GRAND BLANC TWP. -- After they've invested a small fortune to create the ultimate medical spa, you'd expect the owners of Grande Med Spa to advertise like crazy, book as many appointments as possible and immediately set out to recoup their investment. This is, after all, a business.
But the opening of the spa has been as thoughtful and methodical as the three-year process of its creation. And, befitting a genuine spa, nothing is rushed.
As of mid-October, not a single advertisement had run, although the business opened its doors in September. Clientele is building by word of mouth.
For five months, the spa's eight employees have received top-notch training in skin care and face and body treatments. They have absorbed the fine points of product lines all carefully selected to preserve the investment clients make in their skin: Jane Iredale cosmetics made from rocks and minerals; skin care products by Mark Lees; and a pharmaceutical-grade food and supplement line by Metagenics.
The soothing color palette of the spa -- soft aqua, green, gray and beige -- is a reflection of nature. The theme carries through to the musical backdrop -- light, instrumental music with a soft rain intertwined. Clients can sip cool cucumber and lemon water and sit in a plush relaxation room with subdued lighting between treatments.
The 4,500-square-foot spa is all underground, providing the kind of privacy one would hope for when making an investment in personal services ranging from hot stone massage to Botox treatments and medical-style facials that improve the skin in addition to being a relaxing indulgence.
"We had a vision, and we've been talking about this for three years," general manager Maryanne Rykulski said. "This was well thought out, well planned. Nothing is an accident."
Rykulski ran the dental practice of Dr. Carl Schwartz in Grand Blanc for many years. The two started brainstorming and over time created in their minds what is now Grande Med Spa, located at 9499 Holly Road in the newly constructed Holly Road Professional Village just north of Baldwin Road.
Schwartz, who practiced dentistry in Grand Blanc for 35 years, now lives in Florida. That didn't stop him from creating the spa and Convenient Family Dentistry, a thriving dental practice in the same location.
Skin care is the backbone of much of the spa's services, beginning with what's called the exclusive "Discovery Consultation." Using the Visia Complexion Analysis program, a computerized multi-spectral image of the skin is created revealing areas of damage on and beneath the skin's surface.
Aestheticians use the information to map out a long-term skin care plan. The Visia program uses comparative data from other women of like age and ethnicity to rate the quality of the skin.
A variety of facial treatments are available for teens fighting acne to men and women seeking to diminish the signs of aging. Laser facial treatments include wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. Laser hair removal for face and body is offered along with laser treatments to reduce the appearance of cellulite and problem veins on the face and legs.
Then there are the little luxuries like deep heat therapy in a private infrared sauna ($25 per visit).
"If you sit in here for 30 minutes, you can burn 600 calories," spa director Amy Meriwether said.
Clients can shower in the same suite where they use the sauna and likewise in the massage room. A one-hour massage is $65.
For those needing help to lose weight, reduce stress or stop smoking, certified hypnotherapist Jill Grenevitch has an office on site.
The combination of affordable medical spa services and the serene setting set Grande Med Spa apart, Rykulski said.
"This is very unique. You won't find anything like it," she said.