Are you thinking of getting a facial or a non-invasive cosmetic procedure?
It’s highly likely that you have to go to a medical spa, like Med Spa Lakeland, to get it done.
Medical spas, or often called med spas, are considered a cross between a dermatology clinic and a day spa. They usually operate under the supervision of a licensed physician.
While dermatology clinics involve treatments and procedures that are stronger and require medical-grade or physician expertise, medical spas focus more on producing visible results.
In other words, they provide non-invasive medical and cosmetic treatments in a spa-like environment.
If it’s your first time to visit Med Spa Lakeland, here are some things to expect:
1. Check-in
People generally regard medical spas as medical facilities so expect to go through more consultation and documentation.
You’ll be asked to provide proper identification documents and paperwork. You’ll also get to consult with the persons performing the treatments on you and you’ll also receive post-treatment instructions.
Medical spas hand out questionnaires that closely resemble the ones you’d normally get from a medical clinic.
You’ll be asked questions concerning your health, medical and physical history (such as allergies, medications taken lifestyle, habits, and the like).
Some medical spas also require patient privacy rights or HIPAA paperwork, office policies, mutual arbitration, and other documents related to refunds/revisions.
And, based on the treatment you’re getting, you may be also required to submit consent forms.
Almost all treatments involving lasers, injectables, and chemical peels require consent forms from the manufacturers.
These forms describe in detail all the risks, benefits and complications involved in the said treatments. Some even set patient expectations by including general clinical findings.
2. Consultation or Treatment
Although some medical spa facilities require another set of consultation-only appointments for first-timers, there are some that allow both a consultation and treatment appointment on the same day.
Med Spa Lakeland provides free consultations, followed by a treatment upon the recommendation of the physician, aesthetician, or nurse, and if the patient agrees to proceed.
However, this also depends on the whether or not the treatment can be done on the first visit.
For example, there are some contraindications to consider before you perform treatments involving fillers, lasers, injectables, and chemical peels.
If a patient has been using aspirin in the previous weeks, then they are advised against getting injectables due to aspirin’s blood-thinning properties.
If a patient is currently using Retinol in their skincare regimen, then they are advised against getting a chemical peel.
At Med Spa Lakeland, getting a treatment on the same day as the consultation depends on the client’s needs.
There are clients that have gotten multiple treatments before, which means they do not require consultation anymore.
3. Questions
Individuals performing treatments should be free to ask questions, especially before they give the go signal for the patient to undergo a particular treatment.
These are some of the common questions you can expect to get asked at a medical spa:
- What products are you currently using?
- How often do you use them?
- Are there any upcoming special occasions you’re planning on attending? When?
- Ambiance
Like traditional spas, the ambiance or atmosphere of medical spas will depend largely on the company and its branding.
For example, there are spas that market itself as a European-style medical spa, while some even come with a tropical island theme.
Some spas are decorated with luxury-branded décor, and some are minimalist or give off a very Zen ambiance.
Medical spas are basically medical clinics with elements of a traditional spa such as relaxing décor, soothing music, comfortable furniture, and in some cases refreshments.
You get to enjoy luxurious treatment that are sure to give visible and satisfactory results at a fancy spa—what more could you want?
If you want to get treatments where you’ll immediately see the difference after one session, then go to a med spa.
4. Amenities
Medical spas, unlike traditional spas, do not come with amenities like saunas, steam rooms, jacuzzi, saltwater pools, or showers.
It important to remember that traditional spas are focused mostly on relaxation, whereas medical spas are focused on producing results.
Medical spas also do not have locker rooms.
Patients can change their clothes in the treatment rooms, and because there are usually no locker rooms, it might be a good idea to leave jewelry and other important possessions at home.
5. Med Spa Style
Med spas usually provide patients or clients with robes and slippers depending on the kind of treatments they get.
For example, if you’re going in for a pre-surgical consultation, you’re likely to be asked to change into a paper gown, just like the ones they provide you at the doctor’s office.
If you’re getting fillers or injectables, you won’t be asked to change clothes at all.
Depending the part of the body or face that requires treatment, you’ll be asked to expose more or less skin by the administering physicians.
6. Who Will Be Administering the Treatment?
Med spas usually have at least a doctor, an aesthetician, and/or nurse under its employ. However, this can vary depending on the spa and the treatments offered.
Who provides you treatment will depend on the kind of treatment you’re getting. If you’re getting a facial or chemical peel or other light therapies, then an aesthetician will treat you
At Med Spa Lakeland, only licensed doctors will administer fillers and injectables. If you’re only getting a laser treatment or vitamin infusion therapies, then a nurse will suffice.
7. Maintenance and Follow-up
Client/patient compliance is strongly encouraged when it comes to at-home care, given the intensity of products and services provided at medical spas.
This is something clients are told to expect. Patients are also encouraged to abide by maintenance and follow-up.
Aestheticians and patient coordinators work together with doctors to provide patients with a personalized beauty plan that will allow patients to get the most out of their treatments.
Conclusion
These are just some of the things first-timers can expect to experience at a medical spa.
Medical spas may have similarities to traditional spas, but the treatments the offer are more comprehensive, but you can expect to see the results right away.