We always stress the importance of finding a high-quality medical spa. Finding a reputable medical spa and location with staff you can trust is of the utmost importance.
The biggest advantage a medical spa has is the knowledge of the staff. Doctors who can listen to your needs and help identify the right treatment are an essential first step. Although essentially all procedures available in a medical spa are extremely safe and unlikely to cause injury, this always assumes that well-trained staff members are using the device correctly during the course of your treatment.
This article will provide an overview of things to consider when looking for a medical spa. We’ll look at three main areas that can be used to identify a place of trust: who owns or operates the spa, what kind of training the staff receives, and whether their equipment is safe and up-to-date. We’ll also identify some easy questions you can ask over the phone to help you find the right medical spa before you go.
Is there a doctor in the house?
One of the main things to consider is who owns or operates a medical spa. The best medical spas are often owned or operated by doctors. Depending on the treatments a spa offers, some or all of them will require consultation with a doctor. You’ll certainly want to speak to a doctor before any treatment that involves prescription drugs or could have serious dermatological impact.
If doctors seem distant or difficult to talk to, it can be a warning sign. Be sure to find out if this doctor will be able to proactively guide you through your treatment cycle in a way that he can understand and is comfortable with. When you call, you should be able to easily set up a consultation with them, and they should be courteous and knowledgeable during your consultation. Beware of anyone who keeps saying ‘We can fix that’ – they’re looking for a realistic doctor, not an overly promising salesperson.
What to ask by phone: What medical qualifications do your spa owners or operators have?
Who is performing your procedure?
In addition to finding a doctor-run medical spa, it’s also important to make sure the staff performing your procedure is well-trained. The ideal spa should have staff who are highly experienced in using the equipment necessary for your procedure. Try looking up some online reviews of the business on Yelp or just search for its name online with the word “reviews.”
Many medical spas also maintain collections of before and after photos of former patients as a testament to the skill of their staff and their experience with these treatments. Try asking to see such a portfolio if you have concerns about the people performing your procedure. If they’re not good at it, their results will probably be bad too.
What to ask over the phone: How much experience do your staff members have with this procedure? What is the training procedure?
Is the equipment up to date?
Lastly, you want to make sure that any medical spa you choose has modern equipment. There have been significant advances in areas such as photo facials, laser skin tightening, and redness removal treatments, among others. You want to make sure that all the equipment used is reasonably modern and incorporating the latest developments. Many of the prices for medical spa services seem high because the equipment is state-of-the-art and quite expensive in itself, so beware of unusually low-priced spas. This often indicates that the equipment is old and out of date, or that it was purchased second hand. The latest equipment for many laser-based treatments is significantly less painful than previous models, another big plus.
What to ask over the phone: What equipment do you use for the Procedure and how long have you had it?