Global Aesthetics & Wellness Project | France | September, 2026
France has long been associated with effortless beauty, timeless elegance, and the art of living well. As a Physician Assistant, medical aesthetics provider, and owner of Biomend Aesthetics and Wellness, I was particularly curious to see whether that reputation translated into a different approach to aging, skincare, and wellness.
After several weeks traveling through France, including a thalassotherapy experience on the Mediterranean coast, I came away with both admiration and some surprising reservations.
The French Approach: Less Is More
One of my first observations was how naturally French women seemed to approach beauty. Makeup was generally understated, and I saw fewer exaggerated eyelashes, heavily filled lips, and other conspicuous enhancements than I often encounter in the United States.
Of course, these are personal observations, not universal truths. But the aesthetic philosophy resonated with me.
At Biomend, we've always believed that the best aesthetic treatments should enhance someone's natural features rather than announce themselves. Our growing emphasis on bioregenerative treatments—improving skin quality and supporting the body's own regenerative processes—fits beautifully with this philosophy.
A Different Kind of Spa Experience
In Bandol, Andy and I visited Thalazur for a traditional French thalassotherapy experience.
Our afternoon included a Crystal Hydromassage Bath, a remineralizing seaweed wrap, and a 30-minute relaxation massage. With the Mediterranean Sea just outside, the experience felt deeply connected to its coastal setting.
Thalassotherapy, derived from the Greek word thalassa, meaning sea, uses seawater and marine-derived ingredients in treatments traditionally associated with relaxation and restoration.
The experience was wonderful. The hotel spa was grand, with treatment rooms overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We felt pampered, relaxed, and genuinely grateful for a few hours devoted entirely to ourselves.
But as a clinician, I couldn't help asking: What does the science actually support?
Marine-based therapies are promoted for benefits ranging from improved circulation and skin health to mineral replenishment and pain relief. While some research suggests benefits from certain forms of balneotherapy for musculoskeletal symptoms, the evidence is limited and varies considerably by treatment.
A 2023 systematic review of 17 studies found improvements in osteoarthritis symptoms after thermal mineral-water treatments, but many studies had methodological limitations. Importantly, these findings cannot automatically be applied to seawater baths or seaweed wraps.
Overall, there is little convincing clinical evidence that a seaweed wrap meaningfully replenishes systemic minerals or produces lasting skin rejuvenation.
Would I recommend the experience? Absolutely, for relaxation.
Would I introduce thalassotherapy at Biomend as a results-driven medical treatment? Probably not.
Where France Surprised Me
I also noticed a separation between traditional spas, physician-led medical aesthetics, and broader wellness services.
From the facilities I explored, relaxation-focused facials were generally offered in spas, while injectables and more invasive procedures were concentrated in medical practices. Hormone optimization and other wellness services seemed to operate in yet another category.
France has strict medical aesthetics regulations. France legally restricts cosmetic filler and botulinum toxin injections to specialized physicians. While these regulations emphasize patient safety and medical expertise, the separation between traditional spas, medical aesthetics clinics, and wellness providers can make accessing comprehensive care feel fragmented.
At Biomend, we've intentionally built a more integrated approach without compromising medical oversight or patient safety. Under dedicated physician supervision, our extensively medically trained providers perform injectables, including neuromodulators and dermal fillers, as well as advanced laser procedures. Even our estheticians receive specialized medical training, allowing us to offer evidence-informed facials alongside advanced aesthetic treatments and wellness services—all under one roof.
We believe skin health, physical health, and healthy aging are deeply interconnected. By combining medical expertise, advanced technology, and whole-person wellness, we can provide patients with coordinated, individualized care that addresses more than just what they see in the mirror.
Beauty, Thinness, and the Missing Conversation About Strength
Not everything about French wellness culture impressed me.
Smoking was far more visible than I expected, including among young adults. I also noticed a strong emphasis on thinness, particularly along the beaches of Saint-Tropez, where some women appeared very lean with relatively little visible muscle.
A few women I spoke with suggested that GLP-1 medications were renewing interest in thinness, although those conversations were anecdotal.
As a professional bodybuilder and medical provider, I see an important distinction between being thin and being healthy.
Muscle is not merely aesthetic. It supports metabolic health, functional independence, and healthy aging. I was also less impressed by the strength-training facilities I encountered in France compared with the equipment and bodybuilding culture I experienced in Spain.
For me, the goal isn't simply to help women look younger or smaller. It's to help them become healthier, stronger, and more confident as they age.
What France Taught Me—and What Comes Home to Biomend
France reinforced something I already believe deeply: Natural beauty never goes out of style.
We'll continue prioritizing skin quality, subtle enhancements, and regenerative approaches that help patients look refreshed without looking overdone.
What I won't bring home is the fragmentation I encountered between beauty and wellness—or the idea that thinness should take priority over strength.
And while thalassotherapy won't be joining our treatment menu, the experience reminded me that relaxation has value even when it doesn't deliver measurable aesthetic results.
Perhaps that's my biggest takeaway from France: not every worthwhile experience needs to be a medical treatment, and not every medical treatment needs to feel purely clinical.
At Biomend, I want us to offer the best of both worlds: evidence-driven results, natural beauty, whole-person wellness, and an experience that makes patients feel genuinely cared for.