Just a heads up before we begin this episode. The Baron of Botox deals with difficult topics including depression and suicide.

It is not recommended for young audiences.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode for information on resources for anyone who is suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts.

Let's begin the show. Like Big Medical Medical, the Beauty Business has its own insider rewards program.

A 2016 study in Jama Dermatology,

a monthly peer review journal,

found that dermatologists received more than $34 million from industry affiliates in 2014,

and that most of this money

came from pharmaceutical companies.

And the top 10% of dermatologists received 90% of the total payments.

When I searched the names of some of Fred's closest colleagues and peers,

I find in the past few years annual receipts for anywhere between 4,600 to $132,000 for such things

as compt meals, travel, and unspecified consulting fees.

When I searched the name Fred Brandt, only one payout from 2014 is listed.

$16.78 in food and drink from a company called Valiant Pharmaceuticals.

Jonah Shackney, the former CEO of Metisis, who first met Fred in 2005, says his friend was all but impervious to industry

perks.

I think he was generally suspicious of industry.

He knew that he was an enormous customer, maybe the largest in the world,

and the most people would feign friendship

or try to get his attention and interest

to increase their business.

...