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The Art of Facial Feminization For The Transgender Patient

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Coming Up! July 9, 2021 at 1:30 pm PST. In this exclusive interview with Aesthetic Insider™, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and Facial Feminization for the Transgender and Non-Transgender patient pioneer, Toby Mayer, MD, discusses his fifty years of working with the Transgender patient community and his approach to facial aesthetic surgery. Dr. Mayer practices in Beverly Hills, California and specializes in a wide range of procedures of the face and neck, including the Irregular Trichophytic Hairline Browlift, the Mayer Hair Flap procedure, the No Scar Facelift, and many more. He is also particularly known for his expertise in Transgender and Non-transgender Facial Feminization Surgery, as well as the Mayer Voice Feminization and thyroid cartilage shave procedure. He has taught and led medical aesthetic conferences on these subjects and co-wrote the textbook Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery of the Scalp. He has become widely recognized for his talents in creating beautifully delicate feminine features with natural-looking results. He and his team at the Facial Feminization Center of Beverly Hills always make sure to provide each patient with care, compassion, and discretion throughout their surgical experience. The increase in Transgender patients seeking Facial Feminization procedures has grown exponentially over the past two decades and in this exciting interview we discuss the many options now available to patients seeking a more feminine facial appearance. To learn more about Dr. Mayer, please visit www.drtobymayer.com, or call 424.345.4156. To listen to the interview on Aesthetic Insider™ Radio, CLICK HERE!


What’s Changed In PR And Why Being In The News Is Still Important

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Available Now! In this exciting and timely interview, Angela O’Mara, Editor of Aesthetic Insider™ and President of national aesthetic medical PR & Marketing Agency TPI Media Group, Inc., joins forces with PR Expert and owner of Current PR, Alison Hill. Alison has served as brand steward, creative director, lead strategist, talent wrangler, promotions and special event expert, and media liaison extraordinaire for such clients as Disney, LEGO, and Nickelodeon —and as the longtime PR agency for the Peanuts brand, Alison has had the privilege of being Snoopy’s publicist for the past 17 years! Prior to launching Current PR Alison spent years in the executive suite of several agency and corporate giants such as Burson-Marsteller, Mattel Electronics, and Turner Broadcasting, In recent years social media platforms have become a vital aspect of many businesses but marketing experts agree that the fleeting imagery and fast messaging of social media may not bring with it the credibility and longevity that interviews on TV news channels and in print publications do. Angela and Alison are excited to share with you tips and techniques you can use to put your business in the media spotlight. To learn more about Alison Hill visit www.currentpr.com. To learn more about Angela O’Mara visit www.theprofessionalimage.com. To listen to the full interview at Aesthetic Insider™ Radio, CLICK HERE!

Achieving The New Feminine Face Of The Transgender Patient

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This show airs on Aesthetic Insider™ Radio on 7/16/2021. Listen Now! Facial plastic surgeon Dr. Toby Mayer and patient Jordan Bell discuss Facial Feminization in this wonderful interview!

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon Toby Mayer, MD and patient Jordan Bell.

For Transgender patients transitioning from male to female, cosmetic surgery of the face is one of the most important aspects of them becoming authentic to themselves.  Facial Feminization Surgery includes several different procedures and techniques including hairline restoration, browlifting, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, chin and cheek implants, lip augmentation and fillers, as well as Adam’s apple reduction, voice modification, and more. Each patient is individual and will require a different combination of surgical procedures to help them define the face they always knew they should have. While Facial Feminization is just one step in the transition process, it is important that patients making this choice have a clear and educated understanding of options, benefits and they should be able to address any safety concerns before having surgery. In their interview with Aesthetic Insider™ Radio, world-renowned Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon Toby Mayer, MD, and patient Jordan Bell discuss Jordan’s years of transition, her Facial Feminization surgical  experience, and the beautiful and confident life she is now living. Jordan is a voice of inspiration and this is a must listen to show for those seeking a fulfilling life during and after transitioning. To learn more about Dr. Toby Mayer visit www.drtobymayer.com. LISTEN NOW!

What’s Changed In PR and Why Being In The News Is Still Important

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In a must read interview, Angela O’Mara, Editor of Aesthetic Insider™  and President of the national aesthetic medical PR & Marketing Agency TPI Media Group, Inc., joins forces with PR Expert and owner of Current PR, Alison Hill, to discuss why PR remains a vital business asset in a fast paced world. Alison has served as brand steward, creative director, lead strategist and media liaison for such clients as Disney, LEGO, and Nickelodeon, and, as the longtime PR agency for the Peanuts brand, Alison has had the privilege of being Snoopy’s publicist for the past 17 years! Prior to launching Current PR Alison spent years in the executive suites of several agency and corporate giants such as Burson-Marsteller, Mattel Electronics, and Turner Broadcasting. In recent years social media platforms have become a vital aspect of many businesses but marketing experts agree that the fleeting imagery and fast messaging of social media may not bring with it the credibility and longevity that interviews on TV news channels and in print publications do. While Alison’s main PR focus is in the entertainment industry, Angela’s PR focus is on medical aesthetics, health, fitness and beauty and she has worked in the PR world for over thirty years. Together they share with you techniques you can use to put your business in the media spotlight. To learn more about Alison Hill visit www.currentpr.com. To learn more about Angela O’Mara visit www.theprofessionalimage.com.

How do you keep Snoopy relevant?
Well, it’s actually easier than you would think. Charles Schultz who, of course, is the genius behind the peanuts brand, created close to 18,000 comic strips during his 50 years of drawing the strip and that’s a lot of material. During that time he touched upon just about every conceivable relatable topic you can imagine. To give you a few examples, he covered family dynamics, especially sibling rivalries, as between Lucy and Linus and Sally and Charlie brown, unrequited love with the little red-haired girl that Charlie brown always was so in love with, sports, he was a big baseball fan, football, ice skating, tennis, swimming, golfing, surfing, skateboarding, you name it. He even covered the first man walking on the moon, as well as politics and fashion. He has covered the holidays such as the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown Christmas, Be My Valentine Charlie brown, the Easter Beagle…  the list goes on and on. So as marketers, the challenge isn’t that we don’t have enough content, we have tons of content in which to draw upon, but we need to find new ways to integrate this content into today’s cultural commentary and zeitgeist. Here are four examples:

The first is Snoopy and Belle in Fashion, where we recruited couture designers Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenburg and Isaac Mizrahi to create mini-designs for mini Snoopy and Belle dolls. (By the way, Belle is Snoopy’s sister.) Then we sent the dolls around the world as the Coolest Canine Fashion Exhibition imaginable. This garnered press worldwide.

The second was Peanuts Rocks the Vote, which we tied into the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections. As part of the campaign we enlisted the support of celebrities Alec Baldwin, Taye Diggs and Whoopi Goldberg to tape mock PSA’s (public service announcements) asking the public to vote for one of the Peanuts characters for President. At the end of each PSA fans were directed to a website where they could register to vote in the real election that year.

In 2019, we collaborated with seven contemporary artists who integrated their signature style with the Peanuts characters in large-scale murals around the globe. We called it the Peanuts Global Artist Collective. This reached media everywhere and really tied it back to the artist and visionary that Charles Schultz was.

Currently, Peanuts is coordinating the international Take Care with Peanuts initiative, which promotes good global citizenship through three themes: Take care of yourself, Take care of each other, and Take care of the Earth. It features several components, including social messaging, original Peanuts videos, free lesson plans and family activities, and philanthropy, such as Peanuts helping plant hundreds of thousands of trees around the world.

Those are just a few of the campaigns the Peanuts team has created to keep Snoopy in the spotlight. While I am not the creator of these amazing themes, I am honored to be part of the team that helps make the events known to the public, and the media outreach helps generates enthusiasm for them.

Snoopy turns 70 this year and while he hasn’t needed any plastic surgery, how are aesthetic medical doctors and plastic surgery stories kept in the news after all these year?
Ha ha! He hasn’t aged a day! Whatever he’s doing, he’s doing it right. In our world, the aesthetic medical and beauty industry, there has been so much progress and continual advancements that there is always something new to report. It helps that the media and the public in general have a fascination with plastic and cosmetic surgery and it seems that every day there is a story being published or produced somewhere in the world. At TPI Media Group, Inc., we have represented many doctors and aesthetic innovators to the media who all share a common goal of growing their practice/business and patient base by educating the public on the services and techniques they offer. We have been in business for over 30+ years and are known as the go to firm for all things aesthetic medical PR and Marketing. We also work with many of the leading manufacturers who provide the fillers, injectables and technology behind some of these exciting procedures. Even on a surgical front, over the years newer, safer and faster techniques have been developed and the media wants to remain on the cutting edge too, so our firm is often contacted by reporter s and producers from TV shows and magazines that want to know what’s new and trending. We work with many leading shows such as CBS The Doctors TV Show, E! Entertainment, Good Morning America, The Today Show, etc., as well as newspapers and magazine and are able to work on a national or local level. Really what keeps our clients in the news is our ability to see the trends before they happen and our skills to be able to take that to the media and make it news. Being ahead of the curve helps keep all our clients relevant.

Does being in the main stream media give a business more credibility?
For the most part the solid main stream media is still considered a trusted source of information and for many a way to find out about what’s happening around them. Interviews with credible news sources such as ABC, CBS, NBC News, The New York Times, LA Times, Vogue Magazine, etc., continue to give a third party endorsement to a service, product, trend, event, etc. In addition, the majority of these types of media outlets have a huge audience that would be very costly to reach by any other form of marketing.

Does main stream media have a higher reach than social media?
For the most part, yes. There are 119 million online subscribers alone for the New York Times and you can’t get that kind of platform on social media. The same goes for many of the other news outlets. It is also credible because it is being read by people who have an interest in the news, not just fans of the social media site. By positioning a company or practice on one of these premier platforms is like finding gold. It’s a valuable opportunity. Some stories or posts placed on social media do catch attention and generally tend to “go viral” when a larger news organization picks it up.

Is it possible to have an effective social media only campaign?
Yes, especially if you are Beyonce or someone with that level of fame and you have 188 million followers on Instagram where you can communicate directly with your fans. That way you have special and complete control over what is said and the traditional press can just quote what you’ve shared in your feed and stories. But most of us do not have that luxury. We don’t have that kind of control or power in the social media sphere and need that extra platform that only a legitimate news outlet and PR campaign can give you.

Is it possible to have an effective PR only media campaign?
Yes. We would still choose traditional PR above social media as social media is too fleeting, especially in the medical field where the stories are intricate and generally serious. You can’t just post a photo and make that the story, or do a well-rounded story in the way a reporter from Vanity Fair magazine would in 280 characters which is about the length of a Twitter message. For most businesses social media platforms are how you keep your customers or patients informed about the services you offer and how you can interact with them. PR Media Campaigns are how you spread the news to new and prospective customers and patients without advertising.

What is the best way to contact a news reporter with a story idea?
A well written press release is still a great tool to use, as well as having reporters on your news beat on speed dial, email or text. Knowing who to contact is as important as how to contact them. Entertainment press people generally don’t cover health news so knowing who would cover your story is a start. Once you have determined who would be the best reporter to cover your story, then calling or emailing the magazine or news station will get you to the next level where you can send them press materials and begin dialogue.

5 Tips To Contact A News Reporter:

1. Know your reporter and his/her audience. Read and analyze their recent stories so you can get the gist of their style. For example, if you’re pitching a movie, the business reporter is going to be more interested in the box office receipts and budget for the film, whereas the entertainment reporter might enjoy learning fun facts about the making of the movie. Same holds true for TV reporters. Watch and analyze their coverage for at least a week before you even think about pitching them.

2. If time permits, get to know the reporter before you need to pitch them. Be authentic about this but start to follow them on social media. Comment or like their stories, so that your name starts to be familiar to them.

3. Reach out to them via email and when you do, try to refer to something you read in one of their previous articles if it relates to your story. (Only do this if it is truly organic.)

4. Keep your subject header short. No more than 9 words and 60 characters are recommended so it’s easy to read on mobile devices as well as laptops.

 5. Always customize the email. It should say “Dear Alison” “Dear Angela” not “Dear Editor” or “Dear Sir”.

What is an effective media pitch message?
It all starts with the subject header. It must be enticing enough to get them to open the email. Things such as;  “Snoopy calling Angela!” or “Snoopy calling Alison!” It’s short; it’s customized and you immediately know what the topic is. Once the reporter has opened your email, keep it short and sweet. No more than a three to five line summary pitch about the story. You can attach a press release or background sheet and refer them to the press release for all the details, rather than giving them all the details in the email. Make the pitch message pithy, interesting and intriguing. The goal is to want them to want more.

Are social media platforms such as Twitter or Instagram a better method to make a connection?
We sometimes use Twitter to ask a reporter for their email address, but find that email is still the best way to go. In fact, a recent survey of 2,400 journalists found that 94% prefer pitches by email. Only 12% said they were open to receiving pitches on Twitter.

Tips to directly pitch a story to the media:

1. Know your reporter and their audience.

2. Write a short, catchy subject header (no more than 9 words and 60 characters) for an e-pitch.

3. Write the body of the email in 3-5 sentences.

4. Write and attach your press release; add a photo if your story is visual. Keep the press release as short as possible (one page is ideal), and make sure to put the big announcement or news into the first paragraph. If you’re going to include a quote, it should add information (ie., not just “We’re delighted” etc., etc., etc.,). Make sure to include your contact details (name, phone number, email address.)

5. If no response, follow-up the next day with a short note at the top of your original email.

6. If no response the second time, make a telephone call or follow up one last time on email.

7. Give them a chance to call or email you back.

8. Don’t give up entirely, but do move on to other potential reporters and outlets and return  to the first in a week or two if the story is still newsworthy.

How to decide and evaluate if a PR firm is a good fit for you?

1. Ask who will be working on your account. Many agencies trot out the owner of the agency for the new business meeting but then disappear once the client signs on. You want to make sure the owner is involved every step of the way.

2. Question whether they bill by the hour or on a monthly retainer? These are the two most common billing practices. A retainer basis generally produces cost effective results, compared to hourly billing.

3. Request a detailed list of what the budget is buying? Items in a PR campaign generally are:

a. Media list curation
b. E-pitch and press release writing
c. Media outreach
d. Press release distribution
e. Media follow-up
f. Spokesperson coaching (not formal training)
g. Clip tracking via Google Alerts
h. Ask for referrals and call them

To listen to the interview at Aesthetic Insider™ Radio, CLICK HERE!

To contact Alison Hill visit www.currentpr.com.
To contact Angela O’Mara visit www.theprofessionalimage.com.

How To Successfully Sell or Buy An Aesthetic Medical Practice

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Listen In At Aesthetic Insider™ Radio – Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Buying and selling an aesthetic medical practice can be complex, especially when a real estate transaction is also part of the practice sale. In this interview with Aesthetic Insider™ Radio, Rod Johnston, MBA, CMA, an expert in medical practice transitions and owner of Omni Practice Group, a provider of practice sales, valuations, consulting and real estate services, discusses what doctors who are considering selling their aesthetic medical practice need to know in advance of a sale. He also outlines the important key elements that doctors who want to purchase an established medical practice should look for. Rod’s background in accounting, finance, sales and real estate make him one of the most well-rounded practice transition consultants in the USA and with a team of qualified appraisers, brokers and real estate professionals, his company is licensed in 15 states. To learn more about Rod Johnston and Omni Practice Group please visit https://www.omni-pg.com/about-us/ or call 877 866-6053.

Looking To Buy Or Sell A Medical Practice? Look No Further!

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Buying and selling an aesthetic medical practice can be complex, especially when a real estate transaction is also part of the practice sale. In this interview with Aesthetic Insider™ Radio, Rod Johnston, MBA, CMA, an expert in medical practice transitions and owner of Omni Practice Group, a provider of practice sales, valuations, consulting and real estate services, discusses what doctors who are considering selling their aesthetic medical practice need to know in advance of a sale. He also outlines the important key elements that doctors who want to purchase an established medical practice should look for. Rod’s background in accounting, finance, sales and real estate make him one of the most well-rounded practice transition consultants in the USA and with a team of qualified appraisers, brokers and real estate professionals, his company is licensed in 15 states. To learn more about Rod Johnston and Omni Practice Group please visit www.omni-pg.com, or call 877 866-6053.

Rod Johnston, Omni Practice Group

What are the main reasons a doctor may want to sell a medical practice?
One of the top reasons is more related to the business side of things, rather than the treating of patients. Running a medical practice is a lot of work and is reliant on a good staff which can be hard for many doctors to find the right balance. On top of that is dealing with insurance, credentialing, long hours and so on. Many of the doctors we work with realize that they want to be able to leave at 5pm and spend more time with family, rather than working round the clock. They realize if they take away the ownership piece, they can have more time for other life enjoyments so selling the practice makes sense to them. For others, it could be retirement, relocation, health reasons, and so on. Many just get to a point in their career, look at the potential tax increases on the horizon, think about what they might be missing in their lives, and just say, now is the time to sell.

How long does it take to sell a medical practice?
There are many factors that go into selling a medical practice and at Omni Practice Group we advise doctors consider a five year plan. Some think they can sell their practice in 6 to 18 months, but we have found that the more successful sales are planned several years in advance.

What do you recommend a doctor do first once they have made the decision to sell?
They should get together with a financial analyst such as those we have at Omni Practice Group, and/or their CPA. They need to take a detailed look at their finances and consider how much they are going to need to retire, or to make a move. Some doctors have been surprised that their finances are actually better than they realized and that selling the practice soon is the best idea. While others find that they need to make adjustments to their earning potential and daily operations in order to bring the practice to a higher level of profit before putting it on the market.

What other factors should be considered when preparing a medical practice for sale?
1.Waiting to sell when the income is lower can potentially cost hundreds of thousands dollars in lost equity.

2. Look for areas where you can increase the value of the practice. The value is tied to the cash flow and profit levels.

3. Review staff costs and rent. Is the practice over-staffed, under-staffed? What about the square footage? Too much, not enough?

4. Don’t invest in any capital assets such as new laser equipment, etc. Many doctors feel these types of purchases are assets to the practice in terms of sales value, but they are not.

How long does it take to place a sales value on a practice?
We offer what we call a Snapshot Valuation where we look at the last few years’ tax returns and production reports if available. From there, we can quickly provide an idea of what the value is which, as mentioned earlier, can be a nice surprise to both the doctor and their financial planner. In other cases, it helps lay the groundwork for what has to be done to prepare the practice for the optimal sales price.

Do you also recommend selling real estate that is part of the practice?
At Omni Practice Group we are also licensed commercial brokers specializing in medical real estate so in addition to selling the practice, we can also assist with any attached real estate. When a doctor owns the building we first ask if they want to continue to own the building as being a landlord can bring sleepless nights and responsibilities the doctor may no longer want to hold. We also discuss the many stories we have to share from previous experience, as well as the pros and cons of continued ownership such as:

1. The new owner of your practice decides to move once their lease is up and build their own medical building close by, not only leaving your building empty and in need of upgrades, but creating competition for you. This could leave you with a vacant building that is designated as medical and could be more difficult to lease or sell in the future.

2. When the real estate market is high, it makes sense to sell. When it is low, it is worth considering the risk of holding onto it for a few more years.

Are you able to sell a practice that has a lease in place?
Yes. It is very important to have an expert help with lease negotiation as there are many scenarios that can take place. The most important thing is to ensure that the lease can be extended to the new owner for a period of time that makes sense for them to profitably maintain the business. It is also important to make sure that the lease does not contain language such as building tear down, vacate notices or clauses pertaining to lease assignability. Many banks require that the term of the lease be the same or greater than the term of the loan they are providing to the new buyer.

What is the best type of medical practice to sell?
There isn’t necessarily a best type of practice as the value of the practice is the profitability. Saying that, the best practice is the one that gives the seller the highest value which would be a practice that has their overhead under control, and the practice is still growing. Production numbers should be up, rather than down and showing a steady increase. Both buyers and banks want to see steady growth and the potential of future profit margins.

How does Omni Practice Group work with a doctor looking to sell their practice?
We start with an initial phone call with the doctor to determine timing and needs. We always start with the valuation of the practice which requires discovery paperwork to be completed by the doctor and their providing us with the past five years of tax returns, as well as Company P&L Statements, (Profit and Loss Statements), production reports, etc. The initial valuation is usually delivered within 10 days. After that, we will arrange an in-person meeting with the doctor and spouse or partner to go over the valuation together, as well as take photos of the practice and discuss in detail what we are going to do to put the practice on the market, what may need to be done in advance of putting it on the market, and a fair market sales prices. Then we put together a very professional business offering/practice prospectus which is about 40 pages long and details everything about the practice including the demographics of the area, staff, marketing, profitability, and many other details pertaining to the practice and the surrounding area.

Do you also market the practice to potential buyers?
Yes. Once the business offering/practice prospectus booklet is complete, we begin marketing the practice and list and advertise it nationally across many platforms including national websites, State associations, mergers and acquisitions sites, biz buy-sell sites, and the other places buyers look. We also send out letters to potential buyers we have in our own database. The name of the practice and the sales price are kept confidential, but we do mention location such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Miami, etc. When the buyers contact us, they are required to sign a non-disclosure which clearly states that they can’t mention the sale of the practice to anyone but their own advisors and our inner circle.

Do you assist with the actual showing of the practice to a buyer?
Yes. Like a real estate agent would show a home, Omni Practice Group shows a practice so the doctor does not have to do any of that which most of our customers prefer. During the showing, we discuss the practice, growth opportunities, staff, location, etc., and then if they are interested the buyer submits a Letter of Intent so they can proceed with doing their due diligence, and sales price negotiation. Unlike other firms, Omni only represents the seller in this instance, not the buyer. Once a price has been agreed, the buyer moves forward to secure financing and instruct their attorney to draft the purchase and sale agreement for the buyer to review, share with their attorney and amend as necessary to bring the sale to closure. From there the seller can sail off into the sunset, or go home and rest, whatever may be their dream.

Who typically buys a medical practice?
Buyers range from an individual who might want to own their own medical practice, to a small group that may own four or five other medical practices, all the way up to large corporate groups or private equity companies that are looking for opportunities to get into the aesthetic medical field.

What tips do you have for the doctor that is looking to buy a medical practice?
Buyers generally have different goals. It’s just like buying a house. Some buyers want a place that is ready to move in, needs hardly any work and is turn-key. While other buyers are up for a challenge and want to do a remodel. The buyer should decide before they begin their search just what it is they are looking for and get in touch with a firm like Omni Practice Group who can help set parameters and begin a search on their behalf, much like a home real estate agent would. In this instance we would work with the buyer to finalize the deal as they have become our customer at this point and we would assist with due diligence, looking at areas for growth and profitability and/or recommending changes to cut down on overhead. We also negotiate on their behalf to bring the purchase to fruition.

Is now a good time to buy or sell a medical practice?
Yes and for many reasons. The real estate market is great at the moment, but there is also a high number of doctors at or around retirement age (50% of doctors are over the age of 55) and are looking to start living their best life now!

To listen to the interview with Rod Johnston of Omni Practice Group at Aesthetic Insider™ Radio, CLICK HERE!

To contact Omni Practice Group, visit www.omni-pg.com or call 877 866-6053.

LA-MCA Cadaver Workshop August 7, 2021

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Cadaver Anatomy Lab LIVE EVENT

Saturday, August 7, 2021, Los Angeles, CA – Register Now!

MCA Cadaver Workshops are highly popular and this course always sells out. If you wish to participate in an exclusive Fillers & PDO Threads workshop we encourage early registration. Taught by Kian Karimi, MD and other leading instructors, the course begins with an in-depth understanding of facial anatomy, followed by demonstration and hands-on injection to the upper face and eyes, midface regions and lower face. All course materials, filler and threads are included. CME Accredited. Registration is final and non-refundable. This is an in-person live workshop. PPE will be provided and all attendees will be required to maintain all medical safety protocols during these workshops. Live observation from anywhere in the world is also an option for those that cannot attend in person. Click HERE to register!

What’s New In Neurotoxins?

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With Dr. Shweta Agarwal of Mia La Maven MedSpa, Santa Monica, CA. Listen in LIVE at Aesthetic Insider™ Radio – 10.00 am PST on August 17th, 2021. CLICK HERE!

Non-invasive aesthetic treatments are at an all-time high and treatments for crow’s feet and wrinkles offer many advantages to patients. In this latest interview with Aesthetic Insider™ Radio, Dr. Shweta Agarwal, a triple board certified aesthetic medical doctor who practices at Mia La Maven Medical Spa located in the heart of Santa Monica, CA, has a reputation for her scientifically based rapid facial wrinkle reduction technique that can quickly transform a patient by helping make them look much more youthful. As an aesthetic medical doctor with a strong following of patients ranging from Hollywood Celebrities, aspiring entrepreneurs and people who want to be the best version of themselves, Dr. Agarwal knows that anti-aging and aesthetic beauty treatments are not performed as a one-size-fits-all solution, and her expertise with reducing facial wrinkles is based on a combination of products designed to relax areas of the face that cause wrinkles.To learn more about the aesthetic beauty and anti-aging procedures offered by Dr. Shweta Agarwal and her team at Mia La Maven Medical Spa, visit www.mialamavenmedspa.com or call 310 314-0404. Learn more!


Maloof Sisters Making A Difference With Uniforms For Hope

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Every child deserves the opportunity to have an education, but for more than 264 million children worldwide that chance is denied for one simple reason – they cannot afford, or do not have access to, a school uniform. In this informative and interesting interview with Aesthetic Insider™, Founder and Director of Uniforms For Hope, Maureen and Dr. Catherine Maloof, share their vision for empowering children from overseas and their mission to help raise these children from extreme poverty by providing school uniforms. This interview touches on their mission, their goals, their community outreach and their fund raising efforts to aid in the dream of providing children worldwide with the chance for an education. To learn more about the Maloof sisters, or to donate, visit www.uniformsforhope.org.

Maureen and Dr. Catherine Maloof.

How did you get the idea to start Uniforms For Hope?
Maureen Maoof: Initially we never really thought we would start a non-profit, but we love to travel and have always had a passion to help children. I have traveled to over 43 countries and I always visited schools and orphanages around the world during my travels, and I really connected with the children. My sister (Dr. Catherine Maloof) was always working so much she never really was able to go on any trips, but finally I was able to encourage her to go to Machu Picchu in Peru with me a few years ago. During our time there, we visited a school. We had brought stickers for the children and took snacks and fruit too. The children were so excited to meet us and so thankful to receive these small gifts and their reaction was similar to that of many other countries I had visited. It was really inspiring to us to see children so happy to be at school and when we spoke with one of the teachers she mentioned how difficult it was for children in these poorer regions to be able to attend school because a school uniform was mandatory and many of the villagers couldn’t afford one for their child. After we returned home, that message really stuck with me and I began to do research and found that an estimated 264 million children worldwide do not have the opportunity to get an education, a large reason being that their family cannot afford a school uniform. I began to look for organizations that were helping with this problem, or someone who may be fund raising to help these kids, and found nothing. After months of research I realized a uniform can save a life if a child gets an education, and that an education may be their only way out of poverty. As a result I decided to begin the process of starting a non-profit foundation and brought Uniforms For Hope into being.

Dr. Catherine Maloof: That trip to Peru was transformational for me because I had never taken that type of vacation before. I threw stickers in my suitcase at the last minute, and when we handed them out to the children I felt like a rock star! We were surrounded by so many children that were so excited to meet us and learn from us that it was really inspirational to me. One of the young girls got so excited when I told her I was a chiropractor that she drew a picture of a spine and the organs in the body telling me that she too wanted to be a doctor one day. I have lectured at many schools in the USA and have never seen the enthusiasm for an education like I saw that day in Peru and I just knew that when Maureen and I returned home we had to do something to help these children get the education they  deserve.

Dr. Catherine Maloof with school children in Peru.
Maureen Maloof with school children in Peru.

Where else have you traveled in the world that has made a difference to you?
Maureen Maloof:  I’ve been to a lot of countries including Egypt, Hong Kong, Morocco, China, Tibet, Portugal, and Nepal and have realized that in many of these countries the school situation is the same. Children have aspirations and hopes and dreams which really begins with being able to receive an education. We are now working with many different countries and of particular interest to us at the moment is the work we are doing in Kenya and the Congo.

Dr. Catherine Maloof:  We are really excited to be of help to the girls in Kenya. Maureen and I met Rose Sakuda at a ladies’ meeting. Rose grew up in a small Maasai village in Kenya, and had been abused as a child. In her village, if a girl is not attending school by the age of 11 or 12 they will most likely be married off to a man aged 50 to 70 who already has multiple wives and children. Not wanting this for the girls in her village, Rose started a small school just for them. Some of the girls actually live there and get their meals there also. It is Rose’s intent to provide these girls with an education so they will be free and able to work for a living, rather than be married off.  A uniform is all it takes to get these girls to school and away from a life of abuse and potential sex trafficking.  We are also helping children in the Congo through a chance meeting of a couple from the Congo who attended Vanguard University here in California. After University they felt a passion to go back to the Congo and help children. They started a leadership academy to create leaders in the community and through Uniforms For Hope those children have been given uniforms too.

School boys in Kenya wearing uniforms gifted by Uniforms For Hope.

Besides Kenya and the Congo, what other countries are you working with to supply uniforms?
Maureen Maloof: We have also helped bring uniforms to four small villages in Uganda where an organization we found had started a school in each village, as well as Lebanon, Cambodia and Tanzania.

Dr. Catherine Maloof: It is important to mention that we work with the people on the ground in these countries so we can be certain that all the money we raise for uniforms actually goes straight to the source it is intended for.

Would you say the “school uniform” is doing more than teaching these children in developing countries how to read and write?
Maureen Maloof: Yes. Of course, reading and writing and education is our number one goal, but it is also a way out of extreme poverty, its empowering young women and men, it can help avert domestic violence and trafficking, and helps give these kids a future. Each school uniform is different and is almost like a brand in the village as other children that are not attending school are seeing the uniform and wishing they could go to school to. A school uniform is a status symbol to a better life and a symbol of optimism and aspiration. We recently helped a school in Lebanon and we were thrilled to hear the story of a young boy who offered up his school sweater to another child so they could attend school. He told us when he arrived at school that day there was a young boy sitting outside crying because his grandmother was still saving money to buy his uniform and that the school couldn’t let him in without it. So the boy gave him his sweater to wear until he could have one of his own.  The boy thought he would get into trouble when he got home realizing the value of his uniform and the fact that he had just loaned part of it, but his mother was very understanding and encouraging of her son’s efforts to give this other child a chance.

Dr. Catherine Maloof: As we mentioned earlier, each school has a different style and color of uniform so at Uniforms For Hope we don’t just buy off-the-shelf uniforms and mail them to these countries, the money raised by us goes to the people on the ground who teach the girls or bring in local women to sew the uniforms. It’s actually creating a small free enterprise as well as encouraging entrepreneurship and is empowering these young women, as well as local women and widows. Rose who founded the Kenya school had previously rescued a young girl named Beatrice when she was orphaned at the age of 11. Beatrice is now head of the girl’s school in Kenya and works to keep the local women busy and earning a living with various school endeavors including the making of the uniforms.

Village woman in Kenya making Uniforms For Hope for the local school children.

Are you able to encourage children in the USA to be involved with Uniforms For Hope?
Maureen Maloof: Actually yes. From the start we began speaking at schools about the dreams and aspirations of the children we are providing uniforms to in developing countries and the students here have been very supportive. My first lecture was to 900 local high school students who actually started a Uniforms For Hope Club where they raise money for the children worldwide. They pick a country they want to support and then do their own fund raisers. It’s a great way to make sure our kids here are appreciating what they have and it also makes them feels good about themselves and their charitable efforts.

Maureen Maloof with school children in California.

How would a school reach out to you to have you speak to their students?
Dr. Catherine Maloof: School principals and teachers are welcome to contact us through our website, www.uniformsforhope.org. We are based in Orange County, California so we can do in-person lectures locally. With virtual conferencing being so popular, we are also both available to do speaking engagements via Zoom or other video platforms. The students actually love it and it really makes them feel like they are giving back too. We have found that it also helps some of them appreciate how easy it is for them to go to school here in the USA, and with the USA high school drop out rate edging close to 50%, we feel our speaking efforts and their involvement could be helpful there too.

What is the Uniforms For Hope 49ers Club?
Dr. Catherine Maloof:  The average cost of a uniform is $49 so we began what we call The Uniforms For Hope 49ers Club. For some people spending $49 on lunch or dinner, or a few weeks of morning coffee runs, is easy. The cost of these little luxuries adds up so fast and when you stop to think that $49 could actually change the life of a child in a developing country simply by giving them a uniform so that they can go to school and get an education, well it just makes sense. By donating $49 each month by the end of one year that monthly donation has changed the life of 12 young people and again, all donations go directly to the source with the aim of helping these children better their lives through education. One person really can make a difference.

Who is on the Board of Uniforms For Hope and what are its current fund raising goals?
Maureen Maloof: Our main goal is always to raise money to buy uniforms.  We have a wonderful Board of Directors and everybody volunteers, and none of us are paid members. That way all the financial donations that people make go toward the cost of the uniforms. All the money we receive goes to the cause.  I actually started the non-profit myself and funded its inception. We have done well so far with private donations and are now seeking corporate sponsorships so we can double and triple our efforts. We have done everything from birthday fundraisers, fitness fundraisers, you name it we have done it. We think that there are many socially responsible company donors and we are now seeking support from that realm.

The Uniforms For Hope Board of Directors:

Maureen Maloof, Founder
Dr. Catherine Maloof, Director
Will Blackman, Director
Cheri Callahan, Director
John Carlson, Director
Heatherdawn Waleigh, Director

To learn more about The Uniforms Board of Directors CLICK HERE!

To listen to the full interview with the Maloof Sisters at Aesthetic Insider™ Radio, CLICK HERE!

To learn more about Uniforms For Hope and to set up a speaking engagement, host a fundraiser or donate, visit www.uniformsforhope.org.

Listen to the Uniforms For Hope theme song “Love Around The World” written by Dr. Catherine Maloof and sung by children in Cambodia and Lebanon. CLICK HERE!

What’s New In Neurotoxins?

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Non-invasive aesthetic treatments are at an all-time high and treatments for crow’s feet and wrinkles offer many advantages to patients. In this latest interview with Aesthetic Insider™, Dr. Shweta Agarwal, a triple board certified aesthetic medical doctor who practices at Mia La Maven Medical Spa located in the heart of Santa Monica, CA, has a reputation for her scientifically based rapid facial wrinkle reduction technique that can quickly transform a patient by helping make them look much more youthful. As an aesthetic medical doctor with a strong following of patients ranging from Hollywood Celebrities, aspiring entrepreneurs and people who want to be the best version of themselves, Dr. Agarwal knows that anti-aging and aesthetic beauty treatments are not performed as a one-size-fits-all solution, and her expertise with reducing facial wrinkles is based on a combination of products designed to relax areas of the face that cause wrinkles. To learn more about the aesthetic beauty and anti-aging procedures offered by Dr. Shweta Agarwal and her team at Mia La Maven Medical Spa, visit www.mialamavenmedspa.com or call 310 314-0404.

Dr. Shweta Agarwal, Mia La Maven Med Spa, Santa Monica, CA.

Is looking more youthful an exclusive request of Hollywood celebrities?
Being located in Santa Monica, CA has been a great benefit to us as it makes us a very approachable place for Hollywood celebrities. Because this area is so connected with such an interesting and influential combination of different industry people, this also influences the requests made by my patients for a broad variety of aesthetic treatments. I always counsel my patients that my first rule of aesthetic medicine is to be true to yourself, in other words they should select only the treatments that they want and not feel pressured to conform with treatments that are being chosen by other people. We are very close to many industry types and do cater to quite a few public figures, but wanting to look your best at any age is not just the request of a privileged few. Mia La Maven Med Spa services delivers performance beauty to a full spectrum of patients that have a desire to maintain their youthful looks and, with today’s world of minimally invasive aesthetic procedures, it is possible for all of us to look young and beautiful without the fear of going under the knife, or without taking extra time off from work.

What’s new in neurotoxins?
When people hear the word neurotoxin the name sounds scary, in actual fact what we are doing is introducing to the nerve a purified protein that is derived from the botulinum toxin; the basic premise of a neurotoxin is to temporarily block the message of the nerve to the muscle that causes the skin to crinkle up when we smile, squint, etc., causing a furrow or a crease in the skin. As the muscle relaxes, so does the tissue of the skin. Botox® has become a household name which has been used safely for the last 20 years and has extensive scientific research and also excellent proven patient results , but there are now several other brands of neurotoxins available such as Xeomin®, Dysport® and Jeuveau™, all of which have different approaches and indications to prevent lines in the skin forming around the eyes, mouth and forehead, as well as in the T zone between the eyes. The growth and expansion in neurotoxins is really remarkable and with more new neurotoxin products that will soon be generally available such as DAXI on the horizon we can look forward to a never-ending fountain of youth.

What is Baby Botox?

All specialties of medicine will if clinically appropriate, strategically treat patients preventatively before a more serious condition manifests itself. The scientific products and technologies now available to aesthetic medicine allows us to pre-emptively treat younger patients for wrinkles and frown lines, this is commonly referred to as Baby Botox.
Baby Botox is a growing preventative aging trend among younger patients between the ages of 20 – 39. Neurotoxins were developed and have been used for over two decades to treat and reverse existing wrinkles, crow’s feet and other indications, but now we are realizing that we can prevent these lines from ever occurring with preventative treatments. It’s really exciting. To give a little history, the use of neurotoxins from the year 2000 to 2019 has increased  878% in the United States. In 2019, we saw a  20% increase in patients between the age of 20 to 39, which is revolutionary. In essence, Baby Botox patients are younger patients who are treated with very small amounts of Botox in the areas of the face where we actually get the most wrinkles, which is frown lines, the crow’s feet area, and even forehead lines. By starting before the wrinkles form, we are preventing future aging and many patients want to start early.

What is the typical age of a neurotoxin patient?
According to the FDA neurotoxins can be administered to adults over the age of 18. For many years the average patient age has been around 40, but now we are seeing patients as young as 18. While we are seeing younger women at Mia La Maven Med Spa, there has been an increase in male patients too.

Has social media had an effect on patients coming to Mia La Maven Med Spa?
Absolutely. Everything from Instagram, Tik Tok and Zoom, as well as FaceTime, Snap Chat, you name it has had a huge impact on our patients. Many of us are spending much more time on camera for both personal and professional use and the surge in cosmetic treatments is as a direct result of this. Looking good on camera has never been more important than it is now and many of the non-invasive injectable treatments such as fillers and neurotoxins are at an all-time high of popularity.

Do you provide patients with a treatment plan?
Every patient is unique and different because aesthetic medicine is not a generic one size fits all process. When a patient first comes to Mia La Maven Med Spa we begin the consultation with a detailed medical history and assessment to make sure they’re healthy. Then we discuss what is their main concern or desire and talk about the types of treatments that best suit their needs. Each person is different and we enjoy creating a customized plan which includes injection by me, or a member of our expert team. Some people think injecting fillers and neurotoxins is easy but it is not. It is something to be taken very seriously and should only be performed by expert injectors who are trained and have a complete and detailed understanding of facial anatomy which includes depth of placement, longevity of the products and, most of all, how best to shape and contour the face in a way that is not only safe, but is in line with the patient’s expectations.

Are neurotoxins permanent?
The best part is that the neurotoxins we have discussed are not permanent and that is the beauty of them.  Neurotoxins provide an almost immediate result and wear off over s period of time which varies from person to person. Neurotoxins have a broad spectrum of capabilities, it allows the patient the flexibility to change and control how they want to look. There has been a lot of clinical scientific research behind neurotoxins for well over two decades and they are deemed safe and predictable.

How many treatments does a person need?
The treatment is quick. Most patients are in and out of the office in 15 minutes. There is little to no downtime and the effect begins after a few days, with the full effect in a week or two.  The neurotoxin lasts approximately three to four months, depending upon the patient as well as how much has been used and where. As all of our treatments are customized, some patients may require more and some less. Over the course of a year a patient would generally return for a maintenance shot two to three times.

Looking at photos, can you tell if a Hollywood or Bollywood celebrity has had an aesthetic treatment?
I try not to judge from pictures but you can tell from some celebrities who look better at 53 than they did at 33 that they have had something done. I’m such a Bollywood fan and think the artists are just gorgeous, and some of them are open to discussing their aesthetic treatments. Priyanka Chopra, a Bollywood celebrity, talked about having multiple rhinoplasties in her recently released book “Unfinished”. She had a medical concern, but also talked about nose correction. Cindy Crawford, Cardi B and Katie Perry have all been open about their use of Botox® and the Kardashians broadcast all over social media about the many different medical aesthetic treatments procedures they are getting almost daily and people just love hearing them, and following them.

How much time does a person need to prepare for a wedding or a big social or business event?
Weddings are always so fun because most times we don’t just treat the bride but the whole wedding party. Some brides actually like to start six to nine months in advance so they can get used to the treatments and make sure they are going to look the way they want to. It goes hand-in-hand- with all the other wedding preparations and dress and hair selections. A wedding is one of the most important moments of a person’s life and it is captured in timeless photos and it is important to all brides that the whole wedding party looks great too!

In the case of a wedding, business event or any other event, we like to begin at least 4 to 6 weeks in advance of the event to make sure the patient is really happy with their results and feeling confident. However, if a patient only has a week or so to look their best for a big event we can absolutely work wonders within that time frame.

How does a person who has never had an aesthetic treatment decide it’s time for a consultation with you at Mia La Maven Med Spa?
For all patients regardless of age, they all want the same thing which is to be the best version of themselves! For younger patient it could mean Baby Botox and for other patients of any age it could mean that they want to look more youthful and are quite straight forward about seeking expert help. First time patients may be a bit more hesitant because they are nervous and may not know what is possible and realistic, which is why I feel it is always very important to spend time at a consultation finding out what their goals are and discussing options. The majority of first time patients generally want a natural look, or a treatment that freshens up their appearance and considering fillers and neurotoxins is a great place to start. All of us experience physical change as we age and as more people are becoming comfortable with cosmetic enhancement, the decision to make an appointment with either myself or the wonderful team at Mia La Maven is easy to do!

To listen to the full interview with Dr. Shweta Agarwal at
Aesthetic Insider™ Radio, CLICK HERE!

To consult with Dr. Agarwal call 310.314.0404, or email dr.agarwal@mialamavenmedspa.com.
www.mialamavenmedspa.com.





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