When it comes to your facial needs and concerns, have you ever wondered about the importance of where to go and who to trust? After all, we are talking about your face—the feature that makes a first impression on everyone you encounter! There are generally two different types of places to go when it comes to beauty, skincare, and cosmetic needs: a medspa or a core aesthetic medical practice specializing in facial plastic surgery, plastic surgery, oculoplastic surgery, or dermatology. With both medspas and non-invasive cosmetic procedures increasing in popularity, how can you decide which is right for you? Read more below to learn the difference between medspas and a facial plastic surgery medical practice. 

Types of Procedures

A board-certified facial plastic surgeon performs a variety of surgical and non-surgical procedures. These procedures may include facelifts, rhinoplasty, lip enhancements, chemical peels, microneedling, laser skin resurfacing treatments, dermal fillers, BOTOX® and Dysport®, and more. What this means for patients is that you can be more confident about an individualized plan for obtaining your desired look and a better post-treatment regimen for enhanced recovery. At Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery, all of our procedures are performed by our double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Young Paik, or our aesthetic nurse practitioner, Shay Glisson, FNP-BC, under the supervision of Dr. Paik. Ultimately, a facial plastic surgeon can confidently create a customized aesthetic plan to obtain the results you are looking for!

Patient Concerns

Although medspas may provide good results, some patients express concerns about choosing these locations for aesthetic procedures. Some of the common concerns we hear include:

1. Medspas often have a licensed physician on staff, but they are not always on site or available.
2. Many physicians who own or work at medical spas are often medical doctors not specialized in one of the core aesthetic medical specialties. They don’t undergo the same training and certifications that a board-certified facial plastic surgeon does. This can result in a lack of understanding of facial anatomy and the nuances of cosmetic procedure results over time.
3. Many states lack strong or consistent regulations for medspas, resulting in a lack of standards and confusing regulations across states.

Physician Expertise

While they are growing in popularity, it’s important to learn about the difference between medspas and a facial plastic surgery medical practice. A medspa generally offers only non-surgical treatments, which may or may not be the best option for you when you consider your cosmetic needs. Be sure to do your research, ask questions, and consult with your primary physician about your general health status to ensure you are a candidate for the best and safest treatment possible.

A board-certified facial plastic surgeon, like Dr. Young Paik, is equipped with the knowledge, credentials, and accreditations to consult with you about your aesthetic needs and wants and perform the best treatment your face deserves. They will also be able to advise you on the best aftercare for your procedure and equip you with the knowledge you’ll need to recover quicker.

Here at Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery, not only is Dr. Young Paik a licensed physician, but he is also Evansville’s only double board-certified and fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon accredited by the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Under his training is Shay Glisson, FNP-BC, our aesthetic nurse practitioner. If you’re looking to receive the best experience for all of your cosmetic needs, call Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery today at 812-469-3434 to book an appointment!