Effective and new healthcare approaches are being deployed in medical spa facilities as physicians are recognizing that life, beauty and health enhancement products and services delivered in medically supported environments have increased credibility in the eyes of the consumer and is providing an innovative approach to traditional healthcare delivery.

In the United States alone, spas are annually a 13-billion-dollar industry. Approximately five years ago medical spas began to appear on the spa industrys radar screen. Medspas, as they are commonly known, have grown 133%, the highest growth rate of any spa type. Programming at most medical spas today are predominately focused on the delivery of graded beauty enhancement services. Statistics from the medical spa industry report that the desire for a stress-free treatment environment as well as access to more non-invasive healthcare alternatives and advanced technology such as laser and other anti-aging solutions indicates steady triple figure annual growth for med spas within the next 10 years, with estimated annual revenues of $350 million and an annual growth rate of 11 to 14 percent.

What is driving the growth? US baby boomers will increase their spending on wellness-based services from approximately 200 billion dollars today to 1 trillion dollars every year over the next 10 years.With new technology and innovations consistently coming along, medical spa innovators are uniquely positioned to bring results-oriented treatments, procedures and services to meet the health, beauty and balance needs of baby boomers as well as to their health and beauty conscious children. Research indicates that this group has more disposable income than other demographic groups and takes steps to stay healthy and look good.

Another contributing factor to this triple digit growth is consumer demand. The desire to integrate medical spa procedures with lifestyle management is estimated to grow at a dramatic pace, and with good reason. Health conscious consumers over the age of 35 will number nearly 150 million in 2005.

Fueled by extraordinary demand, the booming retail supplement market now exceeds $17.8 billion in annual sales. Currently, three out of every four vitamin users are over age 35. This population is expected to reach nearly 150 million an increase of 18 percentin 2005. In addition, consumers spend between $4 billion and $6 billion annually on visits to massage therapists. Consumers who used to get their supplement advice from the stocker in their local natural foods store are now able to talk to healthcare professionals at their local medical spa for evidence-based wellness and health advice.

What services are fueling such high revenues? The U.S. cosmetic procedure market is booming, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery reports that demand is great for Botox and collagen injections, cellulite treatments, chemical peels, eyelid surgery, facial rejuvenation, hair restoration, laser therapy, liposuction, and vein treatments.

From a global market perspective nearly 20 million hair removal, skin rejuvenation, tattoo and pigmented lesion removal, acne reduction and photodynamic therapy treatments were performed in 2003. These earned almost $6.5 billion for practitioners and $372 million in revenue for equipment manufacturers. By 2008, this will grow to over 53 million treatments annually earning practitioners $10.4 billion and manufacturers more than $612 million, according to the Global Aesthetic Market study.

In addition, Botox treatments are also popular. In 2003, four million procedures were performed worldwide, generating over $2.1 billion in procedure fees. By 2008, more than 10 million procedures will be performed annually, generating treatment revenue of $4.4 billion. Revenue to suppliers will grow from $656 million in 2003 to $1.6 billion in 2008. Dermal filler use isnt far behind. More than two million procedures were performed in 2003, earning practitioners $1.2 billion and suppliers $196 million. In 2008, this will rise to almost five million treatments generating $2.3 billion for physicians and $398 million for suppliers.

Approximately five years ago medical spas began to appear on the spa industrys radar screen. Medspas, as they are commonly known, have grown 133%, the highest growth rate of any spa type.

Microdermabrasion, chemical peels and emerging skin rejuvenation treatments are also rising. In 2003, over 16 million treatments were performed, accounting for almost $3.3 billion in fees to practitioners. Equipment manufacturers and suppliers earned about $108 million. By 2008, this will grow to more than 41 million procedures earning over $6 billion for practitioners and $185 million for manufacturers.

 Quite a number of these procedures are mainstays in medical spas. The greatest growth and largest opportunity, in the graded beauty enhancement aspect of medical spas however, remains anti-aging topical treatments and products. In 2003, sales of all brands through all outlets accounted for $4.1 billion. This will grow to more than $5.6 billion in 2008, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

On average, medical spa service fees for graded beauty enhancement services are: