MedSurge Advances, the Medical Spa Leader, Has Launched More Than 25 Percent of U.S. MedSpas

MedSurge Advances Founder Scott Day Discusses Aesthetic Medicine Trends, Market Success Factors, Future Plans

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Since its founding in 2002, MedSurge Advances has emerged as the leading independent supplier and consultant for the medical spa industry — having launched 228 medical spas and provided assistance to more than 350 physicians who have entered the field of aesthetic medicine.

More physicians are entering the medical spa business each year, with an estimated 915 of these facilities operating in the United States, according to the International Spa Association. With its professional services team of business consultants and clinical experts, MedSurge Advances has helped physicians make the transition successfully. More than 90 percent of MedSurge Advances-supported spas have been successful financially, according to company data and reports from lenders who provide financing to MedSurge Advances customers.

“I sometimes hear about medical spas that have failed. Failures do happen — but in virtually every case, they can be avoided,â€? said Scott Day, founder and chairman of MedSurge Advances. “Patient demand is growing very rapidly. The U.S. market can support a greater number of medical spas than those currently out there.â€?

Day said that medical spa failures typically result from one of three fatal mistakes:

1. The physician has started the medical spa without seeking expert help, and has been overwhelmed by the unique challenges of running a cash-based business.

2. The physician has purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment from a manufacturer that promised — but then did not adequately deliver — consulting support.

3. The physician has chosen a consultant or consulting firm without a proven track record of success.

“When medical spas fail, it is generally because the physician owner is ill-prepared to market and manage a retail practice. In many cases, the doctor believes that running a medical spa is easier than it actually is,� Day said. “At MedSurge Advances, we work hard to help our doctors understand that managing a retail business is tough – and that if they don’t focus on creating and implementing a sound business plan, they are unlikely to succeed.�

“No other company provides the kind of comprehensive support MedSurge Advances offers,� said Dr. Jason Holbrook, a Georgia internist and medical spa owner. “They’re truly a one-stop source for everything physicians need – from equipment to clinical training and business support. They help doctors create medical spas that exhibit both high professional standards and high success rates.�

MedSurge Advances Founder Discusses Industry Growth

Why are doctors – from family practitioners to OB/GYNs and emergency room physicians – deciding to start medical spas? MedSurge Advances reports that most doctors cite HMO frustrations and a desire for life balance as their key reasons for considering this new career course.

“Medical spa growth is the product of two complementary trends in healthcare today,� Day said. “The first trend is growing patient demand, particularly among Baby Boomers, for non-surgical procedures that will help them fight the aging process. The second trend is a growing supply of motivated physicians, which is fueled by their increasing dissatisfaction with the insurance-based healthcare system.�

Medical spas utilize lasers, intense pulsed light technology, microdermabrasion, and other treatments to rejuvenate the skin and combat the effects of aging. During the past decade, the number of such non-surgical aesthetic procedures performed in the United States has grown by well over 700 percent, far outpacing the increase in plastic surgery, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Most – but not all – medical spas are owned by physicians today. Day said he formed MedSurge Advances because he knew the booming demand for light and laser therapies would require an increasing number of experienced physicians to enter the aesthetic field. MedSurge Advances helps doctors by supplying them with the clinical and technical support they need to own and manage their own medical spas.

The Importance of Physician-Owned Facilities

“By helping more doctors start medical spas, we’re ensuring that aesthetic procedures are performed in a safe, professional environment – which, unfortunately, is not always the case with spas that are not physician-owned,� Day said.

Currently, many states do not require medical spas to be owned by physicians. Recent media reports have highlighted the potential dangers of medical spas that are improperly supervised or operated by non-physicians. Some states have passed legislation mandating physician ownership of medical spas, and others are considering such regulations.

“Physicians are responsible for every procedure performed under their medical license,� Day said. “MedSurge Advances only works with experienced medical doctors who either perform aesthetic procedures themselves or closely supervise trained and licensed staff members. This provides patients the ultimate in safety and accountability.�

Consumers should be just as vigilant in choosing a medical spa as they are in choosing a family doctor, Day added.

Why More Doctors Are Starting Medical Spas

Many physicians say that opening a medical spa releases them from the shackles of insurance companies and provides a boost to their careers. Unlike traditional medical practices, aesthetic medicine is a cash-based business, eliminating issues with insurance reimbursement.

Dr. John Pickel, an OB/GYN for more than two decades, said his aesthetic practice also has helped him to achieve a better life balance. Dr. Pickel was able to drop obstetrics from his practice after he began offering aesthetic procedures.

“Being able to quit doing obstetrics changed my life dramatically,� he said. “Not being on call, not being up all night. There is a high level of intensity that goes along with obstetrics. It’s a younger man’s game. The pace and intensity of what I’m doing now is much better for me. It’s made a huge difference in my life.�

Dr. Pickel said treating aesthetic patients has emotional benefits as well.

“No one wants to have a heart attack. No one wants to have pneumonia. In a traditional practice, people are forced to come see you,� he said. “With aesthetic medicine, people want to see you. It’s a nice feeling.�

What Does the Future Hold for Medical Spas?

Even with the significant growth of the past five years, Day sees tremendous opportunity ahead for the medical spa market. “Physicians have only scratched the surface of the market opportunity,� he said. “Patient demand will continue to grow.�

But Day isn’t resting on the company’s laurels. In May, MedSurge Advances unveiled a new, technology-driven concept in health and fitness called the futureperfect™ Total Body Management Center, located in the Dallas suburb of Plano.

“It’s a new concept that we call a ‘fitness spa’™ or ‘fitspaâ„¢’ — an evolution of the medical spa that provides women an alternative method for getting and staying in shape,â€? Day said.

Utilizing breakthrough fat-burning and body-sculpting technologies from Europe and Japan, together with nutritional guidance and physician oversight, the futureperfect center is an innovative alternative to traditional health clubs. The company plans to team with physicians to launch futureperfect centers nationwide beginning later this year

B-roll available upon request

Interested members of the news media may obtain video of physicians describing their reasons for opening medical spas, as well as video of MedSpa and futureperfect technologies. Please contact Rob Huckels at 214.540.3807 or rhuckels@medsurgeadvances.com.

About MedSurge Advances

Based in Dallas, MedSurge Advances helps physicians across the United States build and manage their practices in aesthetic medicine, one of the fastest-growing healthcare segments. Since its founding in 2002, MedSurge Advances has provided technology and business resources for hundreds of physicians who have started stand-alone businesses or added aesthetic procedures to their existing practices. For more information, contact MedSurge Advances at 972.720.0425, or visit www.medsurgeadvances.com. For more information about futureperfect, visit www.futureperfect.com.
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