81.1%
of 127 Chicago-area med spas did not have the supervising physician on site.
Hogan et al., Dermatol Surg 2023. Secret shopper telephone survey.A physician's evidence-based guide to safer, smarter aesthetic treatments
Facts Not Hacks
What med spas and influencers won't tell you about Botox, fillers, and your face. Learn how to tell evidence from a sales pitch, who is allowed to treat you, what the research really shows, and what to do if something goes wrong.
- 367 pages
- 20 chapters
- 4 quick-reference appendices
- PDF + EPUB instant download
It looks like a facial. It is priced like a facial.
It is not a facial. Botox is a prescription drug. Filler is an implanted medical device. Lasers can burn skin. But they are often sold with flash sales, countdown timers and influencer discount codes.
This book gives you what the waiting room won't: the evidence behind each treatment, graded honestly, plus the questions, green flags and red flags that help you choose wisely. It is written for patients, in plain English, by a physician who has practiced aesthetic medicine since 2004.
Why it matters
68.2%
of people with reported outcomes after filler-related vision loss had no recovery of vision.
Doyon et al., Aesthet Surg J 2024. Review of 365 published cases.2.3%
of cosmetic treatments received by people with body dysmorphic disorder improved their overall symptoms.
Crerand et al., Ann Plast Surg 2010. Study of 200 people with BDD.20%
of health care purchases on deferred-interest cards or loans were charged interest, 2015 to 2020.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2023 report.Serious complications are rare, and most people treated by careful clinicians do well. The book says so plainly. It is about knowing the difference.
What's inside
- Part One
Welcome to the beauty marketplace
Why aesthetics became retail, how to read the evidence without a medical degree, and evidence versus the influencer sales pitch.
- Part Two
Who is holding the needle?
Med spa law and regulation, the standard of care, informed consent, and where your product really came from.
- Part Three
Your aging face, explained
What actually changes with age, and the skin care that has earned its place.
- Part Four
The treatments, one by one
Neuromodulators, hyaluronic acid fillers, biostimulators, lasers and devices, peels, microneedling and PRP, GLP-1 medications and "Ozempic face," and the Hype Shelf.
- Part Five
Becoming an empowered patient
How to choose a provider, the psychology of beauty, what to do when something goes wrong, and the money chapter.
Who it's for
- Anyone thinking about Botox, filler, lasers or other aesthetic treatments for the first time
- People already getting treatments who want to know they are getting good care
- Anyone tired of influencer sales pitches and looking for honest evidence
- People in perimenopause and menopause wondering what is changing and what helps
What you get
- 367-page book as a 6 x 9 in PDF and an EPUB for e-readers, instant download
- Evidence grades (strong, moderate, limited, or hype) throughout every chapter
- Green flags, red flags and questions to ask in every chapter
- Appendices: questions to ask, emergency warning signs, how to verify a license and a product, and reporting resources
- References at the end of every chapter, with PubMed or FDA links and study design and size
Get the book
Digital edition
$139
The full book as a PDF and an EPUB, for your personal use.
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Questions
Is this medical advice?
No. It is general education. Decisions about your care should be made with a licensed clinician who can examine you and review your history.
Is this book against med spas or nurses?
No. Excellent care is delivered by physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses, in many settings. The book teaches you to ask about training, supervision and safety systems, not job titles.
Are the patient stories real?
No. Each chapter opens with a composite patient, clearly labeled, created for teaching.
What format is it?
You get both a 6 x 9 in PDF, which reads well on a phone, tablet or laptop, and an EPUB for Apple Books and other e-readers.
Can I share my copy?
The digital edition is licensed for the purchaser's personal use. Please send friends to this page instead.