Med Spa
Medical spas, or med spas, have been popping up all over the world due to their increase in popularity. This is because treatments for anti-aging, skin concerns, weight loss and many other areas have been getting better and better.
That said, this boost in popularity can make it difficult to narrow down what you should be looking for, especially since there are so many different options to choose from. Also note that a med spa is very different from a relaxing welness spa, which helps you relax and rejuvenate your body and muscles.
To help make your search a little easier, here is what to look for in a med spa (and what you should probably avoid!).
Long-Term and Personable Staff
The first thing you should look for in a practice is one that proudly boasts their long-term staff. Even if the practice hasn’t been around for decades, take note about how long their personnel stays with them.
This is for a variety of reasons (which we will also touch upon when talking about red flags). Firstly, establishing a positive relationship with your physician is key to your comfort and optimal results.
Dr. Sarah Bennett, the naturopathic physician at the Natural Med Doc med spa in Arizona, is one of the many practices to offer free consultations to ensure a good fit:
“Having a strong, lasting relationship with patients is one of my favorite parts of what I do. It also is what makes sure I give the best service and treatment possible since I will sincerely understand their situation and be able to shape their treatment plan around it. No two patients are the same, and not every patient will be best suited for my practice specifically! It’s better to acknowledge that and make sure everyone finds the best fit possible.”
This is especially important when it comes to future treatments you may be interested in. Having that healthy, established relationship will make it easier to seek out other remedies and solutions than if you bounce from physician to physician.
Another reason why it’s important to find long-term staff is that it means they truly take pride in their practice and feel comfortable with it. If people are regularly leaving, this is a fair indication that something isn’t ideal.
Focus and Experience
It’s important to find physicians who have experience, especially in the specific areas that you are looking for!
To find the best practice for you, a good place to start is finding the best practice for your needs. If you are looking for Botox, for example, a practice that specializes in hormone therapy with 20 years of experience may not be the best fit, even if they also offer Botox and are a generally fantastic practice.
Many med spas will offer a range of services in a number of different areas, but they often are clear about what their specific focus and specialty is. It can really help to narrow down your options if you pay attention to this element of a practice so that you can find the experts in your area.
That said, if you start building a positive, thorough relationship with a practice through one type of treatment, it is often the best idea to stick with that practice for everything. To expand upon the earlier example, if you had already been attending the practice for hormone therapy and want to look into Botox, it’s best to start there with the doctors you trust.
Plus, at that point, you will likely have a strong and comfortable relationship with the staff that will allow them to best direct you to additional treatment. If they feel another practice can better suit your needs, they can offer referrals.
Above all, just make sure you find a practice that matches your comfort level when it comes to their focus and experience. You want someone who will give you the best results, and this is a great way to get there.
Some Red Flags to Avoid
Now that we’ve established some of the main things you should look for, it’s also important to touch on things that should make you turn and run in the other direction.
With a variety of options comes the possibility that you’ll come across practices with less-than-ideal standards of service. This can result in something as simple as negative customer service or as serious as low-quality treatment.
Some of the biggest things to avoid include:
- Unlicensed naturopathic doctors or aestheticians: In many med spas and naturopathic offices, physicians will market themselves as “UnDs” who don’t have proper licensing and education in medicine. This is particularly common in natural medicine since they will simply claim “alternative” methods (even though true alternative medicine still requires extensive schooling). This is extremely dangerous and oftentimes illegal! Any truly qualified physician will proudly answer questions about their qualifications, so always feel free to ask if you are unsure!
- A revolving door of staff: If doctors, nurses and other personnel are constantly coming and going, this can be an indication of negative elements in the practice. It could be poor treatment of the staff or even ethics that these employees aren’t agreeing with. Also, though, this means you won’t be able to truly build a relationship with a physician who can get to know you and be your go-to for treatments.
- Poor reviews/lack of reviews: In the digital age, it’s easier than ever to find testimonials and reviews from other clients before you. Even if you can’t find reviews on the practice’s website, try to look through Google, Yelp and other platforms. If there aren’t any reviews to be found, you might be the “guinea pig” with few patients before you. If there are many negative reviews, it’s usually best to take that advice!
- One-size-fits-all treatments: Aesthetic treatments should always be tailored specifically to each patient. Everyone has a unique body with specific concerns and needs, so if a practice isn’t giving you individualized treatment, it’s likely you aren’t getting the best available.
Above all, if a practice simply rubs you the wrong way, it’s best to look elsewhere. Even if you can’t pinpoint an exact reason, it’s important to find a place that makes you comfortable and confident.
In Summary
Finding the right med spa is a very personal journey, so it’s important to make sure you are in touch with yourself and your needs before settling on a provider.
Finding a practice with dedicated, experienced, focused staff that sticks around for the long-term is critical. It’s also important to make sure you recognize red flags so that you can avoid possible problems or negative experiences.
Ultimately, no one knows your med spa needs better than you do. Listen to yourself and your instinct and you will surely find the best provider possible. For more great content on aesthetic treatments and solutions, be sure to look through our other posts and keep up with our updates!
By Katherine Lutz - Natural Med Doc | September 2019
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