Why Are There So Many Med Spas? The Truth About Aesthetic Providers | Scalpel and Skin

Why are there so many med spas—and with more aesthetic providers, treatments, and trends than ever before, how can patients know who to trust? The aesthetic industry has exploded in popularity, but with more med spas, social media trends, injectables, lasers, and cosmetic treatments than ever before, it has also become harder for patients to know who to trust. In Episode 2 of **Scalpel and Skin**, Dr. Algie LaBrasca, a board-certified plastic surgeon, and Mistica LaBrasca, a cosmetic dermatology Physician Assistant, talk about what worries them most about the current state of aesthetics, how social media has changed patient expectations, and why not every trending treatment is worth your time, money, or face. They break down what makes a great aesthetic provider, from understanding anatomy and knowing when to say no, to thinking long-term and putting patient goals ahead of trends. This conversation is for anyone considering **Botox, filler, lasers, skin treatments, plastic surgery, or med spa services** and wondering how to make safer, smarter aesthetic decisions. **In this episode:** • Why med spas are suddenly everywhere  • How social media changed the aesthetic industry  • Why it is hard to know who to trust  • Red flags when choosing an aesthetic provider  • Green flags patients should look for  • Why good providers should be able to say no  • The importance of anatomy, safety, and long-term thinking  • What aesthetics may look like in the next 10 years  • How to decide if a treatment is actually worth it CHAPTERS **00:00 — The Problem With the Aesthetic Industry** **00:42 — Welcome to Scalpel and Skin** **01:13 — Why Are Med Spas Everywhere?** **01:57 — Why Healthcare Professionals Are Moving Into Aesthetics** **04:30 — How Social Media Changed Aesthetic Medicine** **05:35 — How COVID Changed the Industry** **08:30 — Doing the Right Thing for the Right Patient** **09:02 — When a Treatment Isn’t Worth It** **10:29 — The Problem With Inexperienced Providers** **12:35 — When Business Pressure Gets in the Way** **14:06 — Why Good Providers Say No** **15:46 — Aesthetic Trends Getting Out of Control** **16:17 — Salmon Sperm, Botox & Aesthetic Trends** **16:54 — What Is Barbie Botox?** **19:16 — Why PDO Threads Keep Coming Back** **21:11 — What Makes a Great Aesthetic Provider?** **21:54 — The Art and Science of Aesthetic Medicine** **23:09 — Experience, Honesty & Integrity** **23:40 — Should Aesthetics Be a Side Hustle?** **25:28 — Why Experience Really Matters** **26:50 — The Future of Aesthetic Medicine** **27:41 — Will Fillers and Botox Still Matter?** **28:18 — Biohacking & Regenerative Medicine** **28:53 — Could Non-Surgical Treatments Replace Surgery?** **30:07 — What Patients Actually Want to Know** **30:25 — Is It Worth It?** **30:47 — See You Next Episode** #ScalpelAndSkin #AestheticIndustry #MedSpa #AestheticProvider #PlasticSurgery #CosmeticDermatology #AestheticTreatments Follow Scalpel and Skin Instagram: @scalpelandskinpodcast TikTok: @scalpelandskinpodcast Facebook: Scalpel and Skin Podcast Send us the treatments, trends, or questions you want Dr. Algie and Mistica to break down next. This is Scalpel and Skin. Let’s go!