Medical
FACING
A BRIGHT
PROSPECT
BY ANDREW WOLFFE
Rarely has the outlook for any part of the spa industry
looked better than the medical spa industry looks right now. Owners, operators and customers worldwide are taking advantage of high-quality skin treatments with proven
results, increased acceptance of injectibles and the availability of safe and affordable laser
technology.
Not long ago, the outlook was very different. Medical spas boomed in popularity at the
turn of the 21st century as dermatologists looked for new revenue streams and realized the
potential of adding medical spas to their businesses. That boom became bust as the recession of 2008 hit; customers tightened their belts and some medical spas closed their doors
permanently.
However, improved economic stability has given the industry a shot in the arm and the
current outlook for medical spas is now much brighter. In 2014 there were more than 1,700
medical spas in the U.S. alone, according to the ISPA 2014 U.S. Spa Industry Study, offering the latest technology in traditional spa settings. A wide variety of treatments often
includes liposuction, laser skin treatments and body sculpting on top of nonmedical spa
staples like facials, wraps and massages.
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July 2015