By Town Crier Staff

Dean Vistnes, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon, is hoping his SkinSpirit Skincare Clinic & Spa — which opened earlier this week in downtown Palo Alto — will turn some people away from the surgical suite and point them toward alternative therapies.

“With the new nonsurgical options available today, combined with a top-notch at-home skin-care regimen, you may be able to stave off major surgery indefinitely,” Vistnes said. “There’s nothing you can do to stop the aging process, but there are many things you can do to affect the age you look. Our mission is to honestly educate people about taking control and understanding how to use the proven technologies and medical-grade products to achieve visible results safely.”

According to a March study conducted by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Americans paid in excess of $8 billion to improve their looks in 2002 — a startling 228 percent jump since 1997. Liposuction, or body contouring, topped the list of plastic surgery procedures, followed by breast augmentation and then face lifts. Of the 7 million cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2002, approximately 77 percent were nonsurgical, with Botox being the most popular.

“There’s a huge demand for these types of procedures,” said Cara Fonteyne, a registered nurse and director of medical and aesthetic services at SkinSpirit.

Vistnes believes there is a place for cosmetic surgery but that healthy looks, especially of the face, can be obtained outside the surgical suite with a regimen of proven technologies and natural therapies. These nonsurgical therapies will be offered both at his skin-care clinic and with prescribed at-home skin-care regimens.

“Today, with the advent of new laser and peel technologies, dermal fillers, injectables and home-care products with active ingredients that actually work over time, we have a proven arsenal of treatments to blunt the aging process,” Vistnes said. “Starting at the first signs of aging is certainly optimum, but we can even help reverse damaged, neglected skin and get those folks on the right track.”

At SkinSpirit, a 3,800-square-foot luxury skin-care clinic and spa, medical treatments such as Botox, laser hair removal, collagen replacement therapy, chemical peels and cellulite therapy (Endermologie) will be offered alongside facials and body treatments designed to improve the quality and appearance of skin. Massages will also be available for stress relief and improving skin tone and circulation. All nonsurgical treatments and prescription-grade skin-care products are rigorously tested before being administered by a staff that includes board-certified physicians and state-registered nurses.

Before any SkinSpirit treatment is offered, a patient undergoes a detailed, confidential interview to determine needs, lifestyle and the best alternatives for healthier, better-looking skin. The resulting prescription will almost always include home-based after-spa treatments and education for long-term skin health.

“We take a holistic approach to our clients at SkinSpirit. You can’t just depend on monthly visits and a faithful home regimen to ensure your skin’s good health,” Vistnes said. “You’ve heard it before, but it can’t be emphasized enough: Lifestyle plays a key role in determining whether your skin-care program will ultimately succeed. It is our goal to ensure our clients understand the specific correlation between how they conduct their lives and how this directly impacts their skin.”

“This is a place where you can come in and gain information,” Fonteyne said. “We believe an informed client is going to be a happier client.”

With stress a big factor in age acceleration and skin deterioration, Vistnes believes many patients will benefit from their SkinSpirit visit if they can include some pampering indulgences. “Though medical-grade microdermabrasion can create quick results on the outside, an invigorating ‘Hot Results’ paprika facial or hot stone massage can certainly create some immediate stress reduction and relief from day-to-day demands,” Vistnes said.

SkinSpirit has eight treatment rooms, as well as a retail and education area with both written and multimedia content to help visitors understand its nonsurgical cosmetic offerings.

Stanford-trained Vistnes is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. He is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the California Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

SkinSpirit is holding a grand opening at the new facility, located at 701 Emerson St., during the third week in June. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Saturday.

For more information, call 324-9600.