The spa quandary
Plastic surgery and other medical treatments that improve appearance were once largely the domain of the rich and famous. New technologies have changed that, bringing a host of less invasive cosmetic procedures within the financial reach of a much larger swath of the population.
The demand for services such as Botox injections, chemical peels and laser abrasions — and the willingness to pay out of pocket for them — has also made them an attractive option for physicians. At a time when many doctors are struggling with lower payments from public and private insurers, cash-only medical spas have become an increasingly popular way of relieving the financial pressures.
But as the medical spa industry continues to expand at a breakneck pace, oversight of these facilities is lagging behind. New cosmetic procedures and devices are increasingly blurring the line between the practice of medicine and the field of cosmetology — and putting some patients in the hands of less-qualified individuals.
