By Stacy Kehl, APRN, FNP-BC
Going to the spa is a fun way to spend a few hours relaxing and addressing skin problems you may be experiencing, but is there a difference between a Medical Spa and a Day Spa? The answer is yes! A Medical Spa has a Medical Director (a doctor, a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant) who is a licensed healthcare practitioner with advanced training and knowledge in esthetics. The Medical Director oversees the products, devices, and services provided in the spa. Not every procedure is performed by the Medical Director, but all of the services are supervised by him or her. A Day Spa can provide many services like facials, massages, waxing and makeup, but without a Medical Director, they cannot provide high-powered treatments or injectables.
The popularity of the Medical Spa has increased dramatically in the last 10 years, and if you’ve seen one Medical Spa, well, you’ve seen one Medical Spa! Each Medical Spa is unique, from the services offered to the overall environment of the office. Some are very spa-like, while others are more like a medical office. From family practices that offer esthetics in addition to medical care, to practices offering only esthetics, there’s a perfect fit for whatever you need. In my practice, my patients see value in having a “one stop shop” for their medical and esthetic needs. As a practitioner with an artistic side, I love being able to offer both services to my patients.
The choice of Medical Spa or Day Spa depends on your goals. I’ve spent my share of days in a Day Spa, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of pampering I’ve received. But, once I got into my mid-30s, I realized my skin needed a little more than just pampering! Medical Spas offer just that – they address more of the age-related skin (and sometimes medical) issues and give long-lasting results
Here is a short list of nonsurgical (read: inexpensive) treatments you can only get in a Medical Spa:
Neuromodulators (botulinum toxin) like Botox, Xeomin, and Dysport. If you’re looking to reduce frown lines on your forehead this is for you! No other treatment offers faster results with less downtime. In just a few minutes, in the capable hands of a medical provider, you can achieve a smooth forehead (and more)! Most results are noticeable within a weeks time and last for about 3 months, sometimes even longer.
Chemical Peels utilize strong acid solutions to restore and rejuvenate the skin’s surface. Downtime depends on the formulation applied, but typically treatments cause redness and/or peeling for about a week. A peel can reduce uneven skin texture, age spots, sun damage, and fine lines.
RF (radiofrequency) Microneedling is a process of placing tiny pin-pricks in the skin to encourage collagen production, thereby reducing scars, enlarged pores, fine lines and wrinkles. While standard microneedling can be performed at a Day Spa, RF microneedling can only be performed by a licensed medical practitioner. The addition of the RF increases the power of the treatment to give improved results.
Dermal fillers eliminate wrinkles and increase volume in areas where volume is typically lost during the aging process. Fillers can be used for smile lines and in the lips (most popular). Fillers done correctly can produce very natural looking results without a “plastic” appearance.
