Medical Spa Report Magazine: Ancient Beauty
Medical Spa Report
By: Lee A. Litas
At its pinnacle, considerably before 1,000 B.C., the ancient Mesoamerican civilization of the Mayas was one of the most culturally-dynamic societies in the world. Highly advanced, the Mayas were renowned for their spectacular art, epic architecture, sophisticated astronomical systems, and, in particular, their advanced medicinal and healing rituals. Now, a new medical spa in the northwest suburbs of Chicago brings ancient rituals to the foreground and infuses them with the most sophisticated modern technology available today.
Located in the center of downtown Wheeling, IL, and headed up by medical director Mehul Shah, M.D., Maya Medspa boasts nine treatment rooms comfortably situated in a sprawling 3,600-square-foot facility, making it one of the largest spas outside of the city. Its location is ideal for clients whose heavy work schedules allow for only brief intervals of free time and who don't want the headache of having to drive into the heart of Chicago or book tickets for out-of-town escapes.
Maya offers the convenience of being a one-stop-shop for nearly every need, want, or malady. "We take beauty to the highest possible level using technology and traditional medical knowledge," says spa director Nathan Liberman. While standard services include traditional spa offerings such as facials, massages, manicures, and pedicures, this is where the similarity with traditional spas ends and a confluence with state-of-the-art medical facilities begins. Clients can choose from ultrasound infusions, microcurrent services, laser therapy, laser facial rejuvenation, laser hair removal, and injectables such as Botox, Restylane, and Sculptra.
Rounding out Maya's menu are holistic medicinal techniques such as acupuncture and aculaser for clients who prefer non-invasive procedures. Medical practitioners perform the more invasive procedures like injections or acupuncture-assisted weight loss and smoking cessation, while licensed massage therapists provide the wide array of hands-on treatments. The medical director oversees every procedure at Maya Medspa. "By making Maya all-inclusive, we have eliminated the stress factor of having to go to several different facilities, thus allowing our clients to concentrate simply on looking and feeling better," says Liberman.
One of the most popular treatments is Dermal Rejuvenation ($280, 90 minutes). A multi-step process, it couples microdermabrasion with an individualized skin treatment and is followed by an ultrasound session. The treatment allows for the removal of the top layer of skin, which facilitates rapid regeneration of new cells. The ultrasound works to stimulate collagen production underneath the skin, tightening it and the muscles immediately beneath it, while depositing a vitamin-rich serum directly under the dermal layer. The effect serves as a quick non-surgical face-lift and, if performed regularly, can have lasting effects. "We are on the forefront of the anti-aging revolution," says Liberman, who emphasizes the fact that Maya's clientele encompasses far more than just baby-boomers. "Many young clients are coming in earlier and earlier for treatments that are formulated to stave off the aging process."
Another popular treatment is laser hair removal, equally fashionable with both women and men. "It is a huge part of our business," says Liberman. Men come in to do their chest, back, or sometimes their entire body. For women, the more popular requests are for permanent underarm and bikini-line hair removal. In addition, Maya offers its clients a twist on traditional spa services. For example, clients getting a manicure are offered permanent removable fingernail scans. The 3-D scan creates a permanent set of faux nails for the client. The advantage here is that if a nail is lost, the client can order a replacement by mail, which will be tailor-made for their hand.
Finally, no spa experience would be complete without a therapeutic and relaxing massage. For this, the professionals at Maya insist that nothing comes close to the pampering clients receive with Ohashiatsu, a massage technique based on Eastern philosophy that uses the energy within the body to emphasize communication and synergism between the giver and the receiver to achieve physical, psychological, and spiritual harmony. "We wanted to create an absolute sanctuary for our busy clients," says Liberman. In this sense, Maya Medspa has much in common with the people of its namesake: they too combined their vast wisdom with advanced technology to create new marvels.
