If Your Med Spa's Medical Director Is Never There, Who Steps In When Something Goes Wrong?

Dr. Kate Dee heard a shocking rumor: one physician was supposedly overseeing 55 med spas in California. It sounded impossible, so she decided to investigate. What she discovered will change how you think about that professional headshot on your med spa's website.

She uncovered two real physicians who are listed as medical directors for 12 to 14 locations each, scattered across California and beyond. But here's the catch: they're full-time doctors in completely different fields, living hundreds of miles away from most of the spas they supposedly oversee.

Key Takeaways:

• One Doctor "Supervises" 14 Med Spas Across California (Plus One in Maine)
• Medical Directors Rent Their License and Might Not Ever Meet You
• Your Hospice Doctor Might Be Your Botox Supervisor
• That "Owner" Listed on the Website? He's Got 10 Other Spas Just Like Yours
• Why Your Med Spa Could Be Breaking HIPAA

Dr. Kate Dee tracked down these absentee medical directors and what their involvement actually looks like. She explains the difference between a medical director who's present and engaged versus one who's essentially renting out their license.

You'll learn why distance matters when it comes to supervision, emergency response, and making sure you're getting a proper medical evaluation before any treatment.

Dr. Kate Dee breaks down what to look for on a med spa's website, what questions to ask about their medical director, and why "available" doesn't always mean "there." She also reveals how these arrangements can create legal gray areas that put patients at risk, from missing good faith exams to questionable malpractice coverage.

Stay until the end to hear about Dr. Kate Dee's new Med Spa Board certification and how it's designed to solve exactly this problem. You'll walk away knowing how to spot red flags and protect yourself before you book your next appointment.

Listen and Learn how to verify your med spa has real medical oversight, not just a name on a website.

Pick up Bright Girl Skincare: https://brightgirl.com/DRKATE
USE Coupon: DRKATE20

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE Holiday Gift Guide

MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE

Have a question, story, or insight to share?

Leave Dr. Dee a Note → https://drkatedee.com

Follow Her on Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Some episodes include anonymous or secondhand accounts; while accuracy is a priority, these stories represent individual experiences. Verify credenti...

Is that strange little bump on your forehead harmless, or is it quietly spreading beneath the surface while you wait?

Dr. Kate Dee sits down with Dr. Angela Casey, a board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, to talk about the one cancer that outnumbers all others combined.

They break down who's really at risk, what warning signs you might be ignoring, and why catching things early isn't just about avoiding a scar, it's about protecting your actual face.

Dr. Casey treats skin cancers every single day and shares what she wishes more people knew before that "little bump" turns into a major problem.

Chapters:
03:03 - The Spot Patients Ignore For Years
05:15 - Small Bumps with Big Hidden Roots
07:07 - When A New Spot Needs A Biopsy
09:13 - Three Essentials To Prevent Skin Cancer
11:00 - Early Detection Means Smaller Scars
12:06 - When Skin Cancer Hits Noses And Ears
17:30 - How Mohs Surgery Saves Healthy Skin
You'll learn the simple monthly habit that could save

You'll learn the simple monthly habit that could save you from a serious diagnosis, how to spot the difference between harmless and harmful, and why some people end up needing reconstructive surgery when early detection could have meant a tiny office procedure.

They also explain why your med spa can't help you with this and where you should actually go instead.

If you've been putting off getting something checked, or you just want to know how to protect yourself and the people you care about, this episode gives you a clear, no-fear roadmap. Dr. Casey's approach is reassuring, practical, and based on nearly 20 years of getting patients the best possible outcomes.

Listen and learn how to catch skin cancer early before it catches you.

Connect with Dr. Angela Casey: https://www.instagram.com/angelacaseymd/?hl=en

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Pick up Bright Girl Skincare: https://brightgirl.com/DRKATE
USE Coupon: DRKATE20

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE Holiday Gift Guide

MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE

Have a question, story, or insight to share?

Leave Dr. Dee a Note → https://drkatedee.com

Follow Her on Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Some episodes include anonymous or secondhand accounts; while accuracy is a priority, these stories represent individual experiences. Verify credenti...

What happens when a board-certified dermatologist opens a med spa in a state where he has no license to practice?

A respected Seattle dermatologist who literally teaches other doctors how to inject Botox just got caught in a federal sting operation. An RN was led away in handcuffs and charged with three felonies.

The doctor?

He's now facing potential wire fraud charges and up to 20 years in prison. Dr. Kate Dee unpacks this jaw-dropping case that's unfolding right now.

The doctor interviewed an RN who turned down the job because she realized he had no Arizona license. Instead of fixing the problem, he just found someone else willing to do it anyway.

Dr. Kate Dee walks through the bizarre logistics of how you'd even pull this off. How do you get Botox shipped without a state license? How do you run a med spa when you can't legally be there?

And why would an established, well-respected physician risk everything for this?

This isn't just industry gossip. Your neighborhood med spa could be operating the same way, and you'd never know it. Dr. Kate Dee gives you the insider knowledge to spot the red flags before you're sitting in the chair.

She'll tell you exactly which licenses to look up, what questions will make sketchy providers squirm, and why that initial consultation reveals everything you need to know about whether a place is legit or not.

Listen and learn why this arrest might finally crack open the widespread problem of unlicensed practice happening in med spas across the country.

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Pick up Bright Girl Skincare: https://brightgirl.com/DRKATE
USE Coupon: DRKATE20

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE Holiday Gift Guide

MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE

Have a question, story, or insight to share?

Leave Dr. Dee a Note → https://drkatedee.com

Follow Her on Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Some episodes include anonymous or secondhand accounts; while accuracy is a priority, these stories represent individual experiences. Verify credenti...

Why are RF microneedling lawsuits piling up against one specific device?

The FDA dropped several safety alerts recently. If you're getting Botox, fillers, or skin tightening treatments, you need to hear this. Dr. Dee was doing research for a potential podcast guest when something didn't add up.

Dr. Dee has performed thousands of RF microneedling treatments over 10 years without seeing the burns, scarring, and fat loss the FDA is warning about. But when she looked into the lawsuits, she found something that explains everything.

Chapters:
00:01:00 – RF microneedling injuries
00:08:06 – Counterfeit Botox
00:14:28 – Fake doctors and credential fraud

Close to a dozen people were hospitalized with botulism last year. The FDA just went after the websites selling fake injectables. Learn why some providers genuinely don't know they're breaking the law. Dr. Dee explains how this is possible and what it means for anyone walking into a med spa right now.

The fake doctor story ties it all together. When you hear how easy it was for this person to fool patients, you'll understand why asking the right questions matters more than trusting a fancy website or impressive-sounding title.

Listen and learn what Dr. Dee discovered that changes how you evaluate every med spa.

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Pick up Bright Girl Skincare: https://brightgirl.com/DRKATE
USE Coupon: DRKATE20

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE Holiday Gift Guide

MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE

Have a question, story, or insight to share?

Leave Dr. Dee a Note → https://drkatedee.com

Follow Her on Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Some episodes include anonymous or secondhand accounts; while accuracy is a priority, these stories represent individual experiences. Verify credenti...

What if that shelf full of expensive skincare products is secretly working against you?

You're juggling serums, toners, acids, and retinols because influencers promised results. Dr. Kate Dee is joined by Dr. Angela Casey, board-certified dermatologist and owns a line of skincare for young women.

Dr. Casey has spent decades looking at skin under microscopes and knows what actually works versus what just sounds good in marketing. Together with Dr. Kate, she walks through how to build a simple, effective routine that protects your investment in procedures like lasers and injectables while preventing the kind of damage that ages you faster.

Chapters:
05:02 – Hidden danger of layering actives
08:37 – The real difference between retinols and retinoids
10:22 – Why your skin needs its own microbiome
13:15 – This secretly wrecks your skin
16:07 – Building a simple, effective skincare routine
17:25 – Teen acne and the four root causes
19:07 – The antibiotic dilemma
21:17 – Why anti-aging starts in your 30s
24:18 – This product still wins over every new trend
31:07 – The one thing your dermatologist wishes you knew

Dr. Kate Dee asks her what most people are making two critical mistakes that sabotage everyone when it comes to skincare. Dr. Angela Casey breaks down exactly what your skin barrier does, why it matters more than you think, and how the wrong products can turn even healthy skin into irritated, sensitive skin.

You'll learn the truth about which ingredients deserve your money, why your skin microbiome acts like a farm that needs proper care, and how to adapt your routine as you age.

Whether you're dealing with acne, trying to prevent wrinkles, or already seeing signs of sun damage, get a clear roadmap without overwhelming you with products you don't need.

Stay until the end for Dr. Casey's one message she wishes every patient understood before walking into her office.

Listen and learn how to build a skincare routine that actually protects your skin and your wallet.

Pickup Bright girl Skincare:

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Pick up Bright Girl Skincare: https://brightgirl.com/DRKATE
USE Coupon: DRKATE20

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE Holiday Gift Guide

MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE

Have a question, story, or insight to share?

Leave Dr. Dee a Note → https://drkatedee.com

Follow Her on Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Some episodes include anonymous or secondhand accounts; while accuracy is a priority, these stories represent individual experiences. Verify credenti...

When that tip screen pops up after your Botox appointment, should you feel obligated to pay?

This practice walks a fine line between unethical and outright illegal.

Dr. Kate Dee breaks down the troubling spread of tip culture into medical settings, where it doesn't just create awkward checkout moments, it can actually compromise your safety.

When businesses underpay nurses and rely on tips and commissions to fill the gap, it creates a flawed system. That system gives your provider a financial incentive to push treatments you don’t actually need.

Key Takeaways:

• Why low hourly wages plus tips create dangerous incentives for providers to oversell treatments
• The legal and ethical lines that tip screens cross in medical settings
• What this practice reveals about the overall safety and oversight at your med spa

You'll learn how to spot the difference between appropriate tipping (facials and spa services) and situations where you're being asked to tip for medical procedures like lasers and injectables.

Dr. Dee explains why the American Medical Association calls it unethical, and what it means when money starts influencing medical decisions. She'll also help you understand when a tip screen might be an honest mistake versus a deliberate money grab.

Listen and learn exactly what to do the next time you're faced with that awkward screen and you'll understand why speaking up about it matters for everyone's safety.

Pick up your copy of Medspa Mayhem: https://www.drkatedee.com/

Pick up Bright Girl Skincare: https://brightgirl.com/DRKATE
USE Coupon: DRKATE20

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE Holiday Gift Guide

MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE

Have a question, story, or insight to share?

Leave Dr. Dee a Note → https://drkatedee.com

Follow Her on Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Some episodes include anonymous or secondhand accounts; while accuracy is a priority, these stories represent individual experiences. Verify credenti...

What if the person injecting your Botox learned how to do it over a single weekend and there's no one checking if they're even qualified?

In Texas, a woman died after receiving IV treatments from someone who had no medical license at all. No training. No oversight. No one stopped it until it was too late. Stories like this aren't rare, they're just rarely talked about.

Dr. Kate Dee sits down with Dr. Dr. Kristen Jacobs, a board-certified physician who's been practicing medical aesthetics since 2008, to walk through the new MedSpa Board certification standards and why they matter for everyone.

Chapters:
00:05:20 - Medical Director full responsibilities
00:16:15 - Outsourcing the Good-Faith Exam
00:26:05 - Delegation & supervision rules
00:31:50 - Legal versus illegal product sourcing
00:36:40 - Emergency protocols & complications

Dr. Jacobs shares what real medical oversight looks like in her practice, from ensuring every staff member has an active license to knowing exactly which high-risk areas of the face she refuses to touch.

You'll learn the questions to ask before your next appointment, what a legitimate medical director actually does, and how to spot the red flags that most people miss.

Whether you're getting treatments or running a med spa, you will walk away with the tools to navigate the medspa world safely. Dr. Dee and Dr. Jacobs are more than exposing the problems, they're building the solution.

By the end, you'll understand why choosing a certified medspa could protect your health, your face, and your future.

Listen and learn how to protect yourself. Help us raise the standard for an entire industry.

Be the first to know about upcoming Dr. Kate Dee's appearances, live Q&As, and new investigations → https://www.drkatedee.com/

Connect with Dr. Jacobs: https://kristenjacobs.com/

Texas woman:

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Pick up Bright Girl Skincare: https://brightgirl.com/DRKATE
USE Coupon: DRKATE20

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE Holiday Gift Guide

MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE

Have a question, story, or insight to share?

Leave Dr. Dee a Note → https://drkatedee.com

Follow Her on Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Some episodes include anonymous or secondhand accounts; while accuracy is a priority, these stories represent individual experiences. Verify credenti...

What happens when trust in a "celebrity facialist" costs you your face?

Dr. Kate Dee breaks down how an esthetician with a celebrity client list got away with performing medical procedures without a medical license or oversight for years. Victoria Nelson’s account on TikTok went viral recently. She had walked into a Hollywood spa with acne and walked out with permanent scars.

The woman she trusted, Sonya Dakar, self-proclaimed "Skin Ninja" to the stars, promised flawless skin but delivered chemical burns, unauthorized medical procedures, and charged $30,000 for treatments to fix the injury she allegedly caused Victoria.

Key Takeaways:

• How to verify if someone is legally allowed to perform the treatment they're offering you
• The warning signs of high-pressure sales tactics disguised as skincare advice
• What to do immediately if a treatment goes wrong

Dr. Kate walks you through the difference between legal esthetic treatments and the medical procedures this esthetician performed without proper licensing or oversight.

Walk away with exact questions to ask before letting anyone touch your skin with a chemical peel, microneedling device, or any treatment that sounds "no big deal." You'll learn how to spot practitioners who prioritize their wallet over your safety, and why free treatments from Instagram influencer outreach often come with hidden costs.

Stay until the end to hear Dr. Kate's simple checklist for vetting any esthetician or med spa before your first appointment. Your skin is permanent, so make sure the person treating it is actually qualified to do so.

Listen and learn how to protect yourself from predatory practitioners who hide behind celebrity endorsements.

Victoria’s Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@victoria.nelson?lang=en

Articles: https://people.com/woman-accuses-celebrity-facialist-permanently-scarring-her-face-11802854

Grab Your Copy of Medspa Mayhem the Book Today: HERE

Pick up Bright Girl Skincare: https://brightgirl.com/DRKATE
USE Coupon: DRKATE20

Want the anti-aging essentials I actually use: Download my FREE Holiday Gift Guide

MORE FROM DR. KATE DEE

Have a question, story, or insight to share?

Leave Dr. Dee a Note → https://drkatedee.com

Follow Her on Instagram: instagram.com/drkatedee

Learn about The MedSpa Board — the national registry that verifies legally compliant, doctor-led med spas.

Find a certified provider near you → MedspaBoard.com

Please leave us a review on Apple Podcast: HERE

Catch full podcast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKateDee

GLOW Medspa - Seattle, WA: https://glowspaseattle.com/

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before any aesthetic procedure.

Some episodes include anonymous or secondhand accounts; while accuracy is a priority, these stories represent individual experiences. Verify credenti...