Patient demand for injectables has never been higher – but so have the risks. In New Zealand, a lack of regulations around who can inject and how treatments are performed leave patients more exposed than ever. Enter LA AIRE, founded by Dr Nameer Wadea and Dr Peter Aspell, a new cosmetic consultancy setting the gold standard for safety, professionalism and education in cosmetic medicine.

In this exclusive Q&A, we speak with co-founder Dr Nameer Wadea about LA AIRE’s mission to transform cosmetic medicine in New Zealand.

What inspired you to start LA AIRE?
We saw a growing gap in safety, regulation and support in New Zealand’s cosmetic medicine industry. While patient demand for treatments like Botox and dermal fillers is booming, there’s very little oversight of who can perform these procedures or how they are carried out. As clinicians, we were increasingly seeing patients come to us after having poor or unsafe treatments elsewhere.

LA AIRE was born from a desire to raise the bar for safety and professionalism while giving nurses and clinics the structure, oversight and confidence to deliver the highest quality of care.

Why the name ‘LA AIRE’? Talk us through the inspiration behind it…

The name reflects lightness, clarity and excellence.

• “LA” is a nod to the aesthetic industry’s global hubs like Los Angeles while also symbolising “Leadership in Aesthetics.”
• “AIRE” stands for Accountability, Integrity, Regulation and Excellence – the four pillars we believe every cosmetic medicine provider should uphold.
  It’s about bringing a breath of fresh air into the industry.

LA AIRE recently launched New Zealand’s first accreditation initiative. What specific safety or regulatory gaps prompted this move?

There is no uniform standard for infection control, consent or adverse event management. We’ve seen cases of serious patient harm due to lack of oversight. Our accreditation fills this gap by providing a trusted framework that sets clear, measurable standards for safety, training and ethics.

How does LA AIRE help clinicians meet the requirements for accreditation?

We provide end-to-end support:

• A compliance platform that guides clinics through safety protocols, documentation and audits.
• 24/7 medical oversight, ensuring clinicians always have access to expert advice.
• Ongoing training and peer mentoring to keep skills current.
  It’s not just a badge – it’s a partnership to help clinics consistently maintain high standards.

You mention ‘comprehensive and personalised oversight.’ Can you share a real-world example of what that looks like?

For example, if a nurse encounters an adverse reaction like vascular occlusion during a filler procedure, our team provides immediate, expert medical support day or night, walking them through patient care, medication protocols and follow-up steps. We also conduct personalised audits and consultations to review a clinic’s processes and offer tailored improvements, ensuring both safety and business growth.

LA AIRE offers free Botulinum Toxin A and dermal filler training for registered clinicians. What’s involved in this and why offer it for free?

Our training is hands-on, evidence-based and designed by experienced NZSCM-accredited doctors. We cover anatomy, injection techniques, adverse event management and ethical practice. We offer it for free because raising industry standards benefits everyone – patients, clinicians and the reputation of cosmetic medicine as a whole. By removing financial barriers, we ensure more practitioners are properly trained and safe.

Can you talk about the community side – things like peer support, mentoring or partnerships with brands like Allergan or Merz?

Community is at the heart of LA AIRE. We run peer support groups, mentoring programs and case reviews so clinicians can learn from each other and feel connected rather than isolated.
We also work with leading brands like Allergan and Merz, not just for product knowledge but to ensure our members stay up to date with best practices and innovations in the field.

How do you balance affordability for clinics with delivering high-level oversight and 24/7 medical support?

We’ve built a scalable model using technology to streamline compliance and communication while keeping costs manageable. Partner-driven pricing allows us to negotiate better rates for training, products and services – savings we pass directly to our members – while maintaining clinical excellence.

By offering partner‑driven pricing and insider training, do you risk vendor bias? How do you maintain integrity and independence?

Integrity is non-negotiable for us. While we work with trusted brands, we don’t take commission or push specific products. Our advice is evidence-based and always focused on what’s best for the patient. Our accreditation standards remain brand-neutral, and our partnerships are about sharing knowledge, not influencing clinical decision-making.

What upcoming trends or technologies in cosmetic medicine are you most excited about?

We’re excited about:

• AI-driven skin analysis and personalised treatment planning
• Regenerative medicine like exosomes and PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) which focus on natural results
• Less invasive techniques that deliver big results with minimal downtime
  These trends align perfectly with our focus on safe, evidence-based innovation.

How does LA AIRE measure success? Is it fewer complications, higher patient satisfaction, clinic growth?

All three – but patient safety always comes first.
We track metrics like complication rates, patient satisfaction feedback and clinic audit scores. At the same time, we celebrate when clinics under our oversight grow sustainably because it means safe, ethical care is thriving.

What’s next for LA AIRE?

We’re expanding our accreditation network across New Zealand, introducing digital patient-safety tools for clinics and growing our education programs. Our goal is to make the LA AIRE badge the gold standard for cosmetic medicine in Aotearoa.

Cosmetic medicine is evolving at a lightning pace. What do you think the industry will look like five years from now and how is LA AIRE preparing for that future?

In five years, we expect to see:

• Stronger regulation requiring formal qualifications and oversight for all cosmetic injectors
• Smart clinics using AI, digital records and advanced analytics
• A shift toward holistic, patient-focused aesthetics rather than “quick fixes”
  LA AIRE is preparing by leading the conversation on safety, investing in technology and creating a national network of ethical, accredited providers.

Images: Supplied