Medical Facials

What Makes a Facial “Medical”?

Your skin renews itself constantly. Old cells shed from the surface while new ones move up from below, keeping your complexion looking fresh. This cycle takes about a month in early adulthood and slows with age, sun exposure, and hormonal changes. When it slows down, dullness, clogged pores, uneven tone, and fine lines start to show.

Traditional spa facials cleanse and hydrate the outer layer of your skin. They feel wonderful and they are a real part of self-care, but their effect mostly stays at the surface.

A medical facial reaches further. Medical-grade formulas use clinical-strength ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, retinoids, and growth factors that are not available in retail skincare. According to a 2023 review in the journal Molecules, these ingredients work by exfoliating dead cells, calming oil production, and helping healthier skin rebuild from the outside in.

Medical facials are also delivered by trained Medical Aestheticians in a clinical setting, so your skin analysis, treatment strength, and aftercare are based on your history and skin type. At BioSpa®, our Medical Aestheticians perform every facial and peel under the oversight of board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Jed Horowitz and Dr. Larry Nichter, who each bring more than 25 years of aesthetic experience.

Your skin is unique. What clears one patient’s acne can flare another’s rosacea, so a medical facial adjusts the ingredients, technique, and depth of exfoliation to you, not a one-size-fits-all menu.

Our Medical Facials and Peels

Every treatment below is customized. Your Medical Aesthetician recommends a combination based on your goals and what your skin can handle today.

BioSpa® Signature Facial

Our foundational medical-grade facial. It includes a skin analysis, a deep cleanse, custom exfoliation, extractions if needed, a treatment mask, and finishing products matched to your skin type. Suitable for every skin type and age.

HydraFacial®

HydraFacial® cleanses, exfoliates, extracts, and hydrates your skin in a single session using a gentle vortex technology. It has also been studied as a treatment for acne. A 2022 multi-center study found that a series of six HydraFacial® Clarifying Treatments significantly reduced acne severity in most patients over 12 weeks. You can add dermaplaning to your HydraFacial® for deeper product absorption and a brighter finish.

Chemical Peels (ZO® Medical-Grade)

We offer superficial and medium-depth chemical peels using ZO® medical-grade formulas. Peels speed up cell turnover, brighten pigmentation, and clear congested pores. A widely cited review found glycolic acid peels effective for acne, acne scars, melasma, dark spots, and sun damage, with a strong safety record across most skin tones.

For patients with active acne or dark spots on deeper skin tones, research shows salicylic acid peels are especially well tolerated and often improve skin faster than glycolic acid. Your Medical Aesthetician selects the right peel for your skin, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is a precise, gentle exfoliation your Medical Aesthetician performs with a sterile blade. It removes dead skin cells and fine facial hair to reveal brighter, smoother skin. Book it on its own or add it to a facial or peel to help products absorb deeper.

Facial Lymphatic Drainage

Manual lymphatic drainage uses gentle massage to encourage lymphatic movement in the face, reducing puffiness and swelling. It is especially helpful in the days after cosmetic surgery, when the lymphatic network in the treated area is temporarily disrupted. Research supports manual lymphatic drainage as part of recovery after a facelift, and our team incorporates it into recovery plans for patients from Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery, located across the hall.

Therapeutic Back Facial

Skin on the back is prone to congestion, oil buildup, and body acne. This deep-cleanse facial uses the same clinical-grade products we use on the face. We can add HydraFacial® for persistent back acne.

Which Medical Facial Fits Your Skin

Every visit begins with a complimentary skin analysis so we can match the treatment to what your skin needs. As a general guide:

• Acne and congestion: HydraFacial® Clarifying, salicylic acid peel, therapeutic back facial
• Dullness and uneven texture: BioSpa® Signature Facial, dermaplaning, glycolic acid peel
• Dark spots and sun damage: Glycolic or ZO® medical peels, brightening treatments
• Puffiness and post-surgical swelling: Facial lymphatic drainage
• Sensitive or reactive skin: Signature Facial with gentler exfoliation
• Teen skin and early acne: Gentle protocols designed with parent input

We will never recommend a treatment your skin is not ready for. If your goals call for a different option, like RF Microneedling, we will tell you and point you toward the right service.

What Your Visit Looks Like

Every visit starts with a complimentary skin analysis. Your Medical Aesthetician looks at your skin under proper lighting, asks about your goals, reviews your history and current skincare routine, and builds a plan around you.

The treatment itself takes 45 to 75 minutes depending on what you are receiving. If extractions are recommended, we perform them gently and only once your skin has been properly prepped.

We finish with a serum, moisturizer, and SPF matched to your skin, and walk you through a simple at-home routine using medical-grade products from ZO®, Revision®, or iS Clinical® so you can protect and extend your results between visits. Ask about financing options if you are planning a longer-term skincare journey.

How to Prepare and Extend Your Results

Before your appointment:

• Pause retinol, acids, and strong exfoliants for at least 3 days
• Avoid tanning, sunburn, and self-tanner
• Let us know about recent cosmetic procedures, medications, or oral acne treatments
• Arrive with clean, makeup-free skin if possible

After your appointment:

• Stay hydrated and skip makeup for the rest of the day
• Pause over-the-counter exfoliants for 3 to 5 days
• Use a mineral SPF every day
• Massage in your skincare and moisturizer gently to support absorption

If you have taken oral isotretinoin (Accutane) within the last six months, tell us before your visit. We will adjust the intensity of your treatment to keep your skin safe.

When You Will See Results

Most patients notice a brighter, smoother complexion right after their first medical facial. Mild redness can happen but typically fades within a few hours.

For continued improvement in tone, texture, and acne control, we generally recommend a medical facial every 3 to 4 weeks. That timing lines up with your skin’s natural renewal cycle, so each treatment builds on the last instead of starting over.

Combining Medical Facials With Other Treatments

Medical facials pair well with other BioSpa® treatments. Common combinations include:

• Chemical peels for pigmentation, sun damage, and fine lines
• Microneedling to stimulate collagen and refine texture
• RF Microneedling for firmness and elasticity
• Injectables to address volume and dynamic wrinkles

As a Diamond Level Allergan Provider, among the top aesthetic practices in the United States, our comprehensive plans move seamlessly between skincare and complementary aesthetic care.

Reviews From Our Patients

Read more patient reviews

Why Patients Choose BioSpa®

BioSpa® is Orange County’s award-winning MedSpa, voted Best in Orange County and recognized by Modern Luxury Riviera Orange County and Parenting OC.

Every treatment is overseen by board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Jed Horowitz and Dr. Larry Nichter, who each bring more than 25 years of aesthetic experience. As surgeons at Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery, located across the hall, they set our clinical protocols and oversee staff training so every treatment meets the standards of a plastic surgery practice. Meet the BioSpa® team to learn more about each provider.

Our team includes 2 registered nurses, a nurse practitioner, medical aesthetician, aesthetician, and MedSpa manager/consultant. Our Medical Aestheticians perform your facials and peels, and our nurse providers deliver injectables and energy device treatments, all under physician oversight.

What patients tell us they value most:

• Physician-level oversight without a physician bill
• A team that listens before recommending anything
• Access to prescription-strength ZO®, Revision®, and iS Clinical® skincare
• Affordable financing options for extended care plans
• A welcoming space that never feels rushed or sales-forward

Frequently Asked Questions