Shock

“People were calling, texting, and visiting; people were there for me. It was amazing how much love and support I got, but we’ve all got trials in our lives,” he said. “I’ve learned to love everybody because you never know what someone is going through.”

Brody jokingly added, “Once ski season started, I had to make myself get better.” And ski he did. Brody loves to hit the slopes every chance he gets and spend time with friends and family in Petersboro. At MCHS, Brody was involved in tennis and student government during his sophomore, junior, and senior years, recently serving on MCHS's Executive Council. He finds it rewarding to serve others by working hard, showing love, and seeing the benefits.

“I like to serve others because it’s good to let people know you love them,” he said. “Knowing people are there for you makes a difference.”

Another blessing for Brody through his health challenges is the opportunity to increase his faith in God. During the tough times, he says, “I’d pray a lot, and every time I prayed, He [God] was there. He knew I was strong enough to handle it,” Brody said. “I feel I’m well-prepared for anything.”

Brody plans to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this fall and hopes to attend Utah State University when he returns to study biological engineering or “anything that will help me find a job to help people."

Brody’s advice to incoming freshmen: “You can do it! It might be hard, but you’ve got it. Love everyone and work hard; you’re going to have a good life.”

What makes a great Medical Spa?

Appropriate Medical Support

Question: When being treated by your aesthetician, what do they do if they observe an unusual spot or skin condition?

A) They ignore it and continue to treat the area.

B) They just continue to treat and avoid the area.

C) They stop, run down the hall and grab a qualified dermatological provider who can medically access the spot and provide advice on treatment.

If the answer is A or B, you should find another skin care provider. If the answer is C, you are being cared for by a Medical Spa that understands the importance of proper skin care. Tens of thousands of patients every year have skin conditions that require medical attention, yet they receive treatments directly over that condition from lasers, Radio Frequency(RF)devices, surgical scalpels, microneedles and more.

Focus on Patient Needs and Not Marketing Gimmicks

It’s fair to say that almost any skin treatment offered at a medical spa will benefit your skin. The real question is, what treatments do you actually need? Here are a couple red flags that your spa is more interested in making money than caring for your skin.

1. The providers are paid commission for products they sell. Medical Grade skin care is not cheap and there should never be an incentive to offer you something you don’t need.

2. Commitment to a Membership. Memberships were designed by Sales and Marketing teams to create a predictable cash flow to a business and to, unfortunately, take advantage of those who forget to use the services they prepay for. If you are interested in getting discounts with no strings attached, most reputable product lines offer loyalty programs that are free and do not commit you to advanced payments for services.

Relevant Experience

The level of experience of your provider cannot be understated. A well-staffed Medical Spa will have first and foremost a Medical Director that knows skin. A Board-Certified Dermatologist is the gold standard. It will also have well trained mid-level providers such as Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants who can perform some of the more advance procedures. Lastly, the staff will be a variety of seasoned Master Aestheticians, as well as those that are fresh out of school and are learning. The unfortunate reality is that what is gained from school only scratches the surface of the knowledge that is required to be a full-service care provider. The exceptional care facility will have a philosophy of the old training the new.

When it comes to something as important as your skin, finding a provider that you can place your trust in is essential.