Medical spas, sometimes referred to as med spas, combining medical procedures usually performed in a doctor’s office with the world of a day spa experience.
A particular focus is on antiaging treatments. Medical spas can now offer non-surgical antiaging therapies that were previously only done in a doctor’s office. However, in some countries, there is a requirement that a qualified doctor operates medical spas.
Spa destinations are more medically oriented and offer, for example, detoxification, metabolic optimization (optimization of the body’s fat-burning, energy generation), medical weight loss, and cures after cancer.
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Examples Of Medical SPA Treatments
Medical spa treatments can include corrective medical skin care products; Method of treating lines, wrinkles, sun spots, sagging skin, loss of facial volume, and also other undesirable aging skin conditions.
Laser hair removal treatments and vein, scar, and stretch marks therapy are also offer.
Other core treatments are microdermabrasion (a cosmetic skincare procedure); mild chemical peels; medical facials or photorejuvenation (a skin treatment that uses lasers, intense pulsed light, or photodynamic therapy to treat skin conditions and remove the effects of photoaging (premature aging) such as wrinkles, spots, and textures).
Creates open wounds on the skin that heal as new cells form. Muscle spasms can be treated with botulinum toxin; a neurotoxic protein injected directly into the muscle. Muscle spasms are cause by chemical reactions sent to the muscles by nerves that cause the muscles to contract. Botulinum toxin blocks these reactions.
Another spa treatment includes injectable fillers; soft tissue fillers injected into the skin to fill facial wrinkles. Standard spa medical procedures include cellulite reduction, tissue tightening, and acne treatments.
The Connection To Traditional Medicine
While Western medical practice treats symptoms, it is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that helped create the connection between medicine and spas. CAM treatments and regimens can include chiropractic, acupuncture, herbal teas and lotions, diet changes, and meditation.
Growth Of Medical SPAs
The latest available figures show that the number of medical spas has been slightly higher than the number of spas as a whole, although the increase in sales has lagged behind the global total.
There are over 6,800 medical spas, making up nearly 5% of the global total. However, medical spas generate around 7% of global spa revenues.
Major Medical SPAs
Medical spas offer comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment that combines spa services with traditional, alternative, and cosmetic medical treatments and therapies. They have full-time doctors and staff on-site, including qualified nurses, pharmacists, and physiotherapists.
Some of the best (and most expensive) medical spas are in Europe, including the Swiss La Prairie Clinic and the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. Both world-class facilities offer luxurious accommodations, superb facilities, and specialist teams for consultations, examinations, and also surgery.
Also, they have state-of-the-art operating theaters with recovery rooms and 24-hour care. The medical spa offer also includes weight loss and stress reduction programs, check-ups, beauty treatments, and preventive medicine.
Other exclusive medical spa destinations include Chiva Som in Thailand, which markets its customized programs under the direction of the guest’s health and wellness advisor; Kamalaya, Thailand, which offers three-tier detox programs; the SHA Wellness Clinic, which is located in Spain, north of Benidorm. And provides detox and weight control programs, among other things; the Lanserhof Group; and the Vilalara Longevity Thalassa & Medical Spa, located in Portugal’s Algarve.
Lanserhof Group
The Lanserhof Group claims to be “the European leader in modern naturopathic medicine” (a form of alternative medicine that employs a range of pseudoscientific practices that are classified as “natural,” “non-invasive,” and to promote ” self-healing medicine “).
The group opened its first medical spa facility in Tyrol in 1974. And operated two spas in Germany, including one in Tegernsee and one in Hamburg.
There are two more properties in the pipeline, one on the German holiday island of Sylt, which is due to open in 2020. And one in England, which is expect to open in Mayfair in May 2019.
Vilalara Longevity Thalassa & Medical Spa
This facility offers a fusion of thalassotherapy (seawater treatment), spa, and also wellness and antiaging programs in a luxury seaside leisure resort. The resort, which extends over 11 hectares of gardens, has a secluded beach. And five outdoor pools with fresh or seawater, four tennis courts. And also two restaurants.
At the Vilalara Longevity Thalassa & Medical Spa, guests can choose one of Longevity’s programs, ranging from a relaxing wellness retreat to effective and structured detox, weight loss, or antiaging program.