The following insights are summarized from the PHYSIQ Roundtable publication. Download the Roundtable.
The non-invasive body treatment market has exploded in recent years. The category is growing at a 15% CAGR globally and estimated to reach $1.6 billion by 2025. The COVID-19 pandemic has only fueled the demand for body treatments. As many were in lockdown at home, unable to go to the gym, and leading a more sedentary lifestyle, 61% of U.S. adults reported undesired weight changes since the pandemic began.
According to the 2019 American Society for Dermatological Surgery (ASDS) Consumer Survey, a staggering 84% of consumers are bothered by excess weight on any part of the body – the most prevalent concern of those surveyed (followed by excess fat under the chin or on the neck). It’s no surprise then that the survey also found that body sculpting procedures were the number 1 most popular cosmetic procedures consumers are getting done (at 58%), topping skin tightening or smoothing, microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, and injectable wrinkle-relaxers (e.g. Botox).
Interestingly, while many consumers are getting body sculpting treatments, the satisfaction rating with these procedures is lower than with many other cosmetic procedures. This may not be surprising to those physicians who have worked with body treatment devices in the last decade. Although new devices have entered the non-invasive body market boasting technology such as RF, laser energy, and electromagnetic therapy, none are without their limitations – high consumables costs, uncomfortable or even painful patient experiences, and/or lackluster results. Even serious complications may result from some of the leading body devices on the market – and the only way to correct is surgery.
Cartessa Aesthetics and DEKA, Europe’s leading laser manufacturer, worked hand-in-hand for years to develop a body device to overcome these shortcomings. PHYSIQ offers a unique, multi-modality approach called STEP (Sequential Thermal & Electrical Pulse) Technology to target both muscle and tissue in a single session from the same applicators. Launched in 2021, PHYSIQ has become the buzziest new device in the body treatment market due to its numerous benefits to providers and patients: low consumables costs, comfortable, pain-free treatments with no downtime, shorter treatment times, and visible results as early as the second or third session.
In a recent roundtable discussion, Cartessa sat down with leading physicians about the evolving body treatment market and how PHYSIQ helps them address patient needs. Read on below for some of their key insights and download the full publication Reshaping the Business of Body with PHYSIQ’s Multi-Modality Technology here.
Download the PHYSIQ Roundtable.
What role do body treatments play in your practice?
We interviewed a variety of providers from dermatologists to plastic surgeons to wellness spa operators. Providers found that adding a non-invasive body treatment like PHYSIQ oftentimes draws in a different and incremental clientele to their business. It could be that men are attracted to the muscle stimulation aspect of PHYSIQ, or it could be that they now have a solution for wellness patients who aren’t interested in plastic surgery.
Carey Nease, MD, a renowned Tennessee- and Alabama-based Plastic Surgeon, said: “For patients who are not good candidates for surgery, I can offer PHYSIQ as an effective option, or I can offer it as a complement to surgery down the road to target muscle tone and problem areas.”
Dr. Nease also notes that PHYSIQ has brought in many men to his practice, which has a 95% female clientele. Those are all incremental patients who have then converted to other treatments like Botox or laser hair removal.
Why did you choose PHYSIQ for your practice?
There are two key reasons physicians chose to add PHYSIQ to their practice. The first is the innovative technology, specifically, the combination of muscle stimulation and deep heat within one treatment. Manhattan dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD, FAAD, says, “The combination of muscle stimulation and deep heat offers much better results than either modality on its own.”
The second reason is the return on investment. PHYSIQ delivers amazing return on investment for a few reasons. It has a lower disposable/consumable cost than leading competitors. The average treatment times are shorter, meaning doctors can treat more patients and generate more revenue. It’s also a hands-free treatment that can be delegated.
Emily Frost, RN, LE, CLT, who owns Frost Aesthetics in Arizona, says, “From an ROI perspective, one of the key selling points is that it is so easy to delegate. I can do higher-value services while my medical assistant creates income at the same time.”
How is PHYSIQ meeting the needs of your patients?
A key advantage of PHYSIQ is its mass appeal. Not only does PHYSIQ deliver two modalities in one, it’s also incredibly versatile. PHYSIQ comes with four applicators, giving providers the ability to treat smaller, hard-to-reach areas or even multiple areas in one session. And because the applicators can be individually adjusted, PHYSIQ can be customized to each patient’s unique concerns and goals.
From moms to men, from those in great shape to those just starting out in their wellness journey, PHYSIQ can meet the needs of many different groups. In the case of Ryan Lombardo, DAOM, who is the wellness director of a Chicago medical spa, he told us about two very different groups of patients he treats with PHYSIQ: “We have patients who take care of their bodies but have stubborn areas that need extra help. We also have weight loss, wellness patients who are fatigued and have cardiovascular metabolic issues. As we help them lose weight and improve their overall wellness, they’re interested in body treatments like PHYSIQ that can further help them in their journey.”
For Eunice Park, PHYSIQ is ideal for patients who are already in good shape and work out but have trouble spots or stubborn areas they can’t address with diet and exercise alone. One of her patients is a former IFBB (International Federation of Body Building and Fitness) bikini model and mom, and PHYSIQ has helped her get back to her ideal body.
At the end of the day, Susan Fox, D.O., and owner of Fox Vein & Laser Experts, puts it best: “PHYSIQ is for anyone looking to get out of the house and get back to their pre-COVID body.”
When are your patients beginning to see results?
Practitioners have been impressed with the results they can see with PHYSIQ early on. Not only do their patients see visible changes after only two or three sessions, results continue to improve even past their final session (recommended treatment series is five sessions, spaced one week apart).
Kenneth Rothaus, MD, a Manhattan Plastic Surgeon who also runs a wellness center, told us: “What’s interesting is that patients continue to see results after their last session. We’ve seen results improve even at two months post their last treatment.”
Have you used PHYSIQ to target multiple areas at the same time?
Speaking to the versatility of PHYSIQ, several physicians told us how they target multiple areas in one session, which offers efficiency to the patient and maximum ROI to the practice. Some common combinations are the abs and flanks, as well as abs and thighs. You can also target “bellies and booties” or “arms and abs.” PHYSIQ’s individual applicators are great for smaller, hard-to-reach areas like the arms.
Several practitioners also said that patients will often start with one area such as the abdomen, then love their results and add on more body parts. Observations like this truly speak to the efficacy of PHYSIQ: patients who love their results will keep coming back.
In addition to treating multiple areas at once, PHYSIQ can also be combined with other treatments or procedures. For example, Dr. Nease will offer PHYSIQ to his plastic surgery patients as a touchup down the road, versus undergoing additional surgery to help maintain their ideal look. For Emily Frost, she combines PHYSIQ with another beloved Cartessa device: “I have been doing the PHYSIQ and VirtueRF (RF microneedling) in combo, because if people have weight loss concerns they typically have skin laxity or stretch marks that are bothersome. My medical assistant will treat the patient with PHSYIQ, then I’ll follow with VirtueRF right after.”
Have you used a body device in the past, and how does PHYSIQ compare?
None of these providers are new to body treatment devices. Compared to other devices they’ve owned, providers prefer PHYSIQ because of its benefits to the practice and the patient. From a practice perspective, low consumables costs and shorter treatment times help practices achieve the optimal ROI. The device is also easy to operate and more hands-free than other body treatment devices, which allows the provider to free up time during treatment versus sitting by the patient. From a patient perspective, the treatment is more comfortable, more versatile and customizable, and efficacious.
As Manhattan dermatologist Dr. Shah sums it up, “I’ve had a few other devices. PHYSIQ is more versatile, more comfortable for the patient, and the cost of consumables is low.”
Get the full scoop – download the PHYSIQ roundtable publication. Contact a Cartessa agent to learn more about how PHYSIQ can help you win in the body market.
