What is a Medispa?

What Makes RevitalizeMaui Different From Other Maui Medispas?

It used to be that when you would to go to the doctor for medical aesthetic services, it would be in a much more clinical atmosphere than what you would find at a day spa. Today it has become very common to see both environments combined in a Maui medispa with a staff trained to provide traditional spa services, as well as medical procedures. At RevitalizeMaui, we believe that it is not enough to look your best if you do not feel well, and we have a focus on wellness that includes services such as nutrient therapies, functional medicine consultations, guided weight loss, nutritional counseling and more.

We also offer medical aesthetic procedures to help you enhance your appearance, which are what we typically consider our “medispa” services, and all are performed by our highly trained Medical Director, Emeka Okwuje, M.D. When you combine these complementary therapies with our treatments focused on wellness, you are able to address all of your concerns both inside and out.

Maui MediSpa Services at RevitalizeMaui

These types of medispa of treatments are less expensive, and less invasive than cosmetic surgery, while still providing fast and measurable results. Some of the Maui medispa services that we offer at RevitalizeMaui include:

• Neuromodulators (Botox®, Xeomin®, Dysport®)
• Dermal Fillers
• Skin Lightening (IV Glutathione)
• Glycolic peels
• Medical peels
• Microdermabrasion

Neuromodulators (Botox®, Xeomin®, Dysport®)

Neuromodulator injections (commonly referred to as Botox®) are a wonderful option for patients looking to reduce wrinkles. The effects of this treatment are usually are visible within about 3 days, with the maximum benefits being reached somewhere between 10 to 14 days. Neuromodulators work to relax the muscle and in turn soften the skin over it, giving you a relaxed, youthful appearance. Because this treatment relaxes the muscle, it prevents you from making the movement that causes wrinkles in areas such as the forehead, crowsfeet, ect. In this way it works to reduce the appearance of existing wrinkles and prevent new wrinkles from forming. Unfortunately, neuromodulators cannot get rid of existing “static” wrinkles, or those that are visible when you are at rest. The best treatment for static wrinkles is to first treat the area with neuromodulators, and then fill the wrinkles with a dermal filler to smooth their appearance.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers give you a more youthful appearance by eliminating wrinkles and other signs of natural aging such as fat and volume loss in the face. As we age, we naturally lose volume in our face, creating sagging skin, wrinkles the more hallowed appearance that we associate with being older. Dermal Fillers are able to counteract this by replacing this lost volume, as well as smoothing deep wrinkles in places like around the mouth and forehead. Dermal fillers have begun to be used for treatments including nose and chin augmentations, where previously only surgery or implants were used. In these cases, fillers are an inexpensive semi-permanent solution that are much less invasive and require little to no downtime. Dermal fillers are a very popular treatment at our Maui medispa.

There are many different types of fillers for use on different areas. Many brands of filler carry a full line of products that are able to address each different type of concern. The different filler types vary in how long they last and the results that they provide. The most commonly used dermal fillers in the U.S. include Juvederm®, Restylane®, Radiesse®, Belotero® and Sculptra®.

Skin Lightening with IV Glutathione

Glycolic and Medical Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are acids that are applied topically and aid in rejuvenating and restoring the skin’s surface by creating an controlled and even shedding of several layers of the skin. There are different types and depths of peels, meaning just a few or many layers can be shed. This allows new layers of skin to be exposed, creating a new and fresh appearance. Chemical peels enhance the appearance of your complexion in a relatively short period of time by reducing blotchy and/or uneven pigmentation including freckling, age spots and sun-damage, as well as decreasing fine lines and wrinkles and acne scars.

Glycolic peels

Glycolic peels are chemical peels that feature glycolic acid as their main component. Glycolic acid is a fruit acid derived from sugar cane and is part of the alpha hydroxyl family of natural ingredients. It is a popular treatment for winkles and acne, and when it is applied to the skin, it helps to remove the older, rougher and dryer skin on the surface, revealing the fresh and undamaged new layer underneath. Most people who get glycolic peels feel that they look younger, and report fewer fine lines and wrinkles. Those with acne often notice their skin is less oily and much clearer.

Glycolic acid peels are considered fairly light peels and usually result in few, if any, side effects. You might feel some burning or see some redness right after the treatment, but both of these should go away quickly. Those with sensitive or very fair skin are more likely to encounter these discomforts. After the peel is removed and you leave the medispa there is no real recovery time, and you should not require any pain relievers. If you do feel any discomfort during or after the procedure (which would likely be due to slight irritation of the skin) you can take Tylenol or Motrin. You may experience some tightness in your skin for a few days after, and depending on the strength of the peel you can see some flaking of the skin, but no peeling like with a stronger treatment. Glycolic acid makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, so be sure to always wear a sun block after having a glycolic peel.

Medical Peels

Stronger chemical peels that should be performed in a medispa under the supervision of a doctor include both what are considered “medium” and deep.” The main difference besides what ingredients are in the peel are how deeply they penetrate, how much down time is required and what kind of results they yield. Both medium and deep peels cause peeling of the skin, unlike more superficial glycolic peels.

Immediately following a medium-depth chemical peel, your skin may be swollen and can feel tight. It is recommended that you continuously apply occlusive ointments several times a day while the epidermis above the level of chemical injury separates from the underlying skin on approximately the third day following your treatment when there will most likely be some associated oozing and/or crusting. After this, the skin begins to peel beginning in the perioral area and radiating out, with your forehead being last to peel. You should allow your skin to peel at the rate that it wants to naturally, and do not pick at the exfoliating epidermis as it may cause scarring. After five days you can begin to apply a moisturizer, and you can expect the peeling process to continue for up to ten days. Afterwards you should notice that your new skin is brighter and more even with a reduction in hyperpigmentation, blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles. Dermal remodeling continues after your treatment and after about 6 weeks it results in new collagen production, providing ongoing improvement in your skin’s quality. Even though this type of peel is deeper than some, further peels may be required to achieve desired results.

As you might have guessed, the recovery period for a deep peel is even longer and more involved than a medium peel. For the first 48 hours following a deep peel, an occlusive dressing such as a waterproof tape mask must be applied and worn. This treatment has a lot of downtime after as it leaves the skin requiring careful wound care, and you may also need to adhere to a blended diet through a straw for at least a week to prevent excessive mouth movements. Around day 9 you can begin to gently debride the dead peel mask with regular warm compresses and emollient applications, but the new skin underneath will still be red and swollen for up to four weeks.

Microdermabrasion