You may be familiar with the term spa and may have even visited on occasion for a facial or massage. A term that may not be as familiar is the medical spa. This is a spa that offers the same services as a traditional spa but is overseen by a licensed physician and can offer additional treatments.

There are certain conditions that an esthetician is not able to treat. Among these are things such as brown spots, broken capillaries, and redness that can usually be treated with more aggressive methods that require medical supervision. One way to treat these conditions is with a variety of lasers. There are many different types of laser treatments and they all require additional training and supervision. The laser is very effective but it can be dangerous if not used properly. Also common at medical spas are injections such as Botox, and facial fillers. These require knowledge of anatomy as you need to make sure the injection goes in the right place and that you are not hitting a nerve as this could cause temporary paralysis. At a spa you can get a light chemical peel to refresh your skin, but if you are wanting an aggressive peel it is necessary to visit a medical spa. With an aggressive peel the acid concentration is much higher and the potential for skin injury greater so it is important that a qualified medical professional is performing the procedure.

When thinking about the term medical spa you might think of a clinical atmosphere and not somewhere warm and relaxing like a traditional spa feels. While it is true that it might look a bit more clinical, there are still the relaxing services such as massage that are offered. Some medical spas also have services such as acupuncture and nutritional counseling available.

When choosing a medical spa make sure that you have done research into the licensing and training of the staff to make sure that you are going somewhere where everyone is properly trained and knows what they are doing. A medical spa can be a wonderful experience if you want both relaxation and that little bit extra.