Med Spa vs. Day Spa vs. Dermatologist: Who Does What

People use these three terms interchangeably and they are not interchangeable. Picking the wrong one wastes an appointment, and occasionally it means not getting care you needed.

Day spa

Relaxation and cosmetic services. Massage, basic facials, nails, waxing. No medical services, no prescription products, no physician oversight required because none is needed.

Go here when you want to feel looked after. That is a completely legitimate reason to book something, and we say so as a practice that also offers a facial whose entire purpose is an hour of quiet.

Medical spa

A hybrid, which is the source of most of the confusion. A med spa offers cosmetic services and medical ones — prescription products, injectables, medical devices — with physician oversight for the medical side.

That is us. Our menu has facials, dermaplane, waxing and lash work on one side, and neuromodulators, filler, laser, hormone therapy, IV therapy and weight management on the other, with Marjorie Lantum, M.D. as our medical director.

Go here for aesthetic treatment — things you have chosen because you want them, not because something is wrong.

Dermatologist

A physician who specialises in diseases of the skin. Diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions: suspicious moles, persistent rashes, acne that is not responding, anything that is changing, bleeding, painful or worrying you.

Go here when something might be wrong. This is the important one.

The line that matters

A med spa is for what you want. A dermatologist is for what might be wrong.

If you have a mole that has changed shape or colour, a lesion that will not heal, a rash that persists, or anything that is frightening you — see a physician. Do not book a facial and hope the aesthetician mentions it.

A responsible aesthetician who notices something concerning will tell you to get it looked at. But they are not there to diagnose, they cannot, and it is not fair to either of you to treat an aesthetic appointment as a substitute for a medical one.

You can use more than one

Plenty of people see a dermatologist for skin health and a med spa for aesthetics. They are not competing, and a good practice on either side will happily refer you to the other.

What to ask before booking anywhere

• Is this a medical service or a cosmetic one?
• Who will be performing it, and what are their qualifications?
• Is there a medical director, and who is it?
• What happens if something does not go as planned?

A rough decision tree

• Something is changing, bleeding, painful or frightening you → a physician, today.
• A persistent skin condition that is not responding → a dermatologist.
• You want to address something cosmetic and are considering injectables, laser or a medical treatment → a med spa with a medical director.
• You want to relax and be looked after → a day spa, or our relaxing facial.
• You are not sure which → ring someone and describe it. That call is free everywhere.

Common questions

Can a med spa diagnose a skin condition?

No. An aesthetician who notices something concerning should tell you to have it looked at, and a good one will. That is a referral, not a diagnosis.

Is a med spa less safe than a dermatologist's office?

Not inherently — but the variation between practices is wide, which is why the questions above matter. Ask who oversees the medical side and who is performing your treatment.

Do dermatologists offer cosmetic treatment too?

Many do. There is real overlap, and you are entitled to choose based on who you trust.

Is a facial at a med spa different from one at a day spa?

Often a med spa's aestheticians are working alongside medical services and can escalate a question more easily. Both are legitimate; it depends what you want.

What about a "medical-grade" facial?

Be a little wary of the phrase — it is marketing more than a defined category. Ask what is actually in the treatment.

Booking

Willow and Oak Aesthetic Collective is at 126 Stadium Drive, Hendersonville. If you are not sure whether we are the right place for what you need, call us on 615.236.2400 and ask — we will tell you honestly, including when the answer is someone else.

Prices shown are starting prices and are subject to change. Package pricing is given at consultation.