Where skin treatments fit among med spa services
A med spa usually offers four groups of services: skin treatments, injectables, laser hair removal and body treatments. Skin treatments are the group aimed at the skin itself, mostly on the face, neck and hands.
Inside that group you will usually find:
- facials of different kinds
- chemical peels in a range of strengths
- microneedling, sometimes paired with a topical product
- light-based treatments such as intense pulsed light or LED
Some people ask about one treatment by name. Others only know what is bothering them about their skin. Either is a fine place to start a consultation request, and a licensed provider takes it from there.
Questions worth asking about a skin treatment
A consultation goes both ways. The provider asks about you, and you can ask about the treatment. Useful questions include:
- What exactly is this treatment, and how deep does it go?
- Who performs it, and what is their license or training?
- Is it suitable for my skin type and tone?
- Do any of my medicines or conditions change things?
- How many visits do people usually have, and how far apart?
- What should I avoid ahead of time and afterward, such as sun or certain products?
- What side effects are possible, and what should I do if one happens?
You can find more on the questions to ask page.
The week before a skin consultation
A consultation on its own usually involves no treatment, though some providers can treat at the same visit if you both agree. If that is possible, a few things are worth asking about ahead of time:
- whether to pause strong exfoliants or vitamin A creams beforehand
- whether to avoid tanning, sunburn and self-tanner
- whether to skip waxing or threading on the area
- whether to arrive without makeup
Ask the provider or their office rather than guessing. Never stop a prescribed medicine without checking with whoever prescribed it.
Questions about skin treatments
What are light-based skin treatments?
They are treatments that use a device to deliver light to the skin, such as intense pulsed light or LED panels. Settings and devices differ, and some are less suitable for deeper skin tones or recently tanned skin. A licensed provider looks at your skin and history before suggesting one.
How many visits do skin treatments take?
It depends on the treatment, your skin and what you want to ask about. Some people have a single facial. Peels, microneedling and light-based treatments are often planned as a series. A licensed provider can tell you what is typical for a given treatment, without promising a set number.
What if my skin reacts after a treatment?
Follow the aftercare instructions and contact the provider who treated you. They can tell you what is expected and what is not. For pain, signs of infection, blistering or anything that worries you, see a doctor or dermatologist. This site is not a clinic and cannot give medical advice.
Ask your questions first. A local provider can contact you by phone, text or email.
Ask a providerMore consultation topics
Wrinkle relaxers
Learn what wrinkle relaxers and dermal fillers are in general terms, then send a request to talk with a licensed provider.
Laser hair removal
Ask a local provider how laser hair removal works with your skin and hair, how many visits they plan and what aftercare involves.
Body contouring
Send a request to talk about non-surgical body contouring with a provider near you.