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