"The Shifting Face of Aesthetic Care: A Systematic Survey of Independent Medspa Directorship and Practitioner Trends in Florida".

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of medical spas in the US has raised concerns over the continued shift of non-surgical aesthetic treatments away from traditional core specialty integration and supervision, potentially affecting the surgical treatment guidance and education of cosmetic surgery patients. This study aimed to assess the current trends in the growth of independent medspa facilities as well as practitioner supervision, licensing, and specialization in the state of Florida. A comprehensive, statewide survey of all independent medspas in Florida, by municipality, employing Google and Yellow Pages search engines. Information gathered included the number of locations, business stakeholders, and director/practitioner licensing and certification obtained from the Florida Division of Corporations/Department of Health databases and respective medical boards. A total of 1,038 medspas were identified, revealing a 100% increase in number relative to 2021 estimates. Non-physician practitioners represented 84% of medspa providers, with core specialty medical director supervision present in only 22% of facilities and a large proportion of directors lacking specialty training (77%) or board certification (42%). Additionally, 25% of medspas appeared to disregard state guidelines pertaining to medical directorship, autonomous non-physician practice, and numerical/geographic restrictions on directorship, with 96% of facilities lacking licensing/registration with Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration. Medspa growth in Florida has been explosive, with continued departure from core supervision, increasingly limited specialty training/integration, and non-adherence to state guidelines. Enhanced regulation and integrated non-physician practitioner training are likely necessary to ensure patient safety and the cohesive practice of aesthetic medicine and surgery.