Q: Who is a doctor in charge and where’s he?
A: Medical Spas are meant to have a Physician give provide medical-grade products and procedures. Unfortunately, a doctor is often nowhere to be found. Frequently, a Doctor whose primary market and income may be something apart from Medical Aesthetics signs an agreement to become the “Medical Director” of the Medical Spa. He makes additional income; the Spa staff gets to use prescription-only products and perform complex surgical procedures but the Doctor isn’t even present. He or she is performing surgery or seeing patients in his own office as well as hitting baseballs.
If you’re contemplating receiving a Medical Procedure at a Medical Spa, find out if the Doctor will actually be there during your visit.
Q: Will my Medical Procedures be practiced by the Doctor?
A: All too often, Medical Spas are revenue “add-ons” to a busy medical practice. The Doctor may be busy seeing medical patients on the medical side from the office while an Aesthetician, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, or even a Nurse wields potent syringes of Botox and complex lasers about the Spa side. Even Cosmetic surgeons and Dermatologists commonly hire Nurse Practitioners to perform Medical Procedures in their spa.
Before you walk in the door, inquire if a doctor will in reality be the injecting the drugs or performing the Surgical procedures. If the answer is something like “No, our Nurse does that, but she’s very good,” do yourself a favor and appear elsewhere.
Q: How experienced may be the Doctor?
A: Commonly, a physician will simply add on several nicely-appointed rooms to his busy office, buy some lasers, hire an Aesthetician and refer to it as a Medical Spa. These Doctors usually have no real curiosity about Medical Aesthetics and rarely perform any of the procedures themselves. They might be physically nearby but they are generally not well-versed in what works well and what doesn’t.
You need to only believe in face to some Physician who practices Medical Aesthetics day in and day out. When the Doctor spends the vast majority of his time practicing day-to-day medicine or performing complex surgery within the O.R., is it possible to expect him to be up on the most recent techniques and equipment used in Medical Aesthetics?
It’s perfectly all right to ask, “How many times per week does a doctor actually perform this procedure?”
Q: What type of Aesthetic Training has got the Doctor had?
A: Lots of people think that Board Certified Dermatologists or Cosmetic surgeons make the best Aesthetic Physicians but that isn’t always the case.
Dermatologists spend a majority of their training finding out how to treat diseases of the skin and the way to recognize when a particular skin condition means that something serious is being conducted elsewhere in the body. If you have a suspicious or bothersome lesion or rash, you should visit a Dermatologist. If you wish to soften a few wrinkles and appear more refreshed, a Dermatologist may not always be your very best choice.
Cosmetic surgeons acquire many complex skills throughout their extensive training period including hand surgery, breast enlargements, facial reconstruction, scar revision and complex skin grafting techniques. Plastic Surgeons can function wonders for patients with those sorts of major problems. They might ‘t be the best option, however, for someone with facial sun damage or pigment irregularities.
Actual learning Medical Aesthetics is absent or merely a really small part of many Dermatology and Cosmetic surgery training programs. Most physicians who would like to become proficient in the appropriate utilization of Botox, Facial Fillers, Lasers, and prescription grade cosmeceuticals usually will need to take multiple courses from national experts on the various facets of Medical Aesthetics. These courses are expensive and inconvenient but remain the major method for most Doctors being experienced in these techniques.
Do not be afraid to check out the training from the Doctor who definitely are doing all of your procedure. Don’t accept “Dermatologist” or “Plastic Surgeon” as the only meaningful credentials. Ask if a doctor has taken advanced courses specifically centered on Botox or Fillers or Facial Lasers.
Q: What Medical services are available?
A: A genuine Medical Spa should be able to design a specific treatment plan which will address all your aesthetic concerns. Botox and Facial Fillers are just the start. Does the Spa have Intense Pulsed Light to erase brown and red spots? Why not a Laser to advertise new collagen formation and tighten skin? Do they really remove unwanted hair? Are you able to receive expert advice about prescription-strength cosmeceuticals to correct ultra-violet damage and improve texture? Are medical-grade peels available?
Some Medical Spas are even in a position to offer body sculpting using a laser like the SmartLipo Laser. They could tighten skin and melt off fat in the waistline, thighs, hips, arms and even the neckline.
Make a list of what services you might be interested in and get about them whenever you call. A true Medical Spa will be able to provide you with a comprehensive program to evaluate your requirements and address your concerns.
Q: What Aesthetic services can be found?
A: Besides the medical-grade Aesthetic services like microdermabrasion and advanced chemical peels, a full-service Medical Spa should offer a selection of anti-aging and revitalizing facial treatments in addition to a full menu of cosmetic and aesthetic services like waxing, paraffin treatments, permanent make-up as well as detailed instruction on make-up application.
Ask what is available and check the site for details.
Q: What’s going to the Aesthetician do for me and what is her experience?
A: The key component of an expert Medical Spa experience is the consultation using the Aesthetician. It’s the Aesthetician who will delve into the facts of the epidermis care history, investigate these products you are presently using, analyze the condition of your skin and tailor a treatment program to address your concerns. If you want Surgical procedures, it is the Aesthetician who involves the Physician at the appropriate times to get you the optimal results. If the consultation step is skipped, you are getting a substandard service and will have inferior results.
It takes years of experience to have an Aesthetician to obtain the degree of knowledge and understanding to carry out a detailed and accurate consultation. Don’t be afraid to inquire about just how long your Aesthetician has been practicing and whether a detailed consultation is really a area of the service.
Q: How will my care be documented?
A: Before-and-after photo documentation is a must. Most advanced Medical Spas use a sophisticated camera system like the Canfield Visia to steer and document your treatment program. The Visia takes multiple photographs using various filters after which it applies complex software algorithms for your photos to highlight specific regions of scare tissue. Tthere shouldn’t be charge for this service. Ask how your Medical Spa intends to document your treatment program.
Q: The other Spa services can be found?
A: Generally, most Medical Spa clients wish to look youthful and refreshed, but that is not enough. Spa clients wish to feel good too. Stress reduction is really a main issue with the modern spa experience. How this is achieved varies from spa to spa.
Most spas offer massage. Ask about which kind of massages are available. Deep neuromuscular may work nicely for that active athlete however the stressed-out executive may prefer Japanese Hot Stones or Lomi Lomi. May be the therapist experienced in Pregnancy Massage? What about Reflexology? Or Aromatherapy?
Prefer a couple of hours or relaxation, will your spa get you a cappuccino and some lunch? Do they have a concierge service? Can they get your car washed, pick up your dry cleaning, or make your dinner reservations as you unwind? Can they provide limo service for your spa day?
You may not be searching for this level of service every time you go to a Medical Spa, but you should inquire about it anyway. If your Spa is willing to provide concierge-level service, you can be confident that their dedication to all aspects of customer service is unparalleled.
Q: What’s going to my Spa experience be like?
A: This really is easy. When you walk in, you should immediately experience a massive sensation of tranquility and relaxation. Every one of your senses ought to be involved. The surroundings should be visually beautiful. The sounds ought to be light and airy. There should be a subtle scent that calms the mind and soothes the spirit. You ought to be offered a beverage that reduces stress and pleases the palate. The robes should be plush. The touch of the therapists should be confident and gentle.