While a day at the spa is supposed to ease your tensions, searching for the right one can be just as anxiety ridden as that stress you’re trying to escape from. i Medspa (www.i-medspa.com) opened the doors on a new facility in April of 2009 at Plaza El Segundo and offers the ultimate in care without adding the stress that occurs at cold, cookie-cutter facilities. With a brand new, state-of-the-art spa, i Medspa at Plaza El Segundo offers a luxurious destination for physician supervised non-surgical cosmetic enhancement, anti-aging treatments and advanced skin care without forsaking the warmth and compassion of a spa setting.

Rediscover i

In promoting a holistic approach to patient care, i Medspa at Plaza El Segundo offers the Rediscover i program. Rediscover i rejects the artificial and mechanical approach to patient care, instead designing comprehensive treatment plans dedicated to self-help, improvement and personal enrichment. Accepting only the best in FDA approved beauty treatments for its clientele, i Medspa’s services target a patient’s well being rather than their bank account, offering an affordable way to treat themselves and continue to look their very best. From fotofacial procedures to laser hair removal, i Medspa also offers Botox, Restylane, microdermabrasion, medical grade facials, peels and physician-formulated skin care products.

A Personalized Approach

i Medspa’s respect for the individual may begin with the Rediscover i program but it certainly doesn’t end there. Staff at i Medspa at Plaza El Segundo are driven by the mission to revitalize patient care through fostering individual driven treatment plans. “i Medspa was created to address the unique and individual needs of its clients. We understand that every customer has a unique individual ‘skinprint’ so our diverse team of knowledgeable professionals personalize solutions for all skin types. We have some of the best treatment protocols developed in the United States and also from Europe, Asia and Africa,” said Lara Thompson, Executive Spa Director for i Medspa at Plaza El Segundo. “Whether you seek youthful, glowing skin or a smoother, more contoured body, our highly trained medical staff work with you to achieve results you are satisfied with”.

Forging New Ground

After opening the literal doors to the facility, it only made sense for i Medspa to open the figurative door to an exciting new treatment. i Medspa at Plaza El Segundo has introduced Mesoderm, a new FDA approved non-surgical treatment that lifts the face while it contours the body. Mesoderm Therapy contours the face, hands, double chins, love handles, belly, and thighs while also aiding in the reduction of cellulite. Mesoderm is a fast, safe and effective skin therapy that offers immediate and long lasting results through a process called Mesoporation.

Mesoporation

Mesoporation drives pharmaceutical products such as collagen into the skin through temporarily enlarged pores that are created with an electrical current. With Mesoporation, there are no cold, sharp needles and the pain that accompanies them. Instead, patients are treated with a process that combines lasers and Velashape. The result is total skin rejuvenation.

Ande Akinrele

Creator of i MedSpa, Ande Akinrele, Shares, in Her own Words, Her Vision and Concept

 

 

LA’s The Place:  What made you decide to open a medspa?
 
Ande Akinrele:  I see women and men everyday wearing the signs of stress on their faces and body. We live such stressful lives these days without enough time for exercise and the relaxation needed to rejuvenate from day to day. Over time, we look worn down and I wanted to create a safe, harmonious place where people can come to renew themselves both physically and spiritually. It is important to me, to only use the latest, scientifically proven technology, such as state of the art lasers and other new technology like mesoporation, which uses an electrical current to infuse age defying products such as collagen and vitamins into the skin, without needles, pain or surgery! Much of this technology has been around in Europe for years and is finally being adopted here in the US. I am so happy to be in an industry that helps people look good and feel good. Many of my clients spent their earlier years baking in the sun with oils and tin foil because that was what was done back then! Now we are able to help reverse the wrinkles and sun spots caused by all those years of sun damage and help people feel better about themselves. Most people in their 40s and 50s (even some in their 30s) admit they feel much younger inside than they look. Our role is to help bring back that balance between how a person looks and how they feel.

LATP:  What is your background?
 
AA:  I have been around spas, salons and the beauty industry my entire life. I have dabbled in many industries but always find myself back in the health and beauty arena which is where my true passion lies. I grew up in Belgium and England, around many health and wellness spas where many of these types of procedures are done. I love skin care! When you think about it, the skin is the largest organ in the body and is most reflective of the lifestyle you live. Habitual stress, poor nutrition, smoking, insomnia or late nights are all evident when you examine your skin. I have a Masters degree in business information systems which has helped me with the practical side of business management. I also spent over 15 years with health maintenance organizations giving me a solid understanding of regulatory healthcare compliance and practice management. Health, beauty and wellness is a lifelong passion I have chosen to devote my life to.

LATP:  How did you determine which treatments were best to offer?
 
AA:  Safety and exceptional results have always been my highest priority. I spent many years researching the latest technology and products available, studying clinical trials and working with the best physicians, medical aestheticians and medical spa consultants available. Our lasers, equipment and products have gone through rigorous testing and are FDA approved. Our treatments come from all over the world and are developed specifically for restoration and self-improvement. We focus mainly on restoring youthful skin and contouring the body to help regain youthfulness. We are also developing new self help programs for a more holistic approach to health and beauty.

LATP:  What is your ‘mission statement’?
 
AA:  i Medspa was founded on a commitment to help our clients look and feel their best. We take a comprehensive approach to skin care recognizing that each client has unique needs for preservation, reparation, maintenance and enhancement of their skin. The name ‘i’ reminds us to give each individual client the focus and attention they deserve. For that time when you visit our spa, it is all about you and we do all we can to give you the best experience possible, while offering the latest technologies to provide you with results you are looking for. Our treatments are safe and gentle, provide measurable results and are performed by licensed and experienced clinicians and skin care specialists.

LATP:  You designed it so beautifully; do you have a design background too?!
 
AA:  Actually, yes! I studied interior design at UCLA – another one of my passions! The interior design was a collaboration between Q design, Interkinetics Architects and myself. I guess I am drawn to creating beauty, whether for the face, body or space/environment. When the things around us are beautiful, we feel harmonious and peaceful. I think beauty comes in all forms, shapes, sizes and colors and we need to tap into it and make the most of what we have for as long as we can have it! God created so much beauty in the world and we are all entitled to it and deserve to receive it.
 
LATP:  What is your most popular treatment for the summer?
 
AA:  Underarm and Bikini laser hair removal is always popular around this time for all the beach goers. Our hottest treatment right now is the Mesoderm/Velashape treatment for body contouring. Most clients will see up to 3 inches permanent fat loss in one area (typically around the belly) and this can be achieved in 10-14 days! This treatment also addresses double chins, love handles, cellulite and more! It almost sounds too good to be true but people are seeing phenomenal results and beginning to tell their friends. The best part of it is that it is all achieved with no pain, no surgery and most importantly, no downtime so this is a convenient, effective and safe treatment we can all take advantage of!

The Doctor in In:  Robert Ruder

At the helm as Medical Director of i Medspa is Robert Ruder, a board certified facial plastic surgeon with a practice in Beverly Hills. Ruder’s steady hand of stewardship has been cultivated through his experiences as the former Chief Head and Neck Surgeon at Cedars Sinai Hospital and his current work as also an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA.