If you are a woman choosing a med spa in the Dallas area for the first time, you probably want three answers: who may legally treat you, what the visit involves, and how to look after yourself once you leave. Each one is below. Where the details depend on your provider, we say so.
Texas regulates the procedure, not the med spa
A med spa sells medical cosmetic treatments, for example injectables, lasers and medium or deep chemical peels. Texas has no license category called "med spa." According to the Texas Medical Board, the state has no registration for med spa clinics.
The rules attach to the treatment instead. A licensed physician has to delegate each nonsurgical cosmetic procedure, cosmetic injections included, to a person trained to do it. While the procedure happens, a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse has to be either onsite or immediately available in case of an emergency.
What to take from this
A sign that says med spa proves very little. Ask who the delegating physician is and who will actually treat you. Those two answers matter far more.
Your consultation
Texas rules say that before any delegated procedure, a physician (or a physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse working under the physician's delegation) must set up a practitioner-patient relationship with you and complete your medical record. So a proper first visit is a conversation. During it, the provider should:
- Go over your health history, the medicines you take and any allergies
- Examine your skin and hear what you hope to change
- Walk you through the options, their risks and the likely results
- Name the person who will perform the treatment and give their title
- Answer whatever you ask
A visit that moves directly to prices or a package is a warning sign.
What to bring
Write down every medicine and supplement you use, and note any cosmetic treatments you have had before. Leave nothing out, because what is safe for you depends on those answers.
Questions to put to the provider
Expect a good practice to answer all of these without hesitation:
- What is the name, license and title of the person who will treat me?
- Who is the delegating physician for this procedure, and what is that physician's Texas license number?
- Will a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice nurse be in the building, and if not, how quickly can one get to me?
- What product or device do you plan to use, and what makes it the right choice?
- Given my health history, what risks apply to me?
- If something goes wrong after I leave, who do I contact?
- Do you have photos of your own patients who had a concern like mine?
The appointment itself
The usual sequence is an assessment, then preparation, then the procedure, and finally your aftercare instructions.
How long it takes and how it feels vary by treatment, so it is worth asking ahead. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says laser skin resurfacing usually lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. The Botox Cosmetic label specifies a needle of 30 to 33 gauge. Find out whether your treatment comes with numbing cream, ice or some other way to keep you comfortable.
Once you are home
Get your aftercare instructions on paper. What you can do about sun, heat, exercise and skincare changes from one treatment and product to the next, so rely on the instructions written for you, not a generic list.
Give results time to appear. According to the Botox Cosmetic label, the treated muscles typically start to weaken one to two days after the injection, and the weakening continues to build over the first week. The American Academy of Dermatology says full results from microneedling for acne scars usually take several months. Hold off on judging the outcome until that full period has passed.
Checking in
Find out if a follow-up visit is part of the plan and how to contact the practice if anything concerns you.