NewsletterSign InSearchSearchNewsletterBest of BeautyNewsSkinMakeupHairNailsWellnessShoppingAllure Beauty BoxNewsletterVideoINVESTIGATIONMed Spa NationThere are almost as many med spas as McDonald’s in the US, ready to serve you a smoother forehead, glowier skin, and fuller lips. Are you safe placing an order?By Deanna PaiNovember 18, 2025Illustration by Pablo DelcanSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this storyOn a recent trip to grab groceries in my New York City suburb, I drove by a small, simply marked door for Westchester Laser Associates, which is in the same plaza. A few steps away, a large sign between two awnings reads “Ject.” They’re two med spas competing for customers—although Ject would seem to have the upper hand, with a huge storefront and minimalist-chic aesthetic that’s practically screaming (or, rather, whispering) Jenni Kayne. Both blend seamlessly among the Chopt, SoulCycle, and Starbucks in the shopping center—grab a salad, go for a spin class, sip an Americano, get an injection of botulinum toxin. Back in the car, I’m listening to a game on the radio that’s sponsored by another med spa—which, the DJ says, “does everything: Botox, filler, nails.” And when I pick up my daughter from day care, I stroll past yet another one—this time specializing in “body contouring,” according to a decal on the door. It’s housed in an enormous first-floor office suite, and I can glimpse the white lacquered reception counter inside. There are almost as many med spas in America today as there are McDonald’s locations. The industry has mushroomed from roughly 1,600 med spas in the US in 2010 to about 10,500 in 2023, according to the most recent trend report from the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa), which was released in November 2024. It also predicts that there could be as many as 13,000 med spas by the end of 2026. (There were 13,557 golden arches…

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