Medical Spas Worth the Saved Money or Too Risky?
In 2007, there were 2000 medical spas in the United States. These hybrid spas are rapidly growing in number and popularity. Regular day spas have long offered an array of services that appeal to the one stop shopper. You can get a manicure, facial, massage, and wax all in the same trip. Medical spas operate under the same appealing premise. A patron can get medical peels, Botox & Restylane injections, laser surgery and pulse procedures, photo facials, microdermabrasions, plus all the other regular day spa beauty treatments. Another appeal is that the medical services offered at medical spas are often cheaper than visiting a plastic surgeon or dermatology office. Often it means the difference in hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars, per procedure. However, don’t jump up and down in glee just yet.
Some people forget the fact that most of the services offered at medical spas are medical procedures and some are even considered surgical medical procedures. The medical procedures performed are required by law to be done or supervised by a lisenced healthcare professional, such as a doctor. In fact, most of the equipment can only be purchased under a doctors license number. The problem with this is regulation and definition of “supervise.” Many states can define supervise as simply having a doctor as the medical director. It does not matter that one doctor has multiple clinics or practices and is “supervising” one procedure while he is playing golf 60 miles away. The lapses of regulation are allowing doctors to open a medspa clinics in their name, buy the equipment in their name, draw a paycheck for being the “medical director.” Yet, the doctor has never even set foot in the spa. When you go in and see that doctors board certification on the wall and see someone come in with a long white coat on, it is natural to assume that is the doctor and you are in good hands. Unfortunately these untrained, under trained , non medical professionals, are seriously injuring people. So, just keep in mind that different states have different regulations as to the definition of “supervise.”
If you are lucky you may come away with just not get any results from the procedure. However, nerve damage, second and third degree burns, scarring, infections, etc…and even death can occur. There are many of these risks from botched medical procedures by qualified doctors. Carelessness or just pure accident can happen in these procedures no matter who performs them. But, the incidences involving procedures by unqualified technicians are massive and usually result in permanent disfigurement or death.
The best way to prevent a bad experience is to arm yourself with knowledge. Research the different day spas on the internet. Find out what your states regulations are, who will be doing the procedure, if they are board certified, what their degree is in, how long they have been performing the procedures, etc.. IF you go in for a medical treatment and no one takes a medical history on you, that should sent a red light to your brain. It is vital that these medical spas take a medical history to ensure you are not allergic to any of the supplies used and do not have a disease that would contradict using the procedure.
Liked it
CHAN LEE PENG | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
Wow, this is awesome! Thank you lol..
Lauren Axelrod | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
I would be scared to have these procedures done. I guess I’ll just deal with the wrinkles when I get them. Great piece Jo
NA Staffieri | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
I am happy with the way I look. But thanks for the info.