What Is a Med Spa?
Med Spas, or, more formally, Medical Spas, are a relatively new but increasingly popular part of the aesthetic/cosmetic industry. Devoted to non-surgical techniques to combat the effects of aging and other skin-related problems, Med Spas provide a variety of facial and body treatments that offer customers a more youthful, vigorous look — and with it, enhanced self-esteem. Unlike day spas, Med Spas are operated by licensed healthcare professionals.

People with acne, spider veins, cellulite, age spots and other skin problems can benefit from the services offered by Med Spas. These services include injectable treatments, such as Botox®, Restylane® and collagen; skin treatments, including dermabrasion, acid peels, thermage and laser hair removal; and mesotherapy, which can improve skin features marred by cellulite and fat.

Injectables
Injectable cosmetic procedures are probably the most well-known treatments for improving one's appearance and offering a younger look. Injectables are used to fill out certain parts of one's face and/or to smooth out wrinkles, scars and other lines in the face.

While there are a variety of injectables and fillers in use today, the three most common types are Botox, collagen and Restylane.

• Botox, the brand name for cosmetic botulinum toxin A, is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure that uses small injections of toxin to paralyze facial muscles temporarily. By paralyzing facial muscles, Botox injections can stop wrinkles from appearing when a person frowns or makes other facial expressions. Typically, Botox treatments can last for up to four months.
• Collagen, a protein produced naturally in humans and animals, can be injected beneath the skin to fill out wrinkles, creases, furrows and other "sunken" areas of the face. It's also used to create fuller lips. The type of collagen used will determine how long the effects of collagen injections will last, but in general, results can last for 2 to 6 months.
• Restylane, a clear, gel-based, biodegradable hyaluronic acid produced naturally by all living organisms, is usually injected into areas around the nose and mouth, where moderate to severe wrinkles can often appear. The results of Restylane treatments can last from 6 months to a year.

Skin Treatments
Med Spas offer a wide range of procedures and technologies, including, most commonly, microdermabrasion, acid peels and laser hair removal, to improve the look and texture of an individual's skin.

• Microdermabrasion is a non-surgical procedure designed to remove the top layer of dead skin from one's face in order to bring the healthier, younger-looking skin to the surface. The treatment, which uses tiny crystals to "sand blast" and thereby exfoliate the skin, also encourages the generation of new skin cells in the deepest sub-surface levels and promotes the natural production of collagen to smooth out the skin's appearance. For optimal results, microdermabrasion customers usually undergo up to 12 treatments, several weeks apart, each one lasting from a half-hour to an hour.
• Acid peels involve the use of alpha hydroxy acid to treat ailments such as dry skin, acne, sun spots and other skin problems. Acid peels loosen and eliminate dead skin cells and, by stimulating collagen production, can also help to reduce wrinkles and promote better skin texture. Alpha hydroxy acid is naturally produced in fruits and other foods, so, unlike other chemical peels, it isn't harmful to the skin. For best effects, acid peels generally require a series of treatments performed over several months.
• Thermage® is a skin treatment process that addresses sagging or wrinkling due to sun exposure, age or heredity. Using capacitive radiofrequency (CRF) technology, Thermage heats the underlayer of one's skin as well as the natural collagen in the inner layer, tightening and firming up the skin, often in just one session. The results can last for up to six months.
• Laser hair removal is a treatment designed to eliminate unsightly or unwanted hair almost anywhere on the body. The laser targets melanin in the hair and follicle through the use of a specific wavelength of light. The intense, targeted heat from the laser damages the hair follicle, inhibiting further growth, but leaves the tissue around it unaffected. Individuals generally require several treatments to create the desired effect, but the exact number of treatments will vary, depending on the area in question. (Learn more about Laser Hair Removal.)

Weight Reduction Treatment or Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy is a procedure that uses micro-injections of conventional or homeopathic medicine and/or vitamins into the middle layer (mesoderm) of one's skin to reduce deposits of cellulite and fat. A non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment, Mesotherapy can treat the eyes, chin, arms, love handles, abdomen, hips, thighs and buttocks with specific medicinal injections that target the conditions that cause cellulite and localized fat deposits. Multiple treatments are necessary. (Learn more about Cellulite and Fat Reduction Treatments.)