THMA Consulting

05/21/2026

My 36‑year journey in aesthetic medicine has introduced me to some of the most extraordinary people—many of whom have become lifelong friends.

One of those people is Dawn Sagrillo ReFresh Aesthetic Center We met nearly 30 years ago through , and from day one our values aligned:
elevate education, protect patient safety, and support injectors with integrity.

That alignment matters now more than ever, especially with the pressure social media places on new injectors to “move fast” instead of building true clinical competence.

Dawn has created a high‑level, anatomy‑focused educational experience for both novice and experienced injectors who want to deepen their understanding of facial structure and safe injection practice.

Led by Dr. John Fezza and an exceptional faculty, this program offers something rare in our specialty:

• Small, intimate groups
• An instructor at every table
• Relaxed, supportive environment
• Open, honest discussions
• Panel Q&A covering anatomy, technique, and complications

If you’re committed to elevating your practice with anatomical precision and safe, thoughtful technique, this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

05/16/2026

Lidocaine Toxicity: The Silent Risk Aesthetic Providers Need to Talk About.

As aesthetic medicine continues to evolve, providers are performing more extensive procedures than ever before. With that growth comes a quiet but significant concern: lidocaine toxicity - a real risk when cumulative dosing and patient factors are not carefully considered.

Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST), whether injection or topical, remains under discussed in aesthetic education, leaving many aesthetic providers unprepared for an event that is both preventable and treatable.

AWARENESS: Lidocaine toxicity often begins subtly, with early neurologic symptoms such as circumoral numbness, tinnitus, or a metallic taste. These signs can easily be dismissed in a busy clinic, but they are the body’s first warning that systemic levels are rising. Without prompt recognition, toxicity can progress to seizures, cardiovascular instability, and even cardiac arrest.

PREVENTION: Safe dosing calculations, incremental injection techniques, detailed medical history and a clear understanding of total lidocaine exposure are essential.

CLINIC READINESS: the clinic must have 20% lipid emulsion immediately accessible, safety protocols/ policies in place for its use and ensuring staff are trained to recognize LAST.

Lidocaine toxicity is not a topic meant to instill fear—it’s one that empowers providers. When we talk about it openly, teach it consistently, and prepare for it deliberately, we elevate the standard of care across aesthetic medicine.

Chamoun G, Forsyth A, Kazemeini S, et al. (2025) Systemic Risks of Topical Anesthetics in Barrier-Compromised Dermatologic Patients. Cureus 17(5): e84157.

Voute M, Morel V & Pickering G (2021) Topical Lidocaine for chronic pain treatment. Drug Design, Development and Therapy.15:4091-4103.

CMAC Webinar. Complications of local and topical anesthesia in aesthetic practice. Dr Rienke Smit May 2025

05/13/2026

THMA is thrilled to announce that The Face Institute is officially joining our network of Clinical Training Centres across Canada.

This partnership is led by Mark Harbora, NP, a respected THMA Clinical Trainer since 2022. Mark has consistently demonstrated exceptional commitment to safe, evidence‑based aesthetic education, and we are proud to see his leadership expand into this new role.

At The Face Institute, Mark will be offering a range of high‑value educational opportunities, including:

Networking Workshops
One‑on‑One Mentoring
THMA Foundation Program

And potentially… a THMA Symposium in 2027 — an exciting possibility already generating a buzz.

This addition strengthens THMA’s mission to elevate injector education nationwide through structured learning, mentorship, and clinical excellence.

05/10/2026

Exciting News from Distinct Medical Aesthetics ✨

Our team has grown in two beautiful ways.

First, we’re celebrating Jacklyn’s newest addition — a healthy baby boy. The entire THMA family is overjoyed for her and her growing family.

We’re also thrilled to share that Gina Maalouf, RN has officially joined Jacklyn’s clinical practice. Gina has been a valued THMA Clinical Trainer since 2022 and brings exceptional expertise in Foundation training, advanced toxins, HA fillers, and biostimulator treatments.

She will be offering 1:1 and small‑group mentoring for both novice and experienced aesthetic providers, in collaboration with Jen Holman, NP (Real Beauty Rx).

📍 Training & mentorship opportunities are now open.
If you’re ready to elevate your skills with expert guidance, send us a message to reserve your spot.

05/02/2026

04/24/2026

Informed Consent in Aesthetic Medicine: Advancing Ethical & Legal Standards

Jennifer Splane NP PhD(c) MN BN BSc is the Co-owner and Aesthetic Provider at The Welle Medical Clinic in Rothesay, New Brunswick.

Informed consent is a critical clinical and medico-legal process in aesthetic practice. It requires more than documentation—it demands a thorough, patient-specific discussion that ensures understanding of risks, benefits, alternatives, and expected outcomes. Effective consent supports patient safety, reduces the risk of adverse events, and strengthens clinical accountability.

This presentation will define the legal and ethical principles that underpin valid informed consent in clinical practice and identify the required elements of comprehensive informed consent, including risk disclosure, alternative options, and documentation standards.

Informed Consent in Aesthetic Medicine: Advancing Ethical & Legal Standards by THMA - National Training and Mentoring Academy for Aesthetic Medicine on Patreon. Join THMA - National Training and Mentoring Academy for Aesthetic Medicine's community for exclusive content and updates.

04/21/2026

Aesthetic medicine is evolving at a pace that few specialties can match. New technologies, changing patient expectations, and increasing regulatory oversight are reshaping how we practice—and how we should be trained.

Yet despite this rapid growth, one issue remains: not all education in our specialty is created equal.

Too often, aesthetic training is influenced by trends, anecdotal experience, or unchallenged opinions. While clinical experience is valuable, it cannot stand alone. Without a foundation in evidence, variability increases, risks rise, and patient safety can be compromised.

Evidence-based training integrates clinical expertise with the best available research—ensuring aesthetic providers understand not just how to perform a treatment, but why it works. That distinction is critical.

When providers understand underlying mechanisms—such as the pharmacology of neuromodulators or the rheological behaviour of dermal fillers—they are better equipped to make sound, defensible clinical decisions that move beyond “trend-based” practice.

In aesthetic medicine, complication management continues to evolve. With emerging research and the integration of technologies such as ultrasound, protocols are no longer static.

Training programs must be built on clinical evidence, grounded in real-world practice, and aligned with safety, ethics, and regulatory expectations. Education grounded in evidence results in increased patient safety and provider confidence.

Ongoing, evidence-based education is not a luxury—it is a professional obligation. The future of aesthetic medicine depends on the quality of education we choose today.

What does evidence-based mean to you?

04/17/2026

Join us on April 22nd from 8:00–9:00 PM EST for a must-attend Professional Development Presentation with Jennifer Splane, NP, PhD(c).
Jennifer is the Director of the Aesthetic Research & Education Alliance (AREA), an organization dedicated to advancing education and promoting professional development within the aesthetic specialty.

This session will focus on one of the most critical—and often overlooked—areas of clinical practice: informed consent.
Learning Objectives:
• Define the legal and ethical principles of informed consent
• Understand the consequences of failing to obtain proper consent
• Review real-world cases where consent was incomplete or inadequate
• Identify the essential components required for comprehensive informed consent
This presentation is open to all providers committed to elevating the standards of their aesthetic practice.

Register in advance for this meeting:
[https://us02web.zoom.us/.../register/HdzUwmDaReOTCMkXIv799g
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

03/28/2026

Temples: Everything you wanted top Learn and More
Dr Hermine Warren.

Hermine Warren DNP has been in nursing since 1974, with an advanced practice degree since 1980. She is a certified aesthetic nurse specialist (CANS), an educational/clinical GAIN trainer for Galderma, an Allergan adjunct faculty member, a P.A.L.E.T.T.E faculty member. Hermine has maintained a clinical practice in the specialty of aesthetic medicine since 2004. She is Co-Faculty with Dr. Chris Surek in the Academy for Injection Anatomy powered by AmSpa.

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03/22/2026

Where the Confusion Comes From

Much of the current confusion stems from misaligned or overly broad statements circulating in the market. Exosomes are often incorrectly described as drugs in all contexts, with claims that they must always carry a DIN or NPN, or that topical use is prohibited.

These statements do not accurately reflect Health Canada’s cosmetic framework when it comes to non-human-derived, topical cosmetic products that make appearance-based claims only.

Read to understand that Marketing Language Matters

Under Health Canada regulations, claims determine classification. When marketing cosmetic exosomes, providers must use language that reflects appearance, not physiology.

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