This week, AmSpa President and CSO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Sarah Safa, MS, PA-C, top national aesthetic specialist, faculty for the Academy for Injection Anatomy, and founder of Refined Aesthetics. They discuss proactive techniques for preventing and managing aesthetic complications. Safa offers insight on the anatomy training you need to perform treatments safely, active listening as a patient safety tool, and the necessity of having a plan in place. Their conversation includes:

• The story of her first complication and how she has retained that patient;
• The intimacy of the facial anatomy you need to understand to inject;
• Building your network to share knowledge, experience and support;
• What to do when your patient experiences an adverse event;
• Three factors that help mitigate the risk of complication;
• Informed consent: your responsibility to educate patients;
• Essential anatomy education and technique training;
• What she keeps in her crash kit;
• And much more!

For more case examples and in-depth discussion on the most advanced techniques in complication prevention and reversal, tune in to the filler complications panel at the Academy for Injection Anatomy (AIA) Advanced Cadaver Courses in Houston, New York, Nashville and Orlando.

Listen to the medical malpractice episode referenced in this conversation: https://podcast.americanmedspa.org/e/avoiding-medical-malpractice-lawsuits-with-patient-advocate-law-firm-sukhmanyagoda/

Music by Ghost Score.

This week, we revisit our conversation with George Baxter-Holder, DNP, ARNP, CANS, renowned aesthetic trainer and chair of the AmSpa Aesthetic Safety Council (AASC). In this wide-ranging talk, he covers:

• The AASC looking at the practice guidelines with fresh eyes;
• The priorities when fine-tuning the practice guidelines;
• Determining the intent of practice guidelines;
• Looking at the practice guidelines as a position statement rather than a policy statement;
• Coming to a consensus on minimum standards for medical aesthetic practices;
• Trying to define “medical director,” including training and qualifications;
• The resiliency of medical spa industry during COVID-19;
• His involvement with the Academy for Injection Anatomy; and
• The benefits of getting a hands-on, 3D view of anatomy for injectors.

See here for more information on the AmSpa Aesthetic Safety Council. See here for more information on the Academy for Injection Anatomy.

Music by Ghost Score.

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Janie Futch, BSN, RN, and Martina Kolovich, MSN, NP-C, co-owners of Altera Aesthetix in Savannah, Georgia. They discuss how they grew their medical aesthetic practice from two girls in a living room to a rebranded franchise, including the investment they made in training, their approach to the Savannah market and their mission to empower women business owners. Their conversation includes:

• How they built their careers in aesthetics without sacrificing family time;
• The capital, time and patient volume invested in their first year of injectable training;
• Why the natural approach to treatment helps them retain patients;
• Their decision to rebrand from Refine Medical Aesthetics to Altera Aesthetix;
• How their franchise model ensures compliance with medical aesthetic regulations;
• Their excitement and goals for the future of AmSpa’s state chapters;
• And more!

Music by Ghost Score.