This report originally appeared in the February 2009 issue of DOTmed Business News

Imagine the astonishment as Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer credited with discovering the legendary Fountain of Youth in 1513, teleports to present time. He could witnesses the manifestation of disappearing wrinkles, shaving bumps, varicose veins, tattoos, scars, acne, hair removal and the effects of similar aesthetic rejuvenations, not with an elixir but with light.

Nearly 500 years later, people still clamor to be ever-young, ever-beautiful and ever-healthy, and aesthetic and surgical lasers help enhance their appearance, self-esteem, personal comfort and quality of life. And thus, they are willing to pay for the benefits of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) treatment.
Aesthetic LASERs and MediSpas

The International SPA Association (ISPA)1 indicates the number of Spas in the U.S. increased from 14,600 to 18,100 last year, a growth of 24%. More than 138 million people indulged in spa visits though no data from ISPA stated what aesthetic medical procedures were performed.




Consensus is that 2006 and 2007 were banner years among those who sell aesthetic medical equipment. The industry generated $10.9 billion in revenue during 2007 and figures for 2008 not yet available promise to be comparable despite recent economic events.

However, according to survey results reported by the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM), it seems that patients prefer a medical rather than a spa environment to receive laser procedures.

The IAPAM says growth in the aesthetic medicine industry for nonsurgical procedures increased more than 81% over the last seven years. Laser hair removal was performed 906,000 times; microdermabrasion, 897,000 times; and laser skin resurfacing, 576,509 times.2

It appears the industry is holding its own

MedPro specializes in selling all tier one manufacturers of laser and light-based technologies such as Lumenis, Candela, Sciton, Cyosure and Syneron. Karen Hawk, Vice President of Sales, who joined MedPro in 2006, and previously ran the certified pre-owned division for Lumenis, reported, "I am seeing more customers with well-established practices purchasing pre-owned to add new procedures to their current menu or to outfit additional locations. These customers want to go with pre-owned for the cost savings. In the past, they would never have considered pre-owned equipment."

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