EX-TRACTS Essentials for Personal Care and Wellness IMSA Booth + IMSA Workshops November 12-15, 2005 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York, NY 800-272-SHOW or 914-421-3206 FREE admission to the tradeshow that follows this 1-day seminar. The seminar features Breakfast, am and pm breaks, a luncheon speaker and a cocktail reception sponsored by Universal Company. Sponsorship is available for other functions, as well as banners, etc. Contact: MedspaAssn@aol.com Members receive $50.00 off the $350.00 registration fee for the 1-day seminar before the show - this show is co-hosted with the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant show - we have a Wellness Medical Spa and Resort track - speakers are all IMSA members. To view the entire program Click Here!     Face & Body Spa & Healthy Aging Conference & Exhibition November 19-21, 2005 Moscone West, San Francisco Although the IMSA does not have a booth, we will still distribute material and are an "official sponsor" - members who want to attend will get a free pass through the IMSA for entry to the tradeshow floor. The DSA will be giving a workshop on Compensation & Benefits during the Saturday Educational day, which may or may not apply to medical spas.     Symposium@Sea - POSTPONED The Symposium@Sea previously scheduled for December 1-5, 2005 has been postponed! Many participants were forced to cancel due to the disasters that have hit the southern states. We will establish a new time for this event at a later date.     Caribbean Health Tourism & Spa Expo February 12 & 13, 2006 Hilton Kingston Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica Tel: 876-381-1417 - Fax: 876-957-9057 Spa@PositiveTourism.Com Caribbean Health Tourism & Spa Expo Eric Light will be giving the Keynote, Hannelore Leavy will be presenting the first IMSA Caribbean Chapter certificates to the first members. There will be special rates for IMSA members who want to exhibit. We are also calling for speakers on the topic of health and wellness. Contact the organizers for exhibit information - send presentation outline for educational program to MedSpaAssn@aol.com Catherine Atzen of ATZEN (R)/Universal has already committed to a presentation on Lymphobiology. As mentioned above, our president has been selected as the keynote speaker for the 2006 Caribbean Wellness and Resort Conference. An adjunct to the conference will be the launching of the chapter of the IMSA (and DSA?). We would like to offer members a warm welcome into the association. So, in addition to the benefits we provide, we would like to know if any of our manufacturers and suppliers would like to offer any "special discounts" to new Caribbean IMSA members. We're hoping that this will be a highly successful event and become a major regional show. We have already indicated to the show organizer our willingness to assist in developing speaking and exhibiting programs in the future. They have particular need for nuts and bolts kinds of presentations. This would provide our business members access to an expanded market area. With the rapid growth in the spa market, how could that be a bad thing. If you are interested in offering some form of "special discount" to the new chapter, please let us know ASAP.     International Lifetime Congress February 23-25, 2006 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Dr. Reinhard Bergel, Eric Light and Hannelore Leavy will be presenting a panel in regard to the wellness movement in the US (not yet confirmed)   Spa & Resort/Medical Spa Expo & Conference February 26-27, 2006 Los Angeles Convention Center - Los Angeles, CA For more information click here We will need volunteers to man the booth, (see above - Hannelore, Eric and Reinhard in Germany) - If anyone wants to present at this show, please contact me - we could present a panel/workshop but would need to submit a dynamite proposal to Reed/MSS - send to MedSpaAssn@aol.com International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference June 3-5, 2006 Las Vegas, NV We will have a booth and we will also do a workshop on Medical Spa Success or similar - program has not yet been established. Anyone who wants to participate in this workshop should let me know at MedSpaAssn@aol.com Individual members should contact the organizers and submit their "call for speakers" application. PAST EVENT REPORT   Medical Spa Expo & Conference - Miami   Medical Spa Expo & Conference September 17-18, 2005 Miami Beach Convention Center - Miami, FL The show was small and the attendance light - the weather was hot and sticky. The people who were there were very qualified though and we made some good contacts/leads but did not sign up any new members. WELLNESS/MEDICAL SPA SCIENCE TRACK Medical Spa Detoxification is Both Clinically Beneficial and Enjoyable By Christie C. Yerby, Naturopathic Doctor A good detoxification program is an excellent way to start the fall season. Numerous medical spa techniques provide both the clinical health benefits of a detox program, plus the enjoyment of traditional hands-on spa treatments everyone has always loved. Toxins stored within the body, commonly accumulating in body fat, can cause chronic disease and illness. Depending on the problematic agents, they often require manual mobilization techniques to assist in their elimination. Here is a short list of medically sound spa treatments that help provide relief of toxicity, leaving the client feeling refreshed, invigorated, and truly healthier. Click here for remainder of article..... CosmeticTrichoGenesis Mark 5 As featured in Women's Wear Daily and Dermatology Times A vibrant, healthy looking head of air is often the key to self-esteem and sense of well-being once the appearance of aging sets in. CosmeticTrichoGenesis (CTG) offers a safe method to improve the perception of aging that accompanies a thinner looking head of hair. To look younger and feel better about their appearance, many turn to other cosmetic treatments such as wigs, shampoos, and coloring. Others try non-cosmetic methods such as surgical implants, chemicals and prescription drugs to improve their appearance, all with mixed results. However, consumers around the world have identified CosmeticTrichoGenesis as an alternative to improve hair appearance. CosmeticTrichoGenesis offers a once a week, safe, painless and successful method of improving the appearance of thinning hair. CTG utilizes non-invasive pulsed electrostatic energy that can noticeably create the appearance of fuller, more luxurious hair. Morris Westfried, M.D., a Yale trained Board Certified New York City Dermatologist and hair loss expert, is using this cosmetic unit, the CosmeticTrichoGenesis Mark 5, because of what he describes as a societal demand for energy-based modalities over pharmaceutical or surgical intervention, as well as because of the platform's advantages over other available options. "People want less invasive, safer alternatives to pharmaceutical agents, so they're going for alternative techniques," Dr. Westfried says. "There is a general tendency in cosmetic treatments away from pharmaceutical agents to physical modalities, as well a movement away from more aggressive physical modalities to gentler physical modalities. In the last five years, conditions that were once treated with creams, pills and potions - at least in the cosmetic dermatological realm - are now being treated with energy modalities. Sometimes the hair loss drugs did a decent job, but there were potential side effects. With these energy modalities that's much less of a concern". Dr. Westfried is a hair transplant expert and author of the first medical article on the use of minoxidil, "Reversal of male pattern alopecia with minoxidil". He says a session with CTG is unique in that it can improve the appearance of thinning hair in males and females. Click here for remainder of article... MEDICAL AESTHETIC TRACK     Lymphobiology® By Catherine Atzen, CIDESCO Lymphobiology, created by Catherine Atzen, is an exclusive treatment that combines a unique lymphatic drainage massage and the application of biological products to dramatically improve a client's skin condition. Lymphobiology is one of the most relaxing and pleasurable skin treatments available. As a spa treatment, Lymphobiology can help: - Improve the condition of the skin - increasing skin hydration - Stimulate the elimination of toxins - Reduce puffiness (edema) of the face and body - Restore hydration - Minimize lines and wrinkles - Reduce the appearance of cellulite When used before and after cosmetic surgeries and skin care services such as face lifts, eye surgery, liposuction, facials, peels, and microdermabrasion, clinical studies show that Lymphobiology treatments help enhance surgical results, speed healing, and reduce redness. Preoperatively, three sessions of Lymphobiology can help improve the texture and elasticity of the skin and help reduce swelling. Postoperatively, starting the day after surgery, five Lymphobiology treatments will help: - Reduce edema and ecchymosis - Accelerate healing - Reduce rhytids - Reduce patient discomfort related to postoperative edema - Relax the patient Lymphobiology combines a specific treatment protocol with products containing Integral DNAT, a highly evolved, pharmaceutical-grade biological extract derived from the natural salmon milt. Integral refers to the fact that the DNA polymer remains unbroken through the careful process of extraction using a chemical free, cold press method carefully monitored to guarantee the preservation of the molecular structure. This ensures that Integral DNA has maintained its regenerative properties, holding 10,000 times its volume in water, working to minimize wrinkles, dryness, roughness, fragility, and other visible signs of aging. Clinical studies at the Institute Pasteur in Paris, France and the University of California at Berkeley note that Integral DNA helps: - Improve hydration of the skin - Improve the appearance of scars, sun damage, and stretch marks - Relieve tired cells by helping activate intracellular regeneration - Even skin tone - Protect the skin from damage caused by UVB and UVC rays In summary, when used in conjunction with pharmaceutical-grade Integral DNAT, Lymphobiology helps remove harmful toxins and deposit vital nutrients into the skin, achieving results in a fraction of the time required by traditional manual lymphatic drainage massage. For more information, contact Catherine Atzen at ATZEN/ Universal Companies Inc. by visiting www.atzen.com or www.universalcompanies.com. BUSINESS TRACK Medical Spa Investing a Means To Better Fiscal Health By Cheryl Whitman A few years ago, the term "medical spa" was as rare as BotoxT use was to men. That's all changed. The medi-spa industry has gone mainstream. It's not only attracting the attention and money of those same male clients, but more and more the attention of business entrepreneurs - who until recently didn't know Medi or spa or Botox from Brüt. Adding the pampering luxe side of skin care to the medical side of cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery is a burgeoning business. According to reports by The International Spa Association, medical spas increased by 133% between 1995 and 2000, making them the fastest growing kind of spa in the U.S. It's hard to find a place where you can't get pampered. Small towns, large cities, exotic island locales, hospitals, and hotels have all succumbed to the allure of the feel-good, look-good trend. Baby boomers, the largest demographic group in the country, once flocked to medi-spas for their stress-reducing capabilities, but now see them as investment opportunities. That trend will continue to grow as savvy business investors learn that the business of removing lines also adds to the bottom line. The exposure which the media and the internet have given through the chronicling of plastic surgery and aesthetic treatment experiences, has brought about a global awareness of the industry. While the genesis of the aesthetic side of the business is something most would agree happened on the West Coast, the entrepreneurial side seems to have started on the East Coast and also in Europe. Experts report that new investors are coming from the financial world, the high-tech industry and even public service arena. Yes, medi-spas are not just for doctors any more. CPAs and MBAs are joining those MDs. Click here for remainder of article.... SPA WEB TRACK Creating an Effective Website By Robert C. Silkey Editor's note: This short article is the first in a series focusing on Web marketing tips and trends. In the first installment, the author focuses on five key elements of website development. First impressions are everything, and the Internet is no exception. Right or wrong, Internet users looking for information will judge your spa based on their initial impression of your website. When choosing a firm to develop your website, look for one that pays close attention to five key elements of website development: look; architecture and navigation; consumer education; communication; and evaluation and improvement. 1) The Look In a medium that forces potential customers to operate in a frenetic, click-here click-there manner, it is extremely important to have an eye-grabbing graphic and tagline (a short, powerful, defining phrase) on your homepage. The graphic and tagline should clearly embody the goal of the spa: relaxation, pampering, wellness. 2) Architecture and Navigation Architecture should be quite simple. On the homepage a spa might choose to include the links "medical spa procedures," "about us," "contact us," and "directions". "Body Treatments and Message, for example, could both be included under the link "Spa procedures." 3) Consumer Education While aesthetic appeal is perhaps the most crucial element to capture the attention of prospective Spa cleints, the written content concerning the spa or medical spa is most important for keeping them in the site. While beautiful images are obviously a crucial element of any effective website, only written content can articulate the message and philosophy of the spa. 4) Communication To successfully convert website visitors into clients, a spa must make it easy for them to establish contact. Three elements, which serve as 'calls to action,' are necessary: a highly visible phone number, a simple contact form, and an email address. 5) Evaluation and Improvement Maintaining a successful medical spa website requires continual evaluation and improvement. Areas that are popular among visitors can be emphasized, while areas that do not stir a great deal of interest can be eliminated. Unlike printed brochures or other forms of marketing, the website is relatively easy to change. Conclusion: make a good impression! As your spa evolves, your website should evolve along with it. Some elements of the site will inevitably fade away, while others will be expanded. Building a well-planned website that addresses the right elements is your chance to make a good first impression. For more information on website development and to view the Einstein Medical website showroom, visit www.einsteinmedical.com or call 1-800-600-0030. REGULATIONS/ALERTS ASAPS Cautions Against Bargain Injectables NEW YORK-The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently released a statement warning patients to be cautious of "bargain" injectables or other treatments that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Some practitioners buy products that have not been approved for use in the United States, often from foreign discount vendors, which is a dangerous and illegal practice," says Mark Jewell, MD, ASAPS president. "Patients can, however, take some easy steps to make sure their plastic surgeon is qualified and has purchased FDA-approved treatments." According to a release on the ASAPS Web site: "Injectable treatments are medical procedures that require appropriate training and sound judgment in order to help protect patient safety. ASAPS recommends that patients avoid discounts that seem extreme and make sure that their surgeon or doctor is credentialed. In addition, the Society recommends that all medical procedures be preformed in appropriate facilities by a properly qualified clinician who has received specific training in the particular procedure. Patients should be wary of procedures offered in non clinical settings such as shopping malls, private homes, office parties, and social group gatherings." To read the full release, visit www.surgey.org.           Robert Kramer, Co-founder of Current Technologies   Member Showcase: Featured Member ROBERT KRAMER is the co-founder of Current Technology Corporation along with his wife Anne Kramer. The company was formed in 1987 to research, develop and commercialize electrotherapeutic products for the treatment of hair loss. An entrepreneur by nature, with a particular interest in the financial sector, he has been a founder/principal of a number of private companies offering commercial mortgages, venture capital and tax driven investments. Prior to co-founding Current Technology, he was a joint venture partner in an enterprise that raised funding for approximately 20 public mining companies conducting exploration activities in Western Canada. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in economics, Mr. Kramer has been a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia for over 30 years. In 2000, he earned his designation as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois. Welcome New Members Sustaining Members                  Jeffrey Hui Integree and Jing, Inc. 1852 Langley Avenue Irvine, CA 92614 949-428-8595 FAX: 949-855-6436 EM: info@jing.us www.jing.us                  Robert Kramer Current Technology Corporation 800 West Pender Street Vancourver, BC - Canada V6C 2V6 800-661-4247 FAX: 604-684-0526 EM: rkramer@current-Technology.com www.current-technology.com          Dr. Anthony Marino Spa Legacy, Inc. 290 Alamo Drive - Suite B Vacaville, CA 95688 707-448-6271 FAX: 707-448-4742 EM: tmagicbraces@yahoo.com www.spalegacy.com Members-At-Large Mr. Ronald J. Mataya ClienTrak! Medical Spa Software P.O. Box 41149 Pittsburgh, PA 15202 1-800-397-4582 FAX: 412-939-3393 EM: sales@clientrak.com www.clientrak.com Ms. Josephine Ming-Fong Chan Serene MediSpa 15/F, Lane Crawford House - Room 1503-05 60 Queen's Road Hong Kong HKSAR Member Recognition Corner Thank you to the following members for their referrals: John Buckingham - 2 Eric Light - 2 Gina Meyer - 1 Jeff Russell - 6 Special HURRAH to Jeff Russell for referring the most new members! New Member Benefits EX-TRACTS $50 discount for Ex-tract Spa VisionForum for Members! FREE ENTRY TO TRADE SHOW EX-TRACT + INT'L HOTEL/MOTEL & RESTAURANT SHOW! Cardservice International Cardservice International's Spa/Salon (Spalon) program has been created specifically to offer health spas and beauty salons credit card, ATM/debit card, electronic check processing and check guarantee services at preferred rates. Sign up today and receive special rates at 1.46% + $0.25 per swiped transaction, no setup fee, low monthly minimum, and FREE GIFT CARDS! Call 888-874-2888 Today! VIP PASSES FOR FACE & BODY Members In The News   Jeff Russell, CEO MedSpa Financing / Oakridge Healthcare   Jeff Russell is the President and CEO of MedSpa Financing. This division of Oakridge Healthcare provides turn-key healthcare financing solutions throughout North America. MedSpa Financing is the only financing company that specializes in financing Medical Spas. We have financed Medical Spas from California to New York, and everywhere in between. Through our network of financial partners, we have the capacity to finance everything from a single treatment machine to an entire $20 million Medical Spa facility. Jeff has had the opportunity to write articles this quarter for Advance for Healthy Aging, Southern California Physicians, and MEDIcalSPAS Journal. To access these articles, click on the article title below: Top 3 Med Spa Money Myths in the July/August issue of Healthy Aging Myths & Truths of MediSpas July issue of Southern California Physician 10 Tips to Startup Success Summer 2005 issue of MEDIcalSPAS For additional information, visit the MedSpa Financing website: www.medspafinancing.com, call 1-800-485-5759, or e-mail: jeff@medspafinancing.com.     A4M IN CHICAGO - A HUGE SUCCESS August 25, 2005 CHICAGO / More than 3,000 delegates participated in the world's largest scientific conference to-date on the topics of medical intervention to prevent and treat the diseases and disabilities associated with the biological process of aging. These cutting-edge innovative physicians and health practitioners who are involved in improving and extending the human lifespan represented more than 50 nations around the world. Cheryl Whitman spoke at Dr. Stephen T. Sinatra's track on how to open and operate a successful medical spa and also at Dr. Lionel Bissoon's track on Mesotherapy in a medical spa. Her lectures drew over 200 participants to each session.   Cheryl Whitman, President and CEO, Beautiful Forever   CHERYL WHITMAN'S 2005 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: American Society of Plastic Surgeons Illinois - September 24-27 American Academy of Dermatology Surgeons Georgia - October 27-30 A4M American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Nevada - December 9-12 For additional information visit the Beautiful Forever website at www.medicalspaconsultant.com or call 201-541-5405. Announcements: IMSA In The News Head of International Medical Spa Association to Address Caribbean Health Tourism & Spa Symposium Negril, Jamaica W.I., August 6, 2005. Eric J. Light, President of the International Medical Spa Association and President of the Strawberry Hill Group, Maineville, Ohio will be the keynote speaker of the second annual Caribbean Health Tourism & Spa Symposium to be held at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, Jamaica, February 12 -13, 2006. The Health Tourism & Spa Symposium is the brainchild of Theo Chambers and Sharon Parris-Chambers, founders and producers of the event which has received wide acclaim. The Symposium included a multi-cultural expo which was held last year at the Hilton Kingston hotel, the main sponsor. The Health Tourism & Spa Symposium heralded the genesis of health tourism in Jamaica and by extension the Caribbean through its participating Caribbean delegates. In accepting the invitation to speak at the Spa Symposium, Eric J. Light, has stated "we should make every attempt to establish a Jamaican chapter of the International Medical Spa Association. I would also welcome any other country's attendees to do the same. If there is such an interest, we can arrange some form of special ceremony." In preparation for the 2006 event, the Ministry of Industry & Tourism has given its full support and has engaged TPDCo. in furthering the development of the islands main mineral spas. Against this backdrop, Positive Tourism Production has furthered the drive to establish health tourism as a mainstay in Jamaica through the production of the Caribbean Health Tourism & Spa Symposium, which has as its ultimate goal: branding of the Caribbean as the Health Tourism Mecca. The extension of this aim will lead to identifying and marketing natural health venues, services and products that are indigenous to the Caribbean. Additionally, the production team will work towards promoting a health-conscious lifestyle within hotels, restaurants and tour venues. The end result would stimulate the sale of more health food products and the use of more bio-degradable products within the Caribbean. For more information on the Caribbean Health Tourism & Spa Symposium, visit www.positivetourism.com and click on Health Spa Expo 2006. April/May '05 MASSAGE & BODYWORK In 2002, there were 225 medical spas in the United States, accounting for $205 million in revenue annually with 2.8 million consumer visits. In fact, the medical spa segment is the fastest growing, in terms of locations, in the industry. The Medical Spa Association defines a medical spa as a facility with a medical program run under the strict supervision of a licensed healthcare professional, providing services that integrate both traditional and nontraditional medicine and spa treatments. April/May '05 MASSAGE & BODYWORK Hospital Spa-An Unusual Union Unfolds The Numbers - New day spas are opening at a furious pace in the United States; their numbers are estimated at 9,000 to 17,000, depending on whom you ask. Part of that number reflects salons offering a spa service and calling themselves a day spa. - Medical spas, the majority of which offer medical esthetic services, are estimated at 1,000. - The numbers for destination spas have a big variable. While the Destination Spa Group estimates 25 to 30 "true" destination spas, most resorts these days can't survive without a spa, raising those numbers to at least 2,500. Source: Hannelore Leavy, founder/president of the Day Spa Association. Meeting the Challenges Industry experts say the positive effects of the hospital spa trend will be rippling. "This will only increase the awareness of spa services and the benefits thereof for the general public," says Hannelore Leavy, founder and president of the Day Spa Association. "It will have a very positive effect on the industry." She says in addition to overall awareness, hospital-based spas can illustrate the preventive aspects of taking care of oneself and "insurance providers will eventually start realizing that the only way to fix our healthcare system is to reward people who take care of themselves." Leavy admits an increasing number of hospital-based spas might create some negative fallout for smaller day spas that are limited in what they offer. "Spas that are only offering beauty/skin care treatments will be at a disadvantage for a while," she says, "until the general public learns how to make a distinction between cosmetic/esthetic treatments and pure, therapeutic spa treatments." Publications/Interviews June-August 2005 Reader's Digest Prime - A Reminder Publications, Inc. product Health and Life Magazine St. Paul's Pioneers Press Winston-Salem Journal Luxury Spa Finder Magazine Plastic Surgery Newsday Report (Long Island) San Francisco Chronicle Times Picayune/New Orleans North Shore Magazine (Chicago) International Cosmetique News Indianapolis Star Aromatherapy or Foot Rub With Your Fillings? An article by iEnhance articles w/ quotes from Hannelore Leavy To read article,Click Here!   Hannelore Leavy, Executive Director IMSA/DSA   Spafully Yours.... Dear IMSA Members, I would like to welcome Brandie L. Lamprou, Director of Public Relations of Einstein Industries, Inc., who graciously accepted the position of Editor in Chief for this IMSA ezine Well-Med Spa News. If you have news for her, please send to bla@einsteinindustries.com Subject line: IMSA Newsletter (please send a cc to MedSpaAssn@aol.com). Thank you Brandie! Einstein Industries is also our new web design company and we will be seeing a new state-of-the-art website in 4-6 months! We have sent you an email broadcast about our Spa Community Relief Board http://www.dayspaassociation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/yabb.cgi - This link appears on the www.medicalspaassociation.org homepage. Please take a look and hopefully you will have some items to post to help those in need as well as those you are giving it all. We sent out press releases to all our trade contact and did a broadcast with Businesswire to reach all those in need of any assistance the spa industry could provide. Our new membership drive brochure will be going out in the next couple of weeks - I hope you all will earn a FREE 1-year membership! ... ... membership has it's privileges, but as John F. Kennedy also said, "Don't ask what the country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". Thank you Jeff Russell!! Now if every member will bring us just 3 members, we can triple our membership ... delinquent members who have not paid their dues in 2004 will be deleted from our membership roster and our website as of 10/15 unless we receive payment for past and current dues.   Click on the logo above to visit our sister association!