From light waves to diamond wands, it’s a new day at local spas

HIGH!TECH COMES TO THE s p a

By CATE LECUYER Photos by KEN YUSZKUS

Mary Engstrom demonstrates the use of intense pulsed light technology at Radiant Touch" a spa on Pleasant Street# The system uses di$erent wavelengths of color to reverse the e$ects of sun damage on the skin#

RReady to chase away winter at your favor%ite spa?

Think beyond aromatherapy and deep tis%sue massage#

What was once considered a day of relax%ation and rejuvenation" is" well" still a day of relaxation and rejuvenation" but with hot electronic pulsing devices in addition to hot stones#

With new advances in skin care" many spas are offering “medical aesthetics"” a genre that’s bridging the gap between the table in the doctor’s o&ce and the one in the mas%sage room#

“There’s a big change to the clinical side because of all the technology available"” said Kathleen Santora" an esthetician at La Belle Femme spa# “People want results#”

Santora specializes in chemical peels" which can also be done on a stronger scale in a physician’s o&ce#

“Often" dermatologists will have estheti%cians with them"” she said# “They’re coming together and merging#”

“There’s a lot of discussions being had as to who should really be doing what"” said Mary Engstrom" a registered nurse at Radi%ant Touch who uses light therapy for hair removal and skin rejuvenation#

There are physicians and plastic surgeons" nurses and estheticians and cosmetologists doing everything from Botox and 'ller injec%tions to skin resurfacing" cellulite reductions" chemical treatments and laser hair removal#

“There’s a lot of options now that weren’t available () years ago"” Santora said# “The only thing that limits you is your pocketbook#”

Here’s a look at some of the new treat%ments available right down the street#

Light RejuvenationYes" we all look better with a tan" but those

sunny days on the beach have 'nally caught up with you — in the form of discolored pig%ments" brown splotches" and all those other skin problems that result from the combi%nation of sun damage and aging# This new" high%tech treatment uses wavelengths of pure spectrum colors that penetrate cells to remove dark pigments and broken capillar%ies" even out skin tones" and basically reverse the damaging e$ects of the sun# Di$erent colored wavelengths target speci'c areas" like blue for scar removal and purple for acne#

Where: Radiant Touch Spa" *+, Pleasant St# Why it works: “Women are so interested

now in correcting damage and being bet%ter to their skin"” said Mary Engstrom" who has been working with cosmetic lasers for ** years" and skin rejuvenation technology since it came out six years ago# “Everyone

Brittany Batchelder" who works at Radiant Touch Spa" gets a light rejuvenation treatment to demonstrate how the process works# It’s most commonly used for facials" but can be applied to any part of the body to reduce pigmentation and broken capillaries#

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wants a clean slate# This takes the damage away" and then they can move forward#”

Hopefully" with a bottle of sunscreen on hand#

Most of Engstrom’s clients are over -)" or middle%aged#

“I’m treating a lot of +)% to .)%year%old%women"” she said# “It takes years o$ them when you remove brown spots from their hands#” She’s also treated some teenagers with acne" and health%conscious women in their ()s#

“There are some younger girls looking at this as preventative"” she said# “They want to be on top of the aging process#”

What to expect: Engstrom has a pulsed light machine with di$erent attachments that produce various wavelengths along the color spectrum# It’s most commonly used for facials" but can be applied to any part of the body" particularly the neck" chest" arms" and hands#

“You have a sensation of warmth or heat as the light gets pulsed along your skin"” she said# “People will know they’re having a treatment done#”

The heat and the light also stimulates col%lagen" minimizes pores" and reduces fine lines#

“People love the way their skin feels"” Eng%strom said# “And as a nurse" I like to focus on correcting the problem#”

After the treatment she applies a soothing gel to cool down the skin# There will be mild redness" and pigment spots will look darker for (/ to /0 hours" but it’s minimal#

“There’s no hiding"” she said# Makeup can be applied right away" and eventually the spots will fade#

“At the end of two weeks you really look at your skin and notice a di$erence"” she said#

Recommended service: One to four treatments

Cost: 1(,) for one treatment" or 1,)) for three treatments for a facial# Prices range from 1., to 1+))" depending on the body part and number of treatments#

VelaShapeMany women seem to wage a constant

war against cellulite" that unsightly buildup of fat that tends to collect around the stom%ach" thighs and butt# On the cutting edge of body%sculpting technology" VelaShape is the 'rst FDA%cleared device that uses infra%red light and radio frequencies" along with mechanical massaging and vacuum suction" to manipulate fatty tissue and help make you look skinnier#

Where: Dayle’s European Skin Care & Day Spa" (+* Washington St#

Why it works: It 'rms and tightens the skin" smoothing out bumpy fat and taking inches

off the body# Not only does it reduce the appearance of cellulite" it contours the body" creating a sexier shape" said spa owner Dayle Ciampa" who has been there for (, years#

“Some women want to get rid of their waistline or belly fat or thighs"” she said# It’s also very popular among women who just had a baby and want to shed the extra fat acquired during pregnancy" she said#

Ciampa " who bought the equipment in June" said Dayle’s is the only spa on the North Shore that o$ers the service#

“I really saw great results with the machine"” she said#

What to expect: She pulses a handheld device along the body" focusing on areas of concern# It causes a warm sensation that can last a few hours after the treatment" and the skin may appear red for several hours# But there’s no “down time"” as Ciampa puts it#

“You can just go back to your normal rou%tine"” she said#

Results will be visible after the 'rst ses%sion" with skin feeling smoother and 'rmer" and circumference reduction appearing in the 'rst to second session# Cellulite improve%ment is noticed after about four sessions#

Dayle Ciampa" owner of Dayle’s European Skin Care & Day Spa" uses a VelaShape device to manipulate cellulite that accumulates around the stomach" to make a client look skinnier# The device uses infrared light and radio frequencies" along with mechanical massaging and vacuum suction#

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Recommended service: Four to six treatments

Cost: 1("))) and up# Prices vary depending on body part#

Chemical Peel Exfoliating Treatment

You don’t have to be a scientist to see the results# Alpha hydroxy acids break the chemi%cal bond that holds dead skin cells together" while trichloroacetic acids penetrate the skin more deeply to reduce 'ne wrinkling" treat dryness" smooth out and improve skin tex%ture" and even out pigmentation#

Where: La Belle Femme" 0 Spring St#Why it works: The chemicals are essentially

burning away your surface layer of skin; the results occur during the healing process#

“You’re making your skin exfoliate quicker than on its own"” said Kathleen Santora" a licensed esthetician at La Belle Femme spa# “The rejuvenation of new cells occurs faster than they would normally" and you get this baby%like skin#”

The intensity of the treatment Santora uses depends on your ethnic background# “The more northern" whiter European you are" the stronger peel you can take"” she said#

“It’s typically an anti%aging treatment"” she

said# Most of her clients are ages -) or older" and looking to reverse sun damage and signs of aging#

“They want to see their skin refreshed"” she said# It also restores a lot of oxygen to the skin" so if you’ve decided to kick the ciga%rette habit" it could be an ideal way to treat yourself#

“If you’re a smoker" you could use it"” she said# “It’s very good for smoker’s skin#”

What to expect: The chemicals are applied in layers using a cotton swab or brush#

“There are a number of products you layer on throughout the treatment"” Santora said# She usually does between one to four" and in between each one she uses a handheld fan to cool you down and make sure the product dries and penetrates to the correct depth# It starts out as a tingling" burning sensation that gets more intense with each application#

“Every once in a while people are very uncomfortable"” Santora said# But the feel%ing subsides by the end of the treatment" and she applies a moisturizing cream at the end#

After the treatment" don’t do anything that would bring heat to your face " like lying in the sun or exercising#

“You wouldn’t work out after a chemical peel because that would activate the chemi%cals too intensely and your face would burn"” she said#

Around the third day after the treatment" your face will start to peel#

“It’s almost like a sunburn" where you 2ake for about 've days"” she said# “After that your skin

Kathleen Santora demonstrates the chemical peel exfoliating treatment on her daughter" Liza" at La Belle Femme spa# The process is used to reduce 'ne wrinkles" treat dryness" improve skin texture and even out pigmentation#

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Nury “Nina” Moguea" who works at Dayle’s" receives a HydraFacial# A diamond%encrusted wand is used to peel away dead skin" and a hand%held device administers serums#

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looks terri'c" but you do go through a period where you don’t look so good#”

Recommended service: One to six treat%ments" spaced about a month apart

Cost: 1*(, per treatment

HydraFacial with One Pass Crystal%Free Microdermabrasion

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend" and can make your entire face %% not just your 'nger %% sparkle# Used to combat dull skin" fine lines" wrinkles and brown spots" a diamond encrusted wand is used to peel away dead skin for an exfoliating treatment that leaves you glowing and radiant# It’s followed by a moisturizing facial# Although each treatment is available separately" they work best when paired together#

Where: Dayle’s European Skin Care & Day Spa" (+* Washington St#

Why it works: The microdermabrasion preps the skin to get the most out of a hydrating facial#

“It’s going to get rid of all the dead skin" so the serums go better into the skin"” Ciampa said# Over time" microdermabrasion stimu%lates the production of a new layer of cells" which brings an increased level of collagen and elastin to improve the skin’s appearance#

It’s often done with crystals" but the diamond encrusted wand makes the treatment more comfortable# It peels away the dead skin for a more even abrasion" without the gritty residue of crystals" and the serums from the facial better penetrate the surface#

“It’s going to be a deeper peel"” she said# The serums are di$erent liquids adminis%

tered through a machine with a handheld device# They can be targeted to di$erent skin types and can address skin problems like 'ne lines" wrinkles and uneven skin tones# Because of all the moisturizing ingredients" the treatment is very popular around this time of year#

“Especially in the winter" the heat and the cold weather dehydrates you"” Ciampa said#

What to expect: The microdermabrasion feels like a soft tingling" Ciampa said" and the HydraFacial is soothing" refreshing" and non%irritating#

“It almost feels like a cool paint brush being spread on your skin"” she said#

Results are immediate" leaving your skin smoother and more radiant by the time you leave# It may take more than one treatment to see a reduction of 'ne lines and brown spots#

Make%up can be applied immediately afterward" but it’s important to avoid the sun for three to four days because you’re more

likely to burn# “The skin is sensitive"” Ciampa said# “You’ve

taken o$ the top layer#” While the treatment is targeted toward

the anti%aging crowd" she has a wide range of clients#

“I’ve done teenagers"” she said# “I do men and women# I just did a man for his wedding" and he loved it#”

Recommended service: A series of six treatments

Cost: 1((, per treatment

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