How to Choose a Safe & Effective Medspa: Credentials, Safety, and Quality Considerations
The aesthetic medicine industry has grown considerably over the past few years as more people invest time and money in their appearance. But the number of new practices popping up also makes navigating the landscape to find the best treatment more complicated. Not all treatment centers are created equal.
Knowing how to identify a reliable medspa is key to receiving the best care. Read on to learn how to review your medspa options and make better decisions regarding your skin health.
Why Choosing the Right Medspa Matters for Your Safety and Results
Traditional cosmetic treatments and medical aesthetic procedures may seem the same at a glance, but the latter is more complicated than the former. While cosmetic skincare techniques focus on relaxation and can be provided by anyone with the appropriate licenses, medical-grade procedures should be performed and supervised only by medical practitioners, such as physicians or nurses. This is because these treatments use medical devices and prescription-strength products that can substantially improve your long-term skin health. Examples of medical-grade procedures include:
- Injectables like Botox or dermal fillers
- Laser hair removal
- Chemical peels
- Contouring
Going to an unqualified provider for these services increases the risk of errors that can damage your skin and put your overall health at risk. To ensure that you receive proper care throughout your skin care treatment, it’s vital to verify the validity of any medspa before you visit.
Understanding What Makes a Medspa ‘Medical’
Medical spas represent a midway point between a traditional day spa and a medical clinic. A qualified medspa is operated under the supervision of a licensed physician who serves as the medical director. This supervision is necessary to maintain high working standards and confirm that all treatments are administered safely and ethically. Practitioners must also be licensed and trained for their procedural roles. Nurses or nurse practitioners should be licensed for injectable treatments, aestheticians for skincare procedures, and laser technicians for laser treatments.
Key Credentials and Certifications You Should Always Look For
Med spa regulations vary by state, so it’s essential to learn the rules that apply in your area to evaluate each med spa correctly. General guidelines state that all med spas must:
- Have a licensed physician as the medical director
- Hire qualified medical professionals for each treatment
- Maintain up-to-date licenses and specialized certifications
- Exclusively use FDA-approved devices
- Follow safety and sanitation standards
Memberships in professional groups such as the American Med Spa Association are a positive signal of a spa’s competence. Practitioners should also take part in ongoing training to modernize their skills and remain compliant with current health and safety protocols. All med spas should provide this information on their website or upon request. Don’t be too shy to ask!
How to Research Medspas and Make an Informed Decision
It’s natural to be skeptical of online reviews, but they can be helpful if you know what to look for. If several independent reviews describe similar experiences or note the exact details, it’s safe to assume those are consistent features of the med spa. Any comments about the treatment results or staff behavior are important factors to track. It’s also smart to reach out to people in your social circle to see if they have visited the med spa in question. The experience of friends and family is often more impactful than an anonymous review. Before-and-after galleries are other pieces of information that can give you a better idea of what to expect from specific practitioners.
Before booking any appointments, speak to a prospective provider about their experience, the risks of the treatment, pre- and post-treatment care, realistic outcomes, and the total cost. Their answers should inspire confidence that their med spa is the right place for you. If not, then you have a greater understanding of what to look for in other areas.
Red Flags to Avoid When Choosing a Medspa
If you notice any of these warning signs from a medspa provider, you should probably steer clear of them:
- No on-site medical staff
- A lack of staff licensing
- An inability to verify certifications
- High-pressure sales tactics
- Unrealistic promises about treatment results
- Vague treatment descriptions
- An unwillingness to discuss potential care complications
What a Quality Consultation Should Look Like
A comprehensive consultation takes a different route to the same place. Your initial visit should be fully personalized to your situation, reviewing your medical history, current medications, and aesthetic goals before putting together a cohesive treatment plan.
Your practitioner will sit down with you to explain each step of the process, discuss realistic expectations for the procedure, review the treatment’s risk profile, and outline the total price. Photos may also be taken to track progress over time. At the end of the consultation, you should be fully comfortable trusting your practitioner to deliver the desired treatment with genuine care for your physical and emotional well-being. Your health and safety should never be jeopardized during an aesthetic procedure.
Schedule an Appointment with Ageless Medical Spa
At Ageless Medical Spa, we believe everyone deserves to see who they want in the mirror. We offer several medical aesthetic services to help each of our clients restore their natural beauty. Initial consultations with Dr. Gerry Lazzareschi can take place in person or virtually. Contact Ageless Medical Spa to schedule a skin consultation and start the process today.
Featured Image: thoughtsofjoyce / Shutterstock