4 Overhyped Med Spa Treatments I Wouldn't Pay For
You've seen the posts. A glowing influencer, a "must-have" add-on, a price tag that makes you wince, and that little voice asking whether any of it actually works.
I sat down with Dr. Kristen Jacobs, founder of OohLaLa Spa in Glen Carbon, Illinois, and the newest certified member of the Med Spa Board. We've known each other for years, and we both have strong opinions about hype.
Wasting money is annoying but what worries me as a physician is how fast a trend spreads before anyone checks whether it's safe.
Exosomes Under the Microscope
"Unless they prove that there's actual exosomes under the microscope, that they aren't broken up, that they're actually doing anything, I just wouldn't pay for that." — Dr. Kate Dee, Med Spa Confidential
Exosomes are tiny packets your cells use to send growth factors to each other. That part is real science. I was skeptical of the skincare trend until a friend walked me through Plated, a platelet-derived product that was studied at the Mayo Clinic. It's topical, and the data made sense to me.
Exosomes are fragile and process them the wrong way and they fall apart before they ever reach your skin. For many of the popular brands, I haven't seen any data at all. Yet some clinics charge $1,500 to $2,000 a dose on top of microneedling.
Providers, you can't publicly claim what a product does without evidence. Consumers, ask one question: what study backs this? Dr. Jacobs pushed back with a popular skincare product.
False Hope Has a Price
"Stem cells are promising for the treatment of many things. They are not capable of doing it now." — Dr. Kate Dee, Med Spa Confidential
Stem cell clinics charge $5,000 to $20,000 to people with illnesses that have no cure. A man from Colorado with ALS flew to Seattle for a spinal injection at a med spa. He hemorrhaged and died. His family sued and won $24 million.
Before that verdict, the Washington State Attorney General had already shut the practice down for advertising stem cells as a cure for many things, including COVID. That's how most of these clinics get stopped: false advertising.
If a clinic promises to fix something your doctor calls incurable, walk away.
In the episode, I explain why I think some of these providers truly believe their own claims, and why that still doesn't make it legal.
Very Expensive Urine
"All they're doing is taking your money and providing you some very expensive urine." — Dr. Kate Dee, Med Spa Confidential
You need an IV when you're sick. Maybe you can't keep fluids down, or you have an infection that needs IV antibiotics. If you're healthy, you can get your vitamins and electrolytes from food and a drink mix.
Dr. Kristen Jacobs's turning point came at a conference, when a speaker said clinics offering NAD need a crash cart. She decided IV therapy wasn't for her practice. And there was just a recent NAD IV death in New York involving someone with no medical license in that state.
Before any drip, ask who's placing the IV and what emergency equipment is in the room.
I share the one situation where I'll admit an IV bar makes sense. Yes, it involves Vegas.
Too Far From Your Face
"It's not close enough to your skin. You cannot possibly do it enough every day." — Dr. Kate Dee, Med Spa Confidential
LED has real science behind it. Studies show collagen stimulation when the light sits within a centimeter of your skin for about 20 minutes daily. A studied mask can help if you're consistent.
Most people aren't, and Dr. Jacobs was honest that her biggest benefit is ten minutes of lying down and breathing. But those handheld wands sold at conferences for thousands of dollars? Hard pass.
Before Your Next Appointment
Dr. Kristen Jacobs and I agreed on almost everything. Then she brought up the hormone treatment she calls life-changing, and we didn't land in the same place on how she gets it. If a treatment promises a lot and can't show you data, ask for it. Your money and your safety deserve better than hype.
