What to Look For in a Med Spa
Med spas, or medical spas, are often a cross between a clinic and a day spa. These facilities employ medical doctors and offer services to treat conditions like broken capillaries and skin conditions, in addition to other things. While the atmosphere is similar to a clinic, many med spas still offer treatments that are designed to relax, like acupuncture and massage. Some of the most popular treatments at a medical spa include laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, Botox injections, chemical peels and skin tightening treatments. Keep in mind that, in some cases, you might be able to do similar treatments at home safely and for less. For example, laser hair removal is often just as effective and safe, yet much more affordable. For more take a look at some of the home laser hair removal reviews available to learn your options. Likewise, home microdermabrasion can be accomplished fairly effectively at home through various means, and there are multiple home microdermabrasion reviews available to help guide you. In comparison, some services should never be attempted at home, such as injections or powerful chemical peels.
If you are interested in using a med spa, always carefully check the facility out beforehand to make sure it employs properly trained staff and meets all requirements in your area. Here is a guide to help you understand what you should look for in a good medical spa.
1. Check who owns and operates the facility
A qualified operator is the most important thing to look for in any med spa. The facility should always be owned and operated by a trained medical doctor that works on the premises. It’s usually best to check with your state to find out about regulations that govern med spas, although most require a medical doctor oversee procedures, whether he is on the premises or not. Be aware that some doctors give their name to a med spa without any actual involvement, making it important to ask questions. Be wary of physicians from fields outside of dermatology and cosmetic medicine, something that is unfortunately becoming far too common among med spas. for example, if a cardiologist is offering cosmetic injections, question why that person has stepped out of their primary field of training and whether they are qualified for the procedures they will be performing.
2. Find out who will perform all procedures
If you’re interested in Botox injections or laser hair removal at a medical spa, make sure you know beforehand who will perform the procedure. Determine if the individual has the proper licensing for your area and has received enough training to do the job well. If possible, find out how many times they’ve performed the procedure and how long they’ve been licensed in your state. This is important because some states do not have any license requirements at all for procedures like laser treatments, making experience an important factor to avoid burns and other potential side effects. Some facilities may even offer you a portfolio of before and after photos to show you previous work that has been done.
3. Look for new equipment
A good med spa has top-of-the-line equipment that was purchased recently. Ask the facility about the equipment that will be used for your procedure and when it was purchased, as this gives you enough information to do a bit of research on your own. Typically, equipment for skin tightening and laser hair removal is very expensive so it’s a good idea to research the equipment that will be used on you. Newer equipment is safer and more effective in general, and may even be less painful. The best med spas frequently update their equipment to gain advantages of new science.
4. Use a med spa that offers realistic results
A facility that promises dramatic and life-changing results should raise a red flag. Always look for a med spa that gives you realistic expectations about the results you’ll receive from any treatment. Facilities will poorly trained staff may recommend the most expensive treatments available, whether or not they will even help your situation. A good facility will outline what you can expect and show you before and after photos from similar procedures performed using the same equipment.
Carleen Pruess is a a freelance writer in Illinois and owner of multiple beauty, fitness, and lifestyle blogs, including Girl Gloss, Run Gadget, and Beauty and Fashion Tech, which focuses in part on technological advances in beauty.
Recent Comments