Beauty and Tech Merge at Evolutions Medical Spa
Variety of Cutting-Edge Services Offered on Lower Chapala Street
As the search for everlasting beauty marches on, advancements in medical technology now offer more paths to the fountain of youth than ever.
“You need to match the person to the treatment,” said Brian Perkins, manager of his father’s Evolutions Medical Spa, which offers minimally invasive beauty enhancements. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all.” His dad, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Terry Perkins, credits the spa’s success to detailed consultations, explaining, “You need to look at it not only medically but artistically.”
More than a decade ago, with new technologies constantly hitting the market, Dr. Perkins saw options for less invasive treatments, quicker recovery times, and more natural-looking lifts. So he decided to branch his surgical practice into a medical spa, opening Evolutions in 2004. It quickly outgrew several locations but now thrives inside a 6,000-square-foot building at 350 Chapala Street, home to both the day spa (facials, massages, body wraps, scrubs, etc.) and the medical spa.
“We end up getting really good results consistently because we have good technology,” said Brian. Here’s a sampling of that tech.
Fractional CO2 Resurfacing: “When you did resurfacing in the old days, you’d remove the entire surface of the skin,” said Perkins of the modern treatment, which uses either radio frequency or a CO2 laser. “Now we can remove a fraction of it.” This stimulates regrowth that tends to improve skin tone and clarity while reducing wrinkles.
miraDry: “For people that have a real problem sweating, it’s a life changer,” said Dr. Perkins, noting that some clients have to change shirts throughout the day due to excessive sweating. One miraDry treatment typically leads to a permanent 65 percent reduction of underarm odor and sweating. “One thing people always ask is, ‘Don’t I need this sweat?’” said the younger Perkins, who explained that only 2 percent of the sweat gland is underneath your arm.
Dermal Fillers: Restylane and Juvederm: “Some people see stars with way too big of lips,” admitted Brian. “But that’s not what we do. We want to keep it natural.” The treatments can vary, but they focus on adding volume with naturally occurring hyaluronic acid fillers.
Cellfina: Recently approved by the FDA, this is a long-lasting treatment for genetically inherited cellulite. “It’s like cutting the button on a dimply pillow,” said Dr. Perkins. The one-session treatment cuts tiny fibers and has been shown to have at least a three-year effect.
Ultherapy: Among other skin-tightening treatments available, this uses a sound wave to image what is beneath the skin. “We target certain levels of injury,” said Dr. Perkins, who often combines Ultherapy with other treatments. “But basically, we want to tighten the level underneath the skin.” This can now be done to a deeper layer of tissue without injuring the surface, which causes a tightening of the tissues that support the skin.
Evolutions Medical & Day Spa is located at 350 Chapala Street, Suite 103. Call (805) 335-8546 or see evolutionsmedicalspa.com.
