SKIN DEEP
IF YOU THOUGHT RESULTS-ORIENTED SKIN CARE AND SERIOUS PAMPERING WERE EXCULSIVE,
RUN—DON'T WALK—TO YOUR NEAREST MEDI-SPA

If you adore the luxurious environment of a day spa, yet need skin treatments that pack a prescription-only punch,
you may want to check out your local MediSpa. A unique hybrid of a dermatologist’s office and a relaxing, spa-like
sanctuary, MediSpas offer medical-grade skin treatments—think chemical peels, Botox and laser resurfacing —
administered by medical professionals in a spa-like setting. “Until recently, Western Medicine has failed to recognize
the healing benefits of the spa industry. With the arrival of the Medical Spa, the two fields have converged, making
this new trend the wave of the skincare future,” says Raluca Minea, the owner of Face-Focus, a MediSpa in Englewood,
New Jersey.

While a MediSpa is both similar to a different from both a doctor’s office and a traditional spa, it provides the best of both worlds when it comes to treating and caring for the skin.While most people go to a dermatologist office to treat a specific problem or for a yearly skin evaluation, a MediSpa’s services are more oriented towards cosmetic dermatology and maintenance of the skin’s appearance. At the same time, the skin treatments at a traditional spa focus mainly on relaxation, as opposed to permanent skin health results. Spa facials are usually effective in cleansing the skin, but results tend to be temporary, says Kathy Dwyer, CEO and founder of SkinKlinic, a MediSpa in New York City. “Techniques such as extraction and massage stimulate the skin, giving a glow effect, but essentially do not address the long-term health of the skin,” she says. At MediSpas, however, the focus is almost always on serious skin health; most MediSpas are under the direction of a doctor, and all employ registered nurses to administer the medical-grade treatments. However, unlike a doctor’s office, those treatments are delivered in a relaxing, pleasant setting. In offering such treatments outside of a clinical setting, MediSpas provide consumers not only with a cushier environment, but also with more convenience. “At a dermatologist’s office, there is no guarantee of how long the waiting time is, which is inconvenient if you lead a busy lifestyle,” says Dwyer, noting that MediSpas operate like day spas in terms of booking and honoring appointment times. Unlike day spas, however, because those administering treatments are registered nurses and not estheticians, tipping is not expected.

MediSpas offer a wide range of treatment options to improve skin’s appearance, tone and texture. Intense Pulsed Light Photorejuvenation (IPL) laser treatments are used to for acne reduction, spot and blemish removal. “IPL treatments are a very effective method for reversing sun damage, rosacea and age spots; they truly take years off skin,” says Valerie Herndon, owner of Inaara Med Spa in Shrewsbury, NJ.  Also commonly available are injectable fillers like Restylane and Collagen and wrinkle releasers such as Botox. “These are the ‘instant gratification’ treatments,” Herndon says, as they provide immediate results. Additionally, skin brightening and anti-aging treatments such as medical-grade chemical peels and microdermabrasion are usually available at MediSpas. Many also offer laser hair removal. “We do a great deal of laser hair removal leading up to summer; it’s a very popular treatment,” notes Herndon. “In fact, I'd say that laser hair removal treatments and Botox treatments are running neck and neck for our most popular services.”

There are numerous new treatments poised to be popular in the future at MediSpas, notes Dwyer. Sculptra, a lactic acid filler injected into the skin, will soon be as commonplace as collagen for restoring fullness to deep hollows in the skin, particularly in the areas around the mouth, cheeks and jaw line. At SkinKlinic, lipotherapy, a form of cellulite-reducing mesotherapy, is already proving to be very popular, especially with summer on the horizon, Dwyer says: “Lipotherapy is used for areas of the body where the fat just won't shift through either diet or exercise, like the hip, thighs, stomach and arms,” she explains. With lioptherapy, multiple injections of a treated chemical solution derived from either soy or plant extract are administered underneath the skin in fatty tissue. This causes fat cells to release the fat content and eliminate the fat through a natural process. Within four to six, treatments, most clients see a visible difference, says Dwyer. So that clients can achieve results both through in-office treatments and an at-home regimen, some MediSpas feature their own line of products or stock those created by doctors.

As MediSpas are a relatively new option for skin care and treatment, it’s recommended that you look for certain criteria and perhaps even pay the MediSpa a visit before deciding to receive treatment there. “When choosing a MediSpa, look for one with a clean, medical environment, a well-trained, experienced staff and, and—absolute must —an MD affiliation,” says Minea. She also notes that while the MediSpa should look luxurious and inviting, the staff should be thoroughly trained and display seriousness when administering medical procedures like chemical peels and laser treatments.”

While MediSpas aren’t the appropriate stops for an “Is this mole dangerous?” query or a face-lift consultation, they are revolutionizing the world of cosmetic dermatology. Asks Dr. Barry J. Cohen, creator of skincare line phAdhantage and founder of Papillion MediSpa, “When receiving treatments, would you rather sit in a sterile doctor's office or in a lovely, tranquil environment? For most people, it’s an easy choice.” Perhaps MediSpas are just what the doctor —and patient — ordered.
—Chelsea Kaplan

Can’t get to a MediSpa? Try these over-the-counter skincare products that deliver MediSpa-quality results.





1. Both DermaNew’s Facial Rejuvenation System ($70, www.sephora.com) and Lancome’s Surface-C Microdermabrasion Kit ($85, www.sephora.com) allow you to achieve results close to those you’d get from a microdermabrasion treatment at a MediSpa. Follow with Remergent’s Antioxidant Refoliator to reinstate essential nutrients to your skin ($55, www.remergentskin.com).

                                 2. If you’d like to diminish the appearance of your
                                 freckles and sunspots, ph Advantage’s Kinetin Ultra
                                 Facial Anti-Aging Cream ($89.50,
                                 www.sephora.com) and Caudalie’s Vinoperfect
                                 Radiance Serum ($78, www.sephora.com) are great
                                 alternatives to a MediSpa laser treatment.






                                      3. Apply a thin layer of Dr. Sebagh’s Serum Repair ($140,
                                      www.blissworld.com) under a pea-sized drop of Evolution
                                      Surf’s Intense PM Eye Crème ($300, www.saks.com) to
                                      the eye area each evening – it’s a much safer alternative to
                                      getting line-filling injections around the eyes.




4. If your skin needs brightening and clarifying, try Philosophy’s Microdelivery Peel  ($65, www.drugstore.com) or Skinklinic’s Superswipes ($50, www.skinklinic.com)
if you can’t get to your nearest MediSpa for a glycolic peel.

                            
                             5. Both Dr. Brandt’s Laser Tight ($110, www.sephora.com)
                             and Peter Thomas Roth’s Un-Wrinkle ($120,
                             www.sephora.com) are less invasive – not to mention costly -
                             than Botox injections, but will make your skin appear
                             noticeably firmer.






                                    6. If you’re plagued by cellulite, but aren’t yet ready for lipotherapy, use
                                    Benefit’s Wonderbod Jiggle Gel ($26, www.benefitcosmetics.com) or
                                    N.V Perricone M.D.’s Firming Body Mist ($140, www.sephora.com) to
                                    eradicate dimpled skin.

Some of TFG’s Favorite MediSpas

1.SkinKlinic, 800b 5th Ave, New York, NY, 212.521.3100
Stop by for a Skin Scan to discover – and then repair – the damage caused by years of sun exposure.

2. SkinCareLab, 568 Broadway, Suite 403, New York, NY, 212.334.3412
See founder Dr. Bradford Katchen for a chemical peel that will leave you glowing for weeks.

3. Inaara MedSpa, 480 Shrewsbury Plaza Shrewsbury, NJ 732.460.0600
Erase your frown lines with a quick, wrinkle-eradicating Botox treatment.

4. Face-Focus European Medical Spa, 401 S. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ 201.894.0500.
Attend one of the spa’s Anti-Aging Parties—held every four months—to receive Botox and Restylane
treatments at discounted rates.

5. Papillion MediSpa, 3203 Tower Oaks Blvd., Suite 102, Rockville, MD 240.747.5660
For laser hair removal, ask for an appointment with sunny Jodie Urgaz.

6. Beauty Therapies, One Brookline Place, Suite 302, Brookline, 617.739.8888.
Smooth and soften your skin with the best microdermabrasion treatment in the Boston area.

7. Radiance MedSpa, 140 Allendale Rd., King of Prussia, PA, 610.768.7978
Resculpt your jiggle with one of their non-surgical, cellulite-blasting lioptherapy treatments