Forget going to Miami or Beverly Hills, the best and newest techniques in aesthetic medicine are available much closer to home.Refined Skin Medi-Spa, located in the St. James Hotel, is the first facility in the Upper Midwest to offer a specialized combination of therapies for body sculpting.

The non-invasive procedure is used to treat cellulite, fat and wrinkles.“The technology is really advanced, so it’s allowing us to get results that are similar to more invasive measures such as liposuction and different injection techniques,” explained Kory Tuominen, a doctor and the owner of Refined Skin Medi-Spa.

Body sculpting combines the use of two machines: Med Sculpt and DermaWave No-Needle Mesotherapy. The treatment has been available at Refined Skin Medi-Spa since June. “It takes the best of both,” Gina Massett said of the process, which aims to reduce the appearance of cellulite. It can be done on various parts of the body, the office manager  said.

DermaWave No-Needle Mesotherapy works by “improving blood flow, lymph drainage and microcirculation,” according to Refined Skin’s Web site. The treatment involves applying a very low level laser and specialized electrical currents.

A trained technician applies a topical Mesotherapy solution, which is a combination of homeopathic and prescription medications, to the skin using a smooth, plastic disc in a rotary motion. Med Sculpt is a computerized medical process that uses ultrasound and massage.

“Cellulite is a condition,” Tuominen explained. “We don’t cure the cellulite. We reduce the appearance of it.  “The body will isolate that fat so it’s difficult to be seen and metabolized by the body. So no matter how much you exercise and how well you eat, the body can’t remove the fat.”

Tuominen said that a process of fibrosis leads to congested areas in the tissue that cause the dimpling seen with cellulite.

Body sculpting increases blood flow and lymphatic flow to break up that congestion.

“Med Sculpt uses two techniques,” he said. “A computerized micro-massage helps separate the layers in that fibrotic tissue. It opens up the tissue and separates that fibrosis, connective tissue that tethers the skin down.”

The machine employs ultrasound to deliver four different waves that break up abnormal fat tissue so it can be readily absorbed and removed from the area.

“DermaWave uses lasers to increase blood flow to the area and different electrical wave forms that open water channels in the skin,

called aquaphoresis,” he said.

The combination of DermaWave and Med Sculpt leads to quicker and more substantial results, he added.

“We often see a 50-70 percent reduction in appearance of cellulite,” Tuominen said. “There’s also a reduction in the circumference of the treated area, hips, or thighs or abdomen. That range is depending on the patient, the amount of treatments that are done and their ability to do the home program as far as diet and exercise and those types of things.”

The procedure can be done without pain, bruising or down time, Tuominen said. He

added that Refined

Skin Medi-Spa offers patients a unique environment by providing both medical and spa procedures.

“The nice thing about having it done in the spa type atmosphere is that these are credible medical procedures that are done in a more aesthetically pleasing, relaxing environment,” Tuominen said. “That makes the whole experience much more pleasant and enjoyable.”

Tuominen, who is chief of staff and practices family medicine at Lake City Medical Center, stressed that all procedures at Refined Skin Medi-Spa are FDA-approved.

“Just like when we do our other procedures, like skin treatments, we’re looking at the total health of the patient,” Tuominen said.

“That’s where the physician oversight is so important,” Tuominen added. “I’m looking at the full health of the patient and that allows us to do the proper treatments in the proper timeframe or not do the treatments, depending on the situation.”

Refined Skin Medi-Spa has begun working with local fitness centers to help patients work toward overall health.

“The purpose of this is to emphasize healthy living and that this isn’t just a one-stop shop,” Tuominen said. “We really do have the best interest and health of the patient in mind.”

In addition to 10 body sculpting treatments over a two-month period, customers who purchase the platinum package at Refined Skin Medi-Spa will get a two-month fitness membership if they don’t already have one, plus two visits with a staff dietician.

“When we look at body sculpting in general, that’s not a weight-loss program,” Tuominen said. “Patients focus on healthy eating habits with the dietician, while body sculpting works on the reduction of localized areas of fat or cellulite to improve the appearance of that.”

Providing the latest in technology and the highest quality possible is a priority, Tuominen added.

“In Beverly Hills or Miami they would be having the same options for treatment,” he said, explaining that he regularly attends conferences to stay current on the latest advancements. Refined Skin Medi-Spa recently expanded from 600 to more than 2,200 square feet and is holding an open house Thursday through Sunday to celebrate its growth.

The facility will have extended hours, open late Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.  “We’re all about prevention and education so our goal is to invite people in, have some ‘skin chats’ on skin-related topics, educating them about the services we have to offer and to offer some specials so that people can try some of our new services,” Massett said.