As demand for aesthetic services moves beyond Botox, thanks in part to the rise of GLP-1s, med-spas are building programs that target aging from the inside out
GLP-1 drugs have helped Americans slim down quickly, but rapid weight loss (coupled with a growing interest in longevity) is changing what consumers expect from med-spas.
And if you’ve visited one recently, you may notice there’s far more on the menu than Botox.
It’s what LaserAway co-founder Scott Heckmann calls a “second wave,” a major opportunity for aesthetic providers and a turning point for consumers who feel better but are now entering a new phase of care. They’re walking into clinics with different concerns: loose skin, collagen loss, facial volume changes and metabolic questions that injectables alone can’t solve.
The number of GLP-1 users is expected to grow. As it stands now, 12.4% of U.S. adults report using medications like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss, up from 5.8% in early 2024.
At LaserAway, an aesthetic chain that has grown to 200 clinics, Heckmann says he has seen a steady stream of patients entering what he calls their “refinement era.”
“They’re asking about noninvasive treatments that help them look refreshed and balanced, from skin tightening and collagen stimulation to laser resurfacing and body contouring,” he told ATN.
Younger patients are also a significant part of the mix, many of whom are turning to preventive anti-aging treatments such as microneedling, as well as add-ons like salmon DNA to improve skin quality.
GLP-1s, he says, have also swung open the door to other treatments. Glutathione and NAD+ injections, for instance, are bringing in new patients to LaserAway who may never have visited a clinic before. It makes sense. As consumers experience meaningful results from something as simple as an injection, they become more open to exploring what else can be improved.
Notably, analysts at UBS call longevity one of the most powerful investment themes of the next decade, noting that the business of living longer is projected to become an $8 trillion global economy by 2030. In its “Thought of the Week” report this fall, the bank identified the wellness and lifestyle sector, including nutrition, anti-aging skincare, wellness travel and fitness, as emerging extensions of preventive care.
Another franchise is also moving in on longevity as a growth strategy. In Los Angeles, Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center (BHRC) is mapping its next phase around a Center of Excellence, a flagship location that goes beyond cosmetic treatments with diagnostic imaging and regenerative care. It will also serve as a training hub for franchisees as BHRC gears up to expand past its 24 locations.
On the East Coast, a similar movement is taking shape, but with a physician-led approach. In New York City, Apollo House has opened the waitlist for its exclusive 150-member longevity center on Broadway.
But don’t call it a med-spa. Apollo House is billed as a “physician-led intervention in the longevity market.”
“The traditional med spa model is broken,” Apollo House founder and dual board-certified cardiologist Dr. Michael Ghalchi said. “It treats the patient in pieces. You cannot truly ‘look fresh’ if you don’t ‘feel strong.’ We built Apollo House to close the gap between what you see in the mirror and what is happening at a cellular level. This is where the science of longevity meets the art of aesthetics.”
The facility offers regenerative aesthetics like exosome therapy and CO2 resurfacing, IV nutrient and red light therapy, GLP-1 and peptide treatments, comprehensive diagnostics, hormone replacement therapy and advanced cardiac monitoring. Membership is capped at 150 patients and includes quarterly physician consultations, continuous biometric tracking and a dedicated health coach.
The longevity-meets-aesthetics trend is also gaining traction inside luxury hospitality.
The Spa by Equinox Hotels recently launched BioRegenesis, a collaboration with Beverly Hills physician Dr. Robert Dorfman that brings regenerative skincare and performance-focused beauty into a spa setting.
The collection pairs high-end facials with clinical tools such as microneedling, salmon DNA infusion, microcurrent, ultrasound, LED and cryotherapy, along with NutriDrip vitamin boosters to support skin health from within.
“Equinox Hotels is all about performance and precision, and BioRegenesis is a perfect example,” Dr. Dorfman said. “This collection brings advanced clinical innovation into a space designed for measurable transformation, making results-driven skincare accessible in a luxury spa setting.”
