The ER of Instant Beauty

Refine Medical Spa

(Chicago, IL) - We're proud to announce a beautiful solution for surgery-free skin --

Refine Medical Spa and Skin Care Clinic - where clients defy the years through the latest skin innovations in a single afternoon. At Refine, medical science is combined with the best in aesthetics, to provide an array of treatments that are safe and effective.

Dr Bonnie Vulich, Refine Medical Spa

Below you will find reviews and news stories about our services.

Lunchtime Lifts

Lunchtime lifts; Medical spas cater to clients looking for a quick little pick-me-up.

Melissa Maynard
Chicago Tribune
Oct 13, 2004

Women are forgoing their favorite eateries to get mini-facelifts- -all in the time it takes to have lunch. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery statistics (www.cosmeticsurgery.org), there has been a growth in BOTOX® injections, chemical peels and other non-invasive procedures. Last year, 504,371 American women got some type of non-invasive procedure, sometimes deemed the lunchtime facelift. "The surge in popularity is attributed to the nature of the treatments"--requiring no down time--"the excellent skin benefits, and the remarkably small amount of time it takes to look great," says Refine Medical Spa founder Dr. Bonnie Vulich. Spend your lunch hour at Refine and leave looking better and feeling better. Call today to schedule your appointment.

Microdermbrasion Treatment

A Male Perspective: Microdermabrasion at Refine Medical Spa.

I met with Dr. Vulich of Refine MedSpa and she recommended that I try Refine’s Microdermabrasion treatment. Not one to disobey doctors' orders, I booked my microdermabrasion appointment.

During the treatment, I would never have known that thousands of aluminum oxide crystals were flowing over my skin. To me, it basically felt like a tiny pumice stone was gently exfoliating my face. It felt like a grainy pencil was literally erasing the dull surfaces of my skin. As I grew to understand during my 30-45 minute treatment, detailed explanations of each procedure at Refine are standard practice. Let me just say that the esthetician was extremely knowledgeable about skin care; she always let me know what she was doing.

Far from just a “sandblasting” procedure, great care was taken to minimize or completely eliminate any potential discomfort associated with treatment. She began with a series of “facial-like” applications (even though she did a great job of explaining to me what she was doing, I was so relaxed, I immediately forgot what she told me) and ended with a mild, soothing toner, moisturizing cream, and a sun-block application.

Post treatment, I saw that my normally very sensitive skin completely survived the microdermabrasion and there was no discomfort, redness or irritation involved. Although I generally consider myself to have pretty normal skin, many people (including strangers) came up to me that week to comment on my skin and my girlfriend told me that my face felt as smooth as a baby’s bottom, which turns out to be a good thing.

Chicago Sun-Times Publications

Red Streak - September 2, 2004 - excerpted from: Ready or not, here are the basics of BOTOX®

We went to Refine Medical Spa to experience BOTOX® under the expert care of Dr. Bonnie Vulich. She reported that each injection felt like a slight pin prick. Each injection takes a few minutes, and there may be slight redness or in some cases bruising at the injection site. Within three to five days, results will begin to appear. A complete smoothing of lines is typical and dynamic wrinkles are effectively, albeit temporarily, exiled.

This should go without saying, but BOTOX® should only be administered by an authorized health-care professional in a medical environment. Dermatologists, plastic surgeons and physicians specializing in cosmetic procedures are generally more experienced at administering BOTOX®.

Testimonials

See our testimonials page for a complete list.

Botox Treatment Review

The Buzz...
Refine is one of a handful of medical spas in Chicago that offer cutting edge cosmetic procedures under a doctor's supervision- an emerging trend in serious skincare that goes beyond traditional facials. Refine is a state of the art Medical spa headed up by Dr. Bonnie Vulich, DO and ER physician. Dr. Bonnie Vulich is the founder of Refine and a highly regarded Board Certified Physician - we confidently put our skin in her expert hands. This facility is centered on offering clients breakthrough technology of the most advanced aesthetic treatments available.

The Scene...
Far from intimidating, the space at Refine is welcoming- the spa was designed to put clients' minds instantly at ease. While the space is soothing, I found myself most comforted by the amazing skin of Dr. Bonnie herself. It's easy to trust a woman whose own skin looks remarkable at any age.

The Goods...
First up, a consultation. My afternoon with Dr. Bonnie began with a consultation and discussion of treatment for my frown and smile lines. I filled out a questionnaire that asked everything from my perceived skin type to how much time I had spent in the sun to a full medical history. Next up, some one on one time with Dr. Bonnie. As I looked in a handheld mirror, I pointed out the areas of my face that I felt needed improvement. The doctor then asked me to perform a number of frowns, squints, and smiles. After we were finished with the my wrinkle analysis, Dr. Bonnie confirmed what I had expected- I was indeed a candidate for BOTOX®. We agreed upon BOTOX® injections for the frown lines in my forehead and between my brows as well as Collagen/Hylaform injections for my smile lines, and Collagen/Hylaform injections to plump up and even out my lips. She noted that BOTOX® is indicated for the expression lines that are caused by muscle movements (i.e. frown lines) and Collagen/Hylaform is used to plump and even out an area from the natural droop of the skin (i.e. smile lines). We discussed each procedure in depth, including the steps involved, all the benefits, as well as any potential risks or complications. She ended the consultation with a pre-treatment photo.

Next, Dr. Bonnie led me to a private room where she prepared my skin for the injections. She removed any dirt and cosmetics and applied a topical anesthetic to numb the skin. She informed me that approximately 20 to 30 minutes must pass for the anesthetic to take effect. Once I was ready, she pinched a few areas to test my reactions. When we both agreed I was ready she pulled out a face chart and went through a number of frowning and smiling exercises. She marked the exact areas to be injected and we were ready to turn back the clock!

First came the BOTOX®. Dr. Bonnie gently touched the areas above my brows where she would begin. She asked me to frown. Following a slight pinch and a quick tolerable sting (more uncomfortable than painful), the first injection was done. Within minutes Dr. Bonnie was finished with my first round of treatments. She handed me a mirror to see the results. To my surprise, nothing had changed. Dr. Bonnie explained that BOTOX® takes three to five days to take effect. I did feel a slight tightness under the skin, but no results were yet apparent.

The next treatment was the collagen injections. Dr. Bonnie explained that these injections would be much more bearable than the BOTOX®. She noted that Collagen contains an anesthetic that once injected quickly covers any discomfort from the injection. When she began on my left smile line I understood exactly what she meant. The first two caused me to flinch but the following injections were a snap. Once she finished both sides she again handed me the mirror. Finally, the instant gratification I'd been seeking. My laugh lines were gone...magic! Once I finished admiring her work, Dr. Bonnie moved on to my lips. The lip injections certainly stung a bit more than the others but once the first couple were done the rest followed easily.

My final treatment was the Hylaform injections. Collagen and Hylaform are both wrinkle fillers that create exceptional results on their own, but together they make even more of an impact. The Hylaform injections do not contain an anesthetic as does Collagen so the discomfort caused by the injections was more intense, however bearable and definitely worthwhile. Dr. Bonnie also explained that Hylaform injections do cause bruising around the injection areas and to be prepared with some concealer over the next couple of days, "a small drawback on an amazing treatment." When we both agreed this was a treatment for me, she proceeded to inject the Hylaform in the same areas as the collagen and was again finished in minutes. She handed me the mirror one last time to see for myself the amazing results. Dr. Bonnie informed me that I should expect to see a reduction in the plumpness of my lips by approximately 30 percent over the next 24 hours. A day later, my new fuller lips proved to be a size just perfect for me.

Once we were finished with all the injections, Dr. Bonnie cleaned up my face and allowed me to take one last peek in the mirror. She asked if I were satisfied and if I had any questions or concerns. She explained again that the BOTOX® injections will show a visible result in a few days, and she encouraged me to follow up with her in a couple of weeks. All in all, I feel that the treatments I received from Dr. Bonnie were completely bearable and thoroughly life changing.

The Follow Up...
The days following my treatments at Refine Medical Spa I noticed a considerable difference in the lines of concern on my forehead. Each day after the injections, the lines minimized and the muscles relaxed. My forehead is now completely wrinkle free. I am thrilled with the end result and now consider myself an avid fan.

Spa Review

Refine MedSpa and Skin Clinic specializes in advanced non-surgical skin care treatments and procedures. At Refine, medical science is combined with the best in esthetics, to bring you an array of treatments that are safe and effective.

Refine MedSpa and Skin Clinic offers a comprehensive menu of skin care services, such as BOTOX®, Collagen, Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels, and Laser Hair Removal. Refine is dedicated to offering non- invasive procedures that can be performed at "lunch time" with no down time.

Refine's founder Dr. Bonnie Vulich, DO, graduated Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1986 and is Board Certified. She completed her residency at Chicago Osteopathic Hospital and Olympia Fields Osteopathic Hospital, where she was physician mentor to the women residents in the Osteopathic Residency Program. Dr. Vulich is a member of the American College of Cosmetic Surgeons, American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Medical Association, American Medical Women's Association, and American College of Emergency Physicians. Refine is renowned for expert advice and individualized treatments administered by skincare experts trained the Vulich way. Each client's needs are addressed on an individual basis with personalized follow-ups.

From their basic facial to their most advanced laser treatments, every detail of your medical spa experience at Refine is first class. They clearly explain which treatments are likely to actually make a lasting difference in your appearance and their trained staff will assist you in developing an individually tailored plan to help slow down or reverse your skin's natural aging process.