Medical Facials vs. Spa Facials: Which To Choose?

An emerging trend in the world of skin care:  more and more people are heading to the doctor’s office for a facial, and skipping their favorite spa.  I recently caught up with Dr. Colon of The Peer Group Center for Plastic Surgery in Florham Park, NJ.  He was kind enough to shed some light on this phenomena, and explain what medical treatments are used to combat hyperpigmentation, rosacea and signs of aging.  Read on!

Q:  Why should women opt to visit a medical professional for a facial, instead of a spa?

A:  When choosing a medical vs. a nonmedical spa you need to ask yourself an important question. What do you want out of this facial treatment? If your main goal is an hour of rest, relaxation and a facial massage, then the non medical spas have the edge. There is certainly nothing wrong with it.  If you are more concerned with the treatment of a particular problem ( i.e.-hyper pigmentation, wrinkles, aging…) then the medical skin care centers are the best option.  These facilities measure success based more on patient outcomes and not so much on the “spa” experience. The approach tends to be more methodical and specialists are on site when needed. They can offer a wide variety of options. Skin care programs with more effective dosages can be prescribed when needed and treatments like peels, Botox, fillers, and lasers are readily available.

Some centers have tried to blur these lines with medical practices trying to be more “spa” like and non medical centers having doctors come in a few days a month.  This can be confusing to patients. In general, when looking for a medical skin care center, you should approach it as if you were looking for a doctor- referrals from physicians, check the training and certification of the aestheticians, speak with friends with good outcomes… do your research.
 
Q:  What are the most common treatments that patients seek when visiting your clinic?

A:  Facial treatments to minimize the changes associated with aging tend to be the most common services offered. These include peels, microdermabrasion and other exfoliating procedures.  Physicians are available for Botox and filler treatments which have become very popular over the last several years.
 
Q:  Are “medical facials” more expensive than “spa facials”?

A:  Interestingly, even though facials done in medical facilities tend to be more effective and often use “medical” grade treatments, they can be less expensive than the spa.  Call and find out for yourself. Remember that at the spa you are paying more for the “experience” than the final outcome.
 
Q:  What treatment do you recommend for hyperpigmentation?

A:  There are different treatments available for hyperpigmentation from bleaching creams for home use to laser light treatments.  A trained professional should evaluate you and decide a treatment plan that would be right for you based on multiple factors, including your skin type and lifestyle.
 
Q:  What treatment do you recommend for rosacea?

A:  Specific skin care products have been formulated for Rosacea patients. These topical treatments help alleviate redness and inflammation as they protect and help prevent further damage. Laser light treatments are also recommended for rosacea. Since this condition transcends skin types, you should be evaluated by a trained professional for a personal skin care plan based on multiple factors.
 
Q:  What treatment do you recommend to combat fine lines, or other signs of aging?

A:  The treatment of facial wrinkles is at times more complex than people realize. The starting point should be a good and effective home care program to prevent new wrinkles and improve skin texture and circulation. Simple lifestyle changes such as the use of sunblock and moisturizers can be very effective. Skin resurfacing treatments are often classified according to the depth to which they penetrate into the skin. Very fine superficial lines can be improved with non invasive procedures such as microdermabrasion, peels and laser resurfacing, which have minimal to no downtime. Deeper lines require treatments that have an effect on the deeper layers of the skin—chemical peels, lasers, injectables such as Botox are very effective in treating lines caused by thick hyperactive muscles ( frown lines or smile lines around the eyes…)

For more information, or to contact the doctor yourself, visit PeerGroupNJ.com/.