Medical Spa Insider The Underrated Power of the Pretreatment Consult with Lina Colleli, MSN, FNP-C
This week, AmSpa founder Alex R. Thiersch, JD, sits down with Lina Colleli, MSN, FNP-C, founder of Artmedica Aesthetics in Northern Virginia. Lina shares her journey from fashion and beauty into aesthetic medicine, what it has been like launching her own medical spa, and why she believes the pretreatment consultation is one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools in the industry. She breaks down her signature approach to building trust, educating patients, and creating treatment plans that drive both satisfaction and retention. Lina also reflects on social media’s role in her rapid growth, the realities of business ownership, and her long-term vision for teaching and empowering the next generation of injectors.
Key Moments in the Conversation
- Lina’s background and journey from fashion editing and freelance makeup artistry to aesthetic medicine;
- What inspired her to open ArtMedica Aesthetics and the emotions of launching the practice;
- The surprising challenges of business ownership, including inventory management and onboarding staff;
- How social media built her patient base and continues to drive 90 percent of new inquiries;
- Why the pretreatment consult is an essential yet undervalued aspect of patient care;
- How she structures a consult to uncover true concerns, educate clearly, and build long-term trust;
- Strategies for setting expectations, discussing pricing, and guiding patients without feeling sales focused;
- Navigating patient information overload from social media and correcting misconceptions with biology and science;
- Managing a four to five month waitlist and her plans to grow a clinical team to better serve patients;
- Her long-term goal of building an educational academy and stepping into a larger teaching role;
- What she is looking forward to at Medical Spa Show 2026.
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Music by Ghost Score