AmSpa’s Alex Thiersch on Blending the Art & Commerce of Medical Aesthetics

To learn more about enhancing the business-side of your practice, join us for Thiersch’s presentation, “Five Traits of the Country’s Best MedSpas,” at Modern Beauty Con, on May 6, 2023, at the Boston Park Plaza.

The med-spa industry is not only rebounding—it’s thriving. That’s according to Alex R. Thiersch, JDD, founder and CEO of AmSpa (American Med Spa Association).

“The industry is experiencing explosive growth, and it shows no sign of slowing,” he said, supported by findings from the association’s second State of the Industry report, published earlier this year.

“Obviously, the closures associated with COVID had some impact. But the way business bounced back is a reaffirmation that non-surgical aesthetic services are proven effective. Regardless of the economic headwinds that we might see or whatever happens in the future, this industry is here to stay.”

AmSpa’s deep dive into the industry revealed that more than 9,000 med spas across the country produced sales of about $15 billion, up almost 32 percent in 2022 versus 2021.  

So what’s lifting business? Several factors: younger female clients and more male clients, the return to in-person interactions, and the elimination of stigma associated with “getting work done.”

And while injectables continue to dominate, Thiersch highlighted IV therapy and radio frequency microneedling as emerging services, as well as hair treatments.  

“Hair loss is a big entry point for men,” Thiersch said, adding there has been a 7 percent boost in the number of men under 30 going to med spas. “There is much more opportunity in men as the population ages.”

The only obstacle to the projected growth, he mentioned, is keeping up with the demand for qualified staff. 

“There is a shortage of injectors, and it is something the industry is going to have to deal with in the future.” 

He also took a moment to advise practitioners that as the industry becomes more sophisticated, they’ll have to devote as much time to understanding their place in the market as they do their treatment techniques. 

“The fact remains that most med-spa owners are trained medical providers, not business owners or entrepreneurs, and therefore don’t know the basics of how to run a business. The best med-spas understand their numbers, have a vision and plan for growth, and focus much of their energy and focus on developing processes that allow them to provide an incredible experience. They focus on patient retention even more than new patient acquisition. Patient experience is number one,” he said.

To learn more about enhancing the business-side of your practice, join us for Thiersch’s presentation, “Five Traits of the Country’s Best MedSpas,” at Modern Beauty Con, on May 6, 2023, at the Boston Park Plaza.