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Medical spas are a combination of an aesthetic or beauty spa with a medical clinic. A medical spa should operate under the continuous supervision of a medical doctor.

Since medical spas are the fastest growing segment of the health spa industry, many different types of spas use the term “medical spas” to capture the interest of the medical traveler who wants more advanced cosmetic procedures. Consequently, “medical spas” can vary in type from corporate or individual owned beauty and skin spas, complementary medicine spas, and wellness spas, to “medical spas” that operate under the supervision and care of licensed doctors or/and complementary healthcare professionals such as a dentist, osteopath, naturopath, nurse, therapist, nutritionist, or chiropractor.

Medical spas range from high-end resort facilities that combine a vacation with wellness, aesthetic, and medical treatments, to medical spas focused more on the clinical side with no overnight accommodations. Often situated in fabulous locations around the world, higher-end medical spas, just like other spas, may offer various themed medical treatments. Medical tourists usually choose their medical spas based upon their medical condition and goals, coupled with the medical spas selected treatments and services, and a desired country or specific locale.

Medical spas offer a combination of high end treatments for the skin, body, and teeth such as lipo-suction, chemical peels, dermabrasion, IPL (intense pulsed light), laser skin and hair treatments, cosmetic dental surgery, injectables like Botox and fillers, peels and skin tightening and other cosmetic procedures. In addition they may offer other alternative medical treatments such as the ancient holistic forms of ayurveda, siddha, unanni, yoga, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, as well as wellness treatments. Some folks within the medical spa industry are advocating an emphasis away from the more invasive procedures and focus more on alternative or wellness treatments which are effective ways to rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit and reduce the stress of daily life. Ultimately, the medical spas industry will be driven by what their patients want.

All spas that call themselves “medical spas” should have a medical doctor on staff and preferably on the premises at all times. Quality medical spas will have plastic surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists, and/or licensed aestheticians affiliated with them. At these medical spas, you'll find the medical staff working alongside the spa therapists and aesthetic staff, all under one roof, offering medical, cosmetic, and wellness treatments to the medical tourist. These types of medical spas, often called integrated spas, may have a more comprehensive approach to their clients’ medical needs by caring for them before, during, and after their procedure/s.

Since medical spas often have more sophisticated equipment, prescription-strength medicines in the facials, massages, and skin treatments, updated laser treatments, and more advanced aesthetic procedures than regular spas, patients experience greater and more obvious results. The downside of some of these more invasive procedures is the chance for more serious problems if something goes wrong. It is imperative for the medical tourist to ask about the qualifications of the people doing the medical services, and how long they've been doing them. It is also advisable to research the type of equipment the medical spas uses for any treatments you're interested in undergoing. In the complex field of cosmetic/plastic surgery, and treatments, the technology is always changing. The medical tourist/ patient should want the most up-to-date technologies for all medical spas procedures. A patient should also want to know if the doctor or doctors whose names are associated with the medical spa actually are onsite and play an integral part in the patient's evaluation and care. Considering the fact that these elective, cosmetic treatments are seldom reimbursed by third-party payers, clients are expecting more from facilities that call themselves medical spas versus day spas.

As more facilities enter the medical spas market, the medical tourist will benefit with more choices, more variety, and more competitive prices. Educating yourself by doing independent research about medical spas is smart for you, as a medical tourist. You want to go to medical spas that provide comprehensive medical care in an environment that integrates spa services with all its pampering, conventional and complimentary therapies, and wellness treatments in a lovely, relaxing setting with results that are pleasing and satisfying.