Dr. Angela Sturm's journey from an employed physician to the owner of her own practice highlights resilience and learning. Initially facing challenges with practice ownership, she embraced risks and lessons from business, leadership, and mentorship. Her story emphasizes the importance of betting on oneself and embracing change for growth.

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Key Takeaways

1. Every decision in entrepreneurship involves risk, but always betting on yourself and understanding your risk tolerance is crucial. Embrace the idea that stability in employed positions might incur opportunity loss, and accept that change is inevitable and can be beneficial.

2. Identifying and adhering to your core values and mission early in your entrepreneurial journey is essential. Hiring and retaining staff who align with these values creates a cohesive and efficient working environment, even if it involves initial turnover.

3. Not all leadership advice applies universally. It's critical, especially for female physicians, to balance approachability with maintaining strong professional boundaries to manage relationships effectively within the workplace.

4. Learning from mentors and their experiences is invaluable, but it’s necessary to adapt their advice to fit your unique circumstances. Additionally, seeking diverse perspectives from different industries can provide innovative solutions to common business challenges.

5. Failure should be viewed as a growth opportunity. Embrace setbacks as chances to learn and adapt, and reframe obstacles as opportunities for redirection and improvement in both business practices and surgical procedures.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Balance professional choices with personal identity.
04:52 Change is good; define values and standards.
08:17 Stick to your moral compass and rules firmly.
12:42 Value diverse perspectives for personal and professional growth.
17:24 Embrace change, solve problems, grow despite challenges.
19:02 Embrace business in medicine; give without expectations.

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This episode of Beauty Unveiled will sound different. In this special feed drop, you’ll hear Dr. Angela Sturm’s appearance on The Rose’s podcast, Let’s Talk About Your Breasts.

During this conversation, Dr. Sturm explains how her work helps women feel more like themselves, from thoughtful conversations about support systems to options like noninvasive hair restoration and hair transplantation for women, including breast cancer survivors whose hair never fully returned after chemo. She also shares her journey as a woman leader in a historically male specialty and why she’s passionate about advocacy and education for women facing ovarian and breast cancers.​

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Key Takeaways

1. Facial plastics is about identity, confidence, and how you move through the world, not just “fixing” a feature.​

2. A strong support system is crucial before and after cosmetic surgery, especially when changing a feature that runs in the family.​

3. Hair loss in women has many causes; for survivors, noninvasive scalp treatments and targeted serums are often a first-line option, with transplantation available when needed.​

4. Women remain underrepresented in leadership within facial plastics, but that landscape is finally shifting as more women step into visible roles.​

5. For breast cancer survivors, choosing an aesthetic procedure can be an act of self-care and reclamation, not vanity.​

6. Let’s Talk About Your Breasts and Beauty Unveiled share a common goal: honest conversations that help women feel seen, informed, and empowered in their own bodies.

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Dr. Angela Sturm sits down with facial plastic surgeon Dr. Anil Shah for a candid conversation on art, anatomy, and the evolution of modern rhinoplasty. Together they explore how true specialization, 3D thinking, and a clear aesthetic vision shape more refined, natural noses. Listeners gain practical insight into choosing the right surgeon, understanding 5D rhinoplasty, and recognizing why the surgeon’s eye matters as much as technique. The episode delivers grounded, real-world guidance for anyone considering facial surgery or refining their own aesthetic practice.​

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Key Takeaways

1. Art, sculpting, and design training sharpen a surgeon’s ability to see faces three-dimensionally and directly influence the quality of rhinoplasty outcomes.​

2. Dr. Shah’s 5D rhinoplasty concept focuses on making the nose volumetrically smaller while refining tip definition, length, bump, projection, and deviation in a coordinated way.​

3. The best rhinoplasty results come from aligning the nose with the patient’s personality, goals, and “vibe,” rather than copying a single aesthetic template.​

4. Patients benefit from choosing surgeons who specialize in noses and faces, have a clear, consistent aesthetic, and can demonstrate repeatable results in that area.​

5. Selecting a facial plastic surgeon based on office decor, convenience, or personality alone can backfire, while prioritizing expertise and aesthetic alignment helps reduce the need for revision surgery.

Timestamped Overview

00:39 Dr. Shah’s path into medicine and facial plastics, family influence, early exposure to fashion, and the privilege of working on the face.​

03:45 Advice to his younger self, avoiding “groundhog day” thinking, and staying present during training and career building.​

05:11 How art history and sculpting shaped his three-dimensional thinking, and how this perspective informs rhinoplasty as facial sculpture.​

06:22 Approach to consultation, imaging, and “reading” a patient’s personality to design a nose that matches their vibe, including the Versace vs Armani analogy.​

11:12 Building rapport, memory through associations, and why knowing patients beyond their chart matters in surgical care.​

12:11 Introduction to 5D rhinoplasty, why many patients want a smaller nose, and using 3D imaging to measure volumetric reduction.​

14:23 Breaking down the “five Ds” to refine tip definition, length, bump, projection, and deviation in a coordinated way.​

15:35 Rhinoplasty as modern sculpture, the idea of a surgeon’s signature aesthetic, and parallels to classical artists.​

17:19 What patients often get wrong when choosing a surgeon, and why aesthetic alignment matters more than office decor or convenience.​

19:00 “Copying” in the industry, limitations of trends from surgical meetings, and the importance of finding an authentic personal aesthetic instead of mimicking others.​

20:15 Final guidance for patients: choosing a true facial specialist, valuing expertise over small cost savings, and how good primary surgery can prevent costlier revisions.​

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How does weight loss impact the outcomes of a facelift procedure?

Dr. Angela Sturm, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, explains that medications like Ozempic and GLP1s enhance surgical outcomes by promoting overall health, making patients better candidates for surgery. Weight loss can affect skin elasticity, necessitating a more aggressive tightening and lifting approach during the surgery. Maintaining a steady weight post-procedure ensures lasting results, contributing to an impressive transformation.

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Key Takeaways

1. Medications like Ozempic and other GLP1s help patients achieve a healthier weight, making them better candidates for surgery due to easier anesthesia and improved recovery.

2. Significant weight loss can reduce skin elasticity, potentially affecting the outcomes of procedures like facelifts. Surgeons may use additional treatments to optimize results.

3. While the core surgical techniques do not change, surgeons become more aggressive with tightening and are conservative with fat transfer to account for tissue response and future changes.

4. Open communication about potential outcomes and necessary follow-up treatments, such as tuck-ups or non-surgical options, is crucial to patient satisfaction and understanding.

5. Given the difficulty in removing transferred fat, surgeons prefer a staged approach to fat transfer, allowing for gradual enhancements and adjustments to achieve the desired result.

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Dr. Sturm hosts Dr. Theda Kontis, a pioneering facial plastic surgeon, former AAFPRS president, and injectables expert, to discuss thriving in a male dominated field. Dr. Kontis shares her journey from personal rhinoplasty at age 14 to 30 years in private practice with partner Ira Papel. Listeners learn how passion for work, male mentorship, and leadership roles like academy presidency pave paths for women surgeons. Key insights cover family legacy in medicine, patient transformations, and advice against self criticism.

Learn more about Dr. Kontis here.

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Key Takeaways

1. Passion for daily work sustains long careers in private practice and leadership, turning challenges into fulfillment across roles like motherhood and surgery.​

2. Personal rhinoplasty experiences foster deep patient empathy, transforming pre op discomfort into post op excitement over before and after results.​

3. Male mentors often provide crucial support in male dominated fields, while addressing queen bee dynamics among women builds stronger professional networks.​

4. Long term partnerships succeed through mutual respect, open communication, and shared patient consultations despite differing views.​

5. Choosing a niche like injectables allows expertise development without direct competition, enabling teaching and leadership among peers.​

Timestamped Overview

01:48 Passion for work balances private practice, motherhood, and leadership.
03:06 Daughter pursues ENT residency despite parental warnings.
06:00 Personal rhinoplasty story inspires career in facial plastics.
07:43 Patient joy in before after photos shows transformation power.
10:34 Male mentors propel women forward in facial plastics leadership.
12:07 Pioneering as AAFPRS second woman president opens doors.
14:10 30 year practice partnership thrives on respect and teamwork.
16:09 Academy presidency challenges slow processes but drives change.
17:51 Fighting insurance policy win via personal connections.
21:15 Queen bee effect hinders women more than male barriers.
22:54 Injectables niche carves expertise without rhinoplasty competition.
24:57 Advice to younger self: Avoid self criticism and embrace strengths.

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In this episode of Beauty Unveiled, Dr. Angela Sturm is joined by psychotherapist and sex and relationship expert Mary Jo Rapini to explore how plastic surgery intersects with emotional health, partnership, and self worth. Together they unpack what really happens inside relationships when one partner chooses to change their appearance, from subtle insecurity to open sabotage. Mary Jo explains why true support begins long before the operating room and how couples can prepare emotionally for the changes that follow surgery or major weight loss. Listeners gain a clear framework for recognizing healthy support, addressing resentment, and using aesthetic decisions as a catalyst for growth rather than conflict.

For more of Mary Jo's insights, go to her website, and watch her YouTube channel.

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Key Takeaways

1. Lasting relationships thrive when each partner sees change as a personal commitment to growth and to the vibrance of the relationship, not as an obligation to fix the other person.​

2. Partner support significantly influences recovery after plastic surgery, affecting not only emotional resilience but also how patients experience swelling, bruising, and early doubts about their decision.​

3. When a partner resists or undermines aesthetic change, it often reflects their own insecurity, fear of losing connection, or unresolved shame about their body rather than a problem with the surgery itself.​

4. Addressing these dynamics in therapy can shift couples from competition and withdrawal toward mutual encouragement, healthier intimacy, and a shared commitment to each person’s well being.​

5. Choosing procedures from a place of self respect, rather than revenge or post breakup urgency, allows patients to bring more confidence, stability, and honesty into both new and existing relationships.

Timestamped Overview

03:00 How long term couples stay together by committing to personal growth instead of trying to change each other.​
06:00 The vulnerability of plastic surgery patients and the powerful impact of a partner’s response during early healing.​
08:15 Why some partners sabotage a loved one’s weight loss or aesthetic change and how insecurity drives that behavior.​
11:30 Using therapy to uncover hidden fears, shift power struggles, and rebuild support when one partner is changing physically.​
14:30 How men are socialized to avoid vulnerability, and why they often rely heavily on women for emotional processing.​
17:00 Unique dynamics between male patients and male surgeons versus male patients and female surgeons around fear and results.​
20:30 Why men are less likely to seek plastic surgery or psychotherapy and what finally motivates them to engage.​
24:00 Surge in plastic surgery after divorce or infidelity and why waiting until a breakup can limit support and deepen resentment.​
26:00 How tending to personal appearance and confidence within a relationship can prevent drift, blame, and unspoken frustration.​
31:00 The different emotional needs of men and women after surgery and why male patients may depend even more on partner reassurance.​
32:30 Mary Jo’s advice for partners to show up with calm, consistent support during cosmetic procedures and recovery.

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Have you ever wondered if the latest non-surgical treatments really deliver the results they promise? There are a lot of options out there, and sometimes the risks are not clear until it's too late.

Today, Dr. Sturm covers the following things you may not know about Ulthera:

-Why she doesn’t recommend it to her patients

-The potential impact it can have on future surgery

-The risks that may outweigh the benefits

Key Takeaways

1. Ulthera (ultherapy) is a non-surgical treatment, so patients should not expect the same results as with surgical procedures like facelifts. The technology is convenient in terms of downtime and price, but its results are more subtle and limited compared to surgery.

2. Having Ulthera can make future facelifts more challenging due to increased scarring and less distinct tissue planes. This is important for patients to consider if they might want surgical procedures in the future, as Ulthera can impact the quality and difficulty of those results.

3. Ulthera is not a painless procedure; it often causes discomfort, and while numbing can help, many providers do not offer this. Patients should weigh discomfort, results, and price together to determine if the treatment is worth it.

4. Results from Ulthera are highly variable—sometimes impressive, but often subtle or difficult to notice. The unpredictability makes it harder for providers to confidently recommend the procedure, as patient satisfaction can be inconsistent.

5. Complications from Ulthera can include unintended fat loss (especially if the device is used too aggressively) and even temporary or rare permanent nerve damage. These risks, combined with less predictable results, mean that Dr. Sturm generally does not recommend Ulthera and prefers newer, safer technologies.

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Money makes or breaks a med spa.

Christin Trujillo explains how Maven Financial helps medical and aesthetic practices manage financial decisions and benchmark performance. She covers compensation models, cost analysis, startup planning, and market trends. Dr. Angela Sturm reflects on financial guidance in practice management and the risks of selling without expert advice.

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Key Takeaways

1. Christin explains that a fractional CFO bridges the gap between basic financial partners (like bookkeepers and CPAs) and actionable, strategic financial management. They dive deep into practice operations, help increase revenue, optimize profitability, and provide actionable benchmarks, enabling owners to make informed, growth-oriented decisions.

2. Both Christin and Dr. Sturm emphasize the value of using industry benchmarks for expenses, payroll, and compensation. Understanding these numbers helps practices remain competitive, profitable, and fair, especially amid the confusion around various pay models (gross vs. net production). Having objective data allows owners to justify decisions and optimize staff compensation.

3. Practices approach Christin and her team at all stages—startup, growth, and exit. The central message is that no matter where a practice is in its lifecycle, being proactive and intentional with financial planning (like budgeting, forecasting, and strategy) is crucial to long-term success. Tracking and measuring finances is essential for growth and sustainability.

4. The med spa market is highly dynamic, with rapid expansion leading to greater competition and market saturation. Christin notes that only the most strategic, adaptable, and service-oriented practices thrive, as consumers now expect more than just "meeting expectations." The environment is shifting, and successful operators are those who innovate in marketing, customer service, and operational excellence.

5. There’s a growing trend of private equity and multi-location groups seeking to acquire med spas. Christin cautions owners to be diligent, not jump at the first offer, ensure their finances are in order, and consider consulting a broker to maximize value. The key lesson: selling a practice is a major financial decision that should be approached thoughtfully and strategically to avoid leaving significant money on the table.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Optimizing Practice Revenue and Performance

05:29 Med Spa Business Metrics Insights

07:30 Simplifying Compensation and Finance

12:40 Provider Incentives and Patient Care

15:25 Strategic Planning for Business Growth

18:59 "Evaluating Business Finances Strategically"

21:11 Healthcare Shift: Providers Seeking Independence

23:30 "Thriving Through Exceptional Marketing"

26:39 "Med Spas: Growth and Consolidation"

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