The Medspa Shift

If it feels like medspas are turning into wellness clinics, that’s because they are! In recent years, medspas have been shifting away from traditional esthetic services and expanding into whole-body health. It’s not just about Botox and laser treatments anymore, it’s peptides, metabolic health, hormone balancing, and even internal medicine. 

Medspas used to focus on rejuvenating and antiaging procedures like injectables, skin tightening, and laser hair removal, to name a few. But according to Beauty Independent, more medspas are hiring internal medicine doctors for diagnostics, prescriptions, and health optimization. In fact, seven percent of medspas are now owned by internal medicine doctors—nearly double from a few years ago, and general practitioners now own 26 percent.¹ 

So, what’s driving this? Consumers are asking for it. People want root cause solutions, not just surface treatments. They’re looking for better energy, better sleep, weight management, increased libido, all along with their laser treatment and cucumber water. Recent reports indicate 60 percent of medspas now offer GLP-1s. Of these medspas, there was a five percent bump in average patient spending—up to $1,471 per person in 2024. Also, those spas that offered GLP-1s saw their overall revenue grow nine percent, while med spas that skipped out on GLP-1s actually saw a two percent decline.² So, it’s fair to say, the wellness pivot is good for patients and really good for business.  

While internal medicine treatments are growing within the esthetic space, regenerative esthetics is having a moment too. Growth factors, exosomes, and bio stimulatory injectables like Sculptra are also trending. This also tracks with spending. Clients are spending around $313 per year on skin care products outside of their regularly scheduled appoints.³ 

 As an esthetician, it’s important to note that skin is still the gateway. Most clients come into a medspa with something visible they’re hoping to correct, but end up exploring internal wellness along the way. It also means estheticians need to remain vigilant about their continuing education and knowing enough to tell a client that what’s happening internally could be affecting their skin, then pointing them to the right provider.  

Notes 

1. McCormack, Claire, Beauty Independent, “From Botox To Better Sex: How Med-Spas Are Expanding Beyond Aesthetics With Addyi,” July 25, 2025, https://www.beautyindependent.com/med-spas-expanding-addyi/. 
2. Guidepoint QSight, “From Gen Z to GLP-1s: Trends Reshaping the Medical Aesthetics Industry,” April 23, 2025, https://qsight.guidepoint.com/blog/trends-reshaping-the-medical-aestheti...
3. Guidepoint QSight, “From Gen Z to GLP-1s: Trends Reshaping the Medical Aesthetics Industry,” April 23, 2025, https://qsight.guidepoint.com/blog/trends-reshaping-the-medical-aestheti...