Using Google Trends data for U.S. web searches from June 2015 to June 2025, researchers in a 2026 JMIR Dermatology study found higher relative search volumes for Med Spa queries involving lip fillers, Botox, laser hair removal, and microneedling.
Study Compares Online Search Trends for Med Spas and Dermatologists
A July 15, 2026, research letter published in JMIR Dermatology examined U.S. Google Trends data from June 2015 through June 2025 for seven aesthetic procedures paired with the terms “Med Spa” and “dermatologist.” The study reports how online search activity differed across procedures commonly offered by Med Spa and aesthetic practices.
Med Spa Searches Had Higher Relative Search Volumes for Four Aesthetic Procedures
In “Shifting Perceptions of Cosmetic Procedures: Rise of Medical Spas in Online Search Trends,” researchers compared monthly relative search volumes for aesthetic procedures after pairing treatment terms with either “Med Spa” or “dermatologist.” In the introduction, the researchers noted that Med Spas have reshaped aesthetic dermatology. They also stated that social media engagement has paralleled rising search interest in popular cosmetic terms and has further shaped patient decision-making.
To assess evolving public perceptions, the researchers used Google Trends data from June 2015 through June 2025 to examine relative search volumes across seven procedures. Google Trends measures search interest on a scale from 0 to 100. A score of 100 marks the point when a term received its highest level of search interest within the selected period and location. Lower scores show interest relative to that peak and do not represent actual search counts.
Researchers analyzed Google for the following procedures:
- Botox injection
- Laser hair removal
- Chemical peels
- Laser skin resurfacing
- Microdermabrasion
- Microneedling
- Dermal fillers, reported as lip fillers in the results
In the study, Ye et al. (2026) reported higher mean relative search volumes for Med Spa queries involving:
- Laser hair removal: 71.1
- Botox injections: 49.4
- Lip fillers: 35.7
- Microneedling: 32.6
The study also found that dermatologist queries had higher mean relative search volumes for:
- Chemical peels: 71.6
- Microdermabrasion: 51.7
- Laser skin resurfacing: 48.0
In the discussion, the researchers described the findings as suggesting a substantial shift in public interest toward Med Spas over board-certified dermatologists for some popular cosmetic procedures. They also called for expanded patient and policy education on provider credentials and procedural safety as Med Spas become more visible in online searches.
Source Publication
According to Ye et al. (2026), Google Trends queries paired with “Med Spa” had higher relative search volumes than those paired with “dermatologist” for four of the seven procedures studied. The research letter, “Shifting Perceptions of Cosmetic Procedures: Rise of Medical Spas in Online Search Trends,” was published July 15, 2026, in JMIR Dermatology and is available under DOI 10.2196/83509.
Detailed Findings and Compliance Context for Med Spa Operators
The research letter discusses provider qualifications, clinical oversight, and patient education separately from the Google Trends results. The authors cited prior research reporting that 6.5% of surveyed U.S. Med Spas had an on-site medical director and that fewer than half of the listed medical directors had training in dermatology or plastic surgery.
In addition to the Google Trends findings, the authors also cited earlier findings from a prior publication associating procedures performed by nonphysician operators with higher adverse-event rates than physician-performed treatments, while more than 70% of surveyed patients believed nonphysician providers were adequately qualified.
The discussion sits alongside an AMA study finding 36 states reportedly lack clear rules governing Med Spa ownership, licensure, and supervision, and highlights differences in oversight requirements across jurisdictions. Other industry news shows market data published by SNS Insider estimates that the global longevity market could reach $67.03 billion by 2035, with growth tied to preventive care, personalized medicine, and wellness services offered in some Med Spa settings.
The researchers called for additional patient and policy education on provider credentials and procedural safety. For Med Spa and aesthetic operators, requirements governing aesthetic procedures, provider oversight, and scope of practice vary by state and may be established through statutes, regulations, and licensing-board rules.
36 states reportedly lack clear rules governing Med Spa ownership, licensure, and supervision.
Operational Considerations for Med Spa Procedures and Services
- Review state, agency, and licensing-board requirements for each aesthetic service offered.
- Assign procedures to practitioners with the required licensure, training, delegation authority, and supervision.
- Define evaluation, prescribing, treatment, and oversight responsibilities within procedure protocols.
- Align advertising and search-facing content with services offered, practitioner qualifications, and applicable scope-of-practice rules.
- Maintain procedure-specific documentation for training, patient consent, clinical oversight, and adverse-event response.
What to Watch Next
The researchers recommended future studies combining search-trend data with clinical outcome information, including complication rates from dermatology practices and emergency departments. They stated that this research could help evaluate the relationship between shifting search patterns, patient safety, and health policy.
About Spakinect
Spakinect provides compliance infrastructure and telehealth-supported supervision solutions for medical aesthetic practices. For additional information, see our website.
Image Attribution: “Woman works on laptop while sitting on a kitchen counter” by Shixart1985, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
