This month’s Spa of the Month:

Have you ever looked at a picture, and after seeing what you thought was a desert, you continued to gaze until eventually the image of a lush and lovely landscape emerged? At first glance, Bakersfield, CA may seem like an unlikely mecca for cosmetic beauty. But take another look.
Beautologie is a 10,000 square foot cosmetic surgery center, laser center and spa. To pass through the doors of Beautologie is to step into an atmosphere of Old World charm, sophistication and elegance. With Aphrodite benevolently regarding all who enter, one immediately knows they have stepped inside a comfortable and secure esthetic refuge.
The interior design of the facility was personally overseen by Dr. Darshan Shah. Great care was taken to create an ambiance reminiscent of a time when life was more simple and elegant. Alluring, refined paintings adorn the waiting areas, hallways and treatment rooms. Throughout the facility, one can feel the celebration of women living joyous, fulfilling lives.
The history of Kern County is intriguing and often colorful. The first inhabitants were the Yokuts Indians, who inhabited the area about 8,000 years ago. They lived in lodges along the Kern River delta, where wild game, birds and fish were plentiful. The first European to explore the area was Father Francisco Garces, a Spanish missionary, in 1776.
In the mid-1800s, the California Gold Rush brought Colonel Thomas Baker and other adventurers to the area. Weary families, who traveled through Colonel Baker's field, were welcomed to rest there. Oil was discovered in the valley in 1865, and the "black gold" rush brought many new settlers to Kern County. Bakersfield was incorporated in 1873.
The Great Dust Bowl of the south and mid-west in the 1930s brought many farming families into the area. Commonly referred to as "Oakies," this hard-working group of people brought a strong work ethic and a desire for a better life with them.
The Great San Joaquin Valley is probably best known for its agriculture and oil. Once a vast marshland, canals were built to divert the flooding of the Kern River. Today, almond orchards, carrot fields, citrus groves, dairy cattle and oil fields abound.
"Prior to Beautologie, women and men had to go to Los Angeles or San Francisco to get the level of outstanding care and exceptional results they now receive in Bakersfield," said Darshan Shah, M.D., renowned plastic surgeon and founder of the facility when questioned about why he chose Bakers­field as the location for Beautologie. "We serve all of Central California at our facility."

The AAAHC accreditation assures patients that there is the same emergency medical equipment on site at Beautologie as there is in the community's hospitals.

Milan Shah, M.D., esthetic medicine specialist and brother of Darshan, decided to make Bakersfield his home after serving his residency there, feeling that it would be a great place to raise a family. For him, Beautologie is "a comprehensive wellness institute and is all about assisting women and men to live happy, thriving lives."
Beautologie is accredited by the Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), and is one of only three such accredited cosmetic surgery centers in California. At Beautologie, the emphasis is on cosmetic surgery. Doctors are committed to providing safety, outstanding service and exceptional results for each patient, and keeping them the focus of all that is done. The AAAHC accreditation assures patients that there is the same emergency medical equipment on site at Beautologie as there is in the community's hospitals.
Beautologie provides extensive cosmetic surgical services to Central Californians with a fabulous team of outstanding surgeons. Dr. Brett Lehocky and Dr. Darshan Shah perform facial plastic surgery. Dr. Darshan Shah, Dr. Milan Shah, Dr. Lehocky and Dr. James Knoetgen perform breast augmentation, reconstruction and plastic surgery, abdominoplasty and body contouring with liposuction. With the recent addition of Dr. Kenneth Siporin, Beautologie has incorporated hair restoration and transplantation into the practice. Dr. Siporin's expertise in restoring eyebrows is of particular interest to women with thinning brows who want a completely natural look that is not possible with other treatments.
Over the past several years, there have been numerous breakthroughs in breast implantation techniques that have made the procedure safer, less invasive and more effective. The latest of these developments is the placement of saline breast implants using the trans-umbilical breast augmentation (TUBA) incision technique.
During a TUBA procedure, a small incision is made in the navel, and an endoscope to tunnel to the precise location where the implant is to be placed. Then the physician inserts a deflated saline breast implant and moves it to the desired location. Once the implant is in the proper position, it is filled with a sterile saline solution. The TUBA technique provides excellent results and eliminates any scarring on or near the breasts. The small scar in the navel is virtually unnoticeable.

Dedicated training days occur at least once per month on site. Training meetings about topical products are frequently held to fine-tune operational goals.

Beautologie has at least one licensed, board certified physician on the premises at all times. It is common for three physicians to be at the facility, and occasionally all five are on site. This is a priceless benefit to patients and the business as a whole. Only a licensed physician can properly assess, diagnose and create an appropriate treatment plan for patients.
The importance of having comprehensive offerings for patients' needs cannot be overstated. Services include Lumenis lasers, Botox and Dysport, facial fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm, cosmetic surgery, professional skin support services and massage therapy. Providing a full range of comprehensive facial and body enhancing surgeries, lasers, fillers and esthetic treatments for patients ensures that they receive just the right service for their desired result. Patients never have to settle for services they do not need or those that may be less effective for them due to limited offerings.
At Beautologie, the patient experience is vitally important. Although the very serious business of surgery is taking place, the atmosphere is both luxurious and amiable. Whether dealing with the front reception coordinators, patient coordinators, surgical nurses, doctors, office personnel or spa service providers, patients can be sure that their interactions with staff will always be positive. Dr. Darshan Shah has been voted the "Best/Favorite" plastic surgeon in the region for seven years in a row by Bakersfield/Kern County residents, serving as a true testament to the unparalleled service provided at Beautologie.
Establishing and maintaining the best team begins with the interview process at Beautologie, which is extensive. Résumés are reviewed and candidates are chosen to be interviewed by a minimum of three office personnel, including the office manager, controller and director of operations. While this can be intimidating, the purpose is simply to evaluate the candidates and select the one that best fits Beautologie's goals of safety, satisfaction and service.
The new employee then goes through a rigorous training process. The office manager oversees the training of office personnel. Dedicated training days occur at least once per month on site. Training meetings about topical products are frequently held to fine-tune operational goals.
"Secret shoppers" are brought in occasionally for training purposes. Having a comprehensive evaluation of the overall patient experience "through the patient's eyes" is essential to improving productivity and performance.
Spa services are an integral part of the overall Beautologie experience and often support the physicians' treatments. For example, when Dr. Milan Shah performs an Obagi Blue Peel, the patient is offered an enzyme facial to assist in proper post procedure treatment. Patients appreciate leaving with beautiful, glowing skin, and are often surprised to find they have drifted off to sleep during the treatment!
Integrating spa services into the cosmetic and medical restoration process can be of great benefit to patients. Having dedicated esthetic and massage therapy support for ongoing facial and body care is part of the all-inclusive nature of Beautologie.
There is nothing quite as relaxing in the cold winter season as a wonderful hot stone massage. Swedish massage, sports massage and deep tissue massage all have their place in the wellness spa area. One of the most popular treatments at Beautologie is Endermologie, for its assistance in reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Facial offerings include microdermabrasion, light epidermal peels, LED light therapy, ultrasonic skin rejuvenation and galvanic skin treatments. Extensively trained esthetic and massage therapy staff keeps Beautologie on the leading edge of spa wellness.

Causes taken on by Beautologie Helps include pro bono work on scar revision and repair. The program raises money through a fundraiser for an association to repair cleft palates for those in need, and makes contributions to the March of Dimes and a local homeless shelter.

At the very core of Beautologie's identity are the hearts of the incredibly caring staff. As you can see in the before, during (for ongoing treatment) and after pictures, this acne clinic patient visibly demonstrates not only the improvement in the client's physical appearance, but in their demeanor as well. This is why we do what we do. After seeing the before and after photographs, the physician high fives his esthetician. It's a special moment to hear the slap of hands signaling a job well done. The patient they are celebrating has received one Levulan laser treatment, and is taking part in the acne clinic.
Giving back demonstrates true caring. The "Beau­tologie Helps" program is an integral part of the caring spirit of Beautologie's physicians, employees and staff. Recently, Beautologie conducted its first free laser tattoo removal clinic. Held on a Saturday morning, all personnel volunteered their time and expertise to help disadvantaged people in the community remove tattoos that had become a hindrance to employment and moving forward in their lives.
Causes taken on by Beautologie Helps include pro bono work on scar revision and repair. The program raises money through a fundraiser for an association to repair cleft palates for those in need, and makes contributions to the March of Dimes and a local homeless shelter. Beautologie belongs to a wonderful community, and their remarkable professional team is thankful for the opportunity to give back wherever they can.

Nondy Llewellyn is a licensed esthetician in California, where she works at the Beautologie Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center in Bakersfield. Llewellyn is also nationally certified by the NCEA and is a member of the Society of Dermatology SkinCare Specialists (SDSS).

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