FINDING WELL-BEING

The new Magnolia Med Spa is making its mark on Charleston

by ELLEN URIBE /

photography

by HOLGER OBENAUS

Health care providers share a dedication to promoting health and wellness in their clientele and part of that is how they look and feel.

From the get-go, Thomas Cordeiro and his family of health care providers set their sights on opening a business that would promote well-being within the Charleston community. The result is the newly opened Magnolia Med Spa, an oasis in the midst of a thriving city, which is located in a historic building dating back to 1740. The 1,400-squarefoot, posh spa is located on Broad Street with plenty of parking nearby The building is the Clark Mills Studio, which has been declared a National Historic Landmark; it is also a block and a half away from where Cordeiro and his life partner, Kim Bateman, live.

Cordeiro, who is a pharmacist, also works alongside Bateman, who is Magnolia’s chief operating officer and an enthusiastic, driving force in the business. “Kim was the point person when we were putting this all together,” says Cordeiro. “She was the one who kept everything moving along.”

The opening of the medical spa was a dream come true for the entire Cordeiro clan, who all relocated from the Northeast.

“We are a family of health care providers,” says Cordeiro. “So we asked ourselves, ‘How can we do something in the city of Charleston that we could all do together and, at the same time, make a contribution to the community?’”

Cordeiro’s son, Christopher, who is a hospitalist physician, and his daughter-in-law, Lily Fong, a pediatrician, are the doctors on staff. Cordeiro’s daughters—Catherine Cordeiro and Ashley Talford—are both nurses. Another daughter-in-law, Lauren HuntCordeiro, is an aesthetician in the practice.

The sole nonfamily member in the business is nurse practitioner Jessica Antonelli, who has become an “adopted” family member. And, according to Cordeiro, she’s an integral part of the business.

“We decided to pursue this journey of aesthetics,” Cordeiro says. “We are dedicated to making people healthy and part of that is how they look and how they feel. The reaction so far has been very, very positive. Our clients love the vibe and our staff.”

Since opening its doors in late April, Magnolia Med Spa has been warmly received.

“We are thrilled to be here, and we have been doing well since our launch party,” Cordeiro adds.

Facial services include Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers and Kybella; microblading and dermaplaning are also offered. For spa services, Hydrafacials and facials, along with full facial waxing are offered.

Magnolia also offers a host of rejuvenating services, such as IV therapies, including Quench, which contains vitamin C, B vitamins, and a mineral blend of magnesium, copper and zinc. The treatment rehydrates, detoxifies, reduces inflammation, improves circulation, replenishes essential vitamins and fights fatigue.

For those who might have overindulged the night before, Magnolia has the remedy—a special service called the Reboot. In addition to all the benefits of the Quench, this treatment can also ease nausea detoxification. Vitamin B12 shots are also available.

The spa is also about having fun, and that is reflected on Magnolia’s Instagram page with posts such as: “Life is short, buy the lips.”

On the first appointment, Cordeiro says the patient’s full medical history is taken, and the spa follows all the rules of a medical practice. “This is not your typical day spa,” he says. “We do very technical work.”

As a first order of business, a new patient is greeted and taken to an exam room. “The consultation is detailed and completely individualized. Sometimes the patient knows what they want, but often we will make a recommendation based on our experience and expertise,” notes Cordeiro.

Since opening, Magnolia Med Spa’s business has grown organically—one consultation at a time.

“When our patients complete a treatment or procedure and they tell us how satisfied they are with the results and how it made them feel, it makes the staff feel great as well,” Cordeiro says. “We ask for feedback, not just about the results but also about how they were treated.”

“The goal for every patient is to provide them with an experience that they will want to repeat,” says Bateman. And what could be better? Magnolia Med Spa not only keeps the patients coming back, but it allows the medically trained and tight-knit Cordeiro clan to keep it all in the family. *

Ellen Uribe is an award-winning journalist and a communications expert. She is a sought-after speaker, participating as a moderator and panelist at numerous industry events, conferences and broadcast outlets. She has contributed to Vanity Fair, Palm Beach Life, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Women’s Wear Daily and Time Magazine.