Revolutionizing Skincare ON ST.

At first, Cool Blue Laser & Med Spa might seem a little hidden, tucked into a third story of a building at 1700 Frederica Road. You may never guess that the perfect beauty oasis is waiting for you upstairs, but the minute you step off the elevator and through the doors of the spa, you’ll know instantly that this is where you belong.

Cool Blue Laser & Med Spa is a revolutionary med spa offering the most state-of-the-art beauty treatments in the area. The staff is highly trained in advanced skincare technology. With their top priority being warm, welcoming, luxurious, and safe highend aesthetic treatments, you will always leave feeling gorgeous and pleasantly pampered. Utilizing the latest in laser technology, Cool Blue works to help your face, body and soul look and feel their very best.

To begin, each client receives a comprehensive skin analysis and aesthetic evaluation to create a customized treatment plan that will address their specific skincare goals. A wide range of advanced skincare treatments are available, including the revolutionary Ultherapy, which uses ultrasound to tighten and smooth the skin, and Cool Blue’s signature salt facial, a therapeutic, detoxifying treatment perfect for all skin types.

The innovation and technology of Ultherapy delivers surgical results without you ever going under a knife. Through ultrasound imaging, treatment is delivered precisely to targeted areas for natural-looking results that improve over time. Utherapy relies on ultrasound therapy to go deeper than other non-invasive treatments for collagen stimulation. And it leverages traditional ultrasound imaging so Cool Blue’s highly trained providers can see the layers of tissue they are treating. This ensures the treatment energy is delivered right to where it benefits you most.

Ultherapy is the only FDA-cleared, noninvasive procedure created to efficiently lift skin on the neck, under the chin, and on the brow—and also improve lines and wrinkles on the décolletage! For individuals who want a facelift, but prefer to avoid surgery, Ultherapy provides proven results in a single treatment for most patients. Learn how you can treat your loose skin without surgery, without impacting the surface of your skin, and without downtime.

Another innovative and unique treatment that Cool Blue Laser & Med Spa brings to the area is the Salt Facial. The Salt Facial is a threestep process that rejuvenates, replenishes,

Simons Island

and restores the skin. It can be used to treat everything from acne and acne scarring to stretch marks, fine lines and uneven pigment and texture.

The Salt Facial starts with a detoxifying pure, organic sea salt treatment where positivepressure flow technology is used to deliver salt to the skin for uniform resurfacing with no trauma or post-treatment redness. Following the salt treatment, the Salt Facial uses aesthetic ultrasound to nourish the skin and increase circulation. It replenishes vital nutrients and antioxidants and enhances results when used with topical treatments (PRP, stem cells). Finally, rejuvenation! The last step of the Salt Facial skin renewal process uses highpowered LED phototherapy to rejuvenate the skin and improve circulation for an instant glow.

If Laser Hair Removal is what you need, Cool Blue has invested in top-of-the-line technology with its lasers. These machines can comfortably and effectively treat EVERY skin tone with smooth and hairless results. Without the burn, and potential of scarring darker pigmentation, Cool Blue’s lasers ensure the most flawless of results every time.

The Cool Blue Laser & Med Spa team believes that med-spa services should be accessible, affordable, and comfortable. They provide that every step of the way, from the technologically advanced equipment used in their services to the luxurious, inviting surroundings that give guests an atmosphere of relaxation and rejuvenation. Clients can indulge in the finest spa treatments while feeling the privacy of a discreetly tucked away location.

Whether you’re searching for the perfect destination for your next facial, Botox or laser hair removal appointment, Cool Blue Laser & Med Spa on St. Simons Island is the place to visit. Their expert staff and highly trained aestheticians are committed to providing the highest level of service and care to guests. Each visit is kept discreet and comfortable, making sure you have the most luxurious experience every time. Come in to get pampered today and discover this ideal island oasis of beauty and wellness.

In addition to the Salt Facial, Ultherapy and cooling Laser Hair Removal, skin revitalization, acne treatments, scar removal, and photofacial, Cool Blue offers the following services:

Vascular Laser Treatment to treat leg veins, couperosis, rosacea, facial blood vessels and blood vessels on the skin, angiomas/red spots.

Light Therapy for acne and anti-aging treatments

Laser Pigmentation Removal

Platelet Rich Plasma injections for scalp/hair regeneration

Chemical Peels

Microneedling (with or without PRP)

Wrinkle Relaxers, including Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin

Derma Fillers, including Belotero, Radiesse, Restylane

Dermaplaning

B12 Injections

Cosmetic Consults

Medical Grade Skin Care Products

You’re invited to join

COOL BLUE LASER & MED SPA for their Ribbon Cutting and open house at 11:30 a.m. on May 18. There will be samples, specials, and more. Please drop by!

COOL BLUE LASER & MED SPA

1700 Frederica Road, Suite #302

Phone: 912.268.2790

Text: 912.475.4250

CoolBlueLaserAesthetics.com

By Duane Harris

THE MĀORI PHRASE MEANING “HAVE LIFE” OR “BE HEALTHY,” KIA ORA IS PERHAPS THE MOST WIDELY USED PHRASE IN NEW ZEALAND. IT BEGINS AND ENDS VIRTUALLY EVERY CONVERSATION. SO, TO ALL OF YOU IN EIL LAND, KIA ORA!

Diving the Great Barrier Reef has been my dream since I was sixteen and living on Guam, where my love of diving and the ocean began. Ultimately, it resulted in a career as a marine biologist and SCUBA diving instructor.

My wife, Carol, and I decided to embark on a cruise with Viking, specifically on their ship Viking Mars. We had traveled on both ocean and river vessels with this cruise line previously and loved the Viking experience. We settled on the Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand cruise during Georgia’s winter, which is summer for Australia and New Zealand.

Upon landing in Sydney, we flew to Cairns for our Great Barrier Reef dive the next day. I was disappointed. We were in ten feet of water and saw individual coral heads separated by sand. It was certainly not the barrier reef experience I expected.

In Sydney we walked the Royal Sydney Botanical Gardens, toured the Sydney Opera House, visited Bondi Beach and the Sydney Ocean Reef Aquarium. The aquarium houses one of only two dugongs (think manatee) in captivity. This is an older aquarium, and it showed its age. The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston provide much more enjoyable experiences.

Every morning we were at sea I spent a couple of hours on the 7th deck with Stephen Marsh, the Viking Mars wildlife expert, looking for whales and dolphins. We saw several species of albatross and other sea birds, such as shearwaters and petrels, but few whales or dolphins. On one of our sea days, I left the viewing deck fifteen minutes before Stephen spotted a sperm whale. At least I got to see the photos! Another day we saw a whale blow, but sea conditions were such that we couldn’t identify the species.

In Melbourne, we visited the Healesville Sanctuary, which houses many species indigenous to Australia, including kangaroo and koala. My recommendation: do not visit a wildlife park in the middle of the day. The animals were much smarter than we were and spent that time sleeping. Carol’s dream of holding a koala was, unfortunately, not realized.

In Hobart, Tasmania, we visited the Barilla Bay Oyster farm where we enjoyed a sampling of Pacific oysters, which are also called Japanese oysters or Miyagi (Think “wax on/wax off.”) oysters. They were outstanding! The Barilla Bay Oyster farm has thousands of cages placed in the tidal bay adjacent to the facility. The oysters remain in cages until they are three years old, at which time they are harvested and sent to market. In addition to oyster farming, they purchase abalone from local divers and dry the abalone before shipping them to Japan and China. One abalone brings $159 in those countries. That equates to more than $200 per pound!

Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island was our next stop. Christchurch was the site of a magnitude 7 earthquake on September 4, 2010. Less than six months later, a second earthquake— magnitude 6.3 this time—struck, causing even greater devastation and the death of 180 people. Thousands of buildings not destroyed by the quake were condemned. Amazingly, 90 percent of the earthquake rubble has been recycled.

In the mountains north of Christchurch, we took a jet boat ride on the Waimakariri River. At full speed our driver would put the boat into a 360-degree spin. It was wonderful, although the wetted participants did not seem to enjoy it as much as I did. My

GoPro captured the action and soaked participants, including me and Carol.

Our next stop was to have been Wellington, capital of New Zealand. However, a day before we were to arrive in Wellington, we learned the port denied access, so we continued our cruise to Napier on the North Island. Access to a port is the purview of the Port Captain and I suspect larger ships that pay higher port fees were given priority. In Napier, home of the famous Hawke’s Bay wine growing region, we toured Clearview Estates and Abbey Cellars. We would have purchased wine to ship home but these wineries will only ship in country and to Australia. We did purchase a couple of bottles to pack in our checked luggage.

In Rotorua (Tauranga) we visited a Māori marae (meeting place) and learned about the earliest settlers of New Zealand. At the marae, a

Māori warrior challenged an appointed representative from our ship. Our group was required to sing a song to prove we came in peace and avoid beheading. We concluded our time in Rotorua with a visit to a Māori school and enjoyed performances of traditional dances, including a haka by the high school students. Our next stop was Auckland, where we enjoyed a walking tour of the city followed by an excellent seafood lunch at one of the riverfront restaurants. On the ship that evening, we enjoyed a performance by Māori singers/dancers including another haka.

Viking is rated number one in both ocean and river cruises and our travels with them have demonstrated that their reputation is well-earned. Their ocean ships (with the exception of the Expedition ships) carry 932 passengers, so it is a relatively small vessel compared to the megaships operated by other companies. We are looking forward to our next cruise with Viking, especially since we were given a voucher to make up for missing our scheduled stop in Wellington!

This was a trip of a lifetime, and we would go back in a heartbeat! It was expensive, however, but I am dedicated to fishing in New Zealand. Perhaps in another five years. Until next time, Kia Ora!