Medical Spas
Choosing the Best Spa for Your Needs
When your goal in visiting a spa is for medical or cosmetic improvement, it’s always a good idea to look for a signature medical spa that specializes in the specific procedure you’re interested in.
Day Spas and Resorts
Medical spas are usually day spas although some resorts serve as full medical spas offering weight loss programs and holistic therapies. At medical resorts, expect to find cooking classes, acupuncture services, and a variety of lifestyle programs that help reinforce medical procedures and facilitate healing.
At both day spas and destination spas, naturopaths may be available for consultations. In this case, treatment for various conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis may be available. In some cases, especially those related to rehabilitation, insurance may cover certain procedures.
What to Look For
International Spa Association provides a concise definition for a medical spa: "an institution whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment which integrates spa services as well as conventional and complementary therapies and treatments
The top medical spas employ fully certified aestheticians, and they’re required to be under the direction of a licensed physician. At top medical spas, medical procedures, such as Restylane and Botox injections, pain management, vein reductions, fractional resurfacing, body sculpting, intense pulsed light (IPL), liposuction, laser treatments, and chemical peels, are performed by physicians.
Trained aestheticians perform facials and massages and perform certain procedures under the direction of a physician. Be sure that a single vial of Botox or Restylane is used for each client to avoid cross-contamination and infection.
Laws vary from state to state regarding who can perform certain procedures. Regardless, look for medical spas that have at least one physician on site. Find out who will be performing your procedure. In comparing spas, opt for a facility that has a physician performing medical procedures. Many facilities offer free consultations. This is your chance to ask about equipment and staff certifications.
Laser Hair Removal
If you’re planning on having laser hair removal, be aware that in some states no special certification is required. In some cases, clients have been burned by poorly designed equipment or incompetent staff. Find out how long the facility has been in operation and what training in laser use the staff has had. In comparing facilities, opt for a facility with a proven track record. In comparing price, you’ll find that even top medical spas with skilled physicians tend to offer seasonal and holiday specials.
Microdermabrasion
Traditional microdermabrasion is no longer considered state-of-the-art. Today’s procedures use diamond or crystal equipment without suction. It’s common for today’s procedures to include a complementary modality such as LED therapies, dermaplaning, peels or infusions. Patients having microdermabrasion should have consultations in which the skin type can be properly assessed and any skin problems, such as hyperpigmentation, can be discussed.
Resources:
- International Spa Association, accessed October 2, 2009.
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