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Medical Spas Increase in Number Whether or Not They Are Safe

March 05, 2012 | Blog, Botox and Juvederm Injectables, Laser Hair Removal, Laser Vein Removal, Other

Medical Spas Increase in Number Whether or Not They Are SafeA recent article from the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons suggested that there has been a rise in the number of medical spas in the United States, although many may not be safe or accredited. When you’re considering receiving a medical treatment—whether it’s cosmetic surgery or laser hair removal—it’s important to seek a licensed professional and do your research. Currently, spas are not required to be licensed, and although legislators are working on finding a solution to this issue, it is important to make sure you go to a reputable medical spa to optimize your results and reduce the risk of complications.

First and foremost, if you are receiving cosmetic injectables like Botox® or facial fillers like Juvéderm®, make sure the spa has a licensed injectable purchaser (i.e., a board-certified physician), as well as licensed cosmetic injectors to perform the treatment. It’s also important to ensure they are using brand-name, FDA-approved products. Many boutiques are offering fake Botox and similar counterfeit products with unknown ingredients. You should always ask to see the package if you aren’t positive you’re paying for the real thing.

Be skeptical of steep discounts. There are times that licensed medical spas offer specials like the buy one, get one Radiesse® injections on March 15th at our Northside location.  While manufacturers of injectables often offer discounts like the current Botox® special, extremely cheap injectables are often not FDA-approved products. Therefore, it’s important to do your research, so you will know the providers are licensed and using safe products.

Most medical spas offer much more than injectables. If you are seeking a cosmetic treatment like skin resurfacing, skin tightening, or laser vein treatments, it’s important to know that effective equipment is used. Because AYA is owned and operated by Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C., we are able to provide the highest-quality, medical-grade equipment available. As with injectables, it’s also essential to determine that the providers are licensed to perform such treatments.

Most medical spas will provide a skin analysis or consultation to discuss your concerns, answer your questions, and determine a treatment protocol. Using tools like our website can help you understand the basics of a treatment, but during a consultation, you really have the chance to discuss the ins and outs of your prospective treatment. We even host events periodically for patients who want to come and learn more about our services. In fact, we will be discussing and demonstrating our newest fat reduction technology, CoolSculpting®, on March 8th. Follow this link to learn about how you can attend from 12pm to 2pm or 6pm to 8pm, save on fat reduction, and be entered to win a free CoolSculpting treatment.

AYA Medical Spa is proud to offer Atlanta, Alpharetta, and Northside patients a safe place for a healthy skin experience. We also like to help our patients with the research process through tools like our blog, Facebook, Twitter, and now, Google+. Be sure to connect with us if you haven’t already. View our testimonials to see what other patients had to say about their experiences, and contact us to schedule a consultation to learn more.