Virginia advertising rules for med spas

FTC and state limits on how treatments and results may be marketed. Below are the Virginia rules that govern it, each linked to its primary source. Monitoring and reference, not legal advice.

Advertising rules in Virginia

Virginia is specific about the paperwork behind a claim. For a practice with MORE THAN ONE PRACTITIONER, the practitioner responsible for an advertisement must be documented and kept on record INTERNALLY by the practice, and the evidence supporting a claim must survive TWO YEARS of board review.

  • No licensee of the Board shall advertise information that is false, misleading, or deceptive. For an advertisement for a single practitioner it is PRESUMED that the practitioner is responsible and accountable for the validity and truthfulness of its content — the presumption runs against the practitioner, not for them.

    18 Va. Admin. Code § 85-20-30 · verified Sep 2, 2026

  • ⚠️ A GROUP PRACTICE MUST NAME AN ACCOUNTABLE PERSON AND KEEP THE PROOF FOR TWO YEARS. Where an advertisement is for a practice with more than one practitioner, THE NAME of the practitioner responsible and accountable for its content shall be documented and maintained by the practice FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. And documentation, scientific and otherwise, supporting claims made in an advertisement shall be maintained and AVAILABLE FOR THE BOARD’S REVIEW for at least two years.

    18 Va. Admin. Code § 85-20-30 · verified Sep 2, 2026

  • Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Attorney General, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any city, county, or town may cause an action to be brought in the appropriate circuit court to enjoin any violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1 of the Consumer Protection Act, and the court may enjoin such violations notwithstanding the existence of an adequate remedy at law and without proof of damages.

    Va. Code § 59.1-203(A) · verified Sep 8, 2026

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