Do your research before a medi-spa visit

When it comes to a procedure involving your skin — especially your face — Jodi Skinner says no one should be taking any chances.

“There are serious risks to getting a treatment from someone who is not trained. I’ve seen people come away with scars, burns, wounds, discolourations and open sores,” says Skinner. “Some of the damage cannot be reversed.”

Skinner is a licensed Practical Nurse with Skincare Studio Inc. in St. John’s. She says not many of Skincare Studio’s first-time clients think to ask for proof of their qualifications and certifications, but she’s always glad when they do.

“We want everyone to be extremely careful and not just trust anybody who’s claiming to offer a particular treatment,” says Skinner. “Anyone could buy these machines off Amazon and just start using them on people — without any training at all — and unfortunately, that does happen sometimes.”

There are strict regulations on esthetics in the U.S., but she says Canada tends to be “more like the Wild Wild West.” Newfoundland is more lax than most other provinces, and doesn’t have any regulations on esthetics. Anyone can decide to take up nail care, waxing, or medi-spa treatments like lasering, dermabrasion or peels.

Unfortunately, Skinner says there isn’t a quick and easy way to verify you’re going to a certified professional. You need to do your homework and ask the tough questions — even if it feels impolite or uncomfortable.

“You can’t be afraid to ask to see certifications of their training, certificates on the equipment and certificates proving their standing with Health Canada,” says Skinner. “Any company claiming to be a medi-spa needs to have proper credentials for its staff, equipment and suppliers.”

She says it can be difficult to pinpoint which businesses go above and beyond to keep their clients safe and that’s why the Skincare Studio team members are passionate advocates for the industry.

Skincare Studio’s medical director is a board-certified dermatologist, and their medical esthetic procedures are all conducted by medical nurses. All of their equipment is approved by Health Canada and the products they sell are properly registered and legally allowed to be sold in the country.

Skinner says they provide free consultations because they always want to make sure a particular treatment is right for a client and they build care plans based on people rather than sales quotas.

“We follow strict standards for the safety of our customers, and we have even turned away customers who did not comply with our standards of care and pre-treatment regulations.”

She hopes to someday see stricter Canadian laws on esthetics and medi-spa procedures, but until then, she warns people not to rush into anything without first doing their research.

“Don’t just assume they’re going to know what they’re doing. Ask them for their qualifications and do your homework because that little bit of effort could save you from a big mistake.”

Do your homework

Before deciding on a medi-spa or a particular treatment, please take a look at the following links to make sure you’re making an informed choice.