Bella Medspa Blog

Now Offering BOTOX and Dermal Fillers

Bella Medspa is now offering BOTOX injections and Dermal Fillers at four of our twelve locations.

Our clients can now get BOTOX and Dermal Fillers injections at Center City Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill Philadelphia, Newtown PA (Bucks County) and Chester Springs. [See BOTOX locations] …with more locations to be added soon.

BOTOX

BOTOX injections are a safe and effective way to treat facial lines and wrinkles such as frown lines and crows feet. It acts as an anti aging treatment by weakening the muscles that can cause wrinkles thus smoothing them out.

Learn more about BOTOX and see our price estimates and specials.

Restylane and Juvederm Dermal Fillers

Also new to Bella Medspa services is Dermal Fillers. Dermal fillers are used to reduce or eliminate wrinkles, raise scar depressions, enhance lips, and replace soft-tissue volume loss. Applied correctly fillers can give a more natural appearance than surgical face lifts.

Restylane and Juvederm injections add volume and smoothness to your skin. They are based on a hyaluronic acid gel that closely resembles the body’s own hyaluronic acid. It is long lasting, but not permanent.

Youthful skin is rich in hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration. As we age, the distribution and function of hyaluronic acid in our skin gradually change, leading to the characteristic signs of aging.

Restylane and Juvederm gels work by enhancing your skin’s own stocks of hyaluronic acid, directly adding volume to either soften the signs of aging or enhance your features.

Sun exposure and laser hair removal—reminder!

Hello and best wishes to all our wonderful clients. I hope you have gotten the chance to enjoy some of the wonderful warm, sunny weather we had recently. It was just a taste, but it felt so great, right?

We want to remind those of you who are still in the midst of laser hair removal treatment about the precautions you will need to take in the sun over the coming months.

A few ground rules:

1. For optimal results, your skin should be as close as possible to its base line or natural color during a series of laser treatments. This means as little tanning as possible.
2. For up to two weeks after treatment, the treated skin is more sensitive to the damaging effects of the sun. This means the skin is more susceptible to sunburn.
3. Skin that has been recently actively tanned is more sensitive to the laser treatment itself. This means greater risk of a burn from the laser than normal.

Keeping these three issues in mind will enable you to continue your laser hair removal treatments throughout the summer months with little or no interruption, and minimal loss of efficacy.

Remember: Use sunscreen of at least 30 SPF on all exposed skin during any extended amount of time outside in the sun. Pay careful attention to use SPF on treated areas, particularly for the first two weeks after laser treatment. This will reduce the risk of sunburn and any long-term, but temporary, skin discoloration.

At Bella Medspa, we understand that it’s nearly impossible to stay out of the sun completely–and who wants to? The simple fact that you are undergoing a series of laser treatments to remove hair tells us that you want to bare more of your skin, and that you love your skin too! Questions? Contact us at 484-341-8239. Thank you!

New Laser Hair Removal Location in Lancaster

We are happy to announce that starting Monday April 6 2009 Veranda Salon and Spa has become our new Lancaster Spa Affiliate. Located at 111 Centerville Rd, Veranda offers a modern setting with a professional and courteous staff. We are excited to be working with such a great Spa and to be offering laser hair removal in Lancaster again. Our Lancaster Laser Hair Removal location is also convenient to Lititz, Ephrata and East Petersburg, PA. We offer the same great laser hair removal specials at our new Lancaster location along with our famous customer service.

In January this year our Lancaster laser hair removal affiliate spa, Studio Nassir, sadly shut their doors after over 10 years in business. Since then we have been searching for the right Lancaster spa to partner with to offer laser hair removal for our Lancaster clientele.

New Laser Hair Removal Location in Harrisburg!

Bella Medspa is pleased to announce our newest laser hair removal location in Harrisburg PA. Bella Medspa has been a leading provider of laser hair removal services throughout Greater Philadelphia for many years and we are excited to be bringing our outstanding results, competitive pricing, industry leading guarantee and unmatched customer service to the Harrisburg area.

Our 1st Day Spa Affiliate in the Harrisburg area is Polished, located in Hoover’s Plaza in Lemoyne PA. Bella Medspa will be providing laser hair removal at Polished with the same high standards of safety and efficacy we adhere to in all our locations. Our new Harrisburg laser hair removal location is also convenient to Hershey, PA. Come see why thousands are choosing Bella Medspa for laser hair removal and see why people rave about this fantastic treatment that makes you feel more confident, sexier and takes serious time off your personal grooming routine!

The Bella Medspa Laser Hair Removal Guarantee

What is it and why do you need it?

Imagine that you and a friend both purchase laser hair removal packages for your underarm and bikini areas. About a month after your sixth treatment, you discover that your friend’s results are significantly better than yours. She’s got a few sparse fine hairs left and you find yourself still shaving and dealing with stubble. If you had to put a number on it, you’d say she’s at 95% hair reduction, and you’re at only about 80% hair reduction. You both paid the same price. You both limited your tanning during treatment, and you both followed all the treatment protocols. What’s up?

Well, as we’ve said, on average, each laser hair removal treatment that you undergo will eliminate about 15% to 20% of the hair follicles permanently. This is why we, and most other clinics, offer packages of 6 treatments. Studies show that by about 6 treatments, most clients see 90% to 100% hair reduction.

Six treatments and about 95% permanent hair reduction. That’s pretty great. But that’s the best case scenario.

It is important to remember, however, that not every laser hair removal client has the most ideal skin type or hair color and texture necessary for optimal results. In fact, these factors, and others, will affect how aggressive we can be with each laser hair removal treatment. Some clients will absolutely require a less aggressive setting on the laser due to skin type, safety and tolerance. This will change the efficacy of each treatment causing some clients to see less than the ideal 95% hair reduction by their sixth treatment.

OK. So that tells us why your friend is happy and you’re not. And this is exactly why, at Bella Medpsa, we’ve designed our Laser Hair Removal Packages with a Guarantee. Of course, we understand the good science behind the results. But we also understand the good business behind satisfied customers. Most likely, with just a few more treatments, you would see the same great results as your friend.

Essentially, the Bella Medspa Laser Hair Removal Packages consist of a total of 14 treatments. The first six are each done no less than six weeks apart. The subsequent treatments, should you feel you need them, will be offered to you, at no additional cost, at 12 week intervals for up to two years after your sixth treatment. Now, will you need all 14 treatments? Not likely. Might you need 7 or 8 treatments to get the results you are really looking for? Quite possibly, depending on your skin type. And we do have a few clients who have needed 10 or 11 treatments, especially when treating finer hair, or if they have darker skin.

At Bella Medspa, if you completed your first 6 treatments and feel you need an additional treatment, you simply call us and let us know. We’ll take your word for it! We’ll schedule you with the same priority as all our other appointments, and you’ll be treated with the same care and respect due every client at Bella Medspa. Again, each treatment is going to further reduce the unwanted hair, so these subsequent treatments will continue to provide further permanent hair reduction.

No laser hair removal clinic can guarantee exactly what percentage of hair reduction any client will see by their sixth treatment. But at Bella Medspa, we strive for 100% customer satisfaction. And one of the keys to our success is our Laser Hair Removal Guarantee.

Laser Hair Removal Brazilian and Extreme Bikini

We have been fielding a lot of questions about laser hair removal for the pubic area lately. Both men and women are requesting these treatments more and more—and with good reason.

Reason #1. When the pubic hairline grows out beyond the bathing suit or panty line it can look messy and unattractive. Removing it with razors or waxing is usually insufficient and can cause ingrown hair and inflammation.

Reason #2. It seems both men and women (and their partners) want to thin out and “groom” the pubic hair into a particular shape that they find more attractive than what nature gave them. Additionally, removing much of this hair provides easier access sexually, and increases sexual sensation.

Reason #3. Removing all hair from the entire pubic area (including the anal area) provides clients with a more hygienic feeling, as well as providing the opportunity for the most heightened sexual response.

At Bella Medspa, we offer three different laser hair removal treatments for the pubic area in an attempt to address all our clients’ needs and concerns.

The Bikini
It’s easy to see why men and women wish to remove the hair that grows out beyond their underwear line, and at Bella Medspa we address the issues that go along with this unsightliness in our Laser Hair Removal Bikini treatment. This treatment removes hair out to about 3 inches beyond a sexy to modest panty line, an inch across the top and a strip just inside the leg crease.

The Extreme Bikini
The Extreme Bikini treats the same area as the Bikini, but also removes all hair across the frontal pubic area, up to the pubic bone and just up to the labia and the seam of the buttocks. This treatment provides shaping of the pubic area. The Extreme Bikini for men includes the frontal pubic area, up to the base of the penis.

The Brazilian
Bella Medspa laser hair removal Brazilian takes the above two treatments one step further—The Brazilian removes all hair in the pubic area from front to back. For women the Brazilian includes the labia and anal area, and for men it includes completely removing hair on the penis, scrotum and anal area.

Which of these treatments is for you? That depends on what your main concerns are. I have heard clients say they like the feeling of being completely bare, especially on the labia and anal areas, but they are concerned about looking “like an eleven-year-old” as one client recently put it.
We often have clients do the Brazilian, but ask us to leave a small tuft, or strip. We always enjoy hearing the names our clients have for this remaining hair: landing strip, mohawk, runway, happy trail…you get the idea.

So whether you’re looking to be rid of the unsightly bumpy ingrown hair at your bikini line or to spice up your sex life, Bella Medspa has a laser hair removal treatment that will suit your needs.

Laser Hair Removal Customer Testimonial Recording for BEN FM

Listen To Jen’s Bella Medspa Laser Hair Removal Testimonial

The past three years have brought me into contact with thousands of people from all over the Philadelphia area. I have enjoyed them to a one. And their stories and their results never ever get old. We wanted our first radio ad to reflect this. Jen is an actual customer who came into the radio studio on her lunch break, put on headphones and talked about her experience: the embarrassment that lead her to the procedure, her search for a solution, and the results themselves. My sincere thanks go out to her for taking time out of her day to give something so wonderful to us. Her laser hair removal testimonial brought us full circle. Hearing our client say she received exactly what we strive to provide every day was both fun and moving.

When I heard our very first radio ad for the very first time I was stunned. When I started Bella Medspa 3 years ago, I was looking to bring non-invasive cosmetic services to the market in a very different way. I wanted to offer them in a way that was accessible, affordable, even enjoyable, for the consumer, without compromising safety or efficacy. I wanted the customer to understand the procedures and to feel like she was receiving real value in exchange for the money she was handing over to us. Oh, and I was looking to create a real connection between Bella Medspa and each and every customer. Corny, I know. But true.

We had to start somewhere so we started with Laser Hair Removal. These procedures are based solidly in science, physics and biology however my experience as a consumer had been that they were made to sound confusing–almost like voodoo. Not to mention that the price tag for so many of them made me feel like I was getting raked.

A big thanks to Jen for her testimonial and all of the laser hair removal customers we have created relationships with. You are what keep me going into work each day.

New Bella Medspa Location Under Construction

We are happy to announce our new Chester Springs location [See on map] to open in September 2008. The new location, currently under renovation, is in a historic site in a 150 year old building that once served as a hotel. The entire building is being restored using materials from other old buildings in an effort to revive its 1800’s beauty. Flooring, doors and stair rails have been salvaged from other local historic sites to be used in the restorations. We are excited to be able to offer this unique and inviting setting for our clients. [See pics]

Plans for the new site include expansion of Bella Medspa menu of services. To date we have offered only laser hair removal. Future services may include botox, microderm abrasion, Zoom teeth whitening and photo facial treatments. See future newsletters for updates.

The new site will also serve as the Bella Medspa central office for all twelve of our laser hair removal locations. The Victorian building will offer a comfortable work environment for our employees and they are all very excited to move in.

A grand opening day will be planned for the end of September. We will feature free service giveaways and sample treatments of some of our newly added services. We will let our clients know as soon as we set a date for the grand opening.

Laser Hair Removal Treatment and Sun Exposure: Proceed with Caution

Now is the time of year when most of us are showing a lot more skin. You can be slim and toned, with rock hard abs and sculpted arms, but a hairy back or a bumpy, red ingrown bikini area can really kill your look.

If you do your research, you will quickly see that active sun-tanning is generally a “no-no” when doing a course of laser hair removal treatments. This is good advice. Active sun-tanning should be avoided within two weeks of a laser hair removal treatment. This includes using a tanning booth, or active sun worship by the beach or by the pool.

There are a two reasons for this. First, your skin is more sensitive to the sun (and therefore, a sunburn) for two weeks after a laser hair removal treatment. While any sunburn is bad, a sunburn on skin that has recently been treated with a laser can be more damaging to that skin.

Second, the lighter your skin is, the more effective each laser treatment will be. This is because the laser is absorbed by the pigment it fires upon. Laser hair removal harnesses the pigment in the hair to kill the follicle. The more pigment you have in your skin (whether from genetics or from a suntan) the more gently your skin will have to be treated.

The good news is that most of us are taking more precautions than ever in the sun. Dark dark tans are out, and sunscreen and good skin care are in. If the stubble on your legs is driving you crazy, and you can limit your sun exposure, it will most likely be fine for you to begin or continue your laser hair removal treatments. And next year shaving can be a thing of the past.

Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

We field many questions about the side effects of laser hair removal. Because we specialize specifically in laser hair removal, doing many treatments daily, we have the opportunity to encounter issues as they arise. Laser Hair Removal performed by a trained and experienced technician with physician oversight, using an FDA approved laser is extremely safe and has a low risk of side effects.

That said, we do see some reactions that we would like to share with you. And we can also address some concerns about potential side effects that we are aware of but have not yet witnessed.

• Redness and Swelling – Laser hair removal uses the heat of the laser to literally burn the hair follicles. Our technicians identify the best settings possible in order to get the best results while minimizing redness and swelling. We also apply ice to the treated area to cool the skin. Done right, it will probably feel like you got some sun on the treated area. Redness (more likely, pinkness) may last one to three days, but usually dissipates within 20 minutes to one hour.
• Darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation) - This is a temporary condition which we have seen when clients have actively suntanned within two weeks of laser treatment. Once out of the sun the pigmentation changes dissipate within a few weeks.
• Lightening of the skin (hypopigmentation) - This is of special concern with people who have darker skin. Laser hair treatment is more successful on fair skin, but darker skin also can be treated. Our laser is FDA approved to treat all skin types and, in the thousands of treatments we have performed, we have not seen this side effect.
• Burns or Blistering - Because the laser generates enough heat in the follicles to permanently disable them, there is the risk of a burn, as that heat energy can be transferred to the surrounding tissue. Because the technology is quite effective this risk is minimal, as long as it is performed by a trained technician. Less than one percent of our clients have had issues with burns, and these have resolved completely.
• Changes in the skin texture - These rarely occur and, again, we have not had any clients with this side effect.
• Crusting or scabbing - Can occur (especially when the area that is treated is inflamed with chronic ingrown hairs) but is quite temporary and actually a good sign of an effective treatment. This skin condition can be minimized and shortened with the application of hydrocortisone cream and/or antibiotic ointment.

We always take the time to discuss these issues with clients before treatment. It’s important to understand that laser hair removal is defined as a medical treatment. Laser hair removal side effects should be understood by clients before treatment occurs.