Driven by booming demand for weight loss medications, medical spas across the Inland Northwest are rapidly expanding beyond traditional cosmetic procedures into full-service wellness and metabolic health centers. For many operators, offering these treatments supports clinic growth and provides a financial boost amid rising operational costs.

The shift reflects a broader industry evolution toward regenerative care and longevity, according to some Spokane-area medical spa operators. GLP-1 weight-loss medications in particular have become a key revenue driver across the region by bringing in a steady stream of new patients.

The regional surge mirrors a nationwide turning point sparked by federal regulatory approval in 2021. At the time, the role of GLP-1s expanded significantly following U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of Wegovy for chronic weight management, according to data and analytics company Guidepoint Qsight, which focuses on the medical aesthetics and medical technology industries. 

For Christine Mosca, owner of Spokane Valley-based Bella Dea Medspa PLLC, founded in 2023, GLP-1 weight loss medications are now central to the financial viability of Bella Dea and other medical spas, she says. 

“A lot of med spas, including myself, ... would probably not be surviving right now if it weren’t for GLP-1s,” says Mosca.

Tyler Nelsen, practice manager at The Lab Aesthetics & Wellness LLC, established in 2022, credits GLP-1 weight loss medications with helping the Spokane Valley-based clinic grow rapidly.

“We were growing like 200% per year … every single year over year,” Nelsen says. “(It) was this huge boom in patient population, which then translated over to the aesthetic side.”

GLP-1 therapies are increasingly serving as a gateway service for aesthetics practices. According to a report by Guidepoint Qsight, an estimated 40% of GLP-1 patients in 2024 were brand-new to those clinics, frequently converting into repeat clients for other treatments. Consequently, national adoption reached 60% among medical spas by early 2025.

In 2023, there were over 10,000 medical spas, nearly double the total in 2018, according to the American Med Spa Association. 

That growth rings true for the industry in the Spokane area, Mosca says, noting that it’s difficult to estimate the number of new clinics opened over the years as many are single-room, single-provider operations. Sector growth also is being driven by workforce shifts, including some registered nurses who are leaving hospital environments looking for career opportunities that offer a better work-life balance, she adds. 

"Nurse burnout is huge," Mosca says. "We are considered a clinic, but it's a different type of clinic setting where you can create your own schedule. It's definitely a different career that looks a lot better than what you're used to in a hospital."

But with the influx of new providers in the sector, competition is increasing, with some medical spas reporting slower growth while others continue to expand. 

At Bella Dea, new patient growth is slowing this year, although the business continues to attract new clientele and retain existing patients, Mosca says. Meanwhile, at The Lab, revenue is up 12% so far this year compared to 2025, Nelsen says. 

“The industry has just tapped the top right now,” Nelsen says. “There is still so much more to be open to, which is exciting. It just shows there are so many more patients for all these practices to be able to help.”

Unlike traditional healthcare practices, medical spas generally operate on a cash-pay model. To make treatments more affordable for patients and generate more predictable revenue, many operators offer memberships, payment plans, and third-party financing.

Bella Dea offers a monthly savings program for patients to set aside money for future treatments, while The Lab offers memberships that allow patients to budget for recurring services.

For clinic owners, recurring subscription programs keep patients coming back while steadying revenue during slower months, Mosca says.

Mosca, a registered nurse with over 10 years of aesthetic nursing experience, operates Bella Dea in a 2,000-square-foot space at 1415 N. Houk Road, in Spokane Valley. Services include Botox and dermal fillers, as well as skin treatments such as microneedling and tattoo removal. Shortly before opening her current location, Mosca introduced semaglutide — the active ingredient in brand-name medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. She later expanded to include tirzepatide, marketed as Zepbound and Mounjaro, following its 2023 FDA approval for weight management.

Both GLP-1 medications are subcutaneous injections given once a week. At The Lab, some patients choose to come in weekly, creating an ongoing relationship with the clinic, Nelsen says.

The Lab first opened as a small studio in the back of a hair salon before expanding into a neighboring space at 9317 E. Trent, in Spokane Valley. Nelsen helped founder Aaron Willhite-Ruiz, a nurse practitioner, expand the practice and establish a gym within the clinic to complement the company's GLP-1 weight-loss program and create a more comprehensive wellness business.

The Lab offers semaglutide and tirzepatide weight loss treatments alongside a structured program that includes monitoring patients’ body composition using a body scanner to track fat and muscle mass, Nelsen says.

“We track everything to make sure they’re successful off the medication too,” he says.

GLP-1 medications have also been FDA-approved for a wide range of applications beyond weight loss including the treatment of several chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and kidney disease.

“(The FDA is) working on approvals all the time,” Mosca says.

The expansion of medical spa operators into weight management reflects a broader cultural shift toward wellness and preventive care.

“Ever since COVID, people kind of had a shift in their thought process of self-care and how important it really is,” Nelsen contends.

Mosca characterizes wellness as the biggest boom in aesthetics at the moment, with 30% of her patients seeking exclusive wellness treatments rather than aesthetics.

“Now, we’re trying to treat the whole client,” she says.