Between the 76 million Baby Boomers (born 1946-64) and the 65 million Generation Xers (born 1965-80),1-2 there is a very large population of adult consumers in the U.S.—and many of those consumers are following anti-aging trends closely.
Baby Boomers and Gen Xers spent almost $262 billion on anti-aging products in 2013, up from $162 billion in 2009, according to BCC Research.3
Given that chiropractic is focused on keeping the body healthy through a commitment to a lifestyle of wellness, a savvy DC can certainly break in to this growing market. Offering services in addition to traditional adjustments can only add to a practice’s bottom line, and using lasers for skin resurfacing can help a DC tap into the anti-aging industry.
How does anti-aging laser resurfacing work?
Laser resurfacing is designed to correct any skin irregularities, such as acne scars, lines, wrinkles, sun spots, or age spots on the face. Short bursts of light from a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser can remove the top epidermal layer of skin to reveal the newer, healthier skin underneath.4
In addition to removing the outer layer of old, dead skin cells, the laser heats up the newer skin underneath to stimulate collagen growth. Collagen is a natural protein the body uses to fill out the skin over the skeletal structure. As the body ages, it naturally loses collagen, which can lead to fine lines and wrinkles, particularly around the eyes and mouth. Heating the skin is believed to stimulate collagen production, thus helping to remove lines and wrinkles.4
Benefits of offering laser resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is an outpatient procedure that can generally be accomplished in just a few sessions, depending on the amount of work to be done on the face. Since the procedure can be completed relatively quickly and does not require any extensive post-procedure recovery time, DCs can offer this as an income-generating ancillary service to both new and established patients.
Furthermore, as most laser resurfacing treatment is considered an elective, cosmetic procedure, there is no worry about dealing with medical insurance4—it can be a strictly income-based revenue stream. Those looking at add laser resurfacing therapy to their list of services may want to offer financing options for patients.
References
1 Colby S, Ortman J. “The Baby Boom Cohort in the United States: 2012 to 2060.” United States Census Bureau Population Estimates and Projections. 2014:25–1141.
2 Gao G, Taylor P. “Generation X: America’s neglected ‘middle child’.” Pew Research Center. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/05/generation-x-americas-neglected-middle-child/. Published June 2014. Accessed January 2015.
3 O’Brien E. “10 secrets of the anti-aging industry.” MarketWatch. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-the-anti-aging-industry-wont-tell-you-2014-02-11. Published February 2014. Accessed January 2015.
4 Gardner S. “Laser skin resurfacing.” WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/beauty/laser-skin/laser-skin-resurfacing. Published July 2014. Accessed January 2015.
