Looking for the best med spa near you? At our medical spa locations in El Dorado Hills, Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, and Sacramento, our mission is to be exactly that. You’ll find everything you need to have an exceptional visit and get results you can’t wait to show off—we’ve made sure of it!
What does it take to truly be a high-quality med spa, and what should you look for when you’re on the hunt for your new holy grail spot? Read on to find out!
What Exactly Is a Med Spa?
A med spa, or medical spa, is a middle ground between a day spa and a full-on medical aesthetics center, such as a plastic surgery practice. Med spas specialize in nonsurgical treatments, from injectables to lasers to body contouring. They combine medical treatments with the art of aesthetics to elevate your look without costing you major invasiveness or downtime.
The American Med Spa Association defines med spas as practices that contain these 4 core elements:
- Provision of non-invasive (i.e., non-surgical) aesthetic medical services.
- General supervision by a licensed physician.
- Treatments performed by trained, experienced, and qualified practitioners.
- On-site supervision by a licensed healthcare professional.
What Is the Difference Between a Med Spa and a Day Spa?
Day spas are typically where you go for a little pampering and preening. Think waxing, massages, facials, mani-pedis, and aromatherapy. While these services may undoubtedly help you look and feel your best, there’s one big difference: Day spas aren’t overseen by physicians and don’t require providers to have medical certifications.
The big takeaway here: If you’re planning on getting BOTOX®, fillers, lasers, or any other treatments that involve injections or medical devices, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing a med spa and not a day spa. (Yes, that means even when day spas advertise injections. Stick with the trained pros!)
5 Things Every High-Quality Med Spa Should Offer
So you’ve decided you want to visit a med spa near you for your treatment of choice. How can you be sure you’ve found a great one? While every med spa offers its own perks and protocols, high-quality practices often have a few important features in common.
Complexion Analysis
How can you be sure the skin treatments you’re receiving are really making a long-term difference in your skin? There’s more to your complexion’s health than what we can see with the naked eye. That’s why many med spas offer skin imaging.
We use the Reveal® Imager to scan your skin for hyperpigmentation, damage, and even signs of aging that are just beginning to appear. This info serves as a starting point for your consultation and treatment planning. Later on, we perform follow-up scans so you can see exactly how much of a difference your treatments have made in your skin. It’s all about transparency and making sure you really are getting the results you set out to achieve.
In-Depth Consultations
One big sign of a high-quality med spa is an in-depth and comprehensive consultation process. During this initial appointment, you should never feel rushed, pressured, or like you aren’t being listened to. Your provider should take plenty of time to answer all your questions, discuss recommended treatments and the purpose behind them, and make sure you have all the info you need to move forward comfortably.
Treatments Safe for Every Skin Tone and Type
A high-quality med spa means an inclusive med spa. No matter your skin tone, body type, or budget, you should feel like the VIP you are. While many aesthetic treatments are completely safe for every skin type, some laser treatments aren’t ideal for people with deeper skin tones. A truly awesome med spa will be ready with alternative recommendations to make sure everyone can safely get a look they love.
Being inclusive of all skin types is a promise we’ve made here at DA™. You can read all about it in this blog post.
Signature Procedure Packages
Med spa providers who have been in the business long enough know certain treatments work like a charm when they’re combined. Take BOTOX® and fillers (a “nonsurgical facelift”) or DiamondGlow™ and the Cutera® Excel V (the ultimate acne-fighting duo).
Med spas often combine these individual treatments into results-based packages that will give you the look you’re going for in as few appointments as possible. It’s efficient and effective, but there’s one caveat: These treatments shouldn’t be performed as one-size-fits-all protocols. Your provider should use each combination as a starting point before fully customizing your treatment to suit your individual needs.
All the Medical-Grade Skincare Products the Pros Swear By
As much as in-office treatments can work wonders for your skin, an effective at-home routine makes all the difference when it comes to maintaining those results. A high-quality med spa should offer a selection of medical-grade skincare products from trusted brands, including (just to name a few):
- SkinMedica®
- Obagi®
- Revision Skincare®
- Colorescience®
At DA™, we formulated our own brand to deliver science-based products we knew would give our clients exactly what they were looking for. You’ll find it alongside the other brands you know and love. You can even shop online and have products shipped straight to you so you never run out of your holy grail.
There are lots of other things to keep in mind when you’re looking for the best med spa near you. Check out a few more in this blog post.
3 Red Flags to Look Out For
Unfortunately, not every medical spa you visit is going to live up to the standards you deserve. If you notice any of the following red flags, it may be time to check out somewhere new!
Confusing Credentials
If providers are unclear about their credentials or make that info hard to access, there’s probably a reason. Before you let someone come near your face with a needle, make sure they’re trained to do so safely. Look for RNs, NPs, and PAs—we’ve got plenty on our team!
Too-Good-To-Be-True Prices
Is a location offering injectables for next to nothing? Steer clear. As tempting as it is to snag a bargain, these products may be inauthentic or diluted—a big no-no.
Negative Reviews
It’s normal for any business to receive the odd, unimpressed review. If, however, a practice has an overwhelming number of low ratings and bad feedback, it goes without saying that you should keep looking elsewhere.
Discover the DA™ Difference
Get the quality care you deserve at our El Dorado, Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, and Sacramento med spas. Ready to get started? Request a consultation online or call (916) 844-4913. We can’t wait to hear from you!
I have been using DA services since it opened in one small cubicle in Sacramento over 10 years ago. I started with sclerotherapy injections for spider veins, and laser treatment for my face, progressing with ultherapy, coolsculpting, microneedling (2 different types), hydrafacials, and more coolsculpting. There has never been a time that I haven’t been totally pleased with the courtesy, friendliness, professionalism, and service at any of the DA locations I’ve visited (Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville). Bless you all!
Hi Robin! Thank you for reading our blog and for being a long-time, loyal patient to #DA! We are so thrilled to hear about your positive experiences, and grateful that you took the time to leave such a thoughtful comment. With your permission, we would love to share your review on our social media platforms as well. Thank you for being a part of the Destination Aesthetics family!
All my best,
Katie at Destination Aesthetics