New York Times Says, “They want hips and breasts, phony or not.”

As many of my regular blog readers and webinar attendees know, I often speak about the importance of “staying on trend” as a medical spa or aesthetic medical practice.  When asked how to trend watch I tell my readers and listeners about the obvious such as trade shows and communicating with your reps but in addition, I always stress the importance of keeping your eye to mainstream media (Oprah, Good Morning America, CNN, etc) and very importantly monitoring the latest trends in fashion and beauty.

What we saw happening at Paris Fashion Week is a great example.  Some Designers are beginning to design clothes that accentuate the female body including breasts and hips…”phony or not” as stated in a recent New York Times article covering Paris Fashion Week.  Is this being driven by the increase in women wanting larger breasts and a “Brazilian Butt” or will this drive woman to want larger breasts and “Brazilian Butts”?  Either way this speaks to the demand for these services and potentially predicts the continued strength of this trend.

In addition, as the Haute Couture of Paris begins to filter its way into the mainstream (which tends to be a year or so behind) will we see even more demand by the everyday woman?  Will aesthetic medical practices need to do, not only, breast implants but more consumer friendly less invasive breast augmentation utilizing fat transfer?

Great questions to be asking ourselves in 2010 and most definitely a trend to watch.

FXA

Bling out of BOTOX

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an industry group in Washington, has drafted a new code: a voluntary ban on the part of drug companies from giving doctors promotional items i.e. pens, flash drives, staples, and of course the most well know give-away in the cosmetic industry, Allergan’s rhinestone adorned black B-O-T-O-X  t-shirts.

For more information read about it in the New York Times.

FXA

FXA Comments on the NYC Luxury Spa Market

Recently, I was interviewed by New York Times writer Natasha Singer for an article focused on the number of over-the-top luxury urban spas open or about to open in New York City, “Keeping Up Appearances, No Matter the Dow“.  These are spas that will charge you anywhere from $250 up to $500 for a single service, many of which are located within the best hotels in Manhattan.

I’ve been in the spa industry for over 25 years and during that time have owned or operated over 75 spas and medical spas of which 10 or more were in the luxury category.  So this is a topic I’m fairly comfortable speaking about and though there is a definite market for this level of spa (especially in Manhattan) I’m not sure if there is sufficient market share to go around to fill 6 over-the-top luxury spas.  And depending upon what occurs over the next year or two with the current recession, it might be a long hard road for  many of these newer or about to open spa operators.

I will add, that in a recession, today’s female consumer is much more likely to cut out the $500 spa treatment that no one ever sees, long before she cuts out her $500 Botox treatment that everyone sees.

FXA