Beauty Bytes with Dr. Kay: Secrets of a Plastic Surgeon™

Latest Episodes:

804: The "Beauty Batteries": How Mitochondria Power Your Skin, Hair & Longevity with Courtney Van Bussum Feb 10, 2026

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In this episode of Beauty Bytes, I sit down with Courtney Van Bussum, the Chief Operating Officer of Longevity Launch Labs, an innovation incubator dedicated to translating cutting-edge cellular science into real-world medical solutions. We go way beyond the basics to explore the mitochondria—the ancient, alien-like "batteries" living inside our cells that power everything from our heartbeat to our collagen production .

Courtney explains why mitochondrial dysfunction is actually the root cause of aging symptoms we hate, like brain fog, skin dullness, and even gray hair (did you know gray hair is just your follicle running out of energy to produce pigment?) . We discuss the concept of hormesis—using good stress like exercise and intermittent fasting to make your cells stronger—and why you might need to "starve" your cells at night to help them repair.

We also get into the nitty-gritty of supplementation. We break down why 1-MNA might be safer than aggressive NAD+ IV drips, why creatine isn't just for bodybuilders (it's a brain and beauty super-fuel!), and the emerging world of mitochondrial peptides like SS-31.

803: The Anatomy of Attraction Feb 10, 2026

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Anatomy, Attractiveness, Individuality, Beauty Standards - Join us in this week's Five Minute Friday where we explore the intricate anatomy of attraction, the differences between men and women's facial features, and what truly enhances our beauty. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we also delve into what draws us to the opposite sex. Tune in to learn about the psychological, biological, and sociocultural aspects of attraction just in time for the most romantic day of the year!

802: Is Your Med Spa Compliant? The Truth About Off-Label Use & FDA Regulations Feb 03, 2026

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In this crucial episode of Beauty Bytes, I sit down with Madison Dini, a powerhouse attorney at Michelman & Robinson who operates right at the intersection of science, medicine, and the law. We tackle the "Wild West" of modern aesthetics and the regulatory challenges facing practices today—from exosomes and polynucleotides to the controversial landscape of PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor).

Madison breaks down the critical difference between FDA approval of a product versus the medical board’s regulation of the practice of medicine, helping us understand where the lines are truly drawn . We discuss why taking legal advice from social media is dangerous, how to properly navigate off-label use, and the practical steps you need to take regarding malpractice insurance and informed consent to protect your business .

801: The Benefits of Incorporating Peptides into Your Skincare Routine Jan 31, 2026

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This Five Minute Friday episode is all about peptides. A peptide is a compound composed of amino acids, and in skincare it helps reinforce proteins that naturally occur in the skin, rejuvenating and maintaining it. You need to incorporate this amazing ingredient into your skincare routines. Peptides improve your skin’s firmness, elasticity, and dissipates redness. Peptides can also be used to smooth wrinkles and repair barrier function. You can consume peptides both topically and orally. Some foods that are rich in peptides include milk products, eggs, soybeans, fish and meat.

800: The "Exhausted" Fibroblast: Reversing Skin Aging & Modulating mTOR with Dr. Rahul Mehta Jan 28, 2026

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In this paradigm-shifting episode of Beauty Bytes, I sit down with Dr. Rahul Mehta, the co-founder of Rapalogix Health and former head of R&D at SkinMedica. We dive deep into the future of cellular longevity and why the "do more, laser more, peel more" approach might actually be exhausting your fibroblasts.

Dr. Mehta explains the science behind mTOR, the master regulator of our cell cycle, and how constantly keeping it in "growth mode" prevents our skin from repairing itself. We discuss his breakthrough molecule, RLX-201 (Re-!), which inhibits TORC1 to trigger repair pathways without the side effects of systemic rapamycin.

We also cover the fascinating data showing how this technology made 56-year-old fibroblasts morphologically resemble 23-year-old cells, effectively reversing cellular aging rather than just masking it.

799: Beauty At Every Age Jan 24, 2026

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Grace, beauty, and strength- these are the elements we look for in a face as we all
become older. While it might be hard for some to fathom the idea of aging, it doesn’t change the fact that it still happens to all of us. That’s why it’s so important to begin to accept this hard truth and learn how to age gracefully instead. In the podcast, I’ll be breaking down different ways you can maintain your beauty at any age. From natural, topical solutions like sunscreen to building volume with filler, here are different courses of action you can follow to preserve the appearance of your youth.

798: Is Your Skincare Aging You? Decoding DNA Methylation & Biological Age with Cristiana Banila Jan 20, 2026

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In this cutting-edge episode of Beauty Bytes, I sit down with Cristiana Banila, the Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Mitra Bio, to discuss the revolutionary field of skin epigenetics. We explore the difference between genetics (the hardware) and epigenetics (the operating system) and how non-invasive tape stripping technology allows us to measure biological age and cellular damage without a single biopsy. Cristiana reveals fascinating data on how sun-protected skin is biologically 3.8 years younger than exposed skin, and we tackle a controversial finding from her research: why short-term retinoid use might actually accelerate biological aging by increasing inflammatory markers . We also discuss the future of skin cancer detection and why "resilience" is the new anti-aging standard.

797: Top 10 Ways to Improve Female Attractiveness Jan 17, 2026

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In preparation for Valentine's Day, we are talking about the top 10 ways females can improve their attractiveness. Female beauty is such an amazing aspect of human life and that's why I have dedicated my life to working in aesthetic medicine. I love helping women feel beautiful on both the inside and out. The idea of female beauty is more than just an artificial aspect of women, but rather an all-encompassing characteristic to describe all the amazing facets of a woman. Facial harmony, universal beauty, and internal confidence are all various components of attractiveness that I seek to improve in all my patients. Listen on to find out my tips and tricks to feel and look more attractive!

796: Ketones: The "Super Fuel" for Brain Fog, Metabolism & Longevity with Dr. Latt Mansor Jan 14, 2026

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In this high-energy episode of Beauty Bytes, I sit down with Dr. Latt Mansor, a world expert in physiology and metabolism with a PhD from the University of Oxford. We dive deep into the science of ketones—the body's natural "super fuel"—and why you don't need to be on a strict keto diet to reap the benefits.

I actually take a shot of Ketone-IQ during the episode, and you can hear me get into the "zone" in real-time! . Dr. Mansor explains how exogenous ketones can banish brain fog without the caffeine jitters, suppress appetite by regulating ghrelin and leptin, and even positively influence our epigenetics and gene expression. We also bust common myths about ketoacidosis and discuss why walking might be the most underrated biohack for breaking through fat loss plateaus .

795: 5 Anti Aging Ingredients To Look For In Your Foods Jan 09, 2026

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Healthy diet, vitamin supplements, and essential nutrients- do you know what they say: you are what you eat this concept applies, especially when you are looking to improve the appearance of your skin and prevent physical signs of premature aging! According to Dave Asprey, the founder of Upgrade Labs and Father of Biohacking, the secret to maintaining youthful skin isn't just found in your topical creams but also in the food you eat in this podcast, I go over what types of anti-aging ingredients you should be looking for in your food, and where you can find them!

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