How Traditional Day Spas Differ from Medical Spas

When your spirit needs a boost, and your hectic schedule is zapping your energy, where do you go? Will you head off to a day spa, or will you book an appointment at a medical spa?

A day spa

You may not know that a traditional day spa differs from a medical spa in terms of the types of procedures each establishment offers. A day spa may provide different massages, facials, and body treatments such as body wraps and body polishes. You may also avail of hair removal, waxing, and eyebrow shaping. The focus of a day spa is on personal care treatments that concentrate on relaxation and improving beauty. Aside from different massages, you can get aromatherapy, manicures, and pedicures from a day spa. In addition, other day spas offer reflexology and hot stone massages, while some spas integrate makeup and hair salon services.

A medical spa

You can get various treatments at a medical spa, including medical procedures that a day spa cannot perform. A medical doctor runs a medical spa but does not perform all treatments, as the other procedures need the supervision of a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist.

Medical spas, like Aurora Med Spa, vary among themselves. Some medical spas are designed luxuriously as day spas. Others are more clinical in look. Medical spas are driven by results, while day spas concentrate more on relaxation.

Treatments from a med spa

The treatments a med spa offers depend on the establishment, and you can expect to receive treatments for hair removal, ageing skin, and acne. You can also avail of services that you may find in a day spa, such as facials, seaweed wraps, salt glows, and a range of massages.

One key difference is that a med spa offers specialized treatments that you can receive only from a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. Some of the more common treatments are administering different injectables, Botox, chemical peels, and laser and light treatments.

You can also get acne treatments from a medical spa. The clinic can treat breakouts, but it can also reduce acne scarring, lighten post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and enhance the skin’s overall appearance.

Administration of treatments

A medical doctor should administer the treatments that require medical procedures. A physician supervises other therapies while an esthetician performs them. An esthetician or a skincare therapist performs almost all the non-medical procedures the med spa offers. They do the cosmetic procedures and other non-invasive treatments, including superficial chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and specific facials for acne treatments.

While estheticians can do medical aesthetics, it is not part of medical practice. Thus, an esthetician is forbidden from diagnosing skin conditions, suggesting medical treatments other than cosmetic products, and prescribing medications. They are only allowed to perform treatments on the skin’s superficial layers. If an invasive procedure is needed, a dermatologist or a licensed medical professional should perform it. They cannot give deep chemical peels, facial fillers, or Botox.

Now that you know the difference, you can decide where you want to go, depending on the treatment you want to have. If you are going to a med spa, consider checking the qualifications of the physician, dermatologists, estheticians, and other med spa staff.