5 Reasons Why You Should Attend The Medical Spa Show

By: Aly Boeckh

For anyone who has claimed that med spas don't make you any money, AmSpa's Online State of the Industry Survey release is here to prove the haters wrong. Today, medical spas are a $4 billion industry consisting of approximately 4,200 facilities that currently generate, on average, $945,000 in total annual revenues, though of course some generate much less and some much more. The future looks bright, and if you want a piece of the pie, here are just 5 reasons why you should attend AmSpa's Medical Spa Show on February 9-11, 2018 at The Aria Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.   

5 Steps to Prevent Legal Trouble in Your Med Spa

By: Alex Thiersch

A medical spa will likely encounter a number of unforeseen stumbling blocks during its existence. Although the business is complicated, understanding the following five pieces of advice can help tremendously.

Chicago Medical Spa Boot Camp Recap

By: Aly Boeckh

Enthusiastic Medical Spa Professionals converged at the AmSpa's Medical Spa Boot Camp in Chicago, IL to learn legal compliance, business tools, and successful strategies for opening and/or improving their medical spa practice!

Take a Brotox Journey with AmSpa Director, Alex Thiersch | Part 2

"One...Two...Three...Ouch!" 

AmSpa Director, Alex Thiersch's, Brotox journey with Dr. Sheila Nazarian was a success! Although a bit scared of needles, Alex said it was hardly painful at all and would highly recommend for men to try. By the looks of his happy face in the office, we'd say it went pretty well too! 😄

Thanks again Dr. Sheila Nazarian for an exceptional first-time brotox experience and for being a continuous AmSpa supporter!  

Click here to view Alex's Brotox Journey - Part 1 video.  

Subscribe to AmSpa's Youtube channel for more videos, including Alex's first Hydrafacial treatment!

Don't Miss AmSpa's Upcoming Events for 2017!

A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Profitable Medical Spa - Chicago, Illinois: March 20-21, 2017

A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Profitable Medical Spa - Los Angeles, CA: April 22-23, 2017
Click here for additional bootcamp dates.

Take a Brotox Journey with AmSpa Director, Alex Thiersch

By: Aly Boeckh

AmSpa Founder and Director, Alex Thiersch, never thought the words, "I've decided to get some Brotox," would ever leave his mouth. BUT, after long consideration and desire to relate more closely to the members of AmSpa, Alex finally decided to go under the needle.

While attending the Advanced Aesthetics and Cosmetics Dermatology conference in Marina del Rey, CA, he set up an appointment with Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Sheila Nazarian.  

It's only one day prior to the treatment and Alex already has lots of questions and concerns. You don't want to miss the final reveal!

Stay tuned for the rest of his journey by subscribing to AmSpa's YouTube channel! 

Don't Miss AmSpa's Upcoming Events for 2017!

A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Profitable Medical Spa - Chicago, Illinois: March 20-21, 2017

A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Profitable Medical Spa - Los Angeles, CA: April 22-23, 2017
Click here for additional bootcamp dates.

How to Advertise Your Medical Spa Compliantly

By: Aly Boeckh

Regulators are paying closer attention than ever before to how medical spas are advertising their products and services. Whether you're promoting discounted botox on your website, or claiming to be the BEST Laser Center in your area, or posting live snapchat stories of your patient's treatments, you must be mindful of how your state's regulatory body is interpreting these marketing techniques.

As Alex Thiersch wrote in the December issue of Modern Aesthetics' The Rise of the Regulators article, "Some medical boards, are not at all happy about the way this is trending. They see this new wave of digital marketing as having an adverse affect on the industry, as it commodifies health care and risks patient privacy. Traditionally, health care has been something people need, not something they want, so traditional thinking has suggested that it is unseemly for medical practices to advertise."

We all must ask ourselves:

How can we utilize digital marketing in our practice, without the risk of losing our license or undergoing an investigation?

The Medical Spa Industry Needs Data | Take AmSpa's Statistical Survey

By: Aly Boeckh

The Medical spa space is growing fast, but unlike other booming industries medical spas lack solid data to power our business decisions. AmSpa has launched the 2017 Medical Spa State of the Industry Report, administered by MarketData Enterprises and sponsored by Modern Aesthetics® magazine, to gather the most up-to-date and accurate snapshot of the industry, and allow YOU to make better business decisions for your aesthetics practice.

Become part of the medical spa data revolution!

Shady at Best, Dangerous to Patients at Worst | Parallel Importation

By: Alex Thiersch

As you no doubt are well aware, botulinum toxin treatments—primarily Botox, but also including competitors such as Dysport and Xeomin—are among the most popular procedures in the medical aesthetic industry. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), more than 4.25 million of these treatments were administered in the United States in 2015, for a total expenditure of more than $1.35 billion—the most of any cosmetic procedure, surgical or otherwise. At an average of $317 per treatment, botulinum toxin is affordable for patients, yet still quite profitable for practices. But some want more, and they are beginning to put themselves in danger in the pursuit of larger profits.

Regulators Who? | The Rise in Medical Spa Regulation

By: Alex Thiersch

In recent years, the medical aesthetics industry has experienced explosive growth. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), consumers spent more than $13.87 billion on aesthetic procedures in 2015—an all-time high. 😳

These numbers are certainly good news for you; however, such robust growth and visible success has caused regulators on both the state and federal levels to begin taking a closer look at the industry. What these regulators are finding are areas in which legalities are poorly defined, enforcement is lax, and punishment is viewed as insufficient. State regulatory agencies have traditionally been underfunded and undermanned, but they are beginning to take action to rectify these perceived oversights. 

This increased scrutiny could potentially be very bad news for owners and operators of your medical aesthetics practice, if you are non-compliant. Laws are changing, enforcement is increasing, and punishments are becoming more severe. Take the time to review this guide to learn about the areas in which regulators are beginning to crack down and correct any shortcomings your practice may have as soon as possible!

Make Legal Compliance Your New Year's Resolution!

By: Alyson Boeckh

Don't miss your chance to start the New Year on the right side of the law

On January 21st, AmSpa will present a one-day Medical Spa Summit to provide an overview of professional success in the medical spa industry. Exclusive to Skin Inc.’s Face & Body Spa Conference & Expo events, the one-day summit will give YOU the opportunity to learn more about what it takes to own and operate a medical spa or take your business to the next level. Now, you can even earn up to 7 Illinois Aesthetic CEs!

Register Now!

Skin Inc.’s Face and Body Medical Spa Summit will be offered exclusively during Skin Inc.’s Face & Body Advanced Education Conference Program the Saturday prior to each Face & Body expo in Rosemont, IL, San Jose, CA, and Atlanta, GA.

Admission to the summit is $345. You will also receive admission to the Face & Body expo hall, featuring exhibitors and representatives from all sectors of the spa, skin care and wellness industry.

Click here to see full agenda! 

Don't Miss AmSpa's Upcoming Events for 2017!

Face & Body Medical Spa Summit Presented by AmSpa - Midwest: January 21-23, 2017

A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Profitable Medical Spa - Orlando, Florida: February 6-7, 2017

A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Profitable Medical Spa - Chicago, Illinois: March 20-21, 2017

Click here for additional bootcamp dates.

How to Avoid a Criminal Investigation in Your Medical Spa

By: Alyson Boeckh

Legal issues in medical spas can have serious consequences. One of the most recent criminal investigations in Fresno, CA., for example, had a doctor and three nurses facing criminal charges for the unauthorized practice of medicine. For many professionals, it comes as no surprise that the rules governing med spas are often misunderstood, unclear, and hard to find, but when state regulators are becoming more and more involved in these medical spa investigations you have to start paying attention to it. Here are 5 simple steps you can take to make sure a criminal investigation does NOT happen to your medical spa. 

1. Learn the Law

No surprise here...You MUST know the rules and regulations set by your state. The laws governing medical spas are completely different than any other segment of the spa industry. Many new procedures like microneedling, are now being considered medical treatments. It is your job to implement your state's laws and regulations into your practice, and to stay involved when new rules form or change. 

2. Pay Attention to Industry News

Stay in-the-know. The industry is evolving so fast that it's hard to always be at the fore-front, but it's also where you need to be if you want to stay compliant. It's often said that technology moves faster than the law, which means you have to be prepared for what the future of this industry will look like when stronger regulations start to take affect. 

3. Stay Up-to-Date on Education/Training

There are a TON of informational and educational workshops going on all around the country to keep you operating successfully. Some of the most successful medical spas will routinely train their staff and make them attend certification classes to continue building upon their skills. You are responsible for everything your employees do, so it's equally as important to have employee manuals and procedures written down and in place so everyone is on the same page. Most importantly, know your weaknesses and be willing to adapt, or you will not survive in this industry. It is far too competitive and reviews-focused for you to just not care. 

4. Be Mindful

Whether or not you think you're compliant, your state's regulators might not agree. You must handle each patient with the same mindfulness as you would with anyone you care about. All it takes is one person to tip off any of your state boards for you to be suddenly under investigation. Don't make that mistake.   

5. Lack of Knowledge is not an Excuse

AmSpa Director, Alex Thiersch, always says, "Saying that you just didn't know, NEVER works." Risking losing your license and your business all together because you didn't make the time to learn the law is a regret you don't want to have.

Please contact us if you have any questions about your state's legal landscape. 

As a reminder, AmSpa members have access to summaries of the laws that apply to medical spas in their state as well as member pricing for a legal consultation with our partner law firm, ByrdAdatto. We're here to help, become a member today!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for More Special Reports

Don't Miss AmSpa's Upcoming Events for 2017!

Face & Body Medical Spa Summit Presented by AmSpa - Midwest: January 21-23, 2017

A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Profitable Medical Spa - Orlando, Florida: February 6-7, 2017

A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Profitable Medical Spa - Chicago, Illinois: March 20-21, 2017
Click here for additional bootcamp dates. 

Med Spas and Medical Aesthetic Practices Have a More Powerful Legal Resource

Medical spas and medical aesthetic practices NOW have an even more powerful legal resource. AmSpa, the leading legal and educational resource in medical aesthetics, is increasing its legal clout by joining with national aesthetics law firm ByrdAdatto. Together, AmSpa and ByrdAdatto represent the pre-eminent source of legal expertise serving YOUR business and YOUR potential legal risks.

YOU'RE Invited! AmSpa's Exclusive Medical Spa Summit

One-Day Summit to Provide Overview of Professional Success in Medical Spa Industry

AmSpa will ring in the new year with its brand new Medical Spa Summit, an entire day of medical spa training and education from the top educators in the medical spa industry, at Skin Inc.’s Face & Body Spa Conference & Expo events throughout 2017! Exclusive to Skin Inc.’s Face & Body events, the one-day summit will give YOU the opportunity to learn more about what it takes to own and operate a medical spa or take your business to the next level. It will also discuss topics such as:

• Whether non-physicians can own a medical spa; 

• How regulations are changing estheticians’ scope of practice;

• What are the common legal mistakes for new medical spas; 

• And much more.

Register Now!

AmSpa Gets a Taste of Tex-Mex at Dallas Bootcamp

The American Med Spa Association (AmSpa) arrived in Dallas, TX November 7-8 for its SOLD OUT Medical Spa Boot Camp, featuring new partnership with Premier Healthcare Law Firm, ByrdAdatto.

AmSpa attendees asked one-on-one questions to Founder/Director Alex Theirsch.

Attendees got up close and personal with vendor partners, the product experts in medical aesthetics.

Industry experts, Bryan Durocher (left), Dori Soukup (middle), and Louis Frisina (right) shared their knowledge and experience on how to run a medspa successfully.     

Tim Sawyer from Crystal Clear Digital Marketing explained the industries growing competition. "If you are a medical aesthetics practice that does treatments and procedures, you are NOT a unicorn." 

Environ Skin Care handed out an exclusive skincare product to the lucky raffle prize winner!

Alex Theirsch, Brad Adatto, and Michael Byrd answered questions after their overview of med spa law and regulations.

AmSpa Director, Alex Thiersch, (fourth on the left) celebrated partnership with Premier Healthcare Law Firm, ByrdAdatto.

Don't Miss AmSpa's Upcoming Events for 2017!

Register today!

A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Profitable Medical Spa - Orlando, Florida: February, 6-7 2016

Understanding HIPPA: Patient Privacy Laws for Medical Aesthetics

By: Alex Thiersch

Like millions of other businesses, medical aesthetic practices and medspas often use social media channels—such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram—to increase brand awareness, promote new services, and strengthen the bond between providers and patrons. Unlike other service- and product-based businesses, medical practices and medspas are bound by patient privacy regulations set forth in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). And it is shockingly easy for a practice to expose itself to HIPAA violations through social media activity.

The Fee-Splitting Conundrum: How to Compensate Client Referrals

At traditional spas and salons, rewarding clients for referrals is a common practice. So it makes sense that many medical spas have also adopted this technique to help bring people into their facilities. However, medical spas face certain restrictions that other businesses in the retail market sector do not. Because of this, it’s important for medical spa owners and operators to understand how they can and cannot compensate their clients for referring new customers.

The Gateway to Male Aesthetics

By: Aly Boeckh

Puzzled By the Increase in Male Cosmetic Treatments?

Med Spa Industry Expert Louis Frisina, credited with bringing the dermal filler Restylane to the U.S., has been studying the med spa market closely and gives insight on how to get male prospects into your practice.

"From focus groups and personal interviews with males, it appears there is a significant "gateway" with hair restoration, starting with early targeted marketing of the "Bosleys" of the world,” Frisina said. He added, "Non-Surgical Hair Restoration Systems like Neograft and ARTES are growing at a rate of more than 20 percent.”

What You Missed at AmSpa's San Jose Bootcamp

Day 1

AmSpa Founder and Director, Alex Thiersch, warmly welcomes attendees to the two-day AmSpa Med Spa Bootcamp in San Jose, CA.

 

President of Durocher Enterprises, Bryan Durocher, presents on The Plan and The Build. With 25 years of spa industry success Durocher says, "People no longer use marketing terms like 'pampering or indulgent,' they use words like 'rejuvenation, relaxation, and wellness.'"

Medical Spa Success Now Comes with a Step-By-Step Guide

By: Aly Boeckh

  The American Med Spa Association's (AmSpa's) Medical Spa Bootcamp provides the most dynamic and intense medical spa and medical aesthetics education throughout the United States, from New York to Los Angeles and many places in between.

These medical spa boot camps, A Step-by-step Guide to Building a Profitable Medical Spa, are two-day, can't-miss knowledge and business technique-driven seminars created for physicians and nonphysicians who are looking to make their existing medical aesthetic businesses more profitable, successful and compliant, or those looking to open a new medical spa … the right way. Attendees to these intensive seminars will leave with the tools and tactics needed to successfully and legally operate a medical aesthetic facility or medical spa.

Dealing With Problematic Patients

By Alex Thiersch, AmSpa

The Medical spa and medical esthetic industries are intensely competitive, so it seems counterintuitive that a practice would consider turning away potential business. However, some patients can cause practices great harm - much more than their potential financial benefit could ever counterbalance. It's important for medical spa owners and operators to recognize these troublemakers before they create problems for their business.