Say you’ve been thinking about getting JUVÉDERM® injections, and a Groupon ad pops into your email promising a too-good-to-be true deal on treatments at a nearby med spa. Should you schedule an appointment there instead of finding a dermatologist to handle your dermal fillers?
As Dallas dermatologists, it’s probably clear what our answer is. But there are several reasons we recommend choosing a board-certified dermatologist for cosmetic injections and other aesthetic treatments designed to enhance the appearance of your skin.
What Is a Med Spa?
The number of med spas in the U.S. has steadily increased over the past decade. Medical directors oversee med spas, which blend day spa staples such as facials and massage with procedures you would normally find at the practice of a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. A med spa’s affiliation with a doctor might mean anything from having a board-certified specialist on-site to a doctor who is simply lending their name to the practice.
Treatment providers at med spas are typically aestheticians—cosmetic professionals who don’t have training in medical skin care. Additionally, regulations governing med spas vary from state to state.
Why Choose a Dermatologist for Cosmetic Treatments?
Your skin is the body’s largest organ, and its health is essential for combatting infections and damage caused by environmental factors and injuries. A dermatologist certified by the American Board of Dermatology undergoes years of training to learn the science of skin care and can recommend and customize aesthetic treatments after examining patients’ skin and discussing their family histories.
Cosmetic dermatologists take a comprehensive clinical and aesthetic approach to a patient’s concerns. In addition to listening to a patient describe why they are considering a cosmetic treatment, a dermatologist considers sun damage, potential skin cancers, skin types, and sensitivities that could influence the choice of procedures.
Patients considering BOTOX®, fillers, laser skin treatments, or other med spa-type procedures tend to think that the aesthetic nature of these treatments has little to no risk. These treatments, when performed by experienced, board-certified medical professionals, have very little risk. And minimizing risk should be a priority for patients.
Spa Treatments vs. Cosmetic Dermatology Treatments
Going to a med spa for facials, massages, or any other treatment that doesn’t involve a laser, scalpel, or needle, is OK. But procedures such as laser skin resurfacing, microneedling, and cosmetic injectables should be performed by cosmetic dermatologists.
At Dallas Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics, our team of medical professionals includes 3 of the most accomplished cosmetic dermatologists in the U.S., and they combine the best of cosmetic and medical dermatology to create customized skincare plans for each of our patients. This is an approach that can’t be matched by med spas.
If you’re looking for cosmetic skincare treatments, including dermal fillers such as JUVÉDERM, in the Dallas area, contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call us at (214) 631-7546 to schedule an appointment.
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