By Amy Talcott
As we get older, it’s not uncommon for us to scrutinize ourselves a little more in the mirror. We start to notice the telltale signs of aging: a wrinkle here, some sagging skin there, maybe a few age spots sprinkled in for good measure.
And while aging is a fact of life that reflects a beauty all its own, slowing its appearance can help us manage some of the lesser-desired effects – and make us feel a little better about ourselves and the aging process.
If you’re looking to improve your appearance, whether through a non-invasive cosmetic procedure or with cosmetic surgery, there are a number of options in both areas at Plastic Surgery Associates, the combined practices of Serenity MedSpa and Dr. Chad Tattini, a cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon.
This dual-practice partnership, which began over a year ago at 902 N. Hershey Rd. in Bloomington, offers the best of both worlds when it comes to managing your appearance – in one convenient location. Serenity MedSpa also has their flagship location located at 328 Susan Drive, Suite 300 in Normal.
“We wanted to present to the prospective patient that if you are interested in any sort of cosmetic intervention, come in and see us and we’ll start at the basics and work from there,” said Dr. Tattini. “We’ve really taken cosmetic intervention to the next level with this comprehensive team.”
Serenity MedSpa: State-of-the-Art Cosmetic Treatments
Serenity MedSpa combines the highest quality non-invasive cosmetic services, including skin rejuvenation, injectables, laser services, body contouring and more, provided by highly trained professionals in a relaxed, safe atmosphere. “I don’t know of anyone else in town who has the comprehensive menu of services that we do here,” said Karen Carls, Serenity Medspa’s office manager.
To improve fine lines, skin damage, clogged pores and overall skin appearance, they offer skin rejuvenation services including microneedling, a treatment used to stimulate collagen by creating tiny micro-channels in the skin; dermaplaning, a manual exfoliation technique that removes surface layers of dead skin and “peach fuzz”; DiamondGlow®, which exfoliates and delivers serums to the skin; medical grade chemical peels; and Morpheus8, a skin resurfacing/tightening treatment for face and body.
Their injectables include Botox®, Juvederm® and Kybella® for areas of the face, neck and chin, and their CoolSculpting treatments use a freezing method to reduce fat. They also offer Votiva, a treatment that rejuvenates both external and internal vaginal tissue that has lost elastin and collagen as a result of body changes or giving birth. And Serenity MedSpa is the only location in the area that uses sophisticated laser technology for laser hair reduction and skin resurfacing and tightening.
If those choices seem overwhelming, not to worry. “We don’t expect our clients to know exactly what service they want when they walk in the door,” said Karen. “It’s important we consult with them to first find out what it is they’re wanting to improve, then we can recommend the treatments that are going to give them the maximum results.”
Dr. Benjamin Brewer is the Director of Serenity MedSpa and said their experience and expertise is what sets them apart. “We have 16 years of experience and our staff is second to none,” he said. “and I’m very involved in the day-to-day operations at our flagship location.” Clients will typically see Dr. Brewer for Botox, fillers and PDO threads, which is a procedure that uses dissolvable sutures to rejuvenate and lift sagging skin. “I believe we’re the only ones in town who offer PDO threads as well as CoolSculpting,” he said.
Dr. Tattini: Cosmetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
In a spacious yet easily accessible office down the hall, Dr. Chad Tattini, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, performs all facets of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures including, but not limited to facelifts, brow and eyelid lifts, rhinoplasty, breast lifts, enlargements, reductions, reconstruction, liposuction, and Mommy Makeovers, which address both the abdomen and the breast.
His private surgical suite and recovery room is comfortable and discreet, with a convenient private exit on the side of the building. “Though the stigma of plastic surgery has definitely lessened over the years,” he explained, “there’s still that sense of confidentiality that’s important to patients, and it’s important to us as well. You don’t have to worry you’re going to run into someone you know when you come in for a cosmetic surgery procedure.”
Dr. Tattini is also committed to ensuring his patients are well-educated, prepared and comfortable with the procedure being performed. “We follow what’s known as Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol,” he explained, “which is a process that helps reduce a patient’s stress, optimize their surgical experience and help improve recovery time.”
It’s worked so well that according to Dr. Tattini, nine out of 10 patients he operates on say it was an easier process than they expected and better than what their friends who had similar surgeries elsewhere experienced. “For instance, when a patient can get a breast augmentation and only need pain medication for the first 24 hours, word spreads pretty quickly, and that’s a lot of how this practice has grown,” he said.
From Medical Spa to Surgical Suite (and Vice-Versa)
One of the biggest benefits of the partnership between Serenity and Dr. Tattini is the collaborative nature of their businesses. “A client may come to us at the medical spa with a skin concern; maybe they’re not sure what kind of treatment they need, or they’re wanting to prolong the need for surgery,” said Karen. “We can educate them and provide options and recommendations based on what they’re looking for, which may include referring them to Dr. Tattini.”
Karen says many of their clients receive medical spa services in an effort to delay cosmetic surgery. “The benefit there is, when it comes time that they need or want plastic surgery, they’re able to go right down the hall instead of trying to find a plastic surgeon in the area.”
“It’s an optimal concept for anyone interested in any sort of cosmetic intervention, ” Dr. Tattini said. “On the flip side, for example, a liposuction patient may have skin laxity after surgery. While excess skin can be removed surgically, skin laxity requires skin tightening treatments such as the Morpheus8 laser, which can be done through the medical spa. A facelift won’t get rid of age spots, but Serenity’s intense pulse light treatments and chemical peels can help reduce them.”
Dr. Tattini says that many times the patients who have a better surgical result are those who have “prepped” their skin using a non-surgical modality. “Having the partnership with Serenity creates a synergy and allows our patients to receive both spa and surgical services throughout the course of their lifetime. We get to know them and they get to know us, and that relationship makes for a better outcome as well.”
More FaceTime = Less Stigma
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the demand for plastic surgery is up more than 30 percent since the pandemic, and Dr. Tattini said for their business, it’s up even higher than that. “Weight gain from staying home coupled with virtual meetings and bad camera angles created the perfect storm,” he said. In addition, with so many people now working from home or remotely, they no longer have to worry about taking the time off to recover from a plastic surgery procedure. “It’s lessened the stigma considerably,” he said.
In fact, while Dr. Tattini still performs all facets of injectables offered through the practice, he finds himself more frequently in the operating room with his hand-picked exceptional operating team. “Luckily, Elizabeth Riddle, a registered nurse here in our practice, is nationally trained and credentialed in Botox, filler, Kybella and Qwo® injections,” he said, “so she has been vital to both our surgical and non-surgical procedures.”
There’s also been a shift in the average age of individuals seeking cosmetic improvements to their face and body. “We’re definitely seeing the ages of our patients skew younger,” said Dr. Brewer. “Between the pressures of social media and all the camera filters being used today, it’s not uncommon for people under 30 to come in for non-invasive cosmetic procedures like Botox or filler injections as well as cosmetic surgery consultations.”
Dr. Tattini says that’s another benefit of being connected to a medical spa. “If someone comes to me seeking a surgical procedure, and I don’t think that patient is a good surgical candidate, I can refer them to the spa to discuss non-invasive cosmetic treatment options.”
The fountain of youth may not really exist, but with their extensive menu of both non-invasive and surgical cosmetic services, coupled with a professional and compassionate staff – all under one roof – the partnership of Serenity MedSpa and Dr. Chad Tattini offers proven assurances that age is, in fact, just a number.
Plastic Surgery Associates, the combined offices of Dr. Chad Tattini and Serenity MedSpa, is located at 902 N. Hershey Rd., Bloomington. Serenity MedSpa’s flagship location is at 328 Susan Drive, Suite 300, Normal. For more information or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Tattini’s office, visit chadtattinimd.com or call 309.664-1007. For more information about Serenity MedSpa, visit theserenitymedspa.com or call 309.808.0889.