| Over the course of the last twenty | | | | world also becomes privileged to the |
| years, members of both the medical and | | | | introduction of new technologies and |
| scientific communities have worked | | | | exciting new applications of energy |
| diligently to explore the potentials | | | | based equipment. With each new |
| that energy based devices may hold for | | | | technological threshold, the industry |
| healthcare and cosmetic applications. | | | | becomes strengthened and, subsequently, |
| As of today, such technologies are a | | | | increasingly popular. The advent of |
| part of modern life, and have become | | | | laser hair removal, laser resurfacing, |
| integral tools to medical and | | | | skin tightening and other services over |
| cosmetology professionals. | | | | the last few years have marked |
| The use of laser, led, intense pulse | | | | significant milestones in the evolution |
| light, radio frequency, and ultrasonic | | | | of this field. |
| energies are now commonplace, and recent | | | | As industry leaders and research groups |
| advances in the efficiencies of these | | | | continue to work to understand the |
| technologies have finally created | | | | potential that these technologies hold, |
| reproducible services and procedures | | | | we can only expect that each passing |
| that meet patient and client | | | | year will be marked by new applications |
| expectations. | | | | and new tools to further bolster this |
| So what does the future hold for these | | | | rapidly expanding industry. |
| incredible technologies? While surgical | | | | Another topic of interest that will |
| laser equipment, for example, has become | | | | surely receive a great deal of attention |
| prevalent in hospitals and outpatient | | | | with regard to the use of lasers in skin |
| surgery facilities, the largest segment | | | | care will be seen in related state and |
| of market growth has clearly been in the | | | | local legislative activities. Currently |
| cosmetic and medical spa industry. At | | | | each state has been charged with the |
| roughly $20 billion in annual sales in | | | | task of regulating its medical spas, but |
| 2006, the medical spa industry is a | | | | there are no two states that operate |
| force to be reckoned with. | | | | under the same exact set of rules. This |
| Lasers and energy based technologies are | | | | is likely to change as each state looks |
| at the heart of this emerging industry. | | | | for a standard to follow. |
| In these environments, lasers and | | | | Common issues include the question of |
| similar devices are utilized for the | | | | what type of professional is qualified |
| permanent reduction of unwanted hair, | | | | to provide these services in a safe and |
| the eradication of tattoos or sun spots, | | | | effective manner, what type of education |
| the elimination of wrinkles, the | | | | or training should be required, what is |
| tightening of skin, the treatment of | | | | the role of the physician, and how is |
| acne, and much more. | | | | the equipment itself to be regulated. |
| Medical Laser Insight and many other | | | | It is likely to be at least ten years or |
| industry reporting groups have estimated | | | | more before all of these issued may be |
| that the medical spa industry will reach | | | | settled and standard policies are |
| in excess of $110 billion in annual | | | | accepted on a national basis. |
| sales revenue within the next ten years. | | | | The bottom line is that lasers and |
| As an integral part of this industry, | | | | energy based equipment are now a part of |
| there will no doubt be an obvious | | | | the skin care industry and are no longer |
| correlation with the growth of equipment | | | | a futuristic concept. As the esthetics |
| manufacturing and medical spa support | | | | industry and its clients continue to |
| firms that will all stand to benefit | | | | embrace these technologies, the sky is |
| from the increasing popularity of these | | | | truly the limit for what the next twenty |
| advanced skin care services. | | | | years may hold. |
| With each passing year, the medical spa | | | | |