As seen in the Leading Spas of Canada website.

The Quest to Remain Forever Young
The Growing Trend of Medical Spas

by Wanda Love, Director of Marketing, Santé Spas

While the Canadian spa industry continues to enjoy tremendous growth, one of the most significant trends is the exponential boom of medical spas, although many consumers remain slightly bewildered by the term. Leading Spas of Canada defines a medical spa as “a spa or institution comprised of medical physicians and spa professionals whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive wellness care and/or medical esthetics in an environment that integrates spa services, as well as conventional and complementary therapies and treatments”.

The first medical spa in Canada was opened in Calgary in 1998. Known as Santé Spa (previously Institut de Santé), the spa continues to be owned and operated by its founder, Dr. Wendy Smeltzer. A champion for health and safety practices in the spa industry, Dr. Smeltzer marvels at the growing popularity of the medical spa market segment. “When we first opened our doors we were a bit of an anomaly. Our treatment menu extends well beyond the traditional spa offerings, combined with the knowledge and expertise of medical professionals, all in a spa environment. To see the expansion of this industry is extraordinary. And the new developments in technology allow us to constantly expand the scope of treatments available for our guests”, says Smeltzer.

In the US, the medical spa market experienced an increase of 72% annual growth in numbers and a whopping 86% annual growth in revenue between 2003 and 2006. That revenue growth is more than quadruple the 20% growth achieved by day spas.? And typically the Canadian industry eventually follows the same growth trends as their American counterparts which appears to be supported by the Leading Spas of Canada Research. The 2005 Canadian Spa Goers Survey reports that “when asked directly if they would like their regular spa to incorporate medical spa treatments, 47% of all spa goers and 74% of medical spa visitors said yes”.

The proliferation of medical spas should not be surprising given the reluctant aging of the baby boomer generation - armed with plenty disposable income and seeking to maintain their appearance. Since 2002, procedures such as Botox, Restylane, Perlane, Featherlift and Threadlift have increased by 325% (Source: International Spa Association (www.experienceispa.com)

The most popular non-surgical procedures in Canada are Botox, injectable fillers such as Restylane, laser hair removal and non-surgical facelifts. Specifically, more than 142,374 Canadians received Botox injections in 2005. Those seeking injectable fillers was 126,554 and laser hair removal came in at 94,021. While the majority of those were women (83.5%), men comprise a total of 16.5% with Botox and laser hair removal being their preferred treatments (Source: Medicard® (www.medicard.com)

And reasons for this growth in popularity run more than skin deep. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery’s 2006 Consumer Perception Survey, five out of six consumers believe that personal appearance is key to professional success as well.

Dr. Wendy Smeltzer is a strong believer in the medical spa model. “Many of our guests feel it’s more comfortable than a visit to the doctor’s office. Our spa provides an atmosphere of peace and tranquility with relaxing music, calming colours and a cup of tea in front of the fireplace before their treatment”, she notes. Spa-goer Alison McIlvride supports that saying, “for those of us who are needle-phobic, getting injections like Botox in a spa environment would be much less stressful. I’m uncomfortable in the cold, clinical setting of a doctor’s office. But a spa? Does it get more relaxing?”.

And for others, the convenience of one-stop shopping is the real attraction. “At Santé each component of our treatment menu complements the other”, says Dr. Carole Williams, Medical Director at Santé Spa’s second location, located at Bear Mountain Resort just outside Victoria, BC. “Proper skin care is an integral part of skin rejuvenation; atrvelous results”, advises Williams.

The number of baby boomers turning 60 is growing at a rate of more than 1,000 per day, reports Statistics Canada. Combined with the increasing popularity of the spa industry in general, medical spas and their state of the art anti-aging treatments are poised to fully transition to a mainstream segment of our Canadian culture.