Medical Spa content: Mesotherapy

What is Mesotherapy?
Pioneered by the French physician Dr. Michel Pistor in 1952, Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that is widely used in Europe and elsewhere to treat various injuries and medical conditions. This medical specialty targets problem areas with microinjections of conventional or homeopathic medicines, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Tiny "medicinal bullets" are delivered directly into the mesoderm (middle layer of skin) that are highly specific to the condition being treated.

Among its many applications, Mesotherapy can be used for the following:
Mesotherapy to eliminate cellulite
Mesotherapy to promote weight loss
Mesotherapy to provide anti-aging benefits
Mesotherapy to eliminate localized fat deposits

Mesotherapy was recognized by the French National Academy of Medicine in 1986 as an integral part of traditional medicine. Each day, thousands of doctors worldwide use Mesotherapy to help tens of thousands of patients.

Dr. Michael Pistor, the founding father of Mesotherapy, referred to the treatment as "Surgical Medicine," meaning medications are injected directly into the skin at the site of the pathology or problem area(s). To treat cellulite, medications are injected into the skin and the fat. During a cellulite treatment of the legs, medications are injected from the buttocks to the knees, including the front, back and sides of the thighs.Mesotherapy introduces microscopic quantities of homeopathic medications, traditional pharmaceuticals, vitamins, mineral and amino acids into the skin to treat a variety of conditions. All medications are selected for the specific condition being treated. For example, the emphysema medication Aminophyilline is used to treat cellulite because it's been proven to break down fat, as has Isoproternol. Both medications work to achieve the same purpose in different ways, which is why the medications are often combined. The needles used in Mesotherapy are very short and thin.

By definition any medication injected into the skin, fat or tissues of Mesoderm (middle layer of skin) is considered Mesotherapy.The advantages of injecting medication into the skin/fat include the elimination of side effects and contra-indications. Intolerance to a medication is often triggered by factors such as dose and the body's ability to break down and excrete the product. In many cases, formerly intolerant patients can tolerate a medication in Mesotherapeutic form. Once the medication is delivered, the body is stimulated to heal itself. And because the target areas are directly reached, smaller amounts of medication are needed and the effects of Mesotherapy are instantaneous. Micro-injections are relatively painless, and the potential side effects limited to:
Burning that can last 15-20 minutes.
Minor swelling that can last 1-5 days (this can vary with some patients).
Minor soreness that can last several days.
Minor skin discoloration, which resolves on its own, or can be treated with chemical peels to remove it quickly.
A slight risk of infection (which may occur whenever an injection is administered).

Medical Spa content: Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy

The term massage therapy (also called massage, for short; massage also refers to an individual treatment session) covers a group of practices and techniques. There are over 80 types of massage therapy. In all of them, therapists press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body, often varying pressure and movement. They most often use their hands and fingers, but may use their forearms, elbows, or feet. Typically, the intent is to relax the soft tissues, increase delivery of blood and oxygen to the massaged areas, warm them, and decrease pain.
A few popular examples of this therapy are as follows:
In Swedish massage, the therapist uses long strokes, kneading, and friction on the muscles and moves the joints to aid flexibility.
A therapist giving a deep tissue massage uses patterns of strokes and deep finger pressure on parts of the body where muscles are tight or knotted, focusing on layers of muscle deep under the skin.
In trigger point massage (also called pressure point massage), the therapist uses a variety of strokes but applies deeper, more focused pressure on myofascial trigger points--"knots" that can form in the muscles, are painful when pressed, and cause symptoms elsewhere in the body as well.
In shiatsu massage, the therapist applies varying, rhythmic pressure from the fingers on parts of the body that are believed to be important for the flow of a vital energy called qi (In traditional Chinese medicine, the vital energy or life force proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health and to be influenced by the opposing forces of Yin and Yang)
Massage therapy (and, in general, the laying on of hands for health purposes) dates back thousands of years. References to massage have been found in ancient writings from many cultures, including those of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Japan, China, Egypt, and the Indian subcontinent.According to recent reviews, people use massage for a wide variety of health-related intents: for example, to relieve pain (often from musculoskeletal conditions, but from other conditions as well); rehabilitate sports injuries; reduce stress; increase relaxation; address feelings of anxiety and depression; and aid general wellness.

Medical Spa content: Balneotherapy

The term Balneology refers to the study of the art and science of bathing. Balneotherapy refers to the use of balneology in the treatment of disease. The aim of these treatments are to enhance the immune system, stimulate circulatory process including lymph and blood circulation, accelerate cell activity, dilating tissue and vessels activating the self healing potential naturally.

Balneotherapy is a natural therapy which makes the best use of natural elements, such as hot springs, climatic factors, chronobiological and circadian rhythmic phases and natural herbal substances.
In Japan, the traditional form of balneotherapy is hot water springs water bathing; in Europe, mineral bathing. Both are characterized by repeated immersion of the whole body in hot water, that is stimulating to the body.

For centuries the benefits of therapeutic bathing have been recognized for the ability to relieve pain and improve the general well being of the body and the spirit. In fact, Balneotherapy (the use of baths in the treatment of various maladies) is one of the oldest of medical procedures, well known and widely regarded throughout Europe & Asia, where people have historically flocked to luxury spas for recreation and treatment.

Mineral Submersion Bath Formula combines a heated submersion bath with its special blends of minerals, enzymes, and other natural enriching agents to activate the body's self healing mechanisms. The combination of heat, water and dissolved mineral substances helps increase circulation and relaxation of muscles and tissues. It stimulates the body's natural cycle of recuperation and healing.
In general, the effect of the application of heat is to produce dilation of vessels in the skin, thus promoting better circulation.

This application of heat to the skin produces effects in the deeper portions of the body inducing muscle relaxation, increasing blood supply due to dilation of the vessels and stimulating metabolic activity. The relaxation of muscular tissue results in the relief of pain due to rigidity and spasms in the muscles. Local hot applications or full submersion baths, in which thermal factors necessarily apply, have a soothing, relaxing effect and produce the maximum desired result.

Medical Spa, terminology

Medical spa

A medical spa or med spa is a day spa that operates under the supervision of a licensed health care professional, such as a medical doctor.
Medical spas may offer additional treatments that can only be administered by licensed medical practitioners.
Additional treatments offered depend upon the scope of practice of the licensed practitioner and may include:

• Laser and intense pulsed light procedures
• Medical microdermabrasions
• Photo-facials
• Botox and Restylane injections
• Medical peels
• Others

Medical Spa definition

MEDICAL SPA DEFINITION:
A medical spa is a facility that operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional. The facility operates within the scope of practice of its staff, and offers traditional, complementary, and alternative health practices and treatments in a spa-like setting. Practitioners working within a medical spa will be governed by their appropriate licensing board, if licensure is required.
(Adapted by the NCEA, an organization comprised of 16 member associations in the esthetic and other related professions)

Types of Medical Spa

Four basic Medical Spa categories - and many variations on each theme:

Beauty / Skin Medical Spa:
Physician owned, usually a plastic surgeon or dermatologist who is on premises, offering medically based treatments, and physician trained and supervised aesthecians.

Therapeutic Medical Spa:
These facilities are owned by orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine or rehabilitation physicians, who enhance their treatments by offering chiropractic, physical therapy and therapeutic message, as well as other therapeutic spa treatments.

Hospital Based Medical Spa:
Hospital / medical facilities provide fully integrated care, employing conventional and complementary therapies in a specially designed healing environment. Services include: clinical evaluation and treatments (both eastern and western), spa services, mind-body techniques, nutrition, biofeedback and other modalities.

Wellness Centers:
This type medical spa comes in many varieties. It is usually owned by primary care physicians or entrepreneurs, and encompasses alternative treatments, i.e., holistic medicine and Chinese medicine, acupuncture, herbal and supplemental counseling, bariatrics, and modalities based on cardiovascular issues.