What is a Medical Spa?

Matthew Pruitt is the owner of NuVision, a boutique medical spa with offices throughout the tri-state area that offers a range of laser-based procedures including Lasik to BOTOX and skin rejuvenation. Here he explains the ins and outs of what a medical spa really is.

How does a medical spa compare to a typical day spa?

Medical spas and day spas are quite different. At day spas, what they typically do is they offer you an oasis of wellness and a retreat from the everyday stresses of life. A few of those things might include a massage and a nice soft atmosphere, whereas a medical spa is really something between providing that oasis for patients and also offering medical treatments that are non-invasive. That is really what a medical spa is—it is offering laser treatments that are medical grade treatments in a spa-like atmosphere. And that’s what NuVision MedSpa does.

Since we are experts in the field of lasers at NuVision and we have treated thousands of happy LASIK patients over the years, many of our patients have long asked about things like BOTOX or restylane fillers. Many people don’t’ know this but BOTOX was actually first used by opthamologists to cure a condition in children in their eyes. So eye doctors have long used this product. And Dr. Jackson [NuVision's medical director] has actually been doing BOTOX injections for a number of years on the cosmetic side, so we have plenty of experience in this area.

An increasing number of our patients began asking for additional cosmetic services over the years, and so to fill that need we started NuVision MedSpa. NuVision MedSpa is able to provide patients with actual outcomes for their cosmetic issues. Everything from treating acne with lasers to treating stretch marks with lasers or scars with lasers—we are able to do it. Of course we do the facial fillers and those types of things for patients, as well. And “Smart Lipo” is another treatment that we are going to be adding to our services as well.

All of these are laser-assisted treatments that have tremendous amounts of results for patients. So that is where a medical spa fits into the mix when it comes to the many types of spas available today.

How is a medical spa different from a dermatologist’s office?

There is actually not a huge difference between a medical spa and a more traditional dermatology office, other than the environment where patients are having their experience. Medical spas are not quite as much of a hard core clinical or sterile environment as a dermatologist’s office. Of course, it is obviously still a completely a clean environment, but it is one where you can get the benefits of stepping away at lunch and having a nice FotoFacial done to treat rosacea or perhaps having an acne treatment done or just fixing the damage of summer and sun spots without dealing with a stressful office-like environment. You can have these treatments done in a nice cool, collected place that is a little bit of an oasis in the city—and after your lunchtime treatment go right back to your office without missing a beat.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.