
If the warm California sun has left one’s face so puckered that others are tempted to hum the California raisin song, or too many late-night trips to the 24-hour taco shop has put a heavy bent on one’s thighs ” help can be had. Take a deep breath and call in the experts at La Jolla Spa MD, 7630 Fay Ave., which was named “Best Medical Spa in America” for 2005 by American Spa Magazine. “It was quite a surprise, which came to me when we received a phone call, and what is so great about this award is that it is given by the professionals’ choice of the leading industry magazine,” said Dianne York-Goldman, spa co-founder. “This is a national magazine and it was chosen by people in the industry, which is really an honor to be so selected by your peers.”The award has had rewards of its own, after La Jolla Spa MD, York-Goldman and her husband, Dr. Mitchel P. Goldman, a renowned and award-winning dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, were invited to meet with top industry leaders as VIP guests at this year’s American Spa Expo in New York City.”We have so many new and exciting things happening at the spa,” York-Goldman said. “We have a research center at La Jolla Spa MD where we do the FDA studies for a lot of the new procedures, and we also do a lot of pharmaceutical studies. All these new and innovative studies are coming our way to get the approval for use in the United States.”An alternative to Botox, a new makeup line and different laser treatments for cellulite are simply the latest tools added to the spa’s already extensive offerings, including massages, facials, hair removal and much more.”What is so wonderful about our studies is that they are passed on to our clients, who can participate in a study for no money and receive complimentary treatments,” York-Goldman said. “We are currently conducting sclerotherapy studies, which are the studies of varicose veins, and we are trying to compare the different types of medical grade compression stockings.”La Jolla Spa MD was founded in 2002 by the couple, who sought to combine cosmetic and medical procedures for the ultimate in rejuvenation. Business continues to boom at the spa, which averages approximately 540 new clients per month and a high retention rate for clients.”We participate in Learning Annex seminars, which I find really interesting because the people who attend those are really interested and come to learn,” York-Goldman said. “It is very interesting for the speaker when your audience is like that and makes for a win-win situation for everyone involved.”As the founder of the “You Glow Girl” teenage skin care line, York-Goldman has co-authored several books on the subject and been acknowledged for her efforts. She serves on the boards of the La Jolla Playhouse and the Foundation for Women, and has been involved with the Vista Hill Foundation, American Heart Association, San Diego Opera and La Jolla Town Council.Blue Water Spa in North Carolina, Juva Medi-Spa in New York, and the Chopra Center for Well-Being in Carlsbad were among the top contenders for the magazine’s Professional Choice Awards. “I think that this honor is a very positive reflection on La Jolla when something major like this shines light on this area,” York-Goldman said.For information see www.spa-md.com.