Special Episode: This Might Hurt

This one’s going to be uncomfortable—but it’s time to say it out loud.

In this special edition of Behind the Dirty Needle, we’re pulling no punches as we talk about the elephant in the med spa—are we hiring based on skill, or looks?

In an industry obsessed with aesthetic perfection, hiring bias is real—and often unspoken. If you don’t look like the “ideal injector,” you may never get through the door, no matter how skilled or safe you are. Meanwhile, injectors who fit the mold are fast-tracked—not for their competence, but for their marketability.

We’re sharing our own experiences with being judged—or dismissed—based on appearance, and we’re calling out the toxic culture of superficial relationships that dominates many aesthetic work environments. From fake friendships to cliques built on who looks the best on the ’gram, it’s a world where image often matters more than integrity.

This isn’t just a hiring issue—it’s a culture problem. And if we’re going to build an industry that values patient safety, professional growth, and real expertise, we have to start talking about it.

This might hurt. But it’s the truth.