Conferences, Controversies, and Catching Up | Episode 36

In this episode of Fill Me In, hosts Jon and Nicole provide a life update and discuss various topics as summer comes to an end. They share their insights from the Aesthetic Extender conference, emphasizing the importance of networking, live demos, and hands-on experience. The hosts also discuss the benefits of regenerative treatments like PDGF and its potential for improving skin issues and collagen production. Additionally, they touch on the importance of attending conferences, staying updated with industry trends, and the upcoming plans for their practices.

***DISCLAIMER***

The content of this episode of Fill Me In: An Aesthetics Podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The hosts, guests, and producers of this podcast do not endorse or recommend the off-label use of any medical product without proper clinical training, patient assessment, and full informed consent. Listeners are strongly advised to consult with their healthcare providers and adhere to all applicable laws and regulatory guidelines. We expressly disclaim any and all liability for any outcomes related to the use or misuse of the information presented in this episode.

Episode Mentions:

Waseem Garbia, PA-C: https://www.instagram.com/unfilteredinjector/

Rana Kennelly: https://www.instagram.com/naturally_rana/

On Fill Me In: An Aesthetics Podcast, Jon LeSuer NP-C and Nicole Bauer FNP-BC dive deep in the world of aesthetics. As aesthetic nurse practitioners with their own medical practices, Jon and Nicole fill you in on everything in their field.

Fill Me In is hosted by Jonathan LeSuer, MSN, NP-C and Nicole Bauer, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC. 

Follow Fill Me In on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/thefillmeinpod/

Follow Nicole on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/aestheticnursenicole/

Follow Jon on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/injectorjon/

Exhibit Medical Aesthetics website:
https://exhibitmedicalaesthetics.com/

Tox and Pout Aesthetics website:
https://toxandpout.com/


Producer of Fill Me In: Joseph Ginexi

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome Back
• 2:47 Networking and Learning at Conferences
• 13:25 PDGF and Controversies in Aesthetics
• 17:55 Daxxify and New Neurotoxins
• 22:20 Trends in Aesthetic Treatments
• 25:39 Hair Growth Treatments and Techniques
• 34:46 Conferences and Professional Development
• 36:10 Practice Updates and Future Plans

Transcript

 All right guys. Welcome back to another episode of the Fill Me in Pod. I am injector John, 

and I'm aesthetic nurse Nicole. 

And we're just gonna give a little life update with this episode 

and we're gonna have a fun one today. Episode. Yes. Episode a little fun one 

today we're gonna touch base on a bunch of things, but um, it's the end of summer.

Mm-hmm. And everybody's getting ready for back to school. 

That's right. Everyone's getting their last minute vacations in. 

Yeah. 

I feel like we're going through that. Like, you know, people call same day and they're like, oh, I can't come in today. 

Mm-hmm. Yep. I know Right now up here in New York, we have the New York State Fair that just started.

Okay. And 

it's for two straight weeks. Oh man. Um, so I don't know, like everybody, the next two weeks they're getting ready for school and going to the fair. Um, they're going to the fair, they're doing all these things and plus they're like. Enjoying their last two weeks of freedom. Yes. Before school starts.

Yeah. Yeah. Are you going to the fair, 

uh, like one day? I, I'm not a huge fair goer. 

What do we get at the fair? Is there food? 

Oh, yeah. I mean, I would get like the funnel cake. Oh yes. I would get, yes. Um, probably they have these fresh, fresh donuts that are there. Yum. These peach donuts, which I might not sound good to people, but they're good to me.

I love peach. Ugh. 

Sign me up. Maybe I'll come up there. We'll go together. 

Yes, yes we should. Um, but yeah, it's, no, it's fun. 

So you just got back from Aesthetic Extender, right? 

Yeah. Missed you. 

I know. Stop. I had so much fomo. 

I know. Still on maternity leave. She's coming back. Well, you're back this week. 

I'm, I'm back this week.

Starting Tuesday. I'm back in the office. Yeah. I started training again this week. Mm-hmm. Um, but mm-hmm. They have this conference every year at the same time as my family vacation every year, 

which will have to be moved next year, just by week. So the family, 

the family vacation is getting pushed back a week next year.

So I will be be, I will be there. 

Yeah. Great. Oh my God. But no, it was fun. It was a lot of fun. All of our injector, besties were there. You know, Erica Faye, um. It was just a great time. Olivia 

was there. I saw. Oh, miss 

Olivia. Oh my God. Oh my God. Her Erica and Olivia pretty much owned the stage they were on there.

I love that. Basically there wouldn't have been a conference if it was for them. 

Yep. 

Um, but it was a great conference. I, you know, I've been to a few, I haven't been to like all of them, obviously. Mm-hmm. But I think what I liked the best about this conference is that there were more live demos than I think as providers were.

Very hands-on people. Yeah. So for me, I got the most, you know, out of this conference, I think just from seeing other providers inject. And of course some, a lot of them had to be on label, but there were some off-label injections too. Mm-hmm. Um, for certain, um, lectures, but it was really good. 

Which I think is huge.

I was actually just talking to Faye about this because I was throwing a conference around with her. Mm-hmm. And we were saying how sometimes you go to them and it kind of feels very repetitive. Yeah. And you're getting the same information. So like seeing live injections I feel like is awesome because it gives you like almost techniques that you wouldn't Exactly.

That you wouldn't get to see from like a PowerPoint, you know? Yeah. And then the off label I feel like is so important too, because I feel like we get to hear so much. On label stuff. Yeah, it's, we see it all the time, obviously, because there's reasons for that. Yeah. But when you have that off-label education, it just makes you feel like you're getting so much more.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's cool. I mean, I feel like, you know, if you're a brand new injector, these. Conferences are everything. Mm-hmm. Like, I mean, they go over every, all of the pearls that you need to know. And, um, but even as a more experienced injector, if you're, you know, 10, 15 years into it, six years into it, eight, whatever, it's good for networking.

It's good for your social media content. You're gonna learn something new at these conferences. If you're a business owner, they're great. 'cause they have the huge exhibition hall, which they have like, you know, cyan and they have, uh, resm there. They have. Every skincare line there, they have all of them. So you can like meet with them, maybe open an account.

Mm-hmm. You can find out which things you like, which things you don't. Maybe a device so that you even 

sometimes get like treated. 

You can actually get a treatment. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And like test it out and see if you like it. So it's cool, you know? That's really nice. Yeah. 

We've talked about this on a prior episode too, but like in the past when I first started injecting, like I never went to anything.

Mm-hmm. And it was just because it wasn't an opportunity for me. And as I continued to grow and started going to these things, I was like, oh my God. Like you get so inspired for one, you do, just seeing everybody else and like seeing what everyone else is doing. You come home with so many ideas. It's funny.

Melissa just went to a, a course the other day and like just throughout the day she text me like these small little things. Like, it's like two words, but it's like, yeah. So she remembers to tell me about it later, like, 'cause you do, you just catch so many little like pearls that you wouldn't have gotten if you didn't go.

So I just feel like they are so, and, and let alone the, the networking, I mean, how many people have we met? 

Because we, 

me and you met because we went to a train trainer event. I know. Like you meet people because you put yourself out there and you learn, and, and it's, it's a great environment for kind of a community.

Well, and that's the one thing I think I'll say about, and I'm, and maybe like every profession. I think if you want to be, um, I think the best or wanna try to be the best in the area that you are working in, I think you have to network, you have to absolutely put yourself out there a little bit, because if you don't, and you just stay in your bubble and isolate yourself, you're just gonna be, you know, close-minded.

You can't, you have to be very open-minded in order to be goodly. 

And, and that kind of goes back to what we always say too, like community over competition. Like if you're always looking at other people and like, yeah. Trying to figure out how you can be better than them or do it better than them. Like you're never going to be building yourself like you need to just figure out what works for you, what works for your patients, and build that way and, and use people around you as, as.

Inspiration and, and community. 

Yeah. A hundred percent. And 

that's what these, that's what these events do. Yeah. I'm so mad I missed it. 

Oh my God. And then of course, so we're we, um, on this podcast, we've been, um, can we say partner, but join mos? Yeah. Moxie. Mm-hmm. Like, you know, we've been doing an ad for them and, um, which has been so fun.

But, um, joined Moxie was actually at Aesthetic Extender. Mm-hmm. And, um, one of the. Oof managers or one of the directors or something of Join Moxie reached out, um, to a bunch of us asking us to be a part of this like shopping experience at Neiman Marcus, which was really cool. They picked us, uh, me and like, I think like, uh, 15 to 20 injectors up in a limo.

I love it. Um, and there was Vo Clee Co and the limo and um, there was music. We got there and they gave us the gift card to shop. Been, and it was just fun to like, almost just celebrate like all the hard work that we've done. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, over the year and things like that. Because these conferences, I mean, you know, we leave our loved ones to go to these Right.

To continue with our education and, and all of that and to do this. And it just helps to. Network and absolutely other people. 

And it's good to have fun. 

And it's good to have fun. It let loose a little bit. Yeah, 

exactly. Gotta let loose. 'cause it is, it's so true. Like we, I mean we work a lot and it's, yeah, it's a lot.

And you don't realize until all of a sudden it's like all piled up. Yeah. So it's nice too 'cause the conferences are a good mix of like serious and education. Yes. But then also fun and play and seeing everybody and letting loose people don't 

get it. Like I, you know, going to these, like, I'm also having dinner meetings with people.

You know what I mean? You're, you're. It's not just, I mean, yes, I mean, we're able to have dinner with our injector friends and maybe meet for a drink or a cocktail or whatever, but it's a lot of like network and networking and doing meetings and things like that. Mm-hmm. 

Yeah, and I feel like too, there's always some form of lectures on.

Like injecting and then business as well. Yep. And even social media, like mm-hmm. It's funny 'cause I just feel like we do so much social media. Like I don't really feel the need to look, look for that. But that is at a lot of conferences And, um, the business side too, like even if you're not a, a. Business owner, like I feel like you can learn a lot from Yeah.

You know, numbers and, and just kind of know like, oh, okay, this is the ballpark and what I should be in, you know, especially new injectors. I feel like a question we get all the time mm-hmm. Is like, what should I be making? Like you could find those answers at these conferences, you know? Yeah. And, and I think it's important to remember too, as a new injector, like you have to be bringing in.

A decent amount in order to make a decent amount. You know, you forget overhead and all of this. Yeah. And you know, the fillers are fillers and Botox cost a lot of money and 

Yep. 

Front desk and overhead bills and all that. Exactly. There's a ton of overhead, but so like, like I feel like there's just a lot of, are 

the amount, the amount of bills, are you kidding?

I, I, I mean, it's. It's never ending. Never ending. I don't think, I've never gone a day without paying a bill. Yep, yep. There was one day I remember I go, wow, I didn't pay something, and then all of a sudden I looked at my email and there was an invoice, but like my accountant or a lawyer, like, nevermind. And I'm like, oh, okay.

Yeah. Great. I've also never had a zero credit card balance since. 

Since opening a business Zero. Always credit increase because you have to like, just get the Amex people Just get the Amex, 

just get it. I They put a spending limit on mine. Okay. 

Oh God. Oh, we gotta talk to them. No, no, no, no, no. It's so funny.

That's, 

that's how much that thing was getting swiped. 

Oh my God. It's so true. It's everything is so expensive. And I think as a business owner too, you wanna like create the best experience for your patients. Mm-hmm. And you don't wanna cut corners, so it's like 

Absolutely. Yep. 

Yeah. Sometimes I'm like, yep, just get it.

Get it. Just do it. Yep. Because you know, you wanna give that experience to people a 

hundred percent that high, 

high luxury feel, you know? Mm-hmm. 

Hey guys, just popping in. If you're enjoying our podcast, please subscribe and don't forget to follow us on Instagram injector John and Aesthetic Nurse Call. 

Um, but anyway, crazy but no conferences.

What would you say Nicole makes a good conference to you? Like what do you look for for Definitely. 

Um, okay, so topics, so. Conferences will always put agendas out. And I think the main thing I look at is topics and who's speaking on the topic, because I think you wanna make sure basically that the information is evidence-based and you're not just getting like mm-hmm.

A biased mm-hmm. Or like sponsored answer, you know? Yeah, yeah. Like sponsored luncheons and stuff. Every conference is gonna have that, but you wanna make sure that the speakers, you know, may not be sponsored evidence-based. Um, and I also don't like. When they're too long. 

Yeah. 

I do like shorter. Right. With more information so you can see more and hear more.

Yep. 

Um, I dunno. What about you? 

No, I, I think you hit the nail on the head. I think it's the topics I really like a variety. If it's just injectables, it's a little boring. 

That's, that's a good point. Yeah. Absolutely. I'd like to, 

now that we're getting into, um, biohacking and longevity. Mm-hmm. I think that's what I loved about am Spy we'll say like that they had like.

Both ends of the spectrum. Yeah. You know, um, which was great because we're now kind of. Uh, focusing aesthetic medicine on not just the outside, but the inside of the body too. Absolutely. Um, right. Like, you know, whether it's supplements and things like that. So I, I love that. I think the other thing is live demos.

I think if it's just all lectures. It just, it, it gets a little dry. Absolutely. Absolutely. I just don't wanna sit there and, you know, um, I need like, some actions, you know, and just to have some hands on, um, opportunities. Mm-hmm. Right. Like that's Absolutely, absolutely. 

And I feel like, what was it it that I went to?

Oh, I mean, I do 

like a good theme to party. I, I'm not gonna lie, a hundred percent. 

Yep. 

I mean, let's be real. I mean, you're there from like, what, eight 30 in the morning? Eight in the morning with these lectures all day. You wanna just 

go and get changed and have fun? You do. And have fun. Absolutely.

Absolutely. No, I totally agree. And for it to be warm, that is one thing too. 

Mm-hmm. Yes. And I will say most places, most of the conferences we go to, it's warm. Yeah. Thank God. Yep, 

yep. 

Yeah. They choose a warm location. I 

think that's why a lot of the times they are in like Florida or. Miami out West. West, yeah.

Yep. Or yeah, exactly. Yep. California. 

Yeah. Yeah. 

Because no one wants to go to a party and have to wear a coat. 

Yeah. The other thing too, which I like, like, um, Allergan, um, put on a, actually it was a free cadaver. Oh wow. Oh, that's amazing. At Extender. Um, you literally, it's got sold out with I think within like 20 minutes.

Wow. Yeah. But so anyone who decides to go to Aesthetic as X Extender next year, um, make sure that you work for someone who has an Allergan account and then you can go on, I think it starts at like 11:00 AM or something, and you have like, go on and sign up right away 'cause it's free. Okay. Um, and I think, so it sells out and I know that.

I got an email at the end of the conference, um, and I collected 15 CME credits. Oh, that's 

incredible. So that's great. That's incredible. 

Yeah. Yeah. 

That's actually one great point. Another great point is CME credits, so like having continuing education credits. So it's like one thing to attend these and spend money to attend these and take time away from your practice and family to attend them, but.

When you get something back for doing that, that helps you with keeping your license and you know, everything up to date. I think that's huge. So getting some form of CEU or CME credit Yes. I think is, is a major component too. And even 

like when we went to modern Beautycon mm-hmm. I mean, we did that cadaver there too.

Yep. And I, and I think we also got CME for that, didn't we? Yes. And 

that's, that's, um, Dr. S's like injection and ame. Yeah. So, yeah, you do, you get a good amount actually with his as well. 

Which is great. Yeah. Yeah. Um, something new too that um, I just announced on my Instagram is that I've just been, um, asked to be a RAS and PDGF trainer.

So exciting. Which is really, which is awesome. Yep. This, this drug is absolutely, mm-hmm. I mean, it's. Revolutionary. I think it's taking the aesthetic world by storm causing a lot of controversy. Uh, you know, which is crazy, I think a little bit. Um, which, 

well, I think it's, honestly, I think it's crazy that this is causing controversy, yet people are injecting exosomes and that has never been an issue.

With 

anyone. I mean, 

like there, it's been an issue with some people, and obviously people have made videos on it, but it was nothing like the, the uproar that this has caused. 

Well, and I think my biggest pet peeve is people saying, you know, uh, be careful. It's illegal to inject S essence PDGF. Well, we're not injecting Ari since PDGF.

Right? We're injecting PDGF bbb. Right. It's pure PDGF BBB, which has been around for 15 to 20 years. You know it has and 

is used for injection. So this is an off-label use of that injection? 

Yes. P dg FBB is used. Has an indication for injection in the body. Yes. Yes. Just not the face. So we're using an off-label in the face, right?

And we're having wonderful results. 

Yes. Same thing like before Voluma got indicated for the temples Voluma we would use in the cheeks and the jawline. Right. And we were using it off-label in the temple. So it's, it's very similar in that aspect. 

Yeah. I really don't, I, I just don't like how people spread so much.

Hate about it though. Like on, you know, it's like if you don't, if you hate it that much or you have a problem with it, then don't do it. Right. Don't use it. Right. You know, let people that wanna do it, do it. Mm-hmm. You know, it is what it is and I don't know. Yeah. You'll be sta I personally, I think you're gonna.

Missed out. 

Right. And, and two, like looking into the research, you know, it's one thing to watch people on social media and be like, oh, I don't think you should be doing that. Like, okay, show me some articles. There's some reasons as to why you think so. Like, I'm always open for a good, you know. Educated debate like, and also you might be able to tell me something I don't know.

So give me reasons. Don't just, don't just hate. Mm-hmm. 

Well, I really loved, um, Wasim Garber's posts on Instagram. Mm-hmm. We can have Joey put it up here. 

Mm-hmm. 

But there's been over 1500 studies conducted and reviewed Yeah. With PDG fbb. 

Yeah. 

That there's, that's more than Botox cosmetic. Right. Botox has over 600 studies.

Mm-hmm. So, you know, it's just. 

Yeah. 

It, it doesn't make sense to me. Yeah. 

The research 

is there. The research is there, and mm-hmm. The results are there. Are you kidding me? Right, right. All my patients who get. PDGF or obsessed, whether it's topically with the ha, which is the res essence, P, dg F. 

Mm-hmm. 

Um, I mean, someone just came today for their third micro.

They're like, I'm freaking obsessed. I can do this every month. I 

know, I know. 

And, and I mean, like 

I don't, I never would go without makeup. I have no makeup on right now. 

I know. And you are literally glowing. 

Thank you. And when did you do it? My under eyes. My under eyes. I think we're going on four weeks now.

So I'm just starting to kind of really notice the brightening and, and the effects there. But micro kneeling was like six or eight weeks ago now, so I feel like it's like really? 

Yeah. You're glowing at its 

peak. Thank you. You have 

like glass skin, like it's, it's great. 

I'm obsessed. I'm absolutely obsessed.

Yeah. Yeah. It, it's, you're like, yeah, I told you. 

No, not even, I, I'm just like looking at your skin and it's glowing. 

John told me for like eight months to start using PDGF, and I'm like, I'm still looking into it. I know, well, hey, 

you're doing your research. Yes, you're setting back whatever. I know. I remember literally, it was a little over a year ago.

I remember seeing, um, one of the old Allergan reps that had left mm-hmm. The joint res essence, and he had was there at Modern Beauty Con, remember? Yes. That's, and he had the boots for S Essence. And no one was really around it. They're like, what is that? And yeah, 

no one really knew what 

it was. He was telling me it was this, you know, FDA most potent f fda, a approved growth factor for topical use, blah, blah, blah.

And I'm like, oh. And um. I was like, okay, maybe I'll consider I took his brochure. Yeah. And then literally like four months later, I'm seeing like em and Eric are using it and I'm like, Olivia, like I gotta look into this. Wait, I gotta look into it. I'm like, send me samples. And then I was using it and I'm like, okay.

Yeah. This is really great. 

Well, and you know what, um, Liv, I feel like she's always like 10 steps ahead. Like she talked to us about that. Our self skincare, which I carry now too. Like Do you carry that one? 

I do, yeah. We both 

carry it now. Like, but she's, she knows about everything like months before she's so in it.

I know. And she like, I know, does her research and so I just gotta text her every month. Be like, okay, what's new? 

I know. Yeah, I know. And now she's in Australia launching Dex High. Which is incredible. 

So cool. So cool. 

Yeah. Which I will say, and I know people that are listening in or tuning in that follow me.

I, people know that I brought on Dex Fight at my office and I tried, you know, everybody's entitled to bring on to whatever neurotoxin Right? Absolutely. To their office. But I carried Botox and Dysport for years. I was like, I really need a third. So I tried a few. Um, and Dexy really worked well for me.

Mm-hmm. Corey, Alicia at like, all of us. So I was like. Let's bring it on. 

Yep. We carry it now too, as well. Oh, nice. And I feel like, you know, in the past, like we've had Xeomin, we've tried like all these other ones and they, they just, in my opinion, were no. No different or no better than Botox or Dysport. So I was like, why do I have, why do I have a third option?

You know, what's the point? Right. But Dxi kind of stands apart in that where, you know, you get peptide Yeah. 

And it's peptide base too. Right. Which is really cool. Yeah. And I mean, you do get a Botox glow. I'm sorry. Like anytime I get Botox, I get a glow as well. Yeah. With Dxi, I mean it's peptide base. I mean, I'm sure you see the glow right now.

Oh yeah. Um, it's, it's glass skin. A beautiful. Beautiful neurotoxin and it works pretty well. 

Yep. And it's just, it is cool to see like all the new stuff that 

Oh yeah. 

We're seeing and getting and yeah, this is, we're gonna always be evolving, so 

always. 

Gotta stay on the trends I know. Safely. 

I know. 

Do your research.

I, I just had, um, dinner with our Ms. L mm-hmm. Our medical sales liaison. Uh, 

medical science liaison, yes. Yep. Or 

science. Yeah, science liaison. And, um, so she's like, sorry. Yesterday 

I was talking to somebody and I meant to say chiropractor, and I said, dermatologist, so I get you brains broken. 

Oh, no. Are they all PhDs?

I don't know. The medical 

science liaison. Okay. Um, I'm not sure. 

I'd have to I think, I think they have to be most, 

yeah, right. 

Yeah. Yeah. 

And, um, her, my mine's name, her name's Camille. She's like, she's great. Um, she's so smart. But, um, I know that there's some things coming along the pipeline, like skin beep for the neck and, which will be good.

Yes. I've done a few patients with that. I think that that's gonna be a tricky one. Um, I think training and and depth is gonna be important. Is gonna be really important 

because the skin is so different. There 

it is. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. Um, but that's exciting. We were talking about a couple other things too. Yeah.

Which is good. Well, you know, I, it's a good opportunity because you can ask your medical science leads and all the off-label stuff. So I was like, you know, talking to her about PDGF and mixing it with Gen Vive and mixing it with whatever. She's like, oh. She's like, you're mixing it with, you're mixing it with skin.

I'm like, yeah, I did it to my face. I'm obsessed. Like, yeah. She goes, well, what happened? Did you have any reaction? I go, well, yeah, I had a histamine reaction. Yeah. You know, I had the whole inflammatory cascade. I had like, you know, bumps under my skin, but they went away with a two to three weeks. Like it's fine.

Um, and, uh, but she said, you know. She's like, I, she's like, I think PDG F's a great product. She's like, I don't know about mixing it with n ha. And um, and I'm like, okay. Like she would, she, she would just be worried about too much like Yeah. Reaction, cross reaction. Mm-hmm. Or whatever, which I understand. Yeah.

Um, but for me, I was very willing to do it to myself. 

Yeah. And that's what we have to do. If we're gonna do it to a patient, we gotta make sure we try it first. 

I mean, and I've done it on patients Right. And they've had really good outcomes. Yeah. I mean, you just have to really tell them the post care, right, and what to expect, right?

Anticipatory guidance, all those things. But I don't know. I'm always trying things 

and the MSLs are great too. They can always send you studies and things of that nature. Also, years ago I had a patient call me having like. One-sided weakness after Botox, and she was like concerned that it was related to the Botox.

Mm-hmm. 

It 

turned out she was in a car accident like three days prior and had injured her neck. Yeah. And it was just all like the perfect timing. Right. It wasn't the Botox, but, so I called the MSL and we had like a nice long discussion and she sent me some studies and Yeah. You know, we kind of were like, you know, could it be this, could it be that?

And then we obviously got to the bottom of it, but they, they are there to help you. Like if you ever do have a case, like when patients call me with stuff like that too, by the way, I'm never like, oh my god. Like it, I've heard weirder things, like things can happen. Oh yeah. You know, so like try to help them, you know?

Hundred percent. So I was like, lemme call the MSL. Lemme call my rep. Let's try to figure this out. Yes. Mm-hmm. They're helpful. They're very, very helpful. Yeah, very helpful. 

I know 

that's also why I love a company like Allergan. Yeah. Because of the fact that they are so large, and I know they do get a little bit of like a bad rap because of that, but like mm-hmm.

The help is there when you need it, and that's so important, so important. 

No, I totally, I know. Um, I think the biggest thing is, is that there, there's been such a shift with like filler and I feel like, you know, there's been a lot of people scared to get filler, but I also feel like a lot more people want regenerative, like biostimulatory things.

Right. Um, I think that it's really important to understand that. Aesthetic Aesthetics is evolving. Yes. It's always evolving, which is a good thing, right? Mm-hmm. Like we wanna evolve. We don't wanna remain stagnant. Um, filler will always be filler. Like bio simulators will al always be, you know, bio simulators.

I think there's a place for both of them, 

right? 

Like there always has been. 

Mm-hmm. 

Um, but I do think personally that with like the surgeons of skin health 

mm-hmm. 

And lasers and you know, CO2 lasers, you know, MXI, BL, like all of those things I think. That there's been more people spending money on skin treatments, which, and in turn, people are doing that to promote collagen production and reverse sun damage.

Right. Then they're thinking, oh, collagen production, we lose collagen. We want, you know, we want anti-aging. So then they get s Sculptra. Mm-hmm. Or they get hyper radis and they're, and they're spending less money on filler. But what we have to understand is though, is that we still lose. Know, bone and arm volume.

Yep. We lose volume, we lose our superficial, our deep fat pads. We lose bone, especially in the anterior medial part of the chic first, which is what elongates the lid cheek junction. Mm-hmm. Like, there's a lot of different things that happen, so we still need filler. 

Right. 

Um, so I think that there's, there's been a pendulum happen, you know?

Mm-hmm. Happening. Mm-hmm. But I think, you know, things are gonna, you know, even out. Yeah. 

Yeah. And I do thi I find it funny, this is just like a thought, like I think patients for some reason think these things like sculpture and mm-hmm. Hyper dilute Radis and um, like any, even PDGF, like for some reason they're just not as scared by it, but like it's not reversible.

Like these things are creating collagen and they're creating new tissue for you. Right? Which is great, but. If you do run into an issue or you build too much, there's no reversing it. So like in my head, filler is a little less scary for that. 'cause I could, if I really need to use ultrasound and get in there and really find it and dissolve it, I don't know.

But I just find it funny, you know? 'cause I feel like patients, patients find it less scary when in reality it's like, okay, well that one. 

Yeah, that one you 

can't really get rid of. 

Do you know what I thought was interesting? After my uh uh. The MSL dinner. Mm-hmm. A medical science lease on dinner. I was talking to her about S Sculptra and how, you know, I do it, you know, into the hairline, whatever.

Mm-hmm. You know what? Just to keep things tacked back and, you know, promote that collagen production. She was like, just make sure you don't go too superficial with it and that the hairline, because you could have hair loss. 

Interesting. 

And I'm like, what? And I said, really? She's like, oh yeah, if you're too superficial, what if you're, is it like 

blocks the follicle?

Oh, yeah. Yeah. It'll affect the circulation with the follicles, and then you'll have hair loss. So like, obviously like if you're injecting it in the appropriate depth, the sculpture playing, you're fine. Right, right. Um, but I, but see, this is 

why conferences and dinners and Yeah, talking with people is so important because you learn something new every day.

I 

know. I, I didn't know that. Yeah. I was like, but it makes sense. Makes sense. Absolutely. And also think about it filler too. If you're too superficial with filler, it kind of, you're gonna block, 

it's almost blocking. Yeah. Yeah. And it kind of, it's flow to that follicle. Yeah. Yeah. That's crazy. Yeah. Yeah. Yep.

Mm-hmm. And I feel like hair growth, like hair health mm-hmm. Has gotten so popular. Too popular, don't you think? Yeah. Oh yeah. Are you guys doing absolutely PRP for hair in your office? 

So we don't do a ton of PRP for hair, like here and there. Um, but with PDGF, now we're getting. A lot of, a lot of people getting it done because the PDGF before and afters with the hair is incredible.

Yeah. I had, um, one session of PDGF in my forehead. Mm-hmm. Um, and I loved it. Um, I need to do my second round of it. Yeah. But I need to do it like right through the center part where it's starting to concave a little. 

That's so funny. Do you see right here? 

Oh, a little bit. 

Oh yeah. I have a vein that runs like right this way, so when I laugh and stuff, it really pops out, but I think it's just created like a little divot in my skull.

A little 

valley. Yeah. Yeah. 

Yep. Maybe put a little 

PDGF in there. Exactly. I'm gonna, I'm gonna it up without making that artery. Yeah, 

yeah. That is the most important 

part. Then you'll end up with a bruise for like a month. 

Yeah. That'd be me especially. 

Oh my God. Us fair skinned people. I tell you. It's so not fair.

Oh my God. Well. 

Before we started filming, John had asked me how, how my PDGF was doing. And I was like, good. Honestly, I was so bruised that like, I feel like what? I was finally not bruised. I was like, wow, I'm so bright. 

Yeah. Oh my God. 

But people are actually commenting on my under eyes, like on Instagram and stuff.

And you know me, I don't use any filters. Mm-hmm. And like you can see right now, I'm not wearing any makeup. Like it really made a difference. 

Oh, it's, it's impressive, isn't it? Yeah. It's, 

it's a real game changer, honestly. Yeah. 

I mean, it's. Uh, I don't know. We've reiterated this before. Mm-hmm. But I mean, it's increasing your collagens one, three and six by 400 to 600% and your hyaluronic acid concentration by 800%.

So yeah, it's just like, 

it's insane. 

Science, man. 

I wanna run, we'll see if we leave this in here. If we do, it'll be a bonus for everyone. Okay. I wanna run a patient by you. So like, I had this patient. Years ago, probably like two or three years ago, we did mid cheek and under eye. Okay. And she, she is probably like a darker Fitzpatrick, um, like four, five.

Okay. Is she Hispanic or Vietnamese or, 

you know, I'm not entirely sure, but more, more. She's not African American. Okay, 

so she's not, yes. Dominican, no. Guatemalan, I dunno. 

But either way, darker skin tone. I do the filler, everything's fine. She ends up having, uh, like sinus issues and stuff down the line. Um, and then one of the times that she got sick, it caused the filler to react.

So like the whole area re I mean like really sw up and she didn't think. Even twice about it until she saw a dermatologist, uh, for like a different reason. And then they brought it up and she was like, oh, it's probably your filler. So then she contacted me and back then we kind of were. Still just like dissolving instead of treating.

So I had gone straight in. I had gone straight in with dissolving basically when now I'm kinda like, oh, I really kinda wish I did steroid and antibiotics first, just to see how she would've healed either way. It, the swelling had come down at the time I saw her. Obviously I would not have dissolved her if she was still having a reaction, but, mm-hmm.

Swelling came down. The swelling had caused. I think so much like trauma to the tissue that she actually had discoloration at that point. Oh. So I, she actually was in today and saw someone else at the office and I had them send me pictures and it has taken several months, but we've gotten the discoloration gone.

So like we've treated it and it's, I thought, have you heard of like, uh, darker tissue when you use a cannula becoming hyperpigmented? 

Yes. 

So I feel like maybe. The, like the filler, but then it, then she, it wasn't there before she was swelling, so like this tissue S swelled up and then it went down, and then the discoloration was there.

Was the discoloration darker or lighter? 

Uh, darker. 

Darker. Yeah. So, yeah. And then I, 

yeah. And then I dissolved. So she is pretty hollow. So my, the whole point of this long story, sorry, is do you think I can do PDGF on her 

a hundred percent 

and use a cannula and you think it'd be fine? 

I think it would be a hundred percent fine.

Yeah. 

Yeah. And I, yeah, I would do a cannula. Mm-hmm. Probably not needle. 'cause it might cause a little more trauma, don't, 

right. Yeah. I don't wanna cause any more to that tissue. You 

might, you know, inadvertently help. Her discoloration. Right. Because what I've noticed is that the appearance of melasma and like post-inflammatory erythema or um, hyper pigment mm-hmm.

Is improved after Interesting using PDGF. 

Okay. 

Because it can, it basically. Pushes you into that reparative phase quicker. Like 

okay, 

you know what I'm saying? Yes. So like, think about it, when you apply topical PDGF on top of microneedling or an ablative laser, um, you're in that, it's not as much inflammatory phase.

Yes. Yep. So it's basically speeding that inflammatory phase up to prevent any. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation mm-hmm. And move you into that reparative phase, which is more of that collagen production, angiogenesis, like, you know, all of that tissue repair and healing. 

Mm-hmm. 

Um, so I, I mean, I think it could possibly help.

Yeah. I'm gonna, because I was just like, in my head, I told her because it was like a few months before I was even pregnant, I think, and then I was like checking up with her while I was pregnant. Yeah. I was like, when I get back from maternity leave, we're gonna see where you're at because us as.

Practitioners, we understand how long hyper pig hyperpigmentation takes. Some patients may not realize that, but it takes months If you have true hyperpigmentation and the only thing you can do is like topicals and time. Yeah, sometimes laser and stuff. But, so I gave it like a good, I would say, eight to nine months at this point.

So I wanna, I wanna try to see if that PDGF will be, yeah. Something that's good for her. 

Yeah, I think it, I think it definitely could be. 

Yeah. Yeah. And we did, I did the even incorrect. Serum and the even incorrect spot treatment. I think that really helped too. I almost 

wonder though, if you were to do, uh, because I have, I've seen my Mola patients.

Mm-hmm. 

There. MEMA improving after receiving topical PDGF. 

So maybe start with topical 

Ari Essence, like doing microneedling with Ari Essence, PDGF, um, like if you know what I mean, and really focusing it under the eye to see if it will help to decrease inflammation and decrease that melasma. Yeah. Or that pigmentation.

Um, yeah, 

because at this point the pigmentation is pretty much gone. It's now the hollow. 

It's not the, oh, it's not the hollow. Yeah. So, yeah, just do PDGF. You'd be good. 

Yeah, 

yeah. Yeah. P dg, F bb, 

yes. Mm-hmm. Yes. Thank you for clarifying. 

Yes. Mm-hmm. 

Sorry, long-winded story, but I was just, I wanted to get your thoughts on that and then I felt like other people could benefit from hearing it, so, but 

a side note with that though.

Mm-hmm. I really have, and I mean, I can just say, so as a on-label PDGF trainer, I can say that the appearance of. You know, their skin has improved mm-hmm. With PDGF, like their pore size is, has gone down, their finalized wrinkles have improved. Um, their texture obviously has improved. But what I've really noticed with my patients who have molas, especially if they're having baby or um, hormonal issues or just mm-hmm.

Whatever, they're more prone to it, is that after getting. Micro with Arias and BDGF, their melasma was so much better. 

Yeah. 

Um, and it almost looked like, looks like they had a chemical peel. 

That's crazy. 

So, love it. 

It makes sense though, the way you explained it, right? Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. 

Um, another thing I, I wanted to talk about too is that I feel like.

Injectors that are listening in. If you guys are newer, you guys went through summertime, I feel like a lot of mm-hmm. Newer injectors that are building their books. This is a slower time for a lot of people. Yes. Don't 

get 

discouraged. Don't get discouraged. Um. It's, we were all slow in the beginning when we first started, and you know, obviously now we're blessed not to be, but 

mm-hmm.

Um, it's normal. And this intake honestly used the downtime to work on your social media content to find your skills. Yep. You know, I, um, 

mm-hmm. Being home, I started posting way more, and it's not even like injectable content, it's literally just like. Life and, uh, I've gained like over a thousand followers in a month.

Yeah. 

Like if, I feel like if you just get to a point where you're consistent and you're posting and and doing that, 

yeah. 

You'll get, you'll get growth. And Rona um. We can put her Instagram in here. She said something on her Instagram recently, how like if you're just authentic and you're you, it's never gonna feel like work doing your Instagram.

And I'm like, oh my God, it's so true. Like why are we all like, let me throw some makeup on and let me talk this way and let me sit this way. Just like, just beat you. Like if your hair's in a messy bun and you don't have makeup on and you just rolled out of bed. Yeah. Still hop on there because guess what?

One, you're relatable, and two, it's gonna make you do it. 

Yeah. Yep. 

If you have to wait till you have a full face of makeup on, it's never happening. 

Oh my God. We wanna see those dark circles, honey, come on. You know, we 

wanna relate to you. Yeah. 

Aw, I love Ronna. She's the best. I know. 

She really is. Oh my God.

And she's just so funny. 

Yeah. 

So, what conferences will we be attending this year? Huh? 

Well, I will say, um, I really want to do a MWC Americas, which is in Miami, Florida. That's February 15th through the 17th. Um, it focuses on anti-aging techniques, strategies, innovations to expand knowledge and connections.

I would say if you're a newer injector, AM spa's great. Because there's just so much to see and do, and the exhibit hall at that is pretty extensive. 

Right. Um, I, I'm definitely gonna do the aesthetic extender next year. 

Yeah. That I will be doing for sure with you. Um, I would 

love to do iPan. 

I've heard really good things about ice span as well.

That's soon though, right? 

Yep. September 24th. Of the 28th, yeah. Well, that's. Is it? Yeah, 2025. It's this year. It's this year? Mm-hmm. Um, where 

is that one? Does it say? 

Yeah, it's in Fort Lauderdale. 

Fort Lauderdale? Yeah. So Florida. Everything's always in Florida, guys. I know. Get ready to get ready to fly if you don't live there.

The other one I wanna go to though is the Med Spa Pro. I haven't heard that one come. Yeah. Um, Erica's going. It's a good one. Leslie Fletcher, I think is going, I think, uh, very evident. Very, very research evidence-based. 

Okay. Yeah. Where is that one? Do you know? 

I don't, 

well send me that. I'll go with you.

Okay. I'm not gonna go obviously this year, but I will next year. Yeah, next year. Because there's too much going on this year. 

Yeah. Yeah. Do you wanna give everyone an update? 

Uh, 

you broke land. 

Oh, yes. Yep. So our practice, we finally broke ground and we, it's being built, which is really exciting for our practice.

It's so exciting. So 

exciting. So we should 

hopefully be in, they say June or July of 2026. So next summer. Mm-hmm. I'm hoping for like September of next year, realistically. But very exciting. 

So exciting. 

Yeah. 

And then once, uh, once that's the summer that 

goes into it up and 

going, maybe we'll have a training room.

We'll start offering some. Yeah. 

Oh, and the other thing I wanted to announce too is that I am forming my Patreon. 

Oh snaps for you. Yes. I already have a Patreon, but don't follow yet because 

oh my God, you cracked me up. I 

don't post enough for you to waste money on me. 

I, and finally, I have gotten the urge.

I'm doing it, you know, I think I brought it up to you like two months ago that I was gonna do it, and then I just. I didn't do it. That's a 

great idea. You know what, if I'm gonna do it with you, we'll we'll do this. We'll be on venture together. 

Yeah. Because it's just, it's so much easier because yeah. The amount of, you know, dms that we get Yeah.

For trainings and for trainings and also 

just for simple questions, you know? Yeah. And we wanna be there for everybody, 

right? 

Yeah. It's just our personality. Um, and we hope that our podcast has been a really good resource for a lot of you guys. But, um. With Patreon, you can actually see us hands-on doing hands treatments.

Mm-hmm. Or just even just talking or seeing our lectures or doing whatever. Yep. Absolutely. So, um, or we can just send you the link of Right. Like of your answer of your questions. Right. For the video on our Patreon video. Yep. Yep. 

That'll, that'll be our, that's see by 2026 goal. 

Oh. A hundred percent we'll have our 

Patreons ready to go.

Exactly. Loaded with content for you guys. A 

hundred percent it will happen. Yeah, because I truthfully like we gotta do that. Oh yeah. We have to. It is, and it's 

silly like we're filming our stuff anyway. Like why are we not editing those videos and uploading them? 

Yeah. And we have a lot of really exciting things, Nicole.

Right. Cut things coming over the next few years, especially now that we have that training room at my office. And I'm sure we could use your office for some things. Yeah, but you know me, you and possibly a couple other people, so 

Yes. Some celebrity guests. 

Yes. It'll be fun. 

It'd be very fun. 

Yeah. But, well, 

thanks for listening, guys.

Yes. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Filming in Pod. We love you guys. 

Yes, love you. 

Till next time, bye bye.