Medical Spas
Medical Spas Do More than Unravel Your Stress
From facials to microdermabrasion, from massages to Botox injections, medical spas offer a full range of spa treatments and medical cosmetic procedures.
What is a Medical Spa?
The International Medical Spa Association defines a medical spa as a facility operated under the strict supervision of a licensed healthcare professional. And the International SPA Association defines a medical spa as “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.”
History of Medical Spas
Medical spas began flourishing approximately in 2000. Day spas originally limited their procedures to light chemical peels and pre- or post-surgery massage on patients referred by cosmetic physicians.
Technological breakthroughs in cosmetic surgery and anti-aging medications began greatly increasing downtime for skin rejuvenation. Day spas then began contracting with medical professionals to provide cosmetic procedures on a part-time basis. Also, more physicians such as dermatologists and plastic surgeons opened their own medical spas.
As of July, 2006, there are approximately 450 medical spas in the U.S., as compared to 8,000 day spas. The Medical Spa Society reports an impressive 147 percent increase in new medical day spas in 2003. Day spas are increasingly offering medical procedures or being run in conjunction with medical practices. This marriage of day spas and physicians facilitates direct communication between professionals, such as a dermatological surgeon and a facial esthetician. This provides the patient with seamless and comprehensive care.
Types of Medical Spas
Most medical spas are of two types: aesthetic or wellness. Medical spas focusing on aesthetics offer cosmetic procedures such as lasers, intense pulsed light, microdermabrasions, photofacials, Botox and Restylene injections, chemical peels, prescriptions and sometimes surgery. These spas usually incorporate the word “medical” into their names.
Medical spas focusing on wellness provide alternative medicine such as chiropractic, biofeedback, naturopathy or acupuncture. A facelift at a medical spa might involve Botox, whereas it would only involve acupuncture at a wellness spa.
Top U.S. Medical Spas
> Wellmax Center for Preventive Medicine in La Quinta, California
> Advanced Laser Clinics of Berkeley in Berkeley, California
> Advanced Skin Fitness in Dallas, Texas
> Ageless Remedies of Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia
> Ageless Remedies of Roswell in Roswell, Georgia
> All-Star Massage & Medi Spa in Bellevue, Washington
> Argyle Salon & Spa in West Hollywood, California
> Aurora De Juliis, M.D., European Medical Spa in Bloomfield, New Jersey
> Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa in Fort Myers, Florida
Regardless of whether a medical spa’s focus is cosmetic or wellness, the ambience is always warm and serene. Book a visit to a medical spa today, and free yourself of everything from spider veins to shoulder tension.
Pierce - September 16th, 2006 10:03 am
Hi Savvy Spa Readers - on the note of ISPA I wanted to let everyone know that Mary Bemis, Rona Berg and myself (Pierce Mattie) will be teaching for two days on spa trends in Hershey PA. ref. http://www.piercemattie.com/blogs/2006/08/save_the_date_register_today_i.html