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Stocksy\/Marko<\/p>\n
The new year is traditionally\u00a0a time for reinvention, but the concept of a fresh start is\u00a0evolving. No longer just about lofty resolutions or hitting the gym, reboot efforts increasingly blend beauty, holistic wellness, and science. Across the East Bay, med spas are expanding beyond injectables; cosmetic surgeons are helping patients feel like their best selves;\u00a0wellness centers are introducing\u00a0high-tech, often touchless\u00a0recovery tools; and providers are offering a wide range of aesthetic treatments that boost health and appearance on\u00a0multiple levels. Read on for\u00a0Diablo\u2019s exploration of our\u00a0region\u2019s many routes to looking and feeling revitalized in 2026.<\/p>\n
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Revitalize your face with a dermaplaning treatment at SkinScience Medical Aesthetics.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of SkinScience Medical Aesthetics<\/p>\n
The New Face of Beauty<\/p>\n
Advanced treatments at med spas like SkinScience Medical Aesthetics promote youthful skin and facial harmony.<\/p>\n
Forget over-plumped lips and other dramatic facial features\u2014the world of medical aesthetics is entering a new era, one that is defined by subtlety. \u201cThere\u2019s this term now: \u2018undetectable injectables,\u2019\u201d says Melissa Hubiak, M.D., founder of SkinScience Medical Aesthetics in Pleasant Hill (with additional locations in Martinez and Brentwood). \u201cPeople want to look really natural \u2026 just look their best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hubiak, a board-certified physician who has been in the med spa industry since 2008, opened her East Bay practice 13 years ago, making SkinScience one of the area\u2019s first true medical spas. Unlike day spas, med spas are operated by trained medical professionals who perform procedures such as injecting fillers and Botox, laser resurfacing, and microneedling. Every client is medically cleared before treatment, ensuring both safety and quality.<\/p>\n
Finding Balance<\/p>\n
After years of \u201cbigger is better\u201d trends fueled by celebrity influencers, today\u2019s clients are leaning more toward balance and authenticity. \u201cPeople are fatigued [by] that overfilled look,\u201d Hubiak says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Facial balancing\u2014using injectables to harmonize proportions rather than exaggerate them\u2014is becoming increasingly popular, but Hubiak says SkinScience has always leaned toward natural-looking results. Dermal fillers Restylane and RHA and other injectables such as Botox, Dysport, and Daxxify remain top offerings, helping with wrinkles, smoothing and filling fine lines, and adding volume for a more youthful appearance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Treatments such as LaseMD Skin Resurfacing brighten the skin, while DiamondGlow and hydrafacials are much-requested medical-grade facials. \u201cThe DiamondGlow machines have a diamond tip that helps exfoliate and really drives in the serums,\u201d says Hubiak. \u201cThe hydrafacial has vortex-fusion technology, which also helps extract [impurities] in the pores and drive the serums in a little deeper.\u201d<\/p>\n
A growing trend in aesthetics is regenerative medicine\u2014treatments such as microneedling that revitalize skin by stimulating the body\u2019s healing processes. \u201cMicroneedling is basically making micro-injuries that tell your body to repair [them] by making collagen,\u201d says Hubiak. \u201cAfter age 25, our collagen production goes way down, [leading] to thinning skin, wrinkles, and lines. Services like microneedling and lasers that help stimulate collagen slow the aging process.\u201d<\/p>\n
SkinScience also offers procedures such as salmon sperm facials, which use growth factors derived from salmon DNA to promote healing and collagen production.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hubiak and her team customize treatment plans that may unfold over six months to a year. A typical program might start with a medical-grade facial or skincare regimen, followed by neuromodulators to relax fine lines, laser resurfacing for texture, and filler to restore lost volume. SkinScience always takes the full picture into account when developing a course of treatment. \u201cPeople age in three planes: bone, muscle, and soft tissue and skin,\u201d explains Hubiak. \u201cWe have to look at all of those different planes when we\u2019re talking about facial aging.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Botox injections can reduce wrinkles and lines.<\/p>\n
Stocksy\/Studio Firma<\/p>\n
Beyond the Surface<\/p>\n
While 90 to 95 percent of SkinScience\u2019s clients are women, more men are now seeking preventive treatments, particularly regenerative options, to help ward off wrinkles and other signs of aging. Although the med spa features some body treatments and laser hair removal, its main focus is the skin and face.<\/p>\n
With advancements like upgraded lasers, hyaluronic acid fillers mixed with other regenerative medicine fillers, and the potential for cosmetic growth factors, the med spa industry continues to evolve rapidly. Yet for Hubiak, the heart of her work remains the same: helping people feel like their best selves. \u201cWe\u2019ve had patients cry and hug us because they [are happy] looking at their reflection in the mirror. They feel like themselves again,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019re in the business of making people feel comfortable and confident. It\u2019s really rewarding.\u201d skinsciencemedspa.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hydrafacials are among the top offerings at Changes Salon and Day Spa.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Changes Salon and Day Spa<\/p>\n For Your Consideration<\/p>\n Smooth fine lines with Botox injections at Skin Artistry Clinic in Alamo, where board-certified physician Faiqa Chaudhry, M.D., offers advanced methodology in a comfortable setting. With multiple locations in the East Bay and around the United States, med spa chain SkinSpirit is a well-known provider of Botox and dermal fillers. The Art of Beauty Medispa in Danville was the readers\u2019 pick for Best Med Spa in Diablo\u2019s Best of the East Bay (BOEB) for 2025 and has a wealth of treatments for the face and body. Berkeley\u2019s Nubo Med Spa and Wellness promises expert and individualized care using the latest technology. One of the first med spas in Northern California, Encore Medspa (with offices in Pleasanton and Walnut Creek) is a popular destination for injectables, fillers, and other treatments.<\/p>\n You can also pamper your face and body at one of the region\u2019s many premier day spas and skincare providers. Treatments at Skin by Lexie, the 2025 readers\u2019 pick for Best Facial in BOEB, include hydrafacials, derma\u00adplaning facials, and peels\u2014or treat yourself to a combination package at the Walnut Creek location. The city is also home to Changes Salon and Day Spa, where much-requested facials include Changes\u2019 signature treatment (with fruit enzyme exfoliation, extractions, and a personalized mask), a pomegranate medi-facial consisting of a facial and peel, and a hydrafacial. Also in downtown Walnut Creek, Woodhouse Spa has glow-up options such as cryofacials, hydrafacials, and dermabrasion. Fans of Korean skincare products will appreciate K\u2019s Beauty in San Ramon, or enjoy a European deep-cleansing facial at Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa in Lafayette. The Spa at the Claremont in Berkeley welcomes both locals and hotel guests to its Forbes 4-Star spa for personalized facials. Relax and restore at Cocoon Day Spa in Oakland, which has a range of services for the skin, from gua sha facials using ancient Chinese techniques to microcurrent facials with LED light therapy.<\/p>\n Stocksy\/Leandro Crespi<\/p>\n Artful Approaches to Plastic Surgery<\/p>\n Expert techniques bring precision and craft to facelifts and other cosmetic procedures.<\/p>\n The desire to look refreshed, not transformed, is helping shape contemporary aesthetic medicine, and according to Brett Stompro, M.D., F.A.C.S., a leading facelift specialist in Blackhawk, cosmetic surgery is entering a new era with procedures that are evolving at \u201cwarp speed.\u201d<\/p>\n For years, facelifts were performed only on the skin layer before evolving to procedures that involved the muscular layer, which offered improvements but still fell short. A major leap forward came with the so-called deep-plane facelift (or advanced facelift), which works underneath the muscle and requires \u201ca much more intimate knowledge of anatomy,\u201d according to Stompro. \u201cThat\u2019s why only 5 percent of plastic surgeons across the country do the advanced facelift procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is obviously a physical component [to plastic surgery], but there\u2019s also an emotional component. If someone is concerned about a body part [to the point of preoccupation], and you can make that pain or that discomfort go away, it makes them very happy.\u201d\u2014Joseph Mele, M.D., F.A.C.S.<\/p>\n The latest evolution goes one step further. \u201cThe fourth generation [of facelifts] is combining that deep-plane facelift with a structural neck lift,\u201d explains Stompro. Instead of pulling skin, surgeons now reshape deeper structures\u2014in some cases, even reducing the portion of the submandibular glands that can cause \u201ca heavy neck. \u2026 That has been a game changer,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n Last year, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery invited Stompro to moderate an international panel on deep-plane facelifts paired with structural neck lifts, giving him a professional forum to share his 30 years of knowledge. \u201cIt\u2019s so great to have finally unlocked the secret of the ideal facelift. The only problem is a limited number of surgeons have the key,\u201d says Stompro. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t just be 5 percent [of surgeons who are] doing these advanced techniques.\u201d<\/p>\n Compassion\u00a0in Practice\u00a0<\/p>\n Double board-certified plastic surgeon Joseph Mele, M.D., F.A.C.S., welcomes clients from the Bay Area and out of state to his practice in Walnut Creek. In addition to facelifts, tummy tucks, rhinoplasty, breast augmentations and lifts, and liposuction, other popular procedures include otoplasty (aka ear contouring) and gynecomastia reduction to remove excess breast tissue in men. \u201cI probably have more male clients than average because I do so many gynecomastia reduction [procedures],\u201d says Mele. Regardless of gender, he always ensures his patients are seeking surgical intervention for themselves and not anyone else.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere is obviously a physical component [to plastic surgery], but there\u2019s also an emotional component,\u201d says Mele. \u201cIf someone is concerned about a body part [to the point of preoccupation], and you can make that pain or that discomfort go away, it makes them very happy.\u201d If patients aren\u2019t fully satisfied with their outcomes, Mele encourages people to partner with their care provider to resolve any concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cGood plastic surgeons don\u2019t abandon you; they want to make sure you\u2019re getting the best result possible,\u201d he says. \u201c[Maybe] we have to let it heal and then do a revision if it\u2019s still bothering you.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s Ahead<\/p>\n Among the recent trends in plastic surgery are procedures using the patient\u2019s own body fat to add fullness in other regions, microsurgeries, and smaller breast implants. Mele says his clients in the East Bay don\u2019t typically ask for the oversize implants patients might request in cities such as Los Angeles or Dallas. \u201cThey just want to have something that matches their bodies in proportion,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Patients are also opting for smaller procedures that may not last as long as full facelifts but require less recovery time. Such procedures, including eye lifts and short incision neck lifts, are especially appealing to male clients, says Stompro. \u201cMen can come in, have this done \u2026 and they\u2019re back at their computer in [less than a week].\u201d<\/p>\n Another major shift is the rise of combination procedures. A deep-plane facelift may be paired with an endoscopic brow lift, an eye lift, and fat grafting, all in one session. Fat transfer, in particular, has become an excellent tool for restoring youthful fullness. \u201cIt is one of the major advances in facial aesthetic surgery in the last 40 years,\u201d says Stompro. plasticsurgery1.com<\/a>; drmele.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n For Your\u00a0Consideration<\/p>\n With dozens of plastic surgeons in the area, finding the right person for your cosmetic procedure starts with research. Plastic surgeon Joseph Mele, M.D., F.A.C.S., suggests perusing websites from professional organizations such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (plasticsurgery.org<\/a>) for information on common procedures, before and after photos, and a search tool to find plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Many providers have their own online galleries, which can give future patients an idea of expected results. Request recommendations from family and friends, and look to social media for added data. Mele suggests asking your prospective surgeon if you can speak with former patients and find someone who is a good personality match. \u201cYou want somebody you can communicate with easily because it\u2019ll relieve a lot of stress,\u201d he adds. Cosmetic surgeon Brett Stompro, M.D., F.A.C.S., also urges people to consult multiple providers and closely scrutinize before and after images, either online or in the medical office, to identify the look they hope to achieve.<\/p>\n Among the noteworthy medical options in our region is the accredited Blackhawk Plastic Surgery and MedSpa, led by founder Stephen Ronan, M.D., F.A.C.S. Ronan is also the founder of the American Society of Hair Restoration and provides a range of procedures for the body, face, and scalp. In San Ramon, Michelle Place, M.D., is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face and body. Those seeking body-sculpting services might consult with Steven Williams, M.D., of Tri Valley Plastic Surgery in Dublin. A board-certified surgeon and a former president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Williams specializes in tummy tucks, often combined with breast reductions or liposuction. In Lafayette, Barbara Persons, M.D., F.A.C.S., provides breast augmentation, facelifts, and body contouring through liposuction among other offerings at Persons Plastic Surgery.<\/p>\n Bay Area Brain Spa offers neurofeedback to improve sleep and decrease stress.<\/p>\n Tamalyn Ann Photography<\/p>\n Futuristic Wellness<\/p>\n Technology-based services at Bay Area Brain Spa add a cutting-edge spin to restorative practices.<\/p>\n Science meets self-care in the growing arena of biohacking. A broad term that involves making small biological changes to optimize health, performance, and longevity, biohacking can include everything from wearable trackers to neurofeedback to more extreme (and controversial) measures such as micro\u00adimplants. Although they can sound like weird science, biohacking practices are becoming more mainstream, with a 2025 survey conducted by the Sanctuary Wellness Institute of more than 1,000 adults in the United States finding that 67 percent of respondents identified themselves as \u201cbiohackers.\u201d In the Silicon Valley\u2013adjacent East Bay, utilizing technology to promote well-being is a natural fit.<\/p>\n Neurofeedback is a huge draw at Bay Area Brain Spa in Albany. \u201cWe definitely attract the biohackers,\u201d says co-owner Carleigh Rochon, who refers to the spa\u2019s offerings as \u201ctechnology-based wellness\u201d or \u201ctouchless wellness.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The spa\u2019s menu of services includes neurofeedback brain training, red light therapy, lymphatic massage, dry salt therapy, and more\u2014all designed to help restore the body and mind. And while the science and services might sound intimidating, Rochon insists the goal is simple: \u201cWe\u2019re helping people find what makes them feel good and function better, whether that\u2019s through technology, mindfulness, or a little of both.\u201d That concept has resonated deeply in the East Bay, where Rochon says 90 percent of her clientele lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bay Area Brain Spa\u2019s BioCharger platform uses four energy types to support focus, flexibility, and recovery, among other benefits.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Bay Area Brain Spa<\/p>\n Touchless Therapy<\/p>\n Bay Area Brain Spa opened in 2020, right when the pandemic made touch-free therapies not just appealing but necessary. Rochon and her business partner originally planned to offer group neurofeedback as an affordable way to help more people regulate their nervous systems. Then COVID-19 hit.<\/p>\n \u201cWe signed our lease, we were ready, and, boom, everything [changed]. And so it was a little bit of a fluke,\u201d Rochon recalls. \u201cIt was very intentionally touchless because of the time; 1768447689 we have this niche where you can come in and do your self-care without having to have an energetic exchange with other people.\u201d<\/p>\n Bay Area Brain Spa\u2019s top service is neurofeedback, which Rochon describes as \u201ceffortless brain training to regulate the central nervous system, stress, anxiety, sleep, [and] focus.\u201d It\u2019s designed to improve resilience and mental clarity.<\/p>\n Another popular option is lymphatic drainage massage, delivered through a full-body compression suit called the Ballancer Pro. \u201cIt flushes your lymph system,\u201d says Rochon. \u201c[It is] great for detoxification, flushing water weight, speeding your metabolism, and boosting your immune system.\u201d<\/p>\n It is also an aesthetic favorite. \u201cPeople use it for weight loss,\u201d she notes. \u201cYour skin tightens up; you look more glowy because your system\u2019s clean.\u201d<\/p>\n Red light therapy is the spa\u2019s third-most-requested service. \u201cIt definitely improves your skin tone and boosts collagen,\u201d says Rochon. \u201cBut red light is so amazing for your whole body, just in charging your voltage, giving you more energy, and letting your cells perform better.\u201d<\/p>\n Clients can also combine services for the ultimate indulgence. Explains Rochon, \u201cYou do your neurofeedback in the compression massage suit with the red light facial all in one sitting.\u201d<\/p>\n Other Brain Spa options include halotherapy, or dry salt therapy\u2014which involves breathing air containing salt particles and may improve respiration and relaxation, among other possible benefits. (Scientific research on halotherapy is still limited.) And for clients looking for something more futuristic, there\u2019s the BioCharger, a platform that emits electromagnetic frequencies inspired by the environment. \u201cIt is harnessing the frequencies that we would be getting in nature and bringing them inside for you to get in a concentrated dose,\u201d Rochon adds.<\/p>\n Sessions in zero gravity flotation tanks at Peak Performance Float and Wellness Center promise relaxation and pain relief.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Peak Performance Float and Wellness Center<\/p>\n Serenity Strategies\u00a0<\/p>\n Rochon believes the East Bay\u2019s open-minded, health-conscious community makes it the perfect place for this kind of forward-thinking approach to wellness.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople here want to be proactive with their health,\u201d she says. \u201cThis kind of self-care just really ups their game because this isn\u2019t treatment. This is proactive.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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