Photo Credit: Samantha Wolov
You’ve tried all of the over-the-counter serums on the market, and nothing seems to work. Those lines on your face just won’t go away. Time to get serious. Here are the best MedSpas in the Bay Area to help you tighten and brighten way beyond your wimpy AHA pump. We hereby invoke the power of the needle.
Bay Area Cosmetic Dermatology: Dr. Kathleen M. Welsh // (Pac Heights)
One quick look around Dr. Welsh’s well-appointed office (read: Perrier in the mini fridge and counters brimming with cosmetics) makes us rue the day we scoffed at mom’s advice to become a dermatologist. Welsh and her team of fresh-faced nurses know all there is to know about getting gorgeous, with a menu ranging from tattoo removal to Thermage. We credit her with finally getting us over the red-and-peeling hump of retinol—she was right, the Kinerase tretinoin gel is “a game changer.”
Epi Center MedSpa: PhotoFacial // (Union Square)
When sun damage and daily wear and tear take their toll, we look no further than Epi Center Medspa, where cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Patrick Bitter originated the PhotoFacial. Restoring skin to its virgin state isn’t exactly fun—intense, pulsing light zaps the face in problem areas—but the result is a gloriously blotch-free complexion.
Gentle Star Medspa: Botox // (SoMa)
Now that Botox is de rigeur for everyone from style mavens to tech giants, the needle-wielding clinicians at Gentle Star Medspa are honing new treatments that won’t produce stone-face results. Dr. Thomas Ellis and Craig Shishido have created a unique formulation that improves the appearance of wrinkles for up to four months, leaving us with more youthful facades.
Laub Dermatology and Aesthetics: CoolSculpting // (Mill Valley)
Freeze away love handles with Laub Dermatology’s CoolSculpting procedure. The non-invasive laser treatment targets stubborn fat cells in our trouble zones and leaves us noticeably slimmer. Each treatment guarantees a 20 percent reduction in fat. Bikini bodies, here we come.
Serenity MedSpa: Body Contouring // (FiDi)
Drs. David and Lisa Kang have achieved cred in the industry for their wide array of effective and personalized treatments employing methods both tried-and-true and avant-garde. Body contouring services include non-invasive shaping, cellulite treatments, skin tightening, and even cosmetic surgery to help us achieve the bodies of our dreams.
SkinSpirit: Micro-Penning // (multiple locations)
SkinSpirit’s four luxurious Bay Area outposts have all the offerings you’d expect from a medspa. We’re most excited about micro-penning, a cutting-edge treatment that’s minimally invasive, but offers a full face refresher thanks to thousands of tiny needles that stimulate collagen and elastin, smooth lines and scars, break up pigmentation, and ultimately allow our products to better penetrate the skin.
Union Street MedSpa: Juvederm // (Western Addition)
Union Street MedSpa offers FDA-approved services including Botox and photorejuvenation. For a quick, natural-looking lift, opt for Juvederm, the injectable dermal filler that restores contouring in the face. It’s a subtle makeover that lasts six to eight months.
Beauty product pick:
Juice Beauty
Local plastic surgeon Dr. Carolyn Chang collaborated with Juice Beauty to formulate the Stem Cellular Eye Treatment ($45), which firms the eye area and combats free-radical skin damage using Vitamin C-rich fruit stem cells. It’s a kinder, gentler alternative to the scalpel.
This article was published in 7×7’s Style + Beauty 2015 issue.