What a med spa is, and who works in one

MedSpaGrades editorial teamUpdated 22 Oct 20264 sources checkedHow we write

A medical spa, or med spa, mixes a spa setting with treatments you would usually find in a doctor's office. That is how the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) describes it, and it is a fair short version. Most med spas offer anti-aging and skin treatments such as injections, chemical peels and lasers. Some add body contouring, hormone therapy, weight loss, IV drips or sexual wellness.

No two med spas are alike

The same word covers very different businesses. ASPS, which is a society of plastic surgeons, says some med spas are run by a physician with specialist training in the treatments offered. It names board-certified plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons and dermatologists. It says others are run by doctors from unrelated fields who may have little or no training in cosmetic work, and others by non-physicians such as nurses or physician assistants.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a society of dermatologists, makes a similar point from its own side. It says results depend largely on the skill and experience of the person doing the procedure, and it urges you to choose a board-certified physician. Both are professional societies whose members would be the ones chosen. Their view favors doctors who share their training. We quote them because they describe a real spread, not because it settles who is right for you. What matters is that you can find out who is in charge and who will treat you.

What you will see on the menu

ASPS says most med spas focus on anti-aging and skin rejuvenation: injectables, chemical peels and laser treatments. It says some body contouring suits a med spa, but more serious procedures, such as liposuction, should be done in an appropriately equipped, staffed and accredited surgical facility. It also says treatments that need more than local anesthetic or light sedation belong in a licensed surgical center or hospital, not a med spa.

Some med spas also offer hormone replacement, weight loss treatments, IV therapy, sexual wellness treatments or functional medicine, according to ASPS. A clinic's page on this site shows which services it lists on its own website.

Who works in one

ASPS names doctors, nurses, physician assistants and estheticians among the people you may meet. Which of them may give which treatment depends on the state. We do not give one national answer because there is not one.

Two things are worth knowing.

First, ASPS says some services, among them cosmetic injections, soft tissue fillers, laser skin procedures and hair transplants, are legally classified as "the practice of medicine". The FDA says something similar about fillers: having filler injected "should be considered a medical procedure, not a cosmetic treatment". It tells people to use a licensed health care provider who is trained to inject fillers.

Second, ASPS says oversight rules differ by state. The American Med Spa Association, an industry group, publishes state-by-state legal summaries for med spa owners. Its own disclaimer says that medical spa laws and regulations "change very frequently". So treat any summary, ours included, as a starting point and check with the state licensing board.

What to do with this

You do not need to be an expert to ask good questions. Start with two: who is the doctor in charge, and who will treat me? Our guide to questions to ask before you book goes further, and what to expect at a consultation walks through the first visit.

When you look at a clinic on this site, you will see what it says on its own website, with the date we read it. We show what a clinic lists. We do not say how good its treatments are.