Wellness Assessments 101: Blood Panels, Biomarkers & More Explained

With so many advances in technology, it seems like everyone is trying to get ahead of the curve when it comes to beauty and wellness. While not everyone may go as far as Bryan Johnson from the Netflix documentary Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, more and more people are turning to science to preserve youth and boost longevity. Medspas are stepping in by offering wellness assessments that blend medical insights and proactive health testing with traditional aesthetic treatments, taking care beyond skin-deep; it’s never been easier to live better, look better, and age on your own terms. Read on as we break down exactly what wellness assessments are, why they’re trending, and how to know if one is right for you.

Why Comprehensive Wellness Assessments Are Trending

As of recently, there’s been a rising interest in longevity and biohacking. At their core, both are about extending not just your lifespan, but your healthspan (a.k.a the years in which you feel energetic, resilient, and youthful). Longevity practices aim to preserve vitality and slow down the aging process through lifestyle habits, nutrition, and medical innovations, while biohacking often involves using data, science, and technology to optimize how the body performs day-to-day.

Unlike in the past, when people often waited until symptoms appeared to seek medical attention, there’s now a cultural shift toward being proactive. Many want to stay ahead of potential health concerns before they ever become problems. One-size-fits-all wellness programs (think: fad diets or generic fitness plans like Weight Watchers or P90X) were once popular, but they no longer provide the individualized insights people are craving today.

Instead, there’s growing demand for personalized, actionable health strategies. Medspas have taken notice and have been introducing offerings like advanced hormone panels, genetic predisposition testing, and metabolic scans. These types of assessments allow providers to connect the dots between internal health and external results, aligning with the broader movement toward holistic wellness.

What a Comprehensive Wellness Assessment Consists Of

A proper wellness assessment is multi-layered, pulling together data from multiple systems in your body to provide a clear picture of your overall health. It typically includes:

• Blood panels: these include a complete blood count (CBC), metabolic panels, cholesterol levels, vitamin D, and hormone profiles. The insights here can reveal nutrient deficiencies, metabolic issues, and early warning signs of disease.

• Biomarker testing: by measuring inflammation markers, oxidative stress levels, and insulin sensitivity, providers can assess how your body is functioning on a cellular level. These metrics are particularly relevant for those interested in anti-aging or improving physical performance.

• Hormone and genetic testing: thyroid imbalances, low testosterone or estrogen, and other hormone irregularities can dramatically affect energy, mood, and body composition. Genetic predisposition panels, meanwhile, highlight inherited risks or tendencies, such as a higher likelihood of developing certain metabolic conditions.

• Metabolic and body composition analysis: clinics may use DEXA scans to measure bone density and fat distribution, VO₂ max testing to gauge cardiovascular fitness, or resting metabolic rate evaluations to determine calorie expenditure.

• Lifestyle and mental health evaluation: sleep patterns, stress levels, and dietary habits often have as much impact on your health as lab results, and understanding these factors allows for a truly comprehensive approach.

Benefits of Comprehensive Wellness Assessments

The real draw of wellness assessments is the chance to finally understand what’s happening inside your body and to do something about it before problems surface. By spotting nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances, or metabolic risks early, you can take meaningful steps to protect your health and keep your energy, skin, and body performing at their best.

AEDIT founder and board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. William Kennedy shares, “Wellness assessments often reveal underlying factors that cosmetic treatments alone can’t fix. I’ve seen patients come in concerned about stubborn under-eye circles, only to discover the real issue was chronic nutrient deficiency and poor sleep quality. When we address those foundational health factors first, the aesthetic improvements become more natural, more effective, and far longer-lasting.”

Beyond early detection, these assessments make wellness feel personal. Instead of being handed the same cookie-cutter advice to “eat better” or “work out more,” you get a plan built around your unique biology. That might look like a nutrition strategy designed for your metabolism, a supplement protocol that fills your exact gaps, or a fitness approach that aligns with your body’s strengths and needs.

Wellness assessments can also help boost cosmetic results by ensuring your body is primed to respond to treatments. When your nutrition, hormones, and inflammation levels are balanced, your body is better equipped to heal, produce collagen, and respond to procedures. Whether you’re scheduling a laser session, injectables, or even a surgical enhancement, being in peak internal health helps you get the most out of your investment.

Limitations and Considerations

As powerful as these assessments are, it’s important to recognize their limits; they are not a replacement for full medical diagnostics, especially if you’re experiencing acute symptoms or have a known medical condition that requires specialist care.

Provider expertise and technology can also vary widely. Some clinics may invest in advanced testing and have clinicians trained in functional medicine, while others may offer more surface-level panels without robust interpretation. Additionally, costs can be a factor. Many of these tests are considered elective and may not be covered by insurance, meaning it can quickly get expensive.

How They Complement Medspa Treatments

Wellness assessments create synergy with medspa treatments by optimizing your body from the inside out. Balanced hormones and sufficient micronutrients, for example, can improve how your skin responds to procedures. Lowering inflammation may shorten healing time after treatments. Enhancing insulin sensitivity and metabolism can even make body-contouring methods more effective.

“While I believe a wellness assessment benefits every patient, there are certain treatments where it can be especially impactful. For example, body-contouring, weight-management therapies, and even hair-restoration treatments often have deeper metabolic or hormonal influences that can dramatically affect results. When we understand what’s happening internally—whether it’s thyroid function, cortisol levels, nutrition, or inflammation—we can tailor the treatment plan and ensure patients actually see the outcomes they’re hoping for. Even with aesthetic concerns, the inside and outside are always connected,” says Dr. Kennedy.

At the end of the day, medspa patients often pursue procedures for a tighter, smoother, or more refreshed appearance. By supporting your internal health, wellness assessments help amplify those external results, making sure you get the most from the treatments you invest in.

Expert Insights

Dr. Kennedy shares, “We’re seeing more medspas integrate wellness panels because patients want results that actually last—and that starts with understanding what’s happening beneath the surface. In my experience, I’ve had patients frustrated by slow weight loss, thinning hair, or dull skin, only to find that issues like thyroid imbalance, nutrient deficiencies, or chronic stress were holding them back. Once we identified and treated those underlying factors, their aesthetic treatments became dramatically more effective. When wellness and aesthetics work together, the results are not only better—they’re more sustainable.”

“If you’re thinking about booking a wellness assessment, these core biomarkers are essential to truly understanding a person’s health holistically,” Dr. Kennedy explains. “Markers like thyroid function, sex hormones, cortisol, metabolic labs, and key nutrient levels give us a complete picture of how the body is operating. When we can see where inflammation, imbalance, or deficiency is coming from, we’re able to tailor treatments far more effectively—both for wellness and for aesthetics.”

Just as you would for a regular doctor's visit, you should always do your due diligence when seeking out a wellness assessment at a medspa or clinic. “When you’re choosing a wellness or aesthetic provider, credentials and experience should always come first,” Dr. Kennedy advises. “Look for someone with formal medical training—ideally an MD, DO, NP, or PA who has additional certification in functional medicine, aesthetics, or hormone health. A good provider will take the time to understand your medical history, explain each recommendation, and never rush you into a treatment. Red flags include anyone who pushes the same ‘one-size-fits-all’ plan on every patient, avoids discussing potential risks, or can’t clearly explain the science behind what they’re offering. You should walk away feeling informed, supported, and involved in your own care.”

Questions to Ask Before Booking

As we previously covered, not all wellness assessments are the same. What’s considered standard at one medspa may look very different at another, so it’s important to ask upfront what tests are included. This will help set expectations and give you a clear sense of how extensive assessment really is.

From there, dig a little deeper. Who reviews and interprets the results, an experienced medical provider, or just a technician? Are the findings actionable, meaning will you walk away with a personalized plan and follow-up support, or simply a printout of numbers? And finally, check the provider’s background. Certifications and credentials in areas like functional medicine, endocrinology, or integrative health can make a big difference in how meaningful your assessment ends up being.

Conclusion

Comprehensive wellness assessments represent the next frontier in medspa and wellness care. By combining traditional aesthetics with advanced health testing, they empower you to take control of your well-being in a proactive, personalized way. While not a substitute for medical care, these evaluations can uncover hidden risks, optimize your results from beauty treatments, and help you feel as good as you look. If approached responsibly with the right provider, a wellness assessment can be one of the most impactful investments you make in your health and longevity.