Medspas vs. Traditional Spas: What’s the Difference?

dermani MEDSPA treatment room.

With so many choices, it can be challenging to understand what sets each option apart and which one best suits your needs. A common question for those exploring skin treatments is: “What’s the difference between a traditional spa and a medspa?” 


While traditional spas offer a variety of skincare treatments, they focus more on relaxation and pampering, whereas medspas are centered on clinical treatments with medical oversight. Medspas are designed to promote skin health and target specific concerns such as acne, hyperpigmentation, texture, and signs of aging.


What Traditional Spas Offer


Traditional spas are typically what come to mind when people envision a ‘self-care’ or ‘treat yourself’ day. They offer relaxing services aimed at stress relief, such as facials, massages, and body treatments. While these services are wonderful for relaxation and self-care, they are usually surface-level treatments that don’t address deeper skin issues or provide long-lasting results.


The Medspa Approach


Medspas incorporate self-care elements but take a medical approach to skincare and skin health. Supervised by licensed medical professionals like doctors, nurse practitioners, and estheticians, medspas offer more advanced treatments. These include chemical peels, microneedling, laser therapies, and cosmetic injectables, which can yield longer-lasting results. Medspas can also use medical-grade equipment, such as lasers for hair removal and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatments, as well as microneedling devices for procedures like PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy.


In addition, medspas provide customized skincare plans based on individual skin types and goals, along with consultations and follow-up services to ensure optimal outcomes.


Clinical Treatments with Lasting Results


Because medspas operate under medical supervision, they offer more clinical treatments, such as Botox®, dermal fillers, advanced chemical peels, and laser hair removal. These science-backed services target specific skin concerns such as acne scarring, wrinkles, and loss of collagen and deliver lasting improvements. On the other hand, traditional spas focus on relaxation and enhancing skin hydration, rather than providing personalized treatments with long-term benefits for skin health and appearance.


Why Choose a Medspa?


If you have specific skin goals and are ready to enhance your self-care routine, medspas offer the ideal solution. With their focus on achieving long-term results through advanced skincare therapies, medspas are well-suited for clients looking to improve skin texture, reduce wrinkles, and manage acne. For example, at dermani MEDSPA®, clients can trust in the high level of safety and expertise, thanks to the involvement of licensed medical professionals who provide more than just a pampering service. If you’re ready for skincare targeted to your unique skin concerns and goals, book a free consultation today and experience skincare that goes beyond relaxation. Medspas like dermani MEDSPA®, a top 25 provider of Botox®, a top 5 provider of SkinPen®, and a Black Diamond Status holder for HydraFacial©, combine beauty, health, and medical expertise to deliver optimal skin results.

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