MedSpa saves face
MedSpa saves face
By TIFFANY ST. MARTIN
Bradenton.com
LAKEWOOD RANCH --The move to Lakewood Ranch about a year ago turned out to be a good one for Affinity MedSpa, which doubled the gross income it made in its previous downtown Bradenton location.
Owner Dominic Sorrentino moved the medical spa to 8648 S.R 70 E. in July 2006, thinking the business would flourish in affluent Lakewood Ranch.
The spa provides services like facials, massages, microdermabrasion and chemical peels along with medical ones that include laser hair removal, vein treatment and injectable facial fillers. Affinity MedSpa's gross income has grown to $200,000, Sorrentino said.
Laser hair removal and injectable treatments probably are the most popular, said Sorrentino, a physician assistant.
He has been in emergency medicine the last six years and has been into bodybuilding and health and fitness. It wasn't until a friend of his opened a medical spa in Tampa that Sorrentino decided to get into aesthetics.
Susan Rivera, a paramedical aesthetician and permanent makeup artist, has worked at Affinity since the medical spa's move to Lakewood Ranch.
Microdermabrasion and chemical peels are a bit more aggressive than traditional facials, which means clients see more results, Rivera said.
"I love seeing results," she said. "That's why I like the medical side."
Rivera recently started applying eyelash extensions, which take two to three hours for the first application and calls for regular maintenance.
Permanent makeup is becoming more popular, especially permanent eyebrows, she said.
Permanent eyebrows cost $400 for the set, while permanent eyeliner is $375 for both eyes. Facials start at $70 and glycolic acid chemical peels start at $100. Microdermabrasion with infrared photofacial treatments are $125 each or $550 for a series of five.
Affinity also has a retail aspect, selling skin care products, anti-aging supplements and mineral makeup.
What's tough about operating a medical spa is keeping up with the latest products and services, Sorrentino said. He hopes to continue growing and possibly expand the business. He plans to offer acupuncture and mesotherapy or cellulite treatment at Affinity.
"My bottom line is establishing relationships with my clients, addressing their concerns and fixing them," he said. "All of that spawns from taking care of people in the ER."
Business: Medical spa
Location: 8648 S.R. 70 E., Lakewood Ranch
Founded: 2006
Owner: Dominic Sorrentino
Employees: Five
Tiffany St. Martin, Herald reporter, can be reached at 708-7918.
Votes:40
Comments: 0