Podcast
Behind the Needle
Hosted by Mike LeMieux · EN
Mike LeMieux is the founder of MedSpa Media - a social media marketing company that works strictly with MedSpas. Mike has been in the social media marketing space since 2012 and is widely regarded as a top thought leader for his strategies and execution for his Clients, increasing their sales 2-3x. When he's not working, Mike spends every moment he can with his wife and daughter, he loves traveling and experiencing new places. He is passionate about lifting the burden that social media creates for his Clients and loves sharing his knowledge and proven strategies with others.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Turning Pain into Purpose with Brandie Henderson
1w ago00:40:01Tap to summarizeShe lost her husband, had nothing left, and went back to work two days later. Not because she was fine. Because she had a daughter watching.Brandie Henderson did not build Morph Aesthetics from a place of comfort or stability. She built it from the wreckage of sudden loss, driven by the kind of clarity that only comes when you have no other choice. In this episode of Behind the Needle, Brandie shares the story behind one of Scottsdale's most recognizable aesthetic practices, what it cost her to get there, and why the name Morph means exactly what she intended it to.This one is honest, personal, and for anyone who has ever had to build something from a place of loss.In this episode:How unexpected widowhood became the catalyst for building Morph Aesthetics and what those first days looked likeWhy she went back to work two days after losing her husband and what kept her moving forwardThe meaning behind the name Morph and what metamorphosis represents in her own life and careerHow she structured her practice around complete financial self-reliance and why she refuses to depend on outside investors or other providersWhat her role as an Allergan trainer involves and what she focuses on when teaching other injectorsWhy she believes authentic connection during consultations is her greatest clinical strengthThe training program she built for new nurses and why she thinks the industry's standard education is not enoughResources + LinksWork with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/Morph Aesthetics: https://morphaesthetics.com/Training Courses: https://morphaesthetics.com/nurse-training-course/FollowMike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/Morph Aesthetics: https://www.instagram.com/morph_aesthetics/Brandie Henderson: https://www.instagram.com/brandie_henderson_aesthetics/
Transcribe →The Financial Truth Behind a Thriving Med Spa with Jaci North
4w ago00:43:22Tap to summarizeMost med spa owners know how to build a beautiful client experience. Far fewer know what their numbers are actually telling them.Jaci North is a CPA and fractional CFO who works inside multiple med spas at once, and she has seen the same pattern repeat itself: talented, driven owners who are quietly terrified of their own financials. In this episode of Behind the Needle, Jaci breaks down why that fear is costing practices real money, and what it looks like to replace avoidance with a financial system that actually works for growth.If you have ever closed your bookkeeping software before the numbers could stress you out, this episode is for you.In this episode:What a fractional CFO actually does and why it is changing how small med spas access financial expertiseHow to understand gross profit, operational profit, and what the "job" of profit really is inside your businessWhy financial mindset matters as much as financial literacy, and how to stop avoiding your own dataThe levers med spa owners can pull to improve margins without burning out their teamsWhy Jaci treats marketing as an investment and what trackable ROI actually looks likeResources + LinksWork with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/North & Ivy: https://northandivy.com/Grounding Point Assessment: https://northandivy.com/grounding-assessmentFollowMike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/Jaci North: https://www.instagram.com/jacinorth/
Transcribe →Anatomy, Empathy, and the Art of Slowing Down with Adriana Medeiros
Jun 2500:38:33Tap to summarizeMost injectors learn anatomy from a textbook. Adriana Medeiros learned it from a cadaver lab, and she will tell you there is no comparison.In this episode of Behind the Needle, Adriana Medeiros walks through her path from med-surge and pediatric dialysis to aesthetics, what it took to open her own practice after NP school, and why she believes aesthetic medicine demands the same level of rigor as any other clinical specialty. She also opens up about cadaver lab training and the anatomical realities that textbooks simply cannot prepare you for.This episode is for every injector who got into aesthetics because they genuinely care about patients and every practice owner trying to build something that lasts.In this episode:How a career spanning med-surge, acute care, and pediatric dialysis shaped her approach to aestheticsThe "unreasonable hospitality" philosophy behind her practice and what it looks like in actionThe follow-up facial program that grew her businessWhy she invested in cadaver lab training and what studying real human anatomy revealed that no course could replicateThe argument she makes for treating aesthetics with the same seriousness as any other branch of medicineWhat she hopes her children take away from watching her build something from nothingResources + LinksWork with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/Book with Lux Lab Aesthetics: https://luxlabaesthetics.com/FollowMike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/Lux Lab Aesthetics: https://www.instagram.com/luxlabaesthetics
Transcribe →The Science Behind Hair Removal and Restoration With Kristi Kay
Jun 1000:40:54Tap to summarizeMost people assume laser hair treatments and permanent hair removal are the same thing. According to electrologist and business owner Kristi Kay, they're not even close.In this episode of Behind the Needle, Kristi Kay, owner of Electrolysis & Co., discusses the often misunderstood world of permanent hair removal, the science behind electrolysis, and why it remains the only FDA-recognized method of permanent hair removal.The conversation expands beyond hair removal into one of the fastest-growing areas of aesthetic medicine: hair restoration. Kristi explains how Electrolysis & Co. approaches hair loss through comprehensive consultations, lab testing, and advanced technologies like TED Hair Restoration. This episode is packed with practical information for anyone considering hair removal or looking for answers about thinning hair before it's too late to intervene.In this episode:Why electrolysis remains the only FDA-recognized method of permanent hair removalThe biggest differences between electrolysis and laser hair reductionWhat the electrolysis process actually looks like and what patients can expectCommon misconceptions about permanent hair removalWhy early intervention is critical when it comes to hair lossHow hormone imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, COVID, and GLP-1 medications can contribute to hair thinningWhat patients should know before starting a hair restoration journeyResources + LinksWork with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/Book with Electrolysis & Co.: https://www.electrolysisandco.com/FollowMike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/Electrolysis & Co.: https://www.instagram.com/electrolysisandco/
Transcribe →Why you NEED to LOVE what you do with Nina Traster
Jun 900:46:08Tap to summarizeSuccess in aesthetics isn't just about technique, business strategy, or social media. According to Nina Traster, it starts with loving what you do.In this episode of Behind the Needle, Mike sits down with Nina Traster, physician assistant and owner of iConcierge Med Spa in St. Petersburg, Florida, to discuss the role passion has played in her career. From working full-time in family medicine while building her aesthetics practice on nights and weekends to growing a thriving business of her own, Nina shares why genuine excitement for the work has been the driving force behind her success.This episode is for anyone building a career, growing a business, or searching for work that energizes rather than drains them.In this episode:How Nina balanced family medicine and aesthetics while building her business from the ground upThe moment she decided to transition into aesthetics full-timeWhy loving your work is one of the best defenses against burnoutThe benefits of a patient-centered, concierge-style practice modelHow she manages a high-volume schedule while maintaining quality patient careThe systems, preparation, and delegation strategies that keep her practice running smoothlyWhy continuous education is essential in the rapidly evolving aesthetics industryHer advice for new injectors looking to grow their skills and confidenceWhy staying focused on your own patients and your own journey matters more than social media competitionResources + LinksWork with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/Book with iConcierge: https://iconciergemedspa.com/FollowMike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/iConcierge Medspa: https://www.instagram.com/iconcierge_medspa/
Transcribe →Building a Practice Around Prevention, Not Prescriptions With Brittany Bunjovac
Jun 400:44:03Tap to summarizeLong before she became a nurse practitioner, Brittany Bunjovac was the kid leading a protest for healthier school lunches. That same passion for understanding the connection between nutrition, wellness, and long-term health eventually led her into aesthetics, hormone optimization, and preventative medicine.In this episode, Brittany shares how a serious complication from a nose filler treatment sparked her interest in aesthetic medicine, why she pursued becoming a nurse practitioner to gain more autonomy in patient care, and how she built BBUN Beauty Injectables and Wellness around a philosophy of treating root causes instead of chasing symptoms.In this episode:How Brittany's childhood passion for nutrition shaped her career path into wellness medicineWhy she left traditional nursing behind to become a nurse practitioner and business ownerThe difference between reactive healthcare and proactive wellness careHow she helps patients uncover root causes instead of simply treating symptomsHer approach to hormone optimization and why "normal" lab values don't always mean optimal healthThe personal hormone challenges she faced and how they impacted her physically and mentallyThe growing popularity of peptides and the risks associated with purchasing them online without medical supervisionThe role of aesthetics within a larger wellness and longevity strategyResources + LinksWork with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/Book with BBUN Beauty: https://www.bbunbeauty.com/FollowMike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/BBUN Beauty: https://www.instagram.com/bbunbeauty_aesthetics_wellness/Brittany Bunjovac: https://www.instagram.com/bbunbeauty_fnpinjector
Transcribe →The Injector Who Puts Skin Health Before Everything Else with Megan Mallory
Jun 200:41:54Tap to summarizeShe turned a front-row seat to plastic surgery into a thriving injecting career, and now she is one of the most education-driven aesthetic providers in Southern Arizona.Megan Mallory started in aesthetics in 2013 as an aesthetician, became a laser technician after moving to Arizona, and eventually went back to school to become an RN. Now she runs Canvas Skin Clinic in Oro Valley as a full-time injector and business owner, closing in on her Nurse Practitioner degree with about six months left. She does all of this as a mom of three, with her husband in her corner.What drives Megan is a belief that most patients are skipping the most important step. Before the filler, before the laser, before any of it -- the skin has to be ready. Her whole practice is built around that idea, and this conversation gets into why she thinks the aesthetic industry too often puts the cart before the horse, what it actually takes to build a treatment plan that lasts, and how real patient education changes outcomes in ways that no single in-office treatment ever could.In this episode:Why Megan built her entire practice around a "skin first" philosophy and what it actually means to prime the canvas before you ever pick up a syringeThe real difference between medical-grade skincare and what is on the shelf at the drugstore, and why it matters more than most patients realizeThe conversation she has with almost every new patient about what their at-home routine looks like and how that shapes everything that comes afterHow she thinks about sequencing treatments and why rushing a patient into injectables before their skin is ready can actually work against the resultHow she approaches treatments in the Arizona summer heat, which lasers she pauses on and which she keeps running, and why patients with melasma or deeper skin tones need extra consideration in high-heat monthsWhere she sees Canvas Skin Clinic going after graduation, and the vision for expanding into integrative, holistic medicine without losing the intimate feel her patients count onWhat post-care protocols tell you about a provider before you ever sit in their chairResources + LinksWork with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/Book with Canvas Skin Clinic: https://canvasskinclinic.com/team/FollowMike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/Canvas Skin Clinic: https://www.instagram.com/canvasskinclinic/Megan Mallory: https://www.instagram.com/megmalloryaesthetics/
Transcribe →How to Create a Winning Culture for Your Customers with Jordan Stansbury
Jun 100:43:30Tap to summarizeShe started injecting in the middle of a pandemic out of a single rented room, and four years later she was running a five room storefront with a full team and a name everyone in Clark County knows.Jordan Stansbury launched her practice in 2020 and by 2023 knew the brand needed to change. Juicy Aesthetics was born, Clark County took notice, and the votes for best med spa came in two years straight. But behind the recognition is a story about the work, the numbers she was afraid to look at, the tasks she had to let go of, and what it actually takes to build a culture that her team wants to be part of and her clients keep coming back to, all while staying true to who she is.This episode is for anyone building something from scratch and trying to figure out the business side before the business side figures them out.In this episode:Why she rebranded to Juicy Aesthetics and what made her realize the original name was not telling the right storyThe financial metrics she wishes she had understood from the beginning and why she thinks too many new med spa owners are afraid of their own numbersHer take on inventory management and why she advises new owners to resist the pressure to place large orders just to lower the cost per syringeThe mindset shift that came with moving from nurse to business owner and what learning to have honest sales conversations with clients actually requiredHow she recently expanded into hormone replacement therapy and women's health services and why she sees internal wellness as inseparable from aesthetic resultsWhat she has learned about peptides, which ones she trusts, and why she is vocal about the risks of buying unregulated products from unverified sourcesHow Juicy Aesthetics builds the kind of client retention that does not rely on discounts, and the quarterly community events that keep people coming backResources + LinksWork with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/Book with Juicy Aesthetics: https://www.instagram.com/juicymedspaFollowMike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/Juicy Aesthetics: https://www.instagram.com/juicymedspaJordan Stansbury: https://www.instagram.com/injectorjuicy/
Transcribe →The Part-Time Aesthetician Who Bet on Herself and Won with Molly Farabee
May 2900:50:36Tap to summarizeShe found a med spa for sale on a Facebook post, toured it with her husband, and made the decision before they got home.There was no lengthy deliberation. No waiting for the stars to align. Molly Farrabee saw the opportunity, said yes, and figured out the rest on the way. This episode is about the kind of bet that changes everything and the person willing to make it.In this episode:Why going solo was the turning point and what the leap from employee to suite owner taught her about her own valueThe anonymous Facebook post that started everything and how quickly the decision to buy Revive at the Parlor came togetherWhat it looked like to negotiate a bank loan and manage acquisition paperwork while dealing with a serious family emergency at the same timeThe details she obsesses over to create a luxury experience, and why she believes the small things are what clients remember mostWhy her next goal is getting herself out of the treatment room entirely, and what she wants to build once she doesThe mentorship program she wants to launch for new aestheticians and why she feels a responsibility to show the next generation what is actually possibleResources + LinksWork with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/Book with Revive: https://www.reviveatp.com/FollowMike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/Revive at the Parlor: https://www.instagram.com/reviveattheparlor/Molly Farrabee: https://www.instagram.com/molly.method/
Transcribe →From Side Hustle to a Two-Location Medspa with Katrina Flowers-Piercy
May 2500:51:34Tap to summarizeKatrina Flowers-Pierie spent years as a Physician Assistant in emergency services and trauma surgery before she ever picked up a syringe for aesthetics. The 24-hour call shifts, the adrenaline, the high-stakes environment — she loved all of it. Until she had kids. Then the math stopped working.So she pivoted. Slowly at first, building medical aesthetics as a side business in 2013 while still working in acute care. Then 2020 hit, everyone started staring at their own faces on Zoom, and what was once a side hustle became LISSÈ Medical Aesthetics. A two-location practice in Gig Harbor and University Place, Washington that does a lot more than injectables.This episode is proof that the most unexpected backgrounds can make for the most well-rounded injectors.In this episode:How a career in trauma surgery shaped Katrina's clinical instincts and why that medical foundation makes her a better aesthetic providerWhat a true one-stop shop actually looks like: injectables, regenerative medicine, wellness, skin care, and advanced laser treatments all under one roofWhy Katrina is fired up about the Sciton Halo and TRL, and how newer laser technology is delivering serious results with a fraction of the old downtimeHer honest take on hormone replacement therapy and why she believes HRT is about a lot more than managing menopause symptomsThe "slow roll" approach she swears by and why she would rather start you on a skin care routine than put you straight under a laserWhy 80% of your results come from what you do at home, and what that means before you spend a single dollar on in-office treatments=Resources + LinksWork with Mike, learn more about social media and ads for your MedSpa: https://medspamediagroup.com/Book with LISSÈ Medical Aesthetics: https://lissemedspa.com/FollowMike LeMieux: https://www.instagram.com/mikelemieux/MedSpa Media: https://www.instagram.com/medspa_media/LISSÈ Medical Aesthetics: https://www.instagram.com/lisse_medical_aesthetics_/Katrina Flowers-Piercy: https://www.instagram.com/lisse_pa_katrina_/
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