Podcast
Beauty & The Brain®
Hosted by William C. Croley , Jerry Drinkard · EN
Welcome to Beauty & The Brain, the podcast where we take a deep dive into the fascinating world of medical aesthetics! I'm Dr. Chris Croley, and I'm joined by my co-host Jerry Drinkard, a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Together, we co-own Skin & Tonic, a medical spa that's passionate about providing the latest and greatest treatments to help our clients look and feel their best.
We started this podcast out of our love for medical aesthetics and our desire to share our knowledge and insights with others. Every week, we'll be discussing new trends, sharing our thoughts on controversial topics, and keeping you up to date on the latest technology in the industry. But we won't just be talking to ourselves! We're excited to bring in experts and industry leaders to share their perspectives and insights with our listeners.
Our goal is to provide a podcast that's authentic, informative, and genuinely helpful for anyone who's interested in beauty and wellness. Whether you're a beauty enthusiast or a medical professional, we hope you'll tune in every week to learn something new and join us on this journey of discovery.
So, if you're ready to dive into the world of medical aesthetics, join us on Beauty & The Brain, and let's explore this fascinating industry together!
38episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
PRP, PRF, and Exosomes: Choosing the Right Treatment for Your Goals
2w ago00:19:03Tap to summarizeThis week on Beauty & The Brain, Dr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP are joined by Allie Ballew at Skin and Tonic in Pace, Florida to unpack the world of regenerative aesthetics.If you’ve heard terms like PRP, PRF, exosomes, PDRN, PDGF, or stem cells and wondered what they actually mean, this episode breaks it down in a way that makes sense. The team talks through the difference between platelet-rich plasma and platelet-rich fibrin, when PRF gel may be helpful, why PRP is often used for hair and sexual health, and how exosomes fit into the bigger conversation around skin rejuvenation.They also dig into what patients need to know before jumping on the latest aesthetic trend—especially when it comes to injectable vs. topical use, compliance, provider education, and realistic expectations.This conversation is perfect for anyone curious about more natural-looking aesthetic treatments, collagen and elastin support, under-eye rejuvenation, hair restoration, or the science behind using your body’s own healing factors to support healthier-looking skin.Follow Beauty & The Brain for more smart, approachable conversations about beauty, health, aesthetics, and confidence.
Transcribe →Why Does Your Botox Wear Off So Fast?
3w ago00:17:50Tap to summarizeThis week, Dr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP, are joined by Skin & Tonic nurse practitioner Allie Ballew, NP, to tackle one of the questions they hear most often in clinic:"Why doesn't my Botox last as long as everyone else's?"The answer is more complicated than you might think.From dosing and muscle strength to aging, treatment goals, and patient expectations, the team explains what really determines how long neurotoxins last—and why comparing your results to someone else's rarely tells the whole story.They also discuss the differences between today's available neurotoxins, whether longer-lasting products are worth the trade-offs, and the truth behind popular myths like taking zinc supplements to extend your results.Whether you're considering your first treatment or you've been receiving neurotoxins for years, this episode offers practical insight that will help you better understand your treatment plan and set realistic expectations.If you enjoy conversations that combine science, aesthetics, and honest patient education, be sure to follow Beauty & The Brain and leave a review so you never miss a new episode.
Transcribe →How Weight Loss and Menopause Affect the Labia
4w ago00:16:33Tap to summarizeThis week on Beauty & The Brain, Dr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP are back together for a conversation that may feel taboo at first—but is incredibly real for many women.They’re talking about the external changes that can happen to the labia after weight loss, GLP-1 medications, childbirth, hormonal shifts, perimenopause, and aging. From volume loss and laxity to discoloration, discomfort, chafing, and changes in confidence, Chris and Jerry explain why intimate-area concerns are not just cosmetic—they can affect how people feel in their bodies.In this episode, they cover the difference between the labia majora and labia minora, why “deflation” can change the overall appearance of the area, and what treatment options may help. They discuss filler, PRP/PRF, regenerative treatments, Plexr, Neogen, topical pigment support, and internal treatments like the O-Shot for function-related concerns.They also talk through safety, who may need to avoid or delay treatment, and why having a trusted provider makes these conversations easier.Because confidence does not stop at the face.Listen in, follow the show, and share this episode with someone who might appreciate a real, judgment-free conversation about aesthetics, aging, and intimate wellness.
Transcribe →Best Skin Treatments to Do During Summer
Jun 1800:19:35Tap to summarizeDr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP are joined by Skin and Tonic’s Allie Ballew, NP for a summer-focused conversation about what esthetic treatments you can safely do when the sun is out and the beach is calling.The biggest takeaway? It is not always about the season. It is about your lifestyle, your sun exposure, your downtime, and whether you are willing to follow the right pre- and post-treatment care.In this episode, the team talks through summer-friendly options like injectables, facials, microneedling, Ultherapy, red light therapy, Sculptra, and lower-downtime laser treatments. They also explain why some people may want to wait on more aggressive treatments like CO2 lasers, chemical peels, or certain pigment-focused products if they know they will be spending a lot of time in the sun.You’ll also hear a very real conversation about melasma, sunscreen habits, tinted SPF, powder sunscreen, Plated, Alastin, ZO products, hydroquinone alternatives, and why prevention is so much easier than correction.Whether you love the beach, avoid the heat, or just want to keep your skin healthy all year long, this episode will help you think through what belongs in your summer treatment plan.Follow Beauty & The Brain for more smart, honest, and approachable conversations about beauty, skin health, confidence, and the treatments people are actually asking about.
Transcribe →Can Your Vagina Actually Sweat? What’s Normal and What Can Help
Jun 1100:16:33Tap to summarizeDr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP are joined by Allie, NP, for an honest and hilarious conversation about a topic a lot of people wonder about but rarely say out loud: can your vagina sweat?The answer is yes—but as the team explains, it is really sweat in the vulva and groin area, not inside the vagina itself. They talk through how to tell the difference between sweat, discharge, and urinary leakage, why odor and friction can happen, and what simple changes may help at home.You’ll also hear how treatments like neurotoxin/Botox can be used for excessive sweating, why laser hair removal may help reduce irritation and ingrown hairs, and why intimate wellness concerns are more common than most people think.Follow Beauty & The Brain for more real conversations about beauty, wellness, confidence, and the questions you may be too embarrassed to ask—but definitely want answered.
Transcribe →What We Wish Everyone Knew Before Beach Season
Jun 400:22:21Tap to summarizeDr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP are joined by Allie Ballew for a very honest conversation about something almost everyone loves but our skin does not always love back: the sun.In this episode of Beauty & The Brain, the team talks through tanning culture, tanning beds, spray tans, sunscreen habits, and the common belief that a little sun damage can always be “lasered off later.” They share what they see every day in esthetics—from pigmentation and crepey skin to leathery texture and long-term UV damage—and why the best skin results usually come from people who are serious about sun protection.You’ll hear their take on base tans, sunscreen reapplication, cloudy beach days, mineral vs. chemical sunscreen, powder SPF, SPF in makeup, sunscreen expiration, and why hats and umbrellas still do not replace actual sunscreen.They also touch on the bigger picture: skin cancer awareness, annual skin checks, and why catching suspicious spots early can make such a difference.This is the episode to listen to before your next beach day, cruise, outdoor event, or summer vacation—especially if you want to enjoy the sunshine without undoing all the work you have put into your skin.Follow Beauty & The Brain for more real conversations about beauty, skin health, confidence, and the treatments, habits, and decisions that make the biggest difference over time.
Transcribe →The Truth About Cortisol, Stress, and Feeling “Off”
May 2800:24:47Tap to summarizeThis week on Beauty & The Brain, Dr. Chris Croley is joined by Allie Ballew, NP, filling in for Jerry Drinkard, NP, for a smart, approachable conversation with endocrinologist and geneticist Dr. Fady Hannah-Shmouni.Together, they explore why hormone health has become such a major topic in aesthetics, functional medicine, wellness, and longevity—and why it can still feel confusing for both patients and providers. Dr. Hannah-Shmouni explains how hormones shift throughout the day, why timing matters when testing cortisol or testosterone, and how serial tracking may give a clearer picture than a single lab result.The episode also dives into the controversial term “adrenal fatigue,” the rise of biohacking, AI-powered hormone tools, and how patients can use better data to understand stress, sleep, menstrual health, performance, and overall wellness.One of the biggest takeaways? Before jumping into advanced optimization, start with the foundation: better sleep.Guest: Dr. Fady Hannah-ShmouniShop Eli Health's real-time cortisol test: https://eli.health/products/cortisolJoin our community on IG: https://www.instagram.com/myelihealthAnd on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/elihealth?originalSubdomain=caFollow Fady on IG: https://www.instagram.com/drshmouni/Join presale for testosterone/progesterone:https://eli.health/products/progesteronehttps://eli.health/products/testosteroneFollow Beauty & The Brain for more conversations on aesthetics, health, confidence, and the science behind looking and feeling your best.
Transcribe →Is It Aging… or Is It Menopause Face?
May 2100:18:33Tap to summarizeThis week on Beauty & The Brain, Dr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP are joined by Allie Ballew, NP from Skin and Tonic Med Spa for a real conversation about “menopause face” — that moment when your skin suddenly feels drier, thinner, looser, duller, or just not like you anymore.The team talks through why these changes happen, including collagen and elastin loss, declining estrogen, skin thinning, pigmentation, dryness, and laxity. They also share how they think about treatment planning for perimenopausal and menopausal patients, from VI Peel and Sculptra to NeoGen, lasers, PRP, hormone optimization, peptides, and at-home maintenance.They also go beyond the face, discussing how hormonal changes can affect confidence, sleep, brain fog, sexual health, and tissue quality throughout the body.Follow Beauty & The Brain for more conversations that make beauty, aging, wellness, and confidence easier to understand — and a lot more fun to talk about.
Transcribe →Retinol, Smoking, GLP-1s & Sun Exposure: What Impacts Your Recovery?
May 1400:17:13Tap to summarizeWhy do some people heal faster than others after aesthetic treatments? This week on Beauty & The Brain, Dr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP, discuss the many factors that can impact healing, including medications, supplements, retinols, smoking, nutrition, hormones, GLP-1s, sun exposure, and post-care compliance.They also explain why two patients can have the same procedure but experience very different recovery timelines, and why being honest with your provider is key to safe treatment planning and better results.This episode covers healing after treatments like PLEXR, CO2 laser, chemical peels, fillers, regenerative therapies, and more.
Transcribe →We Ignored the Red Flags… and It Cost Us
May 700:18:52Tap to summarizeThis week on Beauty & The Brain, Dr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP, are talking about vulnerability—not in the emotional buzzword kind of way, but in the very real moments where trust, money, expectations, and decision-making all collide.Chris and Jerry share a candid behind-the-scenes story about a business decision involving new aesthetic technology, what went wrong, and how it became an expensive reminder to ask better questions, look at the data, and not ignore red flags just because something feels exciting.They also flip the conversation to the patient perspective. When someone comes in for a treatment recommendation, they are trusting their provider with their appearance, their budget, and their confidence. That trust matters—and it should be handled with transparency, honesty, and realistic expectations.In this episode, you’ll hear why patients should feel comfortable asking about training, experience, risks, and outcomes; why providers need to be honest when something is new; and how transparency can protect relationships even when results do not go exactly as planned.Follow Beauty & The Brain for more smart, honest conversations about aesthetics, skin health, confidence, and the real-life lessons that happen inside and outside the treatment room.
Transcribe →