AI, FDA, PDGF: The Talk of MSS
Artificial intelligence, compliance, and peptides. Oh my!
The most talked about concepts at aesthetics’ biggest event of the year boast initialisms that make them all the more mysterious. When the industry’s best and brightest gathered at Medical Spa Show 2026, we came together to demystify and come to terms with the changes that bring both opportunity and major cautions to med spa owners nationwide.
AI for Med Spas in 2026
For the first time at MSS, AmSpa and eight leading brands came together to build a dedicated pre-show education event focused on advancements in AI and the practical ways med spas can use the tech to build efficiencies and gain time back for their practitioners.
Thursday’s Aesthetic Tech, Innovation & AI Summit broke down the essential software every aesthetic practice needs. Through presentations, discussions and roundtable demonstrations, providers, owners and administrators explored new platforms, learned to optimize tech they already use, and found ways harness automation to elevate patient experience and efficiency. Special thanks to Podium, Vagaro, Phorest Software, Medvelle, The Data Co., Mega, Illume, and MarketStorm.AI for supporting the first iteration of this tech-forward track!
Brands also showcased their AI agent launches in the exhibit hall and during Lunch N Learns, demonstrating the capabilities and use cases for technology that helps to bring in leads, communicate with patients and efficiently fill your appointment books.
Why the FDA Came to Medical Spa Show
Don’t be alarmed when you hear that the feds came to the conference. It’s a huge step in the right direction.
These two gentlemen, both senior regulatory counsel in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), demonstrated their willingness to learn more about the medical aesthetics space while helping med spas remain in compliance with regulations.
AmSpa leadership worked closely with its contacts in the FDA to organize a conversation on compliance, so medical spa professionals could gain clarity on med spa oversight from a regulatory and enforcement perspective. They discussed the regulatory landscape of PDGF and clarified the legal boundaries that govern manufacturers.
Compliance drew a crowd! The FDA panel Med Spas Under the Microscope – The View from the FDA was standing room only, with conscientious practice owners tuning in to hear about compliance straight from the source.
Did you miss this conversation? Watch the recorded panel starting April 27 via MSS Replay.
The Conversation on Safe, Compliant Peptide Use in Aesthetics
In the weeks leading up to the conference, PDGF, or platelet-derived growth factor, had its own spotlight on social media. Injectors and trainers clashed over communications to aesthetic providers that seemed to encourage questionable uses of these unapproved products.
We brought this talk about regenerative aesthetics to the big stage during general session. The Regenerative Revolution panel invited respected experts to talk about some of the field’s most controversial and legally nuanced topics, including off-label use, scope of practice, regulatory oversight, and patient safety considerations.
Leaders in aesthetics addressed misconceptions, highlighted potential risks, and explored the ethical responsibilities that accompany emerging treatments—equipping attendees to make informed, compliant decisions in their practice.
Regenerative medicine had its own track on Friday, covering more about innovations in functional and longevity medicine, covering PN/PDRN, exosomes, PRP, PDGF and growth-factor–based treatments, along with nutraceuticals, IV therapy, rapamycin, hormone support and more.
Truly, MSS had you covered with the advancements and innovations that are creating buzz in medical aesthetics. Take a moment to learn more about these for when patients come in with questions!
What hot topics are top of mind in your practice? The call for presentations for MSS 2027 is now live. Submit your abstract by June 30th.