physicians get honest about why even they aren't rushing to offer these treatments yet. Press play and learn what the FDA's big announcement actually means for your safety. Should You Be Injecting Yourself with Peptides?  Read Here Connect with guest: https://www.instagram.com/furhanqureshimd/ Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/ Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE Have a question, story, or insight to share? → https://drkatedee.com Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas. Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com 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.

    46 min
  6. APR 22

    FDA Warning Letter Shut Down Med Spas Overnight (What They Found) | EP 96

    How do you REALLY know if that's Botox?  Hear what the FDA uncovered when they investigated Pure Indulgence Aesthetics, a med spa with a clean website, a doctor's name on the homepage, and a Groupon running for less than $8 a unit.  Patients were lining up and reviews were good, but when investigators checked the dumpster, the unmarked vials were a substance that had to be sent to a lab just to identify. Dr. Kate Dee was sitting in a room in Las Vegas when an FDA official described details of this case that have not been reported anywhere. She's bringing every bit of it to you, because what happened at Pure Indulgence Aesthetics in Texas and California is not an isolated incident. IT'S A WARNING. The medical director's name was on the website. The nurse managing the supply chain had a federal guilty plea in her past for a crime you will be shocked to find out.  Here's what should scare you, the patients who kept coming back thought it was working. If you've ever booked a Botox appointment, passed along a recommendation, or assumed a licensed-looking clinic is a safe one, you need to hear what Dr. Dee found out before your next treatment, and before someone you love books one too. Press play and learn how to find out what was really in that syringe. WARNING LETTER: https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/pure-indulgence-aesthetics-723267-04012026 Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE Have a question, story, or insight to share? → https://drkatedee.com Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas. Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com 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.

    14 min
  7. APR 15

    Hormone Therapy Boom: Who’s Putting You at Risk? (Find Out) | ft. OB-GYN - Dr. Radhika Sharma | EP 95

    Does more access to hormone therapy mean better care? Hormone therapy is everywhere right now. Med spas are offering it, telehealth platforms are advertising it during the Super Bowl, and plenty of providers are happy to prescribe whatever you ask for.  In this episode, Dr. Kate Dee sits down with Dr. Radhika Sharma, an obstetrician-gynecologist from Wisconsin and co-host of the podcast The Double Scrub. Together, they break down what's really happening inside the hormone therapy boom and why some of the most popular options could actually be doing you real harm. They dig into why under the skin pellets are a red flag, what telehealth platforms aren't telling you about cost and follow-up care, and why the symptoms most women chalk up to menopause are being completely misread.  Chapters: 00:05:07 - Why Even Specialists Feel Underprepared 00:07:22 - When Every Symptom Gets Blamed on Hormones 00:08:40 - The Mistake Almost Every Patient Makes First 00:10:05 - Why That Quick Online Option Feels So Easy 00:13:08 - When the Treatment Plan Starts to Drift 00:14:42 - The Symptoms That Should Actually Concern You 00:16:15 - What Gets Missed When You Skip a Real Workup 00:18:03 - The Risk No One Explains Upfront 00:20:28 - What Bioidentical Really Implies 00:24:06 - The Reality Behind One Size Fits All Care 00:31:12 - What Happens When You Follow the Wrong Plan 00:34:05 - The Signs You Need a Second Opinion 00:37:18 - What to Look For in the Right Provider 00:40:22 - The Symptoms You Should Not Brush Off You'll also find out why your OB-GYN may have barely had any menopause training in medical school, and what that means for the care you've been receiving. Press play and learn what your provider should already be telling you. Connect with guest: https://www.instagram.com/drradhikaobgyn/ The Double Scrub Podcast: Listen Here Find or Get Your Medspa Certified: https://medspaboard.com/ Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE Have a question, story, or insight to share? → https://drkatedee.com Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas. Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com 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.

    42 min
  8. APR 8

    DOCTOR REACTS: Did Nicole Kidman's Fillers Go TOO Far? [Scarpetta] | EP 94

    Have you ever watched a celebrity on screen and thought, "Something looks off  but I can't figure out what"? Dr. Kate Dee and her colleague Margaret Sherman were watching the hit Netflix series Scarpetta when they noticed something about Nicole Kidman's face that stopped them cold.  What started as a casual observation turned into a conversation that every woman considering injectables needs to hear. Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis play sisters on screen. One is nine years older, but one looks it, but the other doesn't, and the reason why is more complicated than you'd expect.  Dr. Dee has been studying both faces and what she found reveals something the med spa industry rarely talks about out loud. And there's also a specific moment in the show where the contrast between these two women becomes impossible to ignore, and once Dr. Dee points it out, you won't be able to unsee it. If you've ever sat in a med spa chair and wondered how much is too much, this episode answers that question in a way nothing else has. Press play and learn what procedures Dr. Kate Dee has done on her own face,. Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE  Gift Guide MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE Have a question, story, or insight to share? → https://drkatedee.com Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas. Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com 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.

    13 min
4.4
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Exposing the Good, the Bad and the Ugly secrets of the Medical Aesthetics Industry.Dr. Kate Dee takes you inside the medical spa industry, an unregulated mix of medicine and marketing where the results can be stunning… or dangerous. As a board-certified Physician who left hospital medicine to found GLOW Med Spa, she’s seen both sides: the art, the science, and the shady practices that put patients at risk.You’ll hear insider stories, expert conversations, and practical advice that help you spot who’s qualified, who’s not, and how to stay safe while still looking your best.Subscribe to become a smarter patient and find out what questions to ask and how to figure out who is cutting corners in the wild west of the medspa world

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