One Size Does Not Fit All
August 25, 2008 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
As you know, I have dedicated tremendous time in educating my prospective patients about my services. I really have a passion to do so. Obviously, this website only provides guidelines for what you might benefit from. That is what a personalized consultation process affords, a personalized and customized treatment plan. I spent part of yesterday adding descriptions to all of my primary (non-corrective) facial fat transfer before and after images in my new flash-based gallery to match those in the corrective section. I think if you spend some time to look at my descriptions, you will see how customized the treatment plan was for each particular individual and how I created the right mix of treatments for that person but also how I fashioned an artistic strategy based on that individual’s facial shape and desires. I think any of you coming to my office will feel the sense of how “special” you are and how not like a number you are by the way my staff treats you. That is part of our customized approach.
The idea of “functional medicine” which is practiced upstairs in my anti-aging center describes how an individual is completely unique and how a treatment protocol is completely designed based on that individual’s unique attributes. Traditional medicine says here are the parameters of “normal”. Let’s see if you fit those parameters. That is why I love how my building completely focuses on the individual rather than treating you like a statistic or a number.
Now, here comes the core of this blog that I have been leading up to. As you guys know, I have written all the blogs last week for my spa site, www.spawb.com, until my staff now is taking over that assignment. In the spirit of still having something more to say about my new spa, I want to get to how the spa services offered truly focus on and celebrate the individual differences for each customer. Let me explain by telling you about my Friday’s services. Waleska, the body wellness expert at the Spa at Willow Bend, started by asking me what symptoms I was having and what types of aromatherapy I would like to experience. I told her that it had been a long week and that I also just loved the smell of peppermint (I guess that’s the kid in me.) So she created a special treatment plan for me (as she does for every client there), which is then programmed into our computer system and remembered.
I started with a relaxing 10 minutes in our sauna. The great thing is our sauna starts at about 80 degrees F, then the attendant comes in with a specially mixed Japanese aromatherapy basin that is customized for you. As the aromatherapy bath is applied to the hot rocks, the sauna temperature gradually ascends to a sweltering 110 degrees all the while you can smell the wonderful aromatherapy that you requested or needed. I think I had a combination of Tea Tree and Peppermint. Then I received a small wooden bowl with ice in it containing two perfectly wrapped towels. I was asked to put a towel on my forehead and lie back. The towel was filled with peppermint which smelled great right next to my nose but also started to soak into my forehead creating a nice refreshingly tingling sensation. After a few minutes when the towel warmed up, I received the second towel. The combination of hot steam and a cold towel was incredible. I then went in for my body treatment that was also lovingly prepared with all the aromatherapy scents that I had requested. It was the most amazing experience that I have ever had. I showered and changed in the lounge. When I came out, I was greeted by a tray containing refreshing sorbet, spears of frozen grapes, and infused water. Boy, I was ready for my weekend!
THE NEW SPA AT WILLOW BEND SITE IS FINALLY UP!
August 18, 2008 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
I would first and foremost like to thank my talented sister, Vina, who really did an outstanding job at designing the site. When I took a stab at designing it, it looked so awful I made myself sick. Everyone says not to hire your relative to design a website. However, that is probably because your relative is second-rate (sorry). My sister is amazing. Her design sense and artistry are truly the very best and matches the demands I put on a first-quality job. I would also like to thank Mike who is my webmaster. Everything I asked of him he completes not within weeks or days but within hours. He is truly an amazing asset. Mike is probably waking up this Monday to about 5 of my emails already. Sorry Mike.
Okay, here is the link to the spawb.com site. I am so very proud of the Spa at Willow Bend for numerous reasons. First, it is simply a gorgeous spa. I put over a million dollars into making this 5,000 square foot spa look absolutely the best. In my opinion it beats the Ritz and Four Seasons and that is only because of Roger Leighton who did a magnificent job of making the interior look like a world-class facility. His partner Shirley Flabbiano did a great job in making sure everything was spot on too. Richard Crawford (see last week’s blog) built everything out and really did not scream at me when I had the entire interior restarted from scratch one week before opening. Yes, I am crazy. But I guess you knew that. Gary Williams has an incredible sense of interior space flow and was the architect on the project. It doesn’t hurt that he built the entire building too. I am waiting for him to win the Pritzker Prize.
Besides the interior design, the team at the Spa is imbued with the same culture that I have established in my space, which is excellent customer service at every level. Beyond that, let’s get to the core of what the spa offers, the best services you will find in Dallas, Plano, and beyond. (Obviously, I have no bias). They offer foot detox, massage, reflexology, facials, oxygen therapies, manicures, pedicures, citrus spray tanning, waxing, laser hair removal, cellulite treatments with Accent XL, chinese medicine and wellness therapies, body wraps, hydroinfusion, Sudatonic body slimming, Shirodhara Ayurvedic treatments…That’s just off the top of my head. I can’t recall if I missed something but I probably did. Just check out the site. Also, we have a relaxation room with homemade tea and infused water, and a full locker room with robes, slippers, sauna, showers, etc. Btw, I still have to add the virtual tours and video tours. I need to finish my book in two weeks first so that video project is put a bit back on my priority list for now.
One thing that I have been trying to do is to experience a spa service myself at least once if not twice a week. I am so very busy that I find that the spa services no matter how small allow me to escape the world for a while and get into good rhythm with myself. I truly believe that spa services go way beyond self-pampering but allow oneself to revitalize, which is an essential component to the overall wellness strategy. I believe that the spa is a core feature of the wellness program offered at my Willow Bend Wellness Center.