Living with a bad hair cut is one thing, but when it comes to skin care and our efforts to slow the signs of aging there are more permanent risks to be considered. Selecting the right skin care professional is not only a matter of protecting your good looks, but also preserving your health and personal safety.

The fastest growing segment of the skin care industry is the medical spa business. The ability to obtain significant cosmetic enhancements with new technologies that do not require the down-time or financial insult of traditional cosmetic surgery provides a remarkable opportunity for those individuals who do not want to go under the knife. Medical spas often offer services that include wrinkle and cellulite reduction, hair removal, skin rejuvenation and more.

It is important to remember, however, that while you can typically stop by the medical spa at the mall on your lunch break to have one of these services performed, these are still medically based procedures that need to be regarded as such. There is always the potential for serious injury if the procedures are performed inappropriately. The most common side-effects related to medical aesthetic services are burns and subsequent scarring.

So how do you select a medical spa or medical aesthetic services provider that can offer the result you are looking for and maintain your safety? The answer, of course, is training and experience.

If you choose to have a consultation with a medical aesthetics professional, ask some basic questions. Do they hold a professional license? Often laser technicians or medical aesthetics professionals will also have cosmetology, skin care, or medical licensing. In the case of Botox or other injectable procedures, is your provider a nurse, physician assistant, or physician? Did they attend a reputable laser or medical aesthetics training school? If the provider is not a physician, then ask about the qualifications and background of the supervising physician. Ask to see before and after pictures of actual clients. In the case of laser services, ask to have a test spot treatment performed so that you can become familiar with the sensation involved with the treatment. This will also help to ensure that you are not prone to hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation (lightening or darkening of the skin).

Another great way to learn more about your medical aesthetics provider is to check them out online. Look for chat rooms or web logs where other people may have commented on the level of service and results they received from the provider. When it comes to your body and your personal safety, make sure to do your homework.

Medical spas have much to offer and are becoming an integral part of the lives of millions of people each year. Having a medical spa you can trust can make all the difference.