The number of medspa locations is growing each year, steadily increasing from 8,899 locations in 2022 to 10,488 in 2023, according to AmSpa; the number in 2025 could be over 12,000. As aesthetic treatments become more accessible, medspa professionals and plastic surgeons report the holidays being their most populated time and see an uptick in patients gifting others their next facial, filler or wellness regimen to welcome in the new year.
These are the top aesthetic treatments to give this season, and what professionals should know as newcomers cash in their giftcards.
Something Anyone Can Enjoy, But Deeply Individualized
The treatments just about anyone can benefit from are typically low-risk facials, ones without chemicals, light-based rejuvenation and laser hair removal, says Corey Maas, MD of The Maas Clinic. These treatments generally have low downtime, and work well for many different skin types without promising a specific medical outcome or involving invasiveness that requires downtime and additional recovery care.
Presentation and messaging matter, as thoughtful packaging, clear expectations, and pampering-focused language help turn gifted treatments into welcoming, low-pressure introductions that can create long-term clients.Courtesy of A at Adobe Stock
Hilary Small, founder of the Medspa Society, says invasive procedures—anything involving a needle—is best suited for the individual to opt for themselves and not as a gift. It’s much safer to gift a dollar amount or a “consult and credit” rather than pre-selecting the actual procedure for someone else. Maas and Small suggest adding a consultation or skin analysis included with the giftcard because not only does it ease some anxiety, allowing the recipient to meet the person conducting the service, but even with general treatments, sensitivity and specific needs like moisture and acne levels must be considered.
Personalization is what makes aesthetic treatments so indulgent and luxurious in the first place, so an aspect of that process, no matter the dollar amount or service being gifted, will make a new patient feel seen and welcomed.
How Presentation and Messaging Make Medspa Experiences Special
Thoughtful presentation of gift cards and bundled wellness services are crucial, as these recipients are often new customers, and ease of use can invite them to come back and have recurring treatments. Professionals suggest these small details that make a big difference:
- Branded envelopes with pleasing designs, and gift boxes with simple, clear messaging explaining how to redeem and what to expect.
- A customized note from the giver or medical professional, outlining the intentions of the gift and setting a warm, personal tone.
- Travel-size skincare product or sample in the box to make the gift feel special while exposing newcomers to retail products.
A gifted treatment shouldn’t make the recipient feel they need to look younger or should engage in beauty services, as correcting is not the gift here; pampering is. So, Small suggests using careful language when marketing bundles and giftcards—words that communicate treating themselves and relaxation. Wellness services, if a medspa offers them, are a safe bet, too. Red light therapy beds, infrared sauna sessions, compression therapy or vibration plate sessions encourage well-being without requiring a big medical decision or risking the wrong message.
Experience-based bundles and empathetic staff training help convert gifted visits into lasting relationships, giving newcomers a taste of multiple services while ensuring they feel comfortable, understood and never pressured into inappropriate treatments.Courtesy of Strelciuc at Adobe Stock
Pampering Creates a Clientele Pipeline; Here's How to Make Them Stay
Making sure the recipient feels right at home and not pressured to undergo intense treatments starts with a giftcard and complimentary skin analysis or consultation, but it also starts with asking the person who’s gifting why they’re gifting the service in the first place. By understanding why the patient wants to extend the gift of self-care to someone else, clinicians bring that intention into the visit, says Anshul Gambhir, founder of Gambhir Cosmetic Medicine.
Medspa professionals also mention that while a giftcard allows free range, creating “experience” bundles gives new clientele a little taste of everything a medspa can offer, from the skin analysis, the treatment itself, to a relaxing addition and finishing it off with luxury skincare. An allotted giftcard for a single treatment can feel like an appointment rather than a little retreat, and that's what patients want when they’re gifted an experience at a medspa, Small says. A glow facial with an LED add-on or a relax and restore package that pairs a facial with sauna or red light, she says, turns what could feel like a routine service into something indulgent, memorable and shareable.
Small offers these three tips to remember this holiday season:
- Expect spikes when promotions end and right before gift cards expire. You’ll need scheduling strategies to handle those surges without overwhelming staff.
- There will be times when the gifted treatment isn’t appropriate. Have a clear, flexible policy for converting that value into something safer or better suited.
- Some recipients are self-conscious about aesthetics. Training your team in empathy, language, and privacy goes a long way toward turning a potentially awkward situation into a positive, confidence-building experience.
“Those simple steps can turn a one-time gift into a long-term relationship or even a membership,” she says.
