About 10,500 med spas operated in the United States in 2023, up from 8,899 in 2022, according to the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa). At Nude Medical Aesthetics in downtown Napa, California, co-founder Alex Hickman is taking a different approach to a market exceeding $17 billion: putting skin health before injectables.
Hickman co-founded Nude with Logan Vasquez at 1300 First Street, envisioning a destination that combines aesthetics, wellness, and hospitality.
“We never wanted Nude to feel like a traditional medical spa,” he said.
Technology Follows the Skin
Nude prioritizes skin health and quality, tailoring treatments to each client's goals and stage of life. Services include clinical skincare, personalized facials, lasers, skin tightening, and regenerative therapies.
Its technology includes UltraClear and 3DMIRACL cold-fiber lasers, UltraClear Laser-Coring, Vivace Ultra RF microneedling, XERF multifrequency radiofrequency, BBL, MOXI, and Elite iQ Pro laser hair removal with the Skintel Melanin Reader.
Providers combine treatments to address concerns such as tone, texture, laxity, and scarring. Hickman favours approaches intended to support collagen, structure, and long-term skin health.
“The future of aesthetics is not about doing more. It is about being more thoughtful about what we do.”
Medical Oversight Shapes the Approach
Dr. Zachary Wagner, a board-certified physician and former U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, provides medical oversight, helping ensure treatments follow careful protocols and sound medical judgment.
Registered nurses Katherine Bui, RN, BSN, and Jenae DiGennaro, RN, BSN, have advanced Allergan training. Although injectables such as Botox and Juvéderm remain available, Nude does not make them the centre of its identity.
According to the practice, Bui develops personalized treatment plans focused on natural results, while DiGennaro emphasizes facial balance and aesthetic assessment. Their shared philosophy is to enhance rather than alter, helping patients look refreshed while retaining their individuality.
Recognition and the Evidence
Nude received Best of Napa County Gold Awards for med spa in 2025 and 2026. Hickman values the recognition as a reflection of community support.
The practice's Instagram account has nearly 90,000 followers, suggesting interest beyond Napa Valley in its skin-first philosophy.
However, awards and social media following do not establish clinical outcomes. The information provided includes no revenue, client-retention, or treatment-outcome figures. Claims about collagen, laxity, and long-term skin health remain those of the practice.
AmSpa's 2024 report found that 18% of med spas were newly opened in 2023, highlighting competition in the growing sector. Nude's approach offers a distinct position, although available information does not establish whether it improves client retention.
For Hickman, the ambition is not dramatic transformation but preserving identity through thoughtful treatment and technology that helps clients “continue looking unmistakably like themselves.”
About Nude Medical Aesthetics
Nude Medical Aesthetics is a Napa, California, aesthetic medicine and wellness destination at 1300 First Street, Suite 252. Co-founded by CEO Alex Hickman and Logan Vasquez, the practice is medically led by Dr. Zachary Wagner, alongside registered nurses Katherine Bui and Jenae DiGennaro. Nude received a 2025 Best of Napa County Gold Award for Med Spa.
Media contact: Alex Hickman, CEO, Nude Medical Aesthetics
Website: nudemedical.com
Email: [email protected]
