Eyeing growth: Wang to offer medspa services
March 2005
by Roy Moore

Laser Vision Correction

in Nashville, Tennessee

Dr. Ming Wang is joining the medical spa push by adding botox, laser procedures and other cosmetic care to his traditional LASIK vision offering at the Wang Vision Institute.

The West End business has partitioned space for cosmetic procedures and has become the state's first center to offer the Titan procedure for treating lax and redundant skin. This non-surgical process uses an infrared light to tighten skin and reverse the signs of aging.

Wang says LASIK and medspa clients are similar, so a combination of the two businesses makes sense. These patients are typically active, between 20 and 60 years in age and cosmetically minded.

“Since we're serving the same population already and since I do have the expertise in laser technology, we wanted to offer a complete package,” says Wang, who will serve as medical director of the medspa. Procedures that will be offered include light therapy treatment for acne, botox, spider vein treatment, laser hair removal and laser genesis treatments to remove damaged skin.

Wang's effort is just the latest in the growth locally of medspa operations. Jim Amos last year moved Sona International to Franklin with plans to franchise these businesses all over the country, including one planned for Cool Springs. Similarly, The Mirror Hair and Makeup Salon teamed up with an area physician to start offering botox, collagen and other procedures.

The proliferation of these centers parallels the rapid growth of non-surgical cosmetic procedures that are performed there. Last year, the number of these procedures performed soared 50 percent, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. That group now represents $4.7 billion of the $12.5 billion cosmetic procedure market.

Dr. Peter Fodor, ASAPS' president, attributes much of the growth of non-surgical procedures to the Food and Drug Administration approving botox for some procedures last year. The injectible had earlier been applied off-label, but the FDA decision instilled confidence in the procedure.

Fodor, a Los Angeles physician, says these injectibles are often less expensive than surgery and provide minimum hassles for patients. “As long as they can get the procedure, they can go back to work the next day with very little down time,” Fodor says. He sees growth continuing but warns that regulations are loose on who can perform the procedures, potentially leading to fly-by-night operators who aren't qualified to offer the service.