Episode 339 hosts Jessica Ferris (Registered Nurse & CEO of Australian Aesthetic Symposium)

In this episode we explore the logistics and motivations behind launching a new aesthetic conference. Australia Aesthetic Symposium (AAS) was held for the first time last years in Perth, Western Australia and is hosted and founded by Jessica.

Jessica shares her background in event management, teaching, nursing and most recently into cosmetic injecting. She explains her reasoning to create a new and independent educational event, designed specifically for aesthetic professionals in her home state.

We learn about the logistics and costs to launch a conference, working with sponsors and the finances needed, the challenges of being an unknown organizer, and the problems encountered behind the scenes.

This podcast is sponsored by the Australian Aesthetic Symposium. To save 20% off tickets to this years AAS, click here to buy tickets and use the promo code IA20

00:00 Introduction
01:08 Special Guest: Jessica Ferris from AAS
03:14 Why Perth Needed AAS
05:25 Jessica's Background and Youth Lab
07:36 Learning to Inject in WA
08:42 AAS Idea and Early Hustle
10:07 Partnering with Dr Mike
12:13 Keeping the Conference Fresh
13:38 Building the Event Blueprint
15:09 Budgeting and Hidden Costs
16:58 Selling Tickets and Sponsor ROI
20:31 WA Community and Remote Delegates
23:11 Designing the Program
23:29 Curating Conference Topics
25:30 Safety Business and Diversity
26:32 Why Live Demos Fall Flat
29:26 Cadaver Course Deep Dive
32:28 Making Attendance Worth It
36:28 Behind the Scenes Challenges
39:35 Delegation and Event Day Flow
42:35 Who Should Attend
44:45 Speakers Tickets and Farewell
46:27 Closing Credits

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Episode 338 hosts Chloe McGrath (Founder & Director of The Aesthetic Collective from Sydney, Australia)⁠

In this episode we explore how cosmetic clinics should market and brand themselves in 2026. Chloe shares her background in aesthetics and explains why her agency works exclusively within the sector, prioritising compliance and close alignment with the regulators.

We discuss common misconceptions including the belief that clinical skills alone can build a successful clinic and the serious risk of regulatory breaches when using a non-aesthetic marketing agency.

Our conversation covers key growth drivers including the limitations of word-of-mouth referrals, the importance of multiple patient touchpoints before booking, and the challenge of accurately tracking attribution. We on practical, capacity-based marketing strategies for solo injectors versus scaling clinics, highlighting Meta ads as a cost-effective option when geographically and demographically targeted.

00:00 Introduction
04:15 Regulations, Compliance & Why Conservative Marketing Wins
06:37 Clinician vs Entrepreneur: How Mature Are Clinics in 2026?
10:58 When Marketing Goes Wrong: Distressed Clinics, Debt & TGA Letters
13:36 What Actually Drives Growth: Word of Mouth Limits & 7–10 Touchpoints
16:45 Content Myths: Posting Frequency, Quality vs Spam & The Algorithm
19:17 Brand Foundations: Defining Your Identity, Values & Target Patient
22:41 Men in Aesthetics: Why It's Still 90% Women + The Longevity Angle
27:39 What Makes a Clinic Successful Now: Beyond Price & Chain Clinics
29:10 Scaling the Team: Getting Patients to Trust New Injectors
32:22 Capacity vs Growth: Balancing Regulars, New Patients & Rebookings
33:24 Choosing Your Business Model: Solo Injector vs Scaling a Clinic
37:28 Branding Beyond a Logo: Consistency Across Every Touchpoint
41:14 Culture Is the Brand: Team Energy, Retention & Patient Experience
44:12 From DIY to Pro: Rebrands, Diplomacy & Why Cohesion Builds Credibility
45:51 Marketing Budgets That Work: Meta Ads, Content Shoots & What to Spend
55:35 Word of Mouth vs Acquisition: Retention Math & Why You Still Need Marketing
57:49 Action Steps + The Future: Fix Your Basics, Sanity-Check Messaging & Wrap-Up

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Episode 337 hosts Dr Abishek Settipalli (aka 'Dr Abs', Dentist from London, UK) & Dr Ben Coyle (General Practitioner from Leicester, UK)

Abs and Ben join us in Chapter 12 of our Masterclass series of episodes. Here we host global experts with significant experience to teach us about fillers, bio-stimulators, bio-remodellers, polynucleotides, exosomes and other injectable products. (For toxin insights, check out our other mini-series, 'The Tox Talks')

In Chapter 12 we discuss Sunekos, a new product in Australia and distributed by Xytide. Our discussion begins with a discussion about regenerative aesthetics and what this term really means. We then cover the science of the skin and what happens when we age. Importantly we get a better understanding about the key building blocks of the skin including the various types of collagen, elastin and fibronectin.

Sunekos is marketed as a 'bioregenerator' and we underpack what is it, how it works, what patients are suitable, how it's used in clinical practice and much more.

00:00 Introduction
00:52 Special Guests: Dr Abishek Settipalli & Dr Ben Coyle
03:29 Discussion on Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine
06:37 Challenges in the UK Aesthetics Market
08:46 Understanding Regenerative Medicine
10:09 Patient Demographics and Treatment Approaches
16:47 Trends in Aesthetic Treatments
29:19 Understanding HA and Amino Acids
29:44 Nutrient Sensing and Human Biology
31:58 Inflammation and Aging
33:32 Amino Acids: Ingestion vs. Injection
35:31 Collagen and Skin Health
43:55 Patient Experiences and Results
53:01 Combination Therapies and Treatment Limitations
01:02:25 Addressing Ageing Hands
01:02:57 Face Injection Protocols
01:05:22 Cellulite Treatment Insights
01:06:56 Neck Treatment Challenges
01:08:19 Injection Techniques and Training
01:14:39 Commercial Aspects of Treatments
01:21:39 Future of Aesthetic Treatments
01:25:05 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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Episode 336 showcases our hosts Dr Jake Sloane & David Segal

In this episode we go through our list of strategies and ideas for clinics to thrive and grow in 2026. We discuss the concept of examining and diagnosing your 'financial health' with a detailed explanation of profit margins, balance sheets and the importance of analyzing your costs vs prices.

We also cover team management, tips to improve patient retention, rebooking strategies as well as the importance of committing to a social media and marketing strategy.

00:00 Introduction
00:41 Starting the New Year: Business Reflections
02:28 Analysing Business Performance
05:07 Understanding Financial Reports
11:02 Managing Stock and Profit Margins
33:36 Skincare and Retail Strategies
39:39 Creating Your Own White Label Brand
40:45 Memberships and Subscriptions
45:45 Income Streams: Training and Mentorship
50:41 Managing Teams and Staff Performance
56:37 Patient Retention and Rebooking Strategies
01:11:47 Marketing and Social Media Strategies
01:17:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Episode 335 showcases our hosts Dr Jake Sloane & David Segal.

In our 'What's trending in Aesthetics?' episodes we discuss popular topics doing the rounds on social media, issues being debated in injector forums or items showcased on the news. We'll cover controversies, big stories and themes that have got injectors and our industry talking.



In Chapter 16 we delve into the key overall trends that we predict will influence the year ahead. We discuss:

• The shift towards 'slow ageing' (long term planning and smaller but more frequent treatments)
• The rise of bio-stimulators vs traditional hyaluronic acid fillers - and whether this trend will balance itself out or not
• The rationalisation of devices in clinics - multiplatform devices vs multiple machines
• The professionalisation of aesthetics - getting serious about business and regulations
• The increasing sophistication of patients - how they are arming themselves with knowledge to pick and choose only the best injectors

We also share our HUGE news and the impending the launch of our new app called 'IA Community'. (Due out in March/April 2026) This new platform and app will bring together the entire aesthetics community including HCP's, business owners and brands for networking, support, advice, education, promotions, events and much, much more.

00:00 Introduction
00:40 Welcoming the New Year and Episode Introduction
01:22 Maintenance and Longevity in Aesthetics
02:57 The Professionalise of Aesthetics
04:20 Exciting News: Launching the IA Community App
07:17 Maintenance and Longevity Based Aesthetics
19:53 The Rise and Fall of HA Fillers
28:01 Future of Regenerative Medicine
28:48 Combining HA and Bio Stimulants
29:32 Evolution of Treatment Approaches
31:18 Device Rationalisation and Platform Thinking
35:48 Professionalise of Aesthetics
50:48 AI and the Future of Aesthetic Treatments
54:58 Conclusion and Future Trends

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Episode 334 hosts Dr Kourosh Tavakoli (Plastic Surgeon from Sydney, Australia)

In this episode we discuss the latest trends and innovations in plastic surgery. We cover the rising popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs and the significant impact they are having on surgical trends and procedures.

We then do a deep dive into the current preferences in breast aesthetics and the continuing evolution in techniques including as implant technology, lipo filling and the use of mesh for 'internal bra' support. We also cover the rare complications of breast implants known colloquially as 'breast implant illness' and 'breast implant associated cancer'.

Our conversation also touches on the challenges faced by Australian surgeons given the stringent marketing regulation changes and the pros and cons of patient education through social media.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:40 Holiday Reflections and Introducing Dr Kourosh Tavakoli
02:29 Trends in Cosmetic Surgery
02:53 Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Cosmetic Procedures
04:03 Breast Implant Trends and Patient Preferences
28:28 Breast Implant Illness and Patient Education
33:12 Practical Approach to Diagnosing Breast Implant Illness
34:06 Debunking Myths About Injectables and Chronic Symptoms
36:05 Advancements in Breast Surgery Techniques
37:46 Liposuction and Lipo Filling for Breast Enhancement
41:24 The Role of Internal Bras in Breast Surgery
50:22 Regulations and Social Media in Plastic Surgery
59:17 Challenges for New Plastic Surgeons
01:05:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Episode 333 hosts Mike Clague (Nurse Injector from Melbourne, Australia)

In 'The Tox Talks' episodes we feature expert injectors who have significant experience in using botulinum toxins. These episodes explore our guests experiences using particular brands, the evolution of their injecting techniques and we get special insights into the subtle nuances of getting the best out of toxins.

In chapter 11 we talk about Relfydess, a new Botulinum Toxin A manufactured by Galderma.

We first re-introduce Mike (previously on episode 276) and his clinical background. We then cover his involvement in the pre-launch trials using Relfydess and his clinical experience with the product. We covers the efficacy and onset of Relfydess compared to other toxins, its performance in various facial areas, and discuss practical tips for injectors.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:40 Welcome to Chapter 11: The Tox Talks
00:53 Introducing Mike Clague and Relfydess Toxin
01:28 Mike's Background and Experience
03:31 Discussion on Toxin Efficacy and Longevity
06:20 Practical Insights and Injection Techniques
12:53 Patient Experiences and Feedback
24:10 Manufacturing and Purity of Toxins
27:09 Discussion on Antibody Levels
27:44 Patient Reactions to Treatment Onset
28:24 Dosage and Treatment Techniques
31:00 Commercial Implications of Treatment Frequency
32:34 Longevity and Variability of Treatment Effects
42:57 Training and Mentorship in Medical Practice
46:53 Regulations and Compliance in Medical Advertising
50:07 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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Episode 332 hosts Dr Steven Sorr (Naturopathic Doctor from Arizona, USA)

Steven joins us in the 31st chapter of our series called 'The Injector Diaries'. These episodes feature in depth conversations, stories and experiences from injectors around the globe.

Each injector brings their own unique take on things and we showcase every level of type of injector, from newbies to masters. We'll explore how and why they chose to inject, why they favour using certain products, look under the hoods of their clinics and aim to inspire our injector listeners.

00:00 Introduction
01:08 Meet Dr. Steven: Integrating Health and Aesthetics
01:43 Understanding Naturopathic Medicine
03:52 Patient Approach and Treatment Philosophy
11:02 Challenges and Education in Modern Medicine
17:41 The Importance of Lifestyle and Preventative Care
20:14 Discussing Education and Curiosity
20:37 Integrating Aesthetics and Wellness
20:57 Exploring Methylation and Genetics
22:41 Debunking Misinformation in Health
25:19 Epigenetics and Environmental Impact
26:26 Aesthetic Trends and Patient Demographics
27:38 Commercial Aspects of Regenerative Medicine
31:50 Ethical Challenges in Aesthetics
34:32 Quick Fire Questions and Wrap-Up

***Special Offer: As mentioned in this podcast Steven runs his own course called ULTRAWELL ACADEMY. This gives injectors foundational knowledge in functional medicine and focuses on the core principles of personalized, patient-centered healthcare.

The Foundations of Functional Medicine course guides injectors through evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, combining scientific understanding with practical skills to support improved patient outcomes. Choose your course, and use the code IA10 in the checkout to save 10%. Click this link to apply***

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