Most people think of med spas as one-stop shops for all their cosmetic needs. A med spa is a cross between a doctor's office and a day spa, with all procedures being performed under the supervision and authority of a licenced physician. However, the reality is quite different.
Medical spas cater to different types of clients.
Looking in the phone book and finding your nearest med spa is your best bet if you want a facial using French products or a full back massage. It's best to do your research first if you want to have anything more invasive, such as a laser hair treatment or a chemical peel.
'Better be safe than sorry,'
It should be fun, relaxing, and productive to visit a med spa; it should not result in an emergency room visit, infection, or permanent scarring. Despite the fact that non-invasive treatments at most med spas have a lower risk of complications than full-on plastic or cosmetic surgery, serious injuries can still occur. Before booking an appointment, ask the following questions:
Is there a doctor at home? Regulations for med spas vary from state to state. Although medical treatments should be performed only under full medical supervision, often a doctor isn't present, let alone in the same room as the patient. In some cases, unlicensed personnel with only rudimentary training in a particular procedure will work on you. A licenced full-time medical director and nurse should be present on-site—preferably in the same room as you, or at least overseeing qualified medical staff. The doctor should be either a plastic surgeon or a member of an affiliate group such as the American Society of Aesthetic Medicine.
Does the staff have experience with specific procedures? Medical spas may have ten years of experience overall, but only two weeks' experience in the procedure you want. Identify your practitioner and ask how many times he or she has performed the procedure you want—in the past year, month, and week. Find out how often serious side effects occur—they should occur less than one percent of the time. Check credentials, and ask about training and background. If the staff appears to be offended by your questions, find another location.
Does the consultation meet your expectations? There is no point in going to a med spa where staff are condescending and questions are either ignored or not allowed. Med spas encourage their patients to ask as many questions as they need until they feel completely comfortable, and they will give them up-to-date information to take home and review privately. Medical consultations should take place one-on-one with a medical professional, not a secretary, and you should feel satisfied with the outcome, not uncomfortable or confused.
How does the equipment work? Equipment should be up-to-date, well-maintained, and sterile, but there should also be a variety of FDA-approved lasers available for different skin types. In addition to resuscitation equipment, the spa should offer procedures such as varicose vein removal and deep chemical peels. Additionally, the entire facility should be hygienic, with hand-sterilizing facilities available for both guests and staff. You cannot invest in quality equipment if the facility cannot afford it.
How satisfied are clients overall? Examine whether patients return for repeat visits due to the med spa's reputation and practice, or if they vow never to return. For some reason, some med spas attract people with cheap prices, but they never return. Learn why. If you are interested in a particular procedure, ask if the med spa can provide you with the contact details of satisfied clients. You will be contacted by patients if you are a confident doctor.
Is the price reasonable? Beware of bogus scams. When something seems too good to be true, it probably is-and if the price is out of reach, what's the point? It is usually not a good idea to trust med spa websites that make impossible promises or offer prices that are significantly lower than other places in the same area. It's important to remember that over-eager med spa personnel aren't always looking out for your best interests (unless you're impossibly ugly). Most of the time, they are primarily concerned with making money.
Med Spa Do's and Don'ts
Now that you know the basics, you might think it's all plain sailing from here on out. Nevertheless, many people are still lured by bogus promises and regret their decisions. To ensure you get the best treatment at the best price, here are a few dos and don'ts you should follow:
Find the med spa that's right for you, where you feel comfortable and where the staff is fully trained, certified, and licensed. Spending time now will save you hours later when you need to rectify mistakes.
Make sure you don't choose the cheapest option. Something fishy is usually going on when a price is way too low. We're talking about your body, not just a new dress or fancy pair of shoes. Can you really afford to risk your health?
Make sure the clinic or facility specialises in med-spa procedures and aesthetics. The last thing you want is to be seen by a chiropractor who runs a third-rate med spa on the side. by a proctologist who does facial skin procedures for money without training in dermatology.
Please do not be afraid to leave if something does not feel right. Our gut instinct is often all we have. You can rely on it. There's probably a damn good reason if something seems suspicious or out of place. You should follow your intuition and go somewhere else.
Make sure that all medical procedures are performed by licenced medical personnel, not unlicensed or non-medical personnel. Check state laws. If injections and deep chemical peels must be performed by a doctor, or if nursing staff can perform them under a doctor's supervision, check state laws. Be sure to report an untrained secretary if you see them giving injections or performing chemical peels. In the future, you may be doing someone a great favor.
If you need medical treatment, DO NOT go to someone's home, a hotel room, or a temporary rented space. Would you ever have your tonsils removed on your doctor's kitchen table? Additionally, avoid locations outside of a proper medical facility, such as shopping malls or nail salons. If something goes horribly wrong, there may be no resources available. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, you should only visit a med spa within a physician's office.
Choosing the right med spa, in the vast majority of cases, can be more challenging than choosing the right place for a haircut-and the consequences of choosing the wrong one can be much worse than a broken fingernail. Make sure you do your research and make the right choice. The choices you make may have an impact on your health, safety, and appearance.