How To Choose A Med Spa

Choose a How To Med Spa

by Contributing Writer

With all the products and services out there, the options seem endless when it comes to ways to help you look and feel your best. To really be pampered with longer lasting, comprehensive results, though, a med spa is the way to go. Whether you want laser treatments, body contouring, cosmetic injections, specialty skin care products, or one of any of a number of other services, you want to make sure the spa you select is appropriately managed and the message you’re getting from the staff is forthright. A little research can help find a med spa that works for you to be able to pamper yourself and improve your appearance.

Look into the relationship between ownership and operations at the med spa. Some facilities are owned by a physician, who ideally spends significant time on-site managing treatments. Others are owned by physicians who provide no oversite. Often a med spa will be under a doctor’s “Directorship,” some in which the doctor is involved in all treatment decisions and some where the doctor is only on paper but they will rarely be at the location.

Determine who will be treating you. Ask about training and certification of the person who will be providing your service and experience. One treatment that is of concern is cosmetic injections. Permanent damage can occur if the procedure isn’t performed correctly. There are two types of injectors, those who are medically licensed and trained (physicians and

nurses) and those who are just certified in cosmetic injections. The most fundamental factor is that you will have expert treatment.

Verify that the med spa is clean and follows manufacture guidelines for all products. Facials and other procedures which are not done following proper guidelines for cleaning of equipment and disposal of one time use products can all lead to infection. It’s critical that the environment is sanitary. Go to the spa before your appointment, get a tour, and specifically ask about efforts to keep the facility clean.

Know that the spa staff isn’t exaggerating treatment claims. You should sense trustworthiness and integrity. You want the doctor or technician to offer both the positive expected results of the treatment as well as possible negative side effects. If there is anything that makes you nervous about the service, the doctor or staff should discuss your misgivings and give you a reasonable outcome and typical recovery time. Whether you’re speaking with a doctor or technician, they should be pleased to inform you about the treatment so that you can relax. If they’re heavily pushing a particular treatment over another, ask why, and do your research.

Understand the medical spa’s aftercare. It’s important that the staff isn’t just trying to interest you in their services but is also dedicated to your comfort and health following the visit.

When you evaluate various med spas, location and costs are important, but the quality of treatment is paramount. You want to understand the extent of the doctor’s involvement and that you will be treated in a sterile environment. A good med spa can give you a mental and emotional boost while also improving your physical appearance. Make sure you’ve chosen the right one.

Ha ins Wel come Home ,

by Brooke Ezzo

The Harvest community, the Town of Argyle, and prayer warriors around the world have come together to welcome Hawkins Null home after an 11 day stay at Cooks Children’s in Fort Worth.

Hawkins, age 7, was diagnosed at three months old with a chronic condition known as hydrocephalus, a build up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. It’s an imbalance between how much fluid is produced and how much is absorbed into the bloodstream. The extra fluid puts pressure on the brain because it has nowhere to go. “He wasn’t born with hydrocephalus, he acquired it,” his mom, Sarah Null said. “Sometimes you just aren’t really sure what the contributing factor is that causes the condition.” As a baby, Hawkins underwent a procedure that surgically implanted a shunt next to his brain. The shunt works as the mechanism that drains the excess fluid from his brain to his abdomen where the fluid is then absorbed. The statistics for the shunts aren’t great. Sarah said 50 percent of the shunts fail within the first six months of placement, and 90 percent by two years. “The majority of the time, when you can get to that two year mark, it becomes a huge celebration,” Sarah said. “Because, the shunt is the most failed implanted device in medicine.”

Hydrocephalus is not an uncommon condition. Two of every thousand are diagnosed, and age plays no role. It can occur at any age, but is most common in infants and adults over sixty. On February 22, when Hawkins’ eye started tipping inward, a sign that something was wrong, he was rushed into his second brain surgery since being diagnosed to replace the sevenyear-old shunt. The shunt was starting to fail and surgery is currently the only treatment option. “Sometimes you just aren’t really sure what the contributing factor is that causes the condition.” photos courtesy of Sarah Null

What started as a simple Facebook post to keep friends and family updated on Hawkins quickly turned into a viral call to action for prayer and support. Within days, Hawkins’ hospital room was decorated with over 600 cards and posters from the community and beyond. Classmates from Argyle West Elementary, students from

Lance Thompson and Hilltop created homemade cards with get well wishes.

“We have an amazing support system; people calling and messaging us with constant prayer and reaching out at the right moment when we needed it the most has been a reminder that God is going to get us through this,” Sarah said.

Their neighborhood, Harvest, and many people throughout Argyle started a meal train for the Nulls to make sure that their priority during this recovery period was family. Thirsty 4 More created Team Hawkins shirts, and all proceeds went to the Nulls along with proceeds from a BBQ fundraising event. The Nulls are extremely grateful for the outpouring of love they’ve received from the community.

said. “We just want him to be a normal kid, and we encourage him to be one.”

Hydrocephalus research doesn’t get any government funding, so non-profits like the Hydrocephalus Association is the only way this condition is gaining awareness. Sarah, her husband, Drew, and their family have a heart to spread the word and their hope is to find a cure. Their next fundraising event will be in September for their 7th Annual DFW WALK to End Hydrocephalus.