Medspa Services for Skin of Color in NYC
Conveniently located to serve New York City, Tribeca, and The Upper East Side
At Tribeca MedSpa, we are dedicated to helping everyone love their reflection and achieve their best skin possible. We also acknowledge that everyone’s skin is different, and no two treatment plans will ever be exactly alike. For our patients of color, we work to provide a broad spectrum of treatment options to address every skin condition, while maintaining a high standard of care to meet their specific needs.
At Tribeca MedSpa, we employ a wide range of energy-based treatment methods to help alleviate every skin concern, and focus on incorporating tools that are tested and safe on those with darker complexions. It is true – not every modality is safe for every skin tone. We understand the hesitation patients of color may have with finding providers who are able to treat their concerns safely while still accomplishing their goals, and we’re here to help you navigate a treatment plan that’s right for you.
With protocols devised by our Director of Cosmetic Dermatology, Dr. Georgina Ferzli, and Medical Aesthetician Annie Otaigbe, we’ve achieved safe and effective ways for patients of color to experience the full range of medspa treatments and unlock glowing, healthy skin.
About our Providers
Dr. Georgina Ferzli
Georgina Ferzli, MD, MS, FAAD is a leading, board-certified dermatologist in New York. In addition to private practice, she serves as Clinical Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University and Columbia University NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Dr. Ferzli specializes in both cosmetic and general dermatology. Dr. Ferzli graduated from Georgetown University, where she also received her Master’s degree in Physiology and Biophysics. She completed her medical and dermatology training at the State University of New York at Downstate, where she graduated with honors and was selected to serve as Chief Resident in her final year. Dr. Ferzli then completed more refined training with a prestigious fellowship in Lasers and Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, under the tutelage of Dr. Roy Geronemus and team.
Dr. Ferzli is sought after for her skill using advanced lasers and technologies, her customized approach to body contouring, and her aesthetic ability with Botox and dermal fillers. Dr. Ferzli has received numerous awards, including being the first recipient of the State of New York Award for Excellence in Patient Care and Compassion, which was created in recognition of her unique dedication to her patients.
Annie Otaigbe
After obtaining her Bachelors in Biomedical Informatics, Annie went to the Aveda Institute in New York to continue her education in aesthetics. Annie’s goal was to combine her scientific knowledge with her passion for skincare, so becoming a master medical aesthetician was the perfect path for her. It’s an essential part of her practice to create customized treatment plans for every skin type and tone so that any patient can achieve their aesthetic goals. She also has a very personable approach to her treatments so that her patients feel comfortable and relaxed during their procedures. Annie is dedicated to continuing her education in aesthetics and consistently does her own research on the newest technologies and skincare products.
The Protocols
While there are many medspa services available at both Tribeca MedSpa and SkinLab NYC for patients of color, these treatments below have been carefully designed with skin of color in mind. These services combine many of our favorite modalities, including chemical peels, dermaplaning, microneedling and more, to help address texture concerns, improve collagen production, and achieve an all-around glow.
ExoGlow
Annie’s Favorite! The ExoGlow treatment is perfect for anyone looking to restore smooth texture and firmness to the skin, or for those who want to step up their microneedling game! First, you’ll receive a microneedling treatment with a hyaluronic acid serum, which nourishes and hydrates deep within the skin. Microneedling encourages the skin’s natural healing response, producing collagen and elastin and a smooth texture. Next, a superficial SkinCeuticals MicroPeel is applied, which is able to penetrate deeply, thanks to that microneedling! Don’t worry – this is a “no-peel” peel, so you won’t actually see much peeling or flaking, if at all. Finally, the treatment finishes with Exosome Therapy. Exosomes are growth factors which can help restore collagen and improve cellular health, and speed up the recovery time from microneedling.
Radiance Renewal
If you’re in need of some exfoliation or a skin reset, but don’t have time for a prolonged healing process – we’ve got the treatment for you. Radiance Renewal combines three of our most popular modalities: Dermaplaning, Laser Genesis, and the SkinCeuticals MicroPeel, to give you instantly refreshed and even skin.
Radiance Renewal+
Want to take your treatment to the next level? The Radiance Renewal+ treatment includes the Dermaplaning and Laser Genesis steps of its sister treatment, and features a VI Peel as the chemical peel. VI Peels are medium-depth peels that are safe for all skin types and treat a variety of skin concerns all at once – including acne, acne scarring, discoloration, melasma, and skin texture. Your VI Peel healing process will last about 7 days with mild to moderate peeling, but the results you’ll see after will make it all worthwhile!
Treatments to Avoid as a Patient with Skin of Color
We’ve let you know our favorite treatments specifically designed with patients of color in mind. But what treatments should those patients be wary of? Certain treatments can pose risks of hyperpigmentation when performed on darker skin tones. Here’s our list of treatments to avoid or exercise caution when receiving.
BBL (Broad Band Light)
Despite common misconceptions, BBL is a light-based treatment, not a laser. It works by flashing bright wavelengths of light on the treatment area, which is then absorbed by areas of the skin with pigment – like freckles, sun spots or age spots. These areas then become damaged, new collagen is formed and the pigment is eliminated. In patients with darker skin, melanin in the skin absorbs the light and could lead to damage and hyperpigmentation, the opposite desired effect of the treatment. For this reason, it’s important to meet with a medical aesthetician to determine if you are a candidate, and what other treatment options might be best for you.
IPL (Intense Pulsated Light)
Like its cousin, BBL, IPL is also a light-based treatment, meaning it must be used with extreme caution or not at all on patients with darker skin tones. Don’t worry, if you’re looking to treat pigment or discoloration, our team has many safe and effective options that are available to patients of color, like chemical peels, Laser Genesis, Moxi laser and more.
Laser Hair Removal
When seeking hair removal treatments, it’s important to do your research! It is true that not all lasers are effective at treating patients with darker complexions, and many can be harmful. At Tribeca MedSpa, we ensure our laser hair removal treatments are safe for all skin tones by equipping our aestheticians with state-of-the-art modalities. Our device, the CynoSure Elite, features YAG technology, the industry standard for treating darker skin tones. Rather than targeting pigment, YAG lasers’ wavelengths are more selective and seek out both color and structure to prevent it from damaging the tissue around the hair follicle. CynoSure Elite also features a Skintel melanin reader, the first of its kind, to help our practitioners determine the safest settings for each patient.
Vascular Laser Treatments
Vascular lesions like spider veins, cherry angiomas and more are typically treated with a special laser that targets pigment. While we offer this type of laser at Tribeca MedSpa, we also offer other alternatives for patients for whom this method may be harmful and cause hyperpigmentation. If you’re looking to treat vascularities, schedule a consult with a medical aesthetician to discuss your options, including Moxi and other laser options that are safe for darker skin tones.
Why Choose Tribeca MedSpa
Since 2006, our team of award-winning Physician Assistants and Medical Aestheticians has been led by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Gerald D. Ginsberg, who ensures that we remain at the forefront of medical advances and anti-aging innovations that transform skin health and body aesthetics.
With locations in Tribeca and the Upper East Side (SkinLab by Tribeca MedSpa), we focus on comprehensive, results-oriented, and highly customized skincare and body contouring treatments that promote optimal health. We tailor our premium services to meet the specific, personal concerns of our discerning clients – so you always see your best reflection in the mirror.