We talk often about the benefits of regular facials, and it's something we're quite passionate about. Taking time to invest in your skin is not only a great way to de-stress, it can also visibly improve the appearance of your skin, helping you look and feel your best. When it comes to facials, though, you have two options: a traditional spa and a medical spa.

Facial treatments are an investment, so it's important to understand the value of what you're getting when you choose a spa. In this post, we'll be sharing the differences between traditional and medical spas (like M Spa at the Reserve) so you can determine which is right for you.

Medical Spa vs. Traditional Spa: What’s the Main Difference?

Known for providing a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere, traditional spas provide services that make you feel rested and refreshed. They offer services that probably come to mind when you think of a relaxing spa day: massages, facials, masks and perhaps nail treatments.

Medical spas offer many of the same services with the same relaxing environment, but there’s one key difference: They're supervised by a medical doctor. This means MedSpas are allowed and encouraged to use tools, products and technology that traditional spas are not.

Does this matter for you? Well, it depends on your goals.

Medical Grade Technology

If you're simply looking to clean and refresh your face, a traditional spa might be the right choice for you. A spa facial can purify the skin and make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated, and there are definitely benefits to regular facials.

But if you're make a long-lasting impact, erase scarring and discoloration, reduce the appearance of visible veins, prevent hair growth or visibly reverse the signs of aging, you'll need something a little stronger.

Traditional spas aren't able to provide cutting-edge treatments like Laser Genesis®, laser hair removal, true micro needling or cosmetic injections like Botox® or fillers. They also can't provide chemical peels of the same strength as medical spas . These treatments can do more than affect the surface of the skin; they actively transform it from the inside-out.

You should also note that many spas will promote versions of treatments that are lighter, less powerful than the medical treatment. A good example of this is microneedling, which requires a doctor's supervision since it involves needles to intentionally puncture the surface of the skin. Don’t worry, it’s all to promote collagen production in the skin’s deepest layers.

Traditional spas are now offering a treatment called nanoneedling, which works similarly to microneedling but uses shorter needles. The problem with this is that the shorter needles don't penetrate the skin deep enough to actually stimulate the collagen production. Nanoneedling can aid in the absorption of skincare products, which is important, but it won't give you the anti-aging benefits of microneedling.

If you're looking to invest in a microneedling treatment because you want to look visibly younger, make sure you're getting what you pay for.

Medical Grade Skincare

Another key advantage of medical spas is that they’re able to use stronger, more concentrated products. Medical-grade products contain higher concentrations of the active ingredients that make skincare products desirable — whether that's hydrating hyaluronic acid, free radical-fighting Vitamin C or anti-aging retinol.

Because of this, these products are typically more expensive, but they're also more likely to make a noticeable difference in your skin's tone and texture. At M Spa, we use exclusively medical-grade skincare products and are proud to be an exclusive retailer of the most effective — and research-driven! — products on the market, including: SkinMedica®, SkinCeuticals®, Tizo®, and Intraceuticals®, creator of the beloved Oxygen Facial.

The skincare lines we carry have conducted rigorous testing to ensure the efficacy, strength, and purity of their products. Click here to view the results real patients have seen from some of SkinMedica's most popular products.

Treatment Options: The More The Merrier

For every skin concern, there are several possible treatment routes, and because medical spas have a doctor present, they are able to provide a wider variety of medically proven solutions to your needs.

For example, if you're looking to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, you have several options at M Spa at the Reserve. You could get a series of Intraceuticals® Oxygen Facials with one of our aestheticians, or get Botox® injections by Dr. Majewski … or both! You can weigh all the possibilities and make decisions that will most effectively treat your needs.

Which is Right for You?

So, what are your goals? If you're looking for a traditional spa day experience with a relaxing facial and massage, perhaps a glass of wine, then a traditional spa is the right choice for you. You'll certainly derive benefits from your facial in the form of relaxation, purified pores and the detoxifying benefits of facial massage. Plus, you’ll leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

But if your goal for your facial is to visibly improve the texture and tone of your skin, or if you're looking to treat a specific issue, such as acne scars, UV damage, fine lines and wrinkles - it's worth it to invest in a medical-grade facial treatment. At M Spa at the Reserve, our expert aestheticians will create a customized skincare plan that will help you address your unique skincare concerns. They'll provide expert skincare advice, product recommendations, and treatment options that will help you achieve the skin you've always wanted!

Click here to schedule your free skincare consultation!