Incorporating wellness into your practice
Incorporating wellness into aesthetic practices has varied benefits
Listen to The Cosmetic Cast wellness episode with Dr Mayoni Gooneratne
Beyond meeting consumer demand and increasing customer satisfaction, it opens up new revenue streams and has the potential to enhance treatment outcomes.
Advantages of adding wellness to your practice:
Meeting consumer demand and increasing customer satisfaction by providing an enhanced patient experience
New source of revenue – you may attract new patients to the clinic who are nervous about aesthetic treatments
Increase your own sense of well-being and that of your team
Enhance the outcome of your treatments by offering a 360-degree approach
Beauty is now an inside-out experience, and consumers are increasingly craving experiences that transform not only their physical appearance but also their mental and emotional well-being. By embracing a 360-degree approach to aesthetics, practitioners can foster a sense of well-being within their clinics and communities, empowering patients to look and feel their best.
We are even seeing a shift in the industry vocabulary with terms such as “self-care”, “well-being”, “mindfulness”, “agelessness”, “longevity”, “functional medicine”, “skin health”, and “ageing well”, replacing “anti-ageing”.Clinics can integrate wellness into their practices in a number of ways:
One way aesthetic practices are embracing this market shift is in the clinic environment itself. Modern clinics are reimagining the traditional clinical space, infusing elements of luxury and serenity typically associated with spas.
From calming waiting areas to soothing music and aromatherapy, these environments aim to provide a holistic, relaxing experience that promotes a sense of peace and calm.
Moreover, the integration of wellness into aesthetic practices extends beyond the treatment room, encompassing the entire patient experience. Thoughtfully curated amenities such as aromatherapy, soothing music, and mindfulness spaces further enhance the overall experience.
The Galderma NEXT report claimed mindfulness is being evidenced in the market in three ways:
The ‘no make-up’ look – patients are looking to aesthetics for a healthy and radiant appearance, seeking treatments which improve skin quality. There’s also been a shift away from obvious-looking results towards a more natural look
Naturally in sync – artificial products and treatments are out as consumers look to naturally occurring ingredients like hyaluronic acid and treatments like platelet-rich plasma facials. Biostimulators are also seeing increased search volumes
Free from – there are more plant-based ingredients in treatments as consumers seek to align their beauty choices with their ethical beliefs
You can read our blog on embracing veganism and sustainability in aesthetics for more on this subject.
To address the rising demand for holistic well-being, aesthetic clinics are diversifying their services to include wellness-focused treatments and services.
This approach considers the whole person—their health, lifestyle, and overall well-being—and seeks to provide treatments that enhance not just physical appearance but also the overall quality of life. This paradigm shift reflects a deeper understanding of beauty as a component of overall health and wellness.
This may include menopause services, nutrition and weight management, which aim to enhance not only physical appearance but also health and vitality. It is also very much aligned with the emergence of functional medicine as a growing field.
Dr Mayoni Gooneratne, founder of Human Health, was a recent guest on The Cosmetic Cast. She spoke about the synergy between aesthetics and wellness.
She says, “I was at a longevity summit last week, and what was really obvious was that this space is exploding. Fundamentally, most aesthetic practitioners have a medical clinical background and a significant degree of training. And we come to this space with that hat on primarily. Aesthetics is just a brilliant space in which to engage with people. So, inevitably, you will end up hearing about their poor sleep, their stress levels or the fact they're having hot flushes. I think the beauty of what we do is we also have the privilege of the education to help someone to then take it to the next level. So we don't just listen as a friend; we're listening as a clinician.”
Traditional aesthetic procedures are also being complemented by integrative approaches that prioritise holistic health. Procedures such as facial acupuncture, which not only targets signs of ageing but also stimulates the body's natural healing mechanisms, exemplify this holistic approach.
Similarly, non-invasive body contouring techniques are being paired with lifestyle interventions such as personalised fitness plans and dietary guidance to achieve optimal results. Stress management, breath work and meditation may be used as an adjunct to treatments for those with stressed skin.
“I suspect there’s going to be a move away from what we see now as individual, isolated treatments, and a move towards a holistic approach with wellness and a combination of devices and products and injectables, combining that with mental health and wellbeing.”
Listen to The Cosmetic Cast wellness episode with Dr Mayoni Gooneratne here
