What Is a Medi-Spa? A medispa or med-spa is perhaps the natural extension of a dermatologists practice. In order to become a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, one must spend four years in medical school, match to a very competitive residency, and then complete four to seven more years of training. A massage therapist or aesthetician needs very little training by comparison. Despite this difference, physicians recognized that hundreds of millions of dollars were being spent on spa treatments each year. In order to capture some of these out-of-pocket dollars, physicians began offering their medical services along with non-medical services. Thus a patient could have a dermal filler injection along with her microdermabrasion and deep tissue massage. Unfortunately, when physicians started getting into the business of spa treatments, they created a bit of confusion among patients seeking cosmetic services. The average patient did not know what procedures needed to be performed by a doctor and which could be performed by a well-trained, but possibly unlicensed, staff member. In order to compete with the new medispa, traditional day spas would hire physicians to be their medical directors or physician liaisons. The doctor would receive compensation, the day spa would change to a med-spa and the services would remain the same (but the prices would go up). Even worse, with the physician to “direct” the medispa, some facilities performed procedures that were at the boundaries set up by medical licensure boards. Defining a Medical Spa: Industry Standards In other words, the term medical spa is pretty loosely applied. The International Medical Spa Association defines a medical spa as “a facility that operates...
Cryolipolysis is performed by a plastic surgeon, dermatologist or other physician in the office setting. No anesthesia or sedation is required for the cryolipolysis procedure because it is non invasive and relatively painless. A small area of fat tissue is gently drawn into a suction cup, of sorts. The cryolipolysis device applies cold (which is really removing heat from the tissue) to the treated area for a period of several minutes. The cryolipolysis device is then moved to each treatment area sequentially. Since there are no incisions, anesthesia or sedation, patients can resume normal daily activities immediately after cryolipolysis. What Areas of the Body Can Be Treated with Cryolipolysis? Cryolipolysis is most commonly used to treat localized fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise. These include the lower abdomen, flanks (love handles), upper arms, thighs, back fat, and the submental area (double chin). Treatments are highly customizable, and many cosmetic surgeons will develop a treatment plan that targets multiple zones over a series of sessions. Because it’s non-invasive and requires no downtime, cryolipolysis is often chosen by patients looking for subtle body contouring without the risks or recovery associated with liposuction surgery. Who is Eligible for Cryolipolysis? The technology is fairly new but appears to be quite safe in limited laboratory and clinical studies. It does seem that the best results are achieved by patients that are already fit and in good health. Also, cryolipolysis is better suited to treating small target areas like “love handles” rather than large areas of fat like the entire lower abdomen. How Long Do Cryolipolysis Results Last? One of the most...
Undergoing cosmetic surgery is an important and often life changing experience, thus the matter should not be taken lightly. Patients should consider a few things prior to the procedure, one of which is the experience and skills of the surgeon, whether it’s for a simple BOTOX injection or a massive operation like body contouring. Board certified plastic surgeons are usually the specialists with the most training and experience. What is Board Certified? Board certified most commonly refers to physicians who have passed a variety of exams, or boards, in their field of expertise. Often, all doctors need to pass the boards before obtaining their license to practice medicine and health care. This is to assure the public that the medical expert has successfully completed an approved educational program and evaluation requisite to performing quality patient care. Issues With Board Certification In recent years, certification has become an issue because there have been some doctors who have yet to complete additional hours of study and practice, and are performing procedures that might be better left to specialists who are board certified. Plastic surgeons are the most glaring examples of this medical concern. With more clients requesting Botox injections and other non-surgical treatments, some physicians who are not board certified have found a way to achieve an easy profit. In cases like these, patients seeking services from uncertified doctors often end up with less than ideal results. Incorrectly injected collagen could result to lips that are too large for the patient’s face, and faulty Botox injections could cause near paralysis of the face. Other botched up cosmetic procedures have resulted to...
If you are considering cosmetic surgery for yourself, selecting your cosmetic surgeon is the most important thing in ensuring that you get the results that you want. There is an ideal way to select your cosmetic surgeon to perform you aesthetic surgery and that is by doing your own research and then interviewing several cosmetic surgeons. Here is a step by step method that will teach you how to find cosmetic surgeons. Do Your Own Research Ensure that you have a good understanding of what you are hoping to achieve with your beauty surgery. This means you will first need to learn about the procedure. You should have a complete understanding of what the cosmetic surgeon will be doing during your procedure. You can begin by reading about the procedure you are considering and follow with examination of photos of both the procedure itself and before and after pictures. This will give you a good basis for selecting a cosmetic surgeon. Interview Several Top Cosmetic Surgeons Now that you have educated yourself about the specific cosmetic surgery you desire, the next step is to identify who you want to perform your operation. In order to find the best cosmetic surgeon for yourself you should interview several physicians. Having a consultation with several clinics will allow you to compare the skill and consideration of each physician. You should make sure that you are comfortable with the physician’s bedside manner and that you establish a good rapport with the doctor and the staff. The doctor should be fully willing to explain the entire procedure for you and answer any questions that...
There are thousands of plastic surgeons operating in the United States and if you are considering plastic surgery, you need to find the right one. Here are a few suggested ways to find the right cosmetic surgeon for yourself or a friend. Get a Recommendation from a Friend You may have friends or acquaintances who have had plastic surgery, such as breast augmentation or liposuction, or who have visited a plastic surgeon for aesthetic treatments, such as laser therapy. If they were happy with their plastic surgeon, you may be too. If they were unhappy with the results of their procedure, that will also be important to know. If you don’t have any friends who have had plastic surgery, your friends may know someone who has and you might want to ask around anyway. Get a Recommendation from your Hair Stylist Your hair stylist may be a good person to ask. Cosmetologists are in the beauty business and skilled at assessing beauty treatments. They are also in a unique position to have seen firsthand before and after results of the surgery. They can tell you a lot about what cosmetic surgeons to go to for any type of procedure. Hair dressers and manicurists spend a lot of time talking to their clients and any type of plastic surgeon visit will certainly have been a topic of conversation. Though they may not be able to tell you who had what type of procedure, they will probably be able to give you the entire story – good and bad. Other people who work at a spa or salon are also good...
Dr. Steven J. White M.D. is a plastic surgeon whose clinic is located in Dallas, TX. Dr. White is an expert cosmetic surgeon in the United States. He specializes in the cosmetic surgery of the body and the face. He has been featured in many magazines as a Top Doctor in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Facial Cosmetic Surgery in Dallas Face lift plastic surgery in Dallas costs on average of about $6,300 to $7,400. Dr. White’s facelift plastic surgery technique consists of making hidden incisions within the natural outline of the ear, then extending around the ear back up to the hairline. A tiny incision underneath the chin may also be required. Dr. White then divides the face skin from the connective tissues and stretches it backward, suctioning any excess skin and repositioning deeper layers if needed. If necessary, an extra incision is made underneath the chin to extract any extra fatty tissue and lower the look of muscle bands within the neck region. Laser Surgery in Dallas Many laser skin treatment options are available in the Dallas area. Average costs of laser treatments are about $400 for each session. Lasers work to correct fine lines and wrinkles in the face and help with lifting and tightening specific body parts, among a variety of options. Popular procedures include laser tattoo removal; Fraxel laser treatment, which improves pore size and works to improve unsightly acne scars and brown spots on the face; spider vein treatments; and laser hair removal. Breast Lift Cosmetic Surgery in Dallas Dr. White’s cosmetic surgery clinic in Dallas also performs breast lifts. His technique involves 3...
What Makes a Top Plastic Surgeon? When it comes to identifying the best plastic surgeons in the United States, credentials, experience, and peer recognition are key factors. Surgeons must be board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and demonstrate an outstanding track record in both patient outcomes and ethical conduct. Additional criteria such as leadership in medical organizations, participation in academic research, and commitment to patient safety also play a role. Best Plastic Surgeons Nomination Process The utilization of extensive research and relevant medical doctor credential information databases are what go into locating the best plastic surgeons in America. Plastic surgeons must possess a certain amount of experience and expertise in the field of plastic surgery. Best plastic surgeons are chosen based on these steps: Must be board certified and are randomly selected using databases and a proprietary system The proprietary system and software emails or faxes generally ask the question, “If one of your loved ones needed medical attention in your field, which of your peers would you choose?” In those same emails, physicians can log in and choose a username in which they nominate their peers and submit The researchers collect all the information and prepare for the next phase The next phase involves those peers who were selected being reviewed for the proper nationwide licensure status, malpractice judgments, and disciplinary actions. They are then cross-referenced utilizing thirteen leased/owned doctor credential information databases confirming physicians complete nationwide licensure statuses and relevant credential information. The last step includes the researchers collecting and reviewing the pool of nominated plastic surgeons and verifying credentials. Why Peer Nominations Matter Peer nominations...
