What was once taboo, today the veil has been lifted on having work done. It’s not uncommon to see Botox livestreamed on social media and medical professionals sharing advice on fillers on their feeds – no longer a secretive practice, cosmetic procedures have become celebrated as a form of self-care. Here in the Ocean State, a simple online search of Rhode Island providers reveals a dizzying array of medspas promising to rejuvenate, plump, and smooth away imperfections.
For the uninitiated, think of medspas as a combination of the pampering found at day spas and the expertise of medical professionals. These facilities deliver a variety of non-surgical services, from injectable neurotoxins, dermal fillers, and procedures that tighten muscles and eliminate fat to noninvasive facelifts, IV therapy, laser treatments, and more.
Dr. Sarah Levy, a board-certified eye surgeon and Brown University professor, is the founder of Facial Aesthetics Center of Rhode Island in East Greenwich. She says the rise in popularity of non-surgical cosmetic treatments can be attributed in part to the abundance of celebrities, social media influencers, and even peer groups being increasingly open about their experiences. Levy also saw an exponential spike in interest post-pandemic, known industry-wide as the “Zoom boom.”
“In the past, when we were having conversations with people, we would be looking at their faces. During COVID, all of us were on FaceTime or Zoom, and suddenly we were looking at our own faces, and I don’t think anybody ever studied their faces as closely as they had since being on Zoom,” she says. “I think the image many had in their head of what they looked like when talking to others was very starkly different from the image that was looking back at them.”
Katie Sliney, PA-C, a certified physician assistant at South County Dermatology, agrees that social media and other factors have helped bring the variety of treatments to the forefront, and both professionals agree that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach – a thorough consultation is imperative.
“Sometimes people come in knowing what they want, or they think they know what they want,” Sliney says. Consultations give potential new patients a chance to explain their goals and let practitioners review their medical history and customize a treatment plan to help people achieve optimal results. Procedures can range from simple injections that only take a few minutes to a series of regular treatments.
“A lot of people start with Botox, Xeomin, Dysport – neuromodulators – to relax the frown lines of the face, which definitely helps with wrinkles over time,” says Sliney. A neuromodulator blocks nerve signals from reaching the muscles, preventing them from contracting forcefully. As a result, the muscles relax, and the skin’s creases soften, giving the appearance of less wrinkles in areas like the forehead, crow’s feet, and others. Medically, neuromodulators have also been used as an effective alternative treatment for people with migraines or to reduce excessive sweating.
As a sought-after physician who pharmaceutical companies enlist to train others in the field, Dr. Levy is at the forefront of not only the latest treatments available, but is also privy to what’s currently being readied for the market and what’s coming down the pike. In over two decades that she’s been in the field, she’s seen the minimally invasive treatments improve across the board. “As we’ve gotten better at these treatments, the downtime has become less and less. I rarely use needles in my fillers anymore. I do almost everything with cannulas so the amount of bruising is minimal,” she says, referring to a tube that can be inserted into the body that allows the injector to better pinpoint where they are placing filler.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, neuromodulator injections are the most popular, but not everyone is on board with toxins. “Some people want something that’s going to naturally enhance their ability to produce more collagen,” says Sliney. Microneedling, she says, is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating collagen production and improving skin texture, tone, and firmness. The treatment is used to address various skin concerns, from fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars to enlarged pores and uneven skin tone.
Similarly, the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment is a facial rejuvenation process that uses the patient’s own blood to stimulate collagen production. “Those procedures can really help create a refreshed, less wrinkled appearance over time, and they do it naturally with just your own body’s ability to produce collagen,” explains Sliney.
The appeal of non-surgical options lies largely in their convenience. Avoiding surgery means less risk, shorter recovery times, and lower costs, making these treatments an increasingly popular choice.
Dr. Wendy Regan, owner of Harbour Direct Primary Care in Jamestown, offers the Emface® Noninvasive Facelift, a completely non-invasive and needle-free facial treatment. “You put these pads on your cheek, your forehead, and your chin – you could do one area, two areas, or three areas depending on what your goals are, and it uses radio frequency to build collagen and elastin, and high-intensity facial electrical stimulation energy to stimulate the muscles.” This combination helps build and fill in collagen, improving skin texture and quality.
Patients often turn to this treatment to avoid a surgical route to address lines around the mouth and chin, subtly lift droopy
eyelids, or reduce unwanted fat underneath the chin. Emface® treatments are typically done once a week for six weeks, and Dr. Regan adds that it can take up to three months for patients to see the maximum benefit. “But a lot of people will see results in four to six weeks, especially the collagen building, and then you come back once or twice a year, sometimes every three months, depending on how old you are, for maintenance treatments.”
Emsculpt NEO body contouring uses similar technology, reducing fat cells by an average of 30 percent after the four sessions, and increasing muscle mass by 25 percent. “I have a lot of medical applications for this, too,” says Dr. Regan. “People that have been in the ICU or sick or had surgery, or lost weight – they lose muscle tone. I use the Emsculpt NEO machine for that.”
The world of cosmetic procedures has come a long way from its shadowy beginnings. In Rhode Island, as elsewhere, the focus has shifted toward celebrating individual beauty, enhancing what’s already there, and helping people age gracefully on their terms. Whether it’s a quick HydraFacial or a carefully planned regimen of injectables, today’s treatments aim to empower clients, ensuring they look – and feel – their best.
Rhode Island practitioners emphasize the importance of thorough consultations. These initial appointments allow providers to assess a client’s medical history, lifestyle, and goals. Factors like diet, sun exposure, and smoking can significantly impact results, and not every procedure is suited to every person. A well-thought-out treatment plan prioritizes subtle enhancements, focusing on helping clients look refreshed and natural rather than overly altered.
Rhode Island’s regulatory framework for cosmetic procedures is often described as ambiguous, leaving room for inconsistency in training and oversight. Many professionals advocate for clearer guidelines to ensure safety and quality, and clients are encouraged to seek providers with strong credentials, including supervision by qualified physicians or advanced practice nurses. It’s equally important to select practitioners who regularly update their knowledge through advanced training and who prioritize patient education.
Cosmetic treatments require a financial commitment. Most are not one-time fixes but ongoing regimens. Neurotoxins, for example, typically need to be redone every three to four months, while dermal fillers require touch-ups every nine to fifteen months. Specialized facials and body contouring can run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars per session. Many medspas offer loyalty programs, memberships, or promotional discounts, and third party financing options are also often available at medspas to make treatments more accessible to a broader audience, but like any financing, it’s important to carefully evaluate the details.
Find med spas and other centers offering facials and more around South County:
Balencia Med Spa
Wakefield, BalenciaSpa.com
Breathe Massage & Wellness
Westerly, BreatheMassageRI.com
Exquisite Skin Care
Narragansett, ExquisiteSkin.care
Facial Aesthetics Center of Rhode Island
East Greenwich, DrSarahLevy.com
(Find recently opened SkinCeuticals SkinLab™ Providence by Facial Aesthetics Center in Wayland Square)
Harbour Direct Primary Care
Jamestown, WendyReganMD.com
Inspire Med Spa
Narragansett, SpabyInspire.com
Pure Eco Spa & Boutique
Westerly, PureEcoSpa.com
SeaMist MedSpa
Wakefield, SeaMistMedSpa.com
South County Dermatology
East Greenwich, Narragansett, Westerly, and Barrington, SouthCountyRIDerm.com
Skyla Raine Day Spa
Peace Dale, SkylaRaine.com
Salt H2O Medspa & Hydration
Westerly, SaltH2OMedSpaAndHydrationllc.godaddysites.com
Tokarz Dermatology
East Greenwich, TokarzDerm.com
Well Street Spa
Westerly, WellsStreetSpa.com
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