Bliss Aesthetics announced today it has secured 17.5 million dollars in seed funding to expand its AI-powered platform that connects patients with board-certified plastic surgeons. The New York and Tel Aviv-based startup is aiming to revolutionize the cosmetic surgery industry with technology that addresses longstanding pain points for both patients and physicians.

Visualizing the Future with AI

In an industry where "before and after" photos have traditionally been the primary decision-making tool for patients, Bliss is changing the game. The company's proprietary "Bliss Imagine" technology uses generative AI, Stable Diffusion, and computer vision models to create personalized visualizations of potential surgical outcomes.

“This funding will give us the ability to harness the momentum we are experiencing, building on the 500% growth of our provider base in our patient-to-physician app since our launch while expanding to five new states across the country,” said Gal Yosef, Bliss’ Co-Founder and CEO. “By combining intelligent matchmaking with AI tools, we equip patients to make informed, confident, and financially savvy decisions and give doctors the ability to deliver better outcomes to more patients with less administrative burden.”

The platform addresses a critical challenge in cosmetic surgery: helping patients realistically envision their own results rather than relying solely on others' outcomes. According to company data, this visual component has contributed to improving patient engagement rates from 40% to 80%.

Market Growth and Male Demographics

The investment comes at a pivotal time for the cosmetic surgery industry. According to data shared by Bliss, 25% of Americans have already undergone a medical aesthetic procedure, with projections suggesting the market could reach two hundred billion dollars in revenue within a decade.

Perhaps most striking is the projected 55% growth in cosmetic procedures among American men, indicating a significant shift in demographics that Bliss is positioned to capture. The company has developed targeted approaches to address the unique needs of male patients, creating persona-focused experiences for this expanding market segment.

Celebrity Doctor Brings Medical Credibility

Co-founder Dr. Michael Salzhauer, widely known as "Dr. Miami," serves as Chief Medical Officer and brings substantial industry expertise to the platform. Beyond his celebrity status, Dr. Salzhauer heads Bliss's Medical Advisory Board and oversees the company's vetting processes and medical protocols.

“Through working firsthand in the industry, I’ve seen the need for a seamless consumer platform like Bliss,” he said.

Calling the platform a game changer for cosmetic and plastic surgery, he added that “for physicians, the next-generation platform streamlines patient management and positions surgeons to deliver more precise patient outcomes and improve satisfaction.”

Financial Innovation in a High-Cost Industry

Cosmetic surgery has notoriously high out-of-pocket costs, as most procedures are not covered by insurance. Bliss addresses this barrier by partnering with multiple financing providers, allowing patients to select payment plans aligned with their credit profiles and financial needs.

The partnership with Synchrony, which also participated in the funding round through its Synchrony Ventures arm, strengthens this aspect of the platform.

"Synchrony knows from experience with our own CareCredit network of providers that transparency and access to information is key in the health and wellness industry," said Maran Nalluswami, EVP and Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer at Synchrony. "This investment is a natural fit for us to support digital innovations that connect patients with knowledge and the ability to finance the care they want and need."

Dramatic Improvements in Patient Engagement

One of the most impressive metrics shared by Bliss is the platform's ability to increase patient engagement from 40% to 80%. This dramatic improvement stems from a combination of personalization features, trust-building mechanisms, and real-time human support.

The company attributes this success to several integrated components:

  • Smart-matching patients with surgeons based on individual goals, preferences, and budget
  • The Bliss Imagine AI visualization tool
  • Dedicated "Bliss Partners" who guide patients through their journey
  • Transparent pricing and financing options that reduce friction

Balancing Enhancement Visualization with Realistic Expectations

A critical ethical consideration in cosmetic surgery is ensuring patients have realistic expectations. Bliss addresses this by clearly communicating that its visualization tool is for informational and educational purposes only, not a guarantee of results.

The company emphasizes that its AI technology relies on evidence-based outcomes rather than artificially enhanced images that could set unrealistic expectations. All users must acknowledge that Bliss Imagine is not providing medical advice or treatment guarantees.

Investor Enthusiasm for Market Transformation

The seventeen and a half million dollar seed round was led by Shine Capital, with participation from Synchrony Ventures, Sheva Ventures, Point72 Ventures, and Cerca Partners.

“From the moment we met Gal and the Bliss team we recognized that they had identified a massive market need - for physicians and their patients,” said Mo Koyfman, Founder and General Partner at Shine Capital. “We love investing in areas undergoing a radical shift in consumer perceptions and behavior. Cosmetic surgery is an area driven by demographics, and building technology tools to serve patients and providers helps the market develop while ensuring the highest-quality experience.”

Koyfman added: "Gal and the Bliss team are poised to create a category-defining technology platform and marketplace in this highly personal and massively growing space."

Expansion Plans

On top of its 500% growth in provider base since launch, the platform is available to patients in Florida, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, Michigan, and North Carolina.

The company emphasizes that while it provides tools for visualization, matchmaking, and financing information, Bliss does not practice medicine or function as a financial institution. It does not provide medical or financial guidance or advice to users at any time.

As cosmetic procedures continue to gain mainstream acceptance and the market expands, Bliss appears well-positioned to bridge the gap between patients seeking enhancement and the board-certified physicians who can deliver it—with cutting-edge AI technology making the journey more transparent and accessible than ever before.