Blue MedSpa redefines the spa experience

At Blue MedSpa, tipping is not allowed. The staff doesn't earn a commission for hawking products, either. Oh, and if you want to book an appointment for next week, don't worry about deciding ahead of time whether you'll need a hot-stone massage or a moisturizing body wrap — just book a block of time and you can figure it out when you get there.

Welcome to Blue MedSpa, Midtown's brand-new, full-service, rule-breaking medical spa. The med-spa concept isn't a new one — the ability to get body-wraps, Botox injections and blow-dries under on roof has been around for awhile — but Blue MedSpa's relaxed, customer-oriented approach definitely breaks new ground.

Take, for example, the in-depth consultation you have with one of Blue MedSpa's medical professionals or therapists before you even enter a treatment room. This gives you a chance to tell him or her about your injured knee, your tight back, your dry skin. You can then decide together which treatments will suit you best. Stressed? You'll definitely need a full-body massage, and maybe some aromatherapy. Tough callouses on your feet from running? Those will be scrubbed off. Flaky, itchy skin? A moisturizing body wrap will do the trick. And stop being so suspicious — it's all the same price.

"At traditional spas, people are often confused," says John Stupka, the creator of Blue MedSpa. "People want to know why they are being charged $15 more to have a stone put on their forehead. We have removed all that confusion and given our clients a price on traditional services for the time they're here. If they're here for an hour, 90 minutes, whatever, it's a certain price, whether they have a massage, body treatments, or a blend of both."

Stupka, who worked in the medical sales industry for 15 years before entering the med-spa field, used his contacts in the medical world to help him recruit a top-notch staff of therapists and medical professionals to direct the spa's medical procedures, wellness retreats and body therapies. And talk about full-service — after your treatments, you can even have your hair cut in the salon area while enjoying an herbal tea from the bar.

With its nontraditional policies and holistic approach to wellness, Blue MedSpa is paving the way to an entirely new kind of spa in Atlanta. And when change makes this much sense, you know the path must be headed in the right direction. — Allison Weiss Entrekin