The aesthetic medicine market has exploded in recent years, with many people heading to clinics overseas for aesthetic treatments.
According to experts, the medical tourism market stood at 41.75 billion USD in 2024. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.08% between 2025 and 2030.
A number of destinations have proven very popular for these aesthetic treatments, including Turkey, South Korea, and Mexico, among others.
These places have gained popularity for a variety of reasons. For one thing, they give patients a chance to combine beauty and travel, with many turning their trip into a combined vacation and treatment destination.
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Why Invest in Aesthetic Clinics Abroad
As the figures show, investing in aesthetic clinics overseas could be very lucrative for investors.
However, one dilemma potential investors face is cost efficiency in contrast with treatment quality.
Naturally, investors want to make a successful and affordable investment without any compromises when it comes to the quality of treatment that patients receive.
Fortunately, there are regulatory benefits and government incentives available when it comes to emerging markets in this sector.
Health tourism is seen as an export by governments, which has led to various incentives becoming available. These include covering the salaries of multilingual staff and covering the cost of most digital and traditional advertising spending.
Another benefit for investors is the ability to access new patient segments through global expansion. With more people now heading overseas for aesthetic treatments, investors can expect a very good return on continued growth.
The cost of general medical treatment in developed countries is on the rise. This suggests that more people will also head to overseas clinics in emerging markets for standard medical treatments in the future.
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Due Diligence and Investment Strategies for Aesthetic Clinics
Of course, any investor needs to think about due diligence and investment before making any decisions. This includes finding out about legal, medical, and licensing requirements for aesthetic clinics as part of the due diligence process. Moreover, these can vary depending on the country you are investing in.
Another very important step is to compare different business investment models to determine which is the right one for you. For instance, you should look at the pros and cons of franchises, acquisition, or a local partnership, depending on your circumstances and financial capabilities.
One additional consideration is to understand the differences in culture and consumer behavior in different destinations. Again, this can vary from one country to another and can play a big part in the success of the clinic and your investment.
A good example of this comes from Prof. Dr. Ümit Kemal Şentürk, co-founder of DK Klinik—an established aesthetic clinic specializing in hair transplantation and dermatology in Antalya, Turkey—who has observed these cultural differences over more than two decades of treating both local and international patients:
“We often encounter different patient profiles depending on their country of origin. For instance, patients from Northern Europe tend to ask very detailed questions before making a decision, whereas those from Western Europe usually decide more quickly.”
Operations and Brand Management
Building a trusted clinic brand in a foreign market involves a number of steps. You need to look at the recruitment and training of local medical professionals as well as non-clinical staff. In addition, you must look at developing a strong digital marketing strategy for international patients.
When it comes to the marketing strategy for aesthetic clinics, you must think about vital aspects, such as SEO, influencer partnerships, and reviews.
The latter is seen as one of the most important aspects for this type of business, with successful clinics having a high number of written and video patient reviews.
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Financial Insights
Finally, you need to consider the financial aspects of an investment in aesthetic clinics. The return on investment is an important consideration. You will need to look into current trends and market conditions as you make your decision.
Again, this depends heavily on where you invest, the success of your marketing strategy, and the training of the medical staff.
Another financial consideration is your start-up versus your running costs. While taking the initial costs into account is vital, you must budget for long-term success by considering ongoing running costs and expenditures.
Featured image by StudioRomantic
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