Image by autumnal fires via Flickr

Medical Spa

The Benefits of Spas

Since time began, man has known about the health benefits of bathing in mineral spa waters. The Romans were happy to build a luxurious palace wherever they found spa water (ok, they all liked to bathe together for a variety of reasons) and the Victorians weren’t too far behind in the UK, with doctors often prescribing a month at the seaside and a spa bath three times a day. Ah, those were the days, nowadays it’s take two of these after meals and get back to work.

Medical Spas have really taken that whole concept a few steps further. A medical spa is kind of a cross between a day spa where you can treat yourself to a days pampering, massage, beauty treatments and come out looking 5 years younger and a few hundred bucks lighter, and a medical clinic.  Treatments available will probably include:

• laser treatments
• laser hair removal treatments
• intense pulsed light treatments (IPL)
• photofacials
• botox and other injectable treatments
• chemical peels
• skin tightening

You’ll probably be able to have a massage too, followed by a sauna and a roll in the snow (not always available!!)

Medical Spas should be fully supervised by qualified medical staff, and there are a few things which you need to check up on before you book yourself in and part with any cash.

• Who is the medical spa owned by, and who operates it? Is it a doctor? Is the doctor actually present, on the premises or is he one of those “silent” partners in name only, just to get the appropriate license. Although regulations do vary between the states, it is usual and definitely preferable for a medical doctor to oversee the procedures which are performed in the medical spa, in person.
• So exactly who will be performing your procedure? You need to be sure that the person has the proper training and license before you allow yourself to be treated – especially for something like laser hair removal which can have devastating and irreversible consequences if not done correctly. Maybe you should ask to see some “before” and “after” photos of their previous clients.
• What equipment do they have? Is it the latest, state of the art equipment? Have they had the necessary training to use it properly? How much pain is likely to be involved?
• What should my realistic expectations be of the results of this treatment? Some cosmetic surgeons and doctors actually open medical spas so that they can simply sell more services and refer you from their practice.

If you’re seriously thinking about visiting a medical spa, the first thing you need to do is to identify whatever is bothering you about your body/face/appearance and listen to the recommendations of your doctor or medical spa consultants. Don’t just take their word for it, they’re likely to advise that you need the machine which they’ve just spent thousands of dollars on, not necessarily your best option. Always do a bit of research on your own, you know it makes sense.