The word “maturity” implies that one has reached a more serious, even somber age. Susan B. Forman, L.E., C.M.E., has chosen to embrace the prime of her life with exuberance and joy.
At the age of 48, after training under a locally based plastic surgeon who pioneered the use of lasers for noninvasive skin care, Forman opened her own office—DaVinci Skin Care Center. She was, at the time, the mother of two young children and the owner of a successful medical billing company. “I didn’t think about aging in my 30s,” she says. “I was raising my children and felt beautiful. Then I realized I had better start taking care of myself.”
She was impressed with the results achieved by the patients of this particular surgeon, who had been a client of hers. At the same time, she was somewhat shocked by the exorbitant costs of treatment. She decided to earn her medical aesthetician’s license and then began working at the surgeon’s office. There, she learned as much as she could about the new uses of lasers for removing age spots and otherwise rejuvenating the skin. She has since embraced those technologies, as well as others, at her practice to help her clients stave off the effects of aging.
“It was exciting to be on the front lines as the new technologies appeared,” she recalls. “Of course, since those early days, there have been many improvements in safety, effectiveness and the number of conditions that we are now able to treat. I still take pride in providing the latest technology in skin care.”
DaVinci Skin Care Center is located approximately two minutes from the King of Prussia Mall. It offers a full menu of laser services, including intense pulsed light (IPL), Thermage, Fraxel and Clear + Brilliant, as well as a variety of peels, microdermabrasion, facials, Botox injections and dermal fillers. (The center also provides laser teeth whitening and laser hair removal.) One of its certified medical aestheticians, Corinne Barbaro, is a professional makeup artist for movie and television professionals. “Our clients just love spending time with her for expert tips and advice,” says Forman, “or just getting made up for a special occasion.”
Clients appreciate the extensive menu of services, as well as the wonderful atmosphere Forman and her staff provide. “Everybody wants to go to one place,” she says. “They don’t want to have to get this done here and that done there.” At the suggestion of these loyal clients, DaVinci Skin Care Center has recently added to its staff a massage therapist, Jessica Nolan, L.M.T. Nolan, who is fully certified in a number of massage modalities, is currently scheduling appointments.
DaVinci Skin Care Center is more than a place to be pampered, though. Rather, the center helps clients achieve what Forman calls “appreciable results” that cause lasting improvement to the skin. “A facial is temporary; we try to bring more to each treatment,” she says. “We don’t just want you to feel good. We want you to get something out of this and say, ‘Wow, I got a great treatment.’”
It is also important to Forman that these results are available to everyone, regardless of his or her budget. DaVinci Skin Care Center achieves this level of accessibility in part through monthly events offering discounts to loyal clients for services such as Botox injections and Clear + Brilliant treatments. “They appreciate us doing these kinds of promotions,” she says. “It is a way of getting them in to try a service that they might not try otherwise.” Each event is festive, even jovial. Clients enjoy wine, cheese and mingling with one another.
“Some offices can be kind of scary when you walk in, but we want you to feel good about being here,” Forman says. “We treat everybody like they are family and friends.”
She says she loves getting to know her clients. Together, they discuss everything from the latest movies to the stresses of excessive work schedules to family issues, such as kids leaving for college or having to care for an aging parent. Instead of pushing expensive treatments onto clients, DaVinci Skin Care Center works to ensure that each client is comfortable, enjoys the experience and feels buoyant when he or she leaves.
“I am very honest,” Forman says. “I do not want unhappy clients. I often dissuade clients from treatment I don’t think will be effective. I also don’t do any treatments that I have not done to myself. People who are not happy with the way they look tell me they want to look as good as I do. I don’t want to go under the knife until I have to, though there may come a time for that.”
Clients interested in improving the appearance of sagging skin often turn to Thermage, a long-lasting skin tightening treatment that stimulates the production of collagen and, as a result, gives the appearance of rejuvenated, healthy-looking skin. Fraxel is another laser treatment that has become a popular option for women and men alike. Men working in sales, marketing and even medicine often feel pressured to maintain a more youthful appearance, so they rely on Fraxel treatments to minimize fine facial lines. “Men are not as good about taking care of their skin on a daily basis,” she says. “This gives them a big bang for their buck.”
DaVinci Skin Care Center’s patient population is truly diverse. One of DaVinci Skin Care Center’s patients is a 72-year-old gentleman who receives Fraxel treatments, while others are mere teenagers who are concerned about excessive acne. Acne treatments include microdermabrasion, salicylic peels and HydraFacial, a process that combines exfoliation, painless extractions, hydration and antioxidant nourishing, all in a single treatment without discomfort or downtime. For a young person, the results of this treatment can be life changing, and Forman says it’s never too early to start.
In addition to noninvasive procedures, DaVinci Skin Care Center is able to offer medical-grade skincare products to slow the effects of aging. These carry a higher percentage of active ingredients than over-the-counter products. Forman and her staff can tailor treatment to each individual’s needs and monitor their progress for a more effective result. With these forms of maintenance, surgery might not ever be needed or, as Forman says, “can be put off for many decades.”
“In the past, the options were limited,” Forman says. “Surgery for facelifts and tummy tucks was the standard, and they keep the plastic surgeons busy even today. We recommend such procedures to our clients only when it is the best option for them. However, the noninvasive technologies are now so effective that the majority of people today prefer to avoid the expense and downtime of surgery.”
With people living longer and leading more active lives, Forman believes a person’s outward appearance should reflect his or her youthful energy. “It is a matter of how you feel about yourself and how you carry yourself,” she says. “Sometimes we just need a little help.”
DaVinci Skin Care Center
20128 Valley Forge Circle
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610-783-7076 | www.davinciskincarecenter.com
Photograph by Jody Robinson
