The medical spa industry is growing at an incredible rate. This is due to the improved technology that provides people with less painful and more convenient methods of improving their outward appearance and staying younger. However, convenience should never be placed above safety so choose the facility you use carefully. Here are some major issues that you should address to make sure your convenient experience is also safe and effective:

1. Staff and training – A helpful and friendly staff is great, but are they qualified? That is the most important question, whether you like them or not. There are many different kinds of professionals that may work in a medical spa. Physicians, dermatologists, aestheticians, nurses and even dentists can all perform services. What you need to look for is certification for whoever you will be using to make sure they are licensed to practice and then that they are trained in using the equipment. If you don’t see certificates on the wall, ask.

2. Location – They are popping up everywhere! You can find medical spas inside hospitals or clinics, next to the grocery store or in a stand-alone building. The facility should be inside or in close proximity to a medical facility or doctor’s office in case of emergency. Or, it should be equipped to handle them on-site. The physician over-seeing the facility should be easily accessible.

3. Products – Are they using FDA approved products? This is so important because there are many new products arriving everyday in this industry and not all of them have passed government safety standards. Also, make sure the product is being used for its intended and approved use. Do some research on different products so you can go in armed with questions to determine what will work for you and to make sure they are not using ingredients that are outdated or banned.

4. Promises – Be wary of any medical spa that claims they can make you look years younger in just one treatment. Typically, it takes several treatments to start getting the results you want. This includes hair removal treatments and facials. Now, injections will show immediately, but they also require additional treatments down the road to maintain the results.