For many years, medical spas have gotten a bad rap. They’ve often been seen as shady, semi-legal operations offering knock-off lip fillers for a reduced price and reduced safety.

But now that might all be changing.

Certainly, there are plenty of dodgy med-spas out there, and you should always consult the help of a licensed, experienced doctor before undergoing any treatment, medical or otherwise. But a growing wave of people seeking a more holistic approach to health are turning to formats and treatments that lie outside the standard Western medical playbook, and that might just be a good thing.

Beyond the Standard Playbook

Modern scientific medicine already works miracles every day, and with exciting developments like 3D printed organs potentially in the works, we’re likely to see even more astounding medical developments in our lifetimes. But for many, even the most advanced medical treatment regimens in the world leave something to be missed.

It’s hard to say what that missing thing is. But some people feel that the Western approach to medicine focuses so much on treating specific diseases and conditions that it fails to offer anything for a more balanced, holistic approach to wellness; effectively missing the forest for the trees. This stands opposed to many healing traditions all across the world, which take a much more integrated approach to living a healthy life.

That’s why many people are looking beyond the playbook of traditional Western medicine to other healing and medicinal treatments. And to serve this growing demand, a new wave of alternative healthcare providers – medical spas among them – are offering a slew of services and treatments that fuse non-Western approaches to medicine with modern medical technology.

If you’ve been feeling like something is missing from your healthcare regimen or that your body isn’t as good as it could be, it may be time to look elsewhere for wellness. And while that search should always be with the help and counsel of a licensed doctor, here are a few of the best medical spas that the world has to offer in 2020.

Alive Health Spa Resort, Punta del Este, Uruguay

Alive Spa offers a deeply integrated approach to healing that focuses less on specific medical treatments and more on holistic wellness. They start their process with a 3D Body Scan & Facial Scan and professional evaluation, which they use to create their recommendations for your wellness plan. After your evaluation, you’ll have a whole host of both medical and spa treatments to choose from: chromotherapy, temperature therapy, focused massage, zero-gravity treatments, a halotherapy cocoon, and an Oxygen Bar are just a few of their offerings.They have some advanced technology and equipment that’s unavailable anywhere else in South America, and in addition, they offer gourmet food, fitness coaches, and intensive programs for weight management and smoking cessation. If you’re looking for a place to get healthy and keep your momentum going, Alive is an excellent option for South America.

VIVAMAYR, Altaussee, Austria

VIVAMAYR splits the difference between spa-focused holistic medicine a more technological approach to treatment. The majority of their wellness program focuses on diet, but they start the process with blood and urine tests to come up with specific recommendations. And it’s not just the food that helps you heal: VIVAMAYR also offers infrared light therapy, acupuncture, colonics, and more standard spa fare like yoga and massage to set your body back to baseline.

Clinique La Prairie, Clarens, Switzerland

Clinique La Prairie is the cream of the cream of the crop when it comes to med spas and alternative medical facilities. They’ve been leaders in holistic medicine since their opening in 1931, and while they offer a range of intensive wellness programs, their famous Revitalization program is the centerpiece of their offerings. La Prairie keeps the specifics of their Revitalization regimen shrouded in mystery, but it’s known for one of its treatments involving extracts made from the livers of young lambs – although other treatments the facility offers are more standard. Clinique La Prairie has risen to the status of legend in the alternative healing space, but with a price tag of $40,000 per week, it’s not a place that’s made for everyone.

SHA Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain

SHA Wellness Clinic’s wellness regimen is centered on diet above all else. SHA’s founder was heavily influenced by George Ohsawa, a Japanese diet pioneer who created the macrobiotic diet. The clinic’s in-house chef creates several menu options that incorporate organic ingredients into ultra nutrient-rich meals to help you heal from the inside out, and they also offer a suite of other treatments including acupuncture, warm-water massage, and even stress management lessons.

Sanoviv Medical Institute, Rosarito, Mexico

If Alive focuses on holistic relaxation and wellness to help people heal, the Sanoviv Medical Institute takes things in the opposite direction. Sanoviv, located on the beach in Mexico only an hour from the US border, is something akin to a hospital for alternative medical treatments. They offer a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art facility with a wealth of advanced technologies and machines, and their treatments include everything from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to virotherapy for cancer treatment. If you’re struggling with a specific medical condition and have yet to find relief, Sanoviv is a great place to access the most advanced medical treatments outside of the traditional Western ecosystem.

Your Body, Your Choice

These are just a few of the many reputable alternative medical facilities out there, so don’t forget to do your own research. And even more importantly, remember that some med spas really do live up to the shady reputation, so always make sure you’re consulting your own professional, licensed physicians in your search for wellness.

But in a system that feeds us pounds of processed foods only to be surprised when we develop health problems later in life, it makes sense that people are starting to look elsewhere for health and well-being. Clinical medical tech has made incredible strides. But the body is something we’re only beginning to understand – and science may yet find that ancient healing traditions have a lot more to teach us than we know.

Ultimately, only you can decide on what’s right for your body. Every body is different, after all maybe you haven’t found what yours needs yet.