If you’ve never been to a medical spa, or if you haven’t been in a while, you might not know what to look for or what to expect. Every major city has a huge amount of options when it comes to cosmetic procedures, so how do you know which to choose? At Z Center for Cosmetic Health, we want all our patients to feel completely prepared, comfortable, and at ease about any procedure they might get. That’s why we’ve written this guide to let you know everything you need to know before, during, and after going to a medical spa. First things first, let’s take a look at what you need to know before heading to a medical spa.
Check Their Credentials
The very first thing you should do when researching a medical spa is to make sure their practicing doctor has the appropriate credentials. Many cosmetic procedures are minimally invasive and non-surgical, but this does not mean that the person doing the procedure does not need to have real medical knowledge, training, and experience.
You want to make sure that the person administering your procedure is a board-certified physician that specializes in a cosmetic or surgical field. Be wary of doctors who might offer cosmetic procedures but do not specialize in aesthetics, like a dentist or a general practitioner. They may be doctors but they are not trained in the proper field. You should also be wary of unlicensed aestheticians offering cosmetic services. Medical spa services require expertise and experience so make sure you are going to a qualified professional. If there is no physician on site then that should raise a red flag for you.
At Z Center for Cosmetic Health, Dr. Michael Zadeh is personally involved in all treatments and personally performs all injection procedures. He is a board-certified surgeon, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is one of only 3% of physicians in the nation to receive the prestigious Most Compassionate Doctor Recognition. When you’re shopping around for medical spas, make sure your facility has someone who is qualified, experienced, and meticulous when performing treatments.
Understand the Services
After you’ve found an appropriately qualified cosmetic provider, the next thing you need to do is understand the different types of cosmetic procedures. Today, there are a huge variety of cosmetic services, like Botox, Juvederm Fillers, Coolsculpting, Laser Hair Removal, Facials, and many more. It’s important to know the details of the treatments which have been recommended to you, as well as who will be performing them. View before and after pictures of a center’s actual patients to get an idea of the type of results they get.
If you don’t know exactly the procedure you want, you can always discuss your needs during your consultation with your doctor, which we will discuss more later in this post.
Check for In-House Deals
Beware of general deals for cosmetic procedures, like those you may find on Groupon. These deals are usually offered by doctors with little to no experience or medical training and should be avoided. However, you can still get great deals on cosmetic services if you check for in-house deals. If you have found a legitimate, licensed practitioner you can check to see if their office is currently running any specials on services. At Z Cosmetic, we regularly have cycled package deals for our customers, such as our current $600 per area Coolsculpting package. Check with your doctor to see if they currently have any deals that may suit your needs.
Expect a Consultation
Consultations are a standard part of the cosmetic procedure process. At Z Cosmetic, every patient will meet with Dr. Zadeh for an initial consultation to discuss their needs and develop a treatment plan. This is an important part of the medical spa process, as it helps make sure the patient gets the proper treatment for their desired results. For example, a patient may think they want Juvederm to address signs of aging. But a consultation could yield that Botox, or perhaps a combination of Botox and Juvederm, would be a better fit for their concerns. It’s important to have an expert like Dr. Zadeh develop a treatment plan for your specific needs so you can get your best results.
Beware of any medical spa that does not offer a consultation before procedures. This is a sign of an inexperienced or unlicensed practitioner and these places should be avoided.
The Day Of and Afterward
Once you know how to choose a medical spa and have had a consultation, you will begin the treatment process. All cosmetic procedures should take place under clean and sterile conditions. If you find yourself in a more casual environment, consider that a warning sign. Verify that the products or treatments being provided are FDA approved genuine products. Do not be afraid to ask questions if something doesn’t seem right.
Cosmetic procedures should include a follow-up check-in with your doctor. Even if your doctor doesn’t think a follow-up appointment is necessary, you should always have a way to contact your doctor after the procedure. Make sure you know the best way to contact your doctor after your treatment in case you should have any issues.
There you have it: all the different things you need to know before going to a medical spa. Do you have any more questions? Please feel free to contact our office. We would love to chat with you more about your needs, concerns, or schedule you a consultation with Dr. Zadeh if you’re ready to start getting treatments.