It’s a one-stop shop for almost every beauty need imaginable. From a simple haircut, pedicure, waxing, or massage, to skin resurfacing, teeth whitening, laser treatments, or permanent makeup, Premier MediSpa seems to offer it all.

Owner Gertrudes “Gerty” R. Bland, RN, oversees it all and makes it happen. That is when she is not busy as the head nurse at The Center for Plastic Surgery, which is located upstairs from the spa. The Center for Plastic Surgery is owned by her husband, Dr. Gregory F. Bland.

The husband and wife team run their businesses together, yet separately. Dr. Bland is the medical director of the spa, while Gerty goes back and forth between the two offices as the RN. Dr. Bland’s practice has been established for 16 years, whereas the spa opened in 2006. “Gerty used to do the fillers in my office, but she got so busy that she started taking over my space,” he says. “So she opened her own place.” Gerty agrees it was a natural progression. Today she has 10 independent contractors as well as three permanent employees.

Centrally located in the Premier Health Plaza at 3920 N. Union, Suite #250 in Colorado Springs, clients come from all over the city as well as throughout southern Colorado. “We stand out from the rest because I am the most experienced nurse with injectables in Colorado Springs,” Gerty says. “And that makes a difference.”

Premier MediSpa consists of 5,000 square feet with 10 treatment rooms, plus a lobby and hair salon. As the office continues down the long hallway, Gerty points out three huge floor-to-ceiling columns that have coconut bark and grass as well as seashells encased in the fiberglass. “They work as sound barriers throughout the spa,” she explains, “as well as adding artwork and texture to the lengthy corridor.”

The Oasis Room consists of a sauna, a Geisha soaking tub used for mud baths, chocolate soaks, etc., and a Swiss shower with multiple massaging faucet heads. “When clients are waiting between treatments, they can use this room at no extra charge,” Gerty says. There is also a “relaxation room” for those waiting for their appointments.

The menu of procedures seems to be endless, featuring medical rejuvenation treatments including Botox; collagen; Juvederm, which is an injectable gel to smooth out wrinkles; Sculptra, an aesthetic injectable that replaces lost collagen; and Radiesse, which is a filler. The list also includes laser treatments for wrinkle reduction, skin renewal, and skin tightening; laser vein treatments for the face and legs; hair removal and waxing; Velasmooth, which is a firming treatment that reduces cellulite; anti-aging packages; massages; body treatments; microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and facial treatments; permanent makeup; teeth whitening; hair design including haircuts, styling, treatments, color, and hair extensions; manicures and pedicures; and total spa packages.

Estheticians provide the facial treatments, while Gerty and Aimee Hellem, RN, perform all of the injectable procedures. Aimee is also Dr. Bland’s recovery nurse at The Center for Plastic Surgery. Almost all of the spa employees have been there since the beginning, and they are both experienced and professional, Gerty says. “Gerty handpicked the best because we wanted the most experienced people,” Dr. Bland says. “The massage therapist is the finest we’ve ever had. She’s really, really good.”

All of the procedures are noninvasive and don’t require any downtime, unlike surgeries. According to Gerty, clients are able to apply makeup right after a laser procedure. “To see patients happy with their results is my reward,” she says. “They are happier, rejuvenated, and they feel younger. They are very satisfied patients.” Dr. Bland agrees that patient satisfaction is the reward, but he believes they are happy because of Gerty’s personality as well. “I love what I do,” she adds. “It doesn’t feel like work to me.”

During the current recession, Dr. Bland says that the more classical medical procedures have declined in popularity, whereas the noninvasive procedures that Premier MediSpa offers continue to increase. These types of spa treatments remain popular.

Gerty has personally tried all of the procedures. “I try it first before I do it on anyone. I’m the guinea pig,” she says. “I think that’s really important because I need to know about the result of the treatment before I can sell it. It’s very important, and patients appreciate that.” She also believes in being honest with clients, and she has even turned some women down. “If I don’t think they need it, I’ll tell them to come back in a few years,” she says. “Some clients are not realistic of what they want as results.” The first appointment always consists of a consultation, and then Gerty is able to perform the procedure that same day in most cases.

She also refers patients to The Center for Plastic Surgery. “We don’t have many referrals from our office to the spa because Gerty continues to do those procedures up here as well,” Dr. Bland says. “The only thing we send someone down (to the spa) for is the Velasmooth machine. Usually patients in my practice stay here, but we get patients from the spa that want or need cosmetic surgery.”

While some spas perform Botox once or twice a month, Premier MediSpa is administering Botox every day. Dr. Bland points out that this is a reflection of their level of expertise as well as their volume of clients. “We’re the only medical spa that has a plastic surgeon as the medical director,” Gerty says. “Aesthetically, that’s why we have a plastic surgeon. It falls in our line of work. We know what looks good and what balances the face.” Dr. Bland agrees. “It is our core specialty,” he adds.

The Bland’s have been married for 20 years and have two teenage children. According to Gerty, working together works great for them, having done so for 16 years. They moved to the area from San Francisco, CA in 1994. They still visit San Francisco monthly, and they hope to expand their practices there someday as well. Their partnership and expertise is evident with loyal patients, Gerty says, with some being with them for as long as 15 years.

Premier MediSpa is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They also accept late appointments for hairstyles and massages. For more information, go to the Web site at www.premedspa.com or call 719-599-7768 to make an appointment.