Therapy for Mind and Body
Medically Oriented Day Spas

Day spas emerged as the ultimate way to pamper yourself. They offer a mini-vacation for a day or even for a few hours in the middle of your day. The first stand-alone day spas were noticeable in the mid 90’s. Since then, along with the mini-resorts for the self-indulgent, many day spas have evolved into medically oriented businesses with menus that include not only beauty treatments that refresh the spirit but health treatments and programs that provide therapy for both mind and body.

For decades women have taken a trip to the beauty parlor to “buy curls” and “have their nails done”. In the 1970s, many beauty salons added tanning beds, providing their patrons with a new way to take a mini-break from everyday stress. Also in the 70s, many men left the barbershop and entered the salon to take advantage of perms, manicures, pedicures, and tanning beds. It seemed only natural when someone put two and two together and added relaxing massage to the menu of beauty treatments and treats. Enter the day spa.

That’s not to say that every beauty salon that offers massage is a day spa. There are major differences between salons with day spa services, beauty oriented day spas, and medically oriented day spas. Many salons offer day spa services but fall short of the ambience that allows you to relax and finish your day feeling renewed and revitalized. Beauty day spas and health day spas provide a soothing and calming atmosphere for their patrons.

Like beauty oriented days spas, most medically oriented day spas have diverse menus of treatments and programs, which they provide in standard packages, customized packages, and as a la carte offerings. The main difference between beauty day spas and health day spas is that, while both types are staffed by licensed professionals, medically oriented day spas offer some services that are provided by licensed health care professionals like physical therapists and nutritionists. In fact, some medically oriented spas employ or are owned by full-time physicians.

Along with massage, aromatherapy, exfoliation, and other regular spa services, services at a medically oriented day spa may include acupuncture, acupressure, hydrotherapy, and more complex treatments like Botox, laser surgery, collagen injections, and even plastic surgery.

Health spas have been active since humans first discovered the therapeutic benefits of relaxing in a warm spring. All the same, as the centuries progressed, to reap real health spa benefits took a substantial nest egg and a week or more of vacation time. Although not inexpensive, the medically oriented day spa lets budget your time to fit both beauty and health into a single visit and a relaxing day.