Suddenly Slimmer Day Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, has made its name with body-slimming wraps that take six to thirty inches off your entire body -- at least temporarily. That's why you'll run into some strangely dressed women, like the 60-something blonde wrapped head-to-toe in ace bandages, wearing plastic booties and a green rain poncho. "Don't ask," she said, rolling her eyes.
The $200 "Fat Burner"
Another woman in the same get-up was stand on vibrating machine to stimulate circulation while she watched a huge flat screen TV. Wraps like the "Fat Burner" ($200 for one session) work by both compressing the tissue with a special solution that helps the body's detoxify, according to the Jeanie Marcelino, whose mother owns the spa.
When combined with lifestyle changes like eating healthy (so why all the cookies out front?), a series of wraps can yield results that are "semi-permanent," says Marcelino. A single wrap is good if you want to fit into a slinky black dress or wedding gown for the evening.
But Suddenly Slimmer is not just about the wraps. They offer a range of other top-quality services, ranging from massage and facials to acupuncture, hypnotherapy, Ayurvedic therapies, microdermabrasion, IPL treatments and injectablesinjectables[/link] like Botox and Restylane. Suddenly Slimmer is also known as one of the best places for waxing in Phoenix, particularly for Brazilian wax jobs.
The owner, Luzivone Damaceno, is a Brazilian-born acupuncturist who started it as a wellness clinic in 1988. Her three daughters have since joined her in the business, including Dannielli, a terrific esthetician who gave me a classic European facial ($90 for 50 minutes). I was impressed by Dannielli's knowledge about skin and products, as well as her soothing touch. It's hard to find a good esthetician, and I would definitely trust my skin with Dannielli.
Ayurvedic Therapies
Upstairs I had an Ayurvedic treatment that combined Abhyanga and Shirodhara ($290 for 80 minutes). Also known as a "four-handed massage", Abhyanga is performed by two therapists who work on you simultaneously, using lots of warm oil. The two therapists mirror each other's moves, and there is something wonderful about being so taken over by sensation. It's almost like being a baby again, when your mother's hands could cover your whole body.
The treatment segued into a Shirodhara, which was less successful. Suddenly Slimmer has a beautiful piece of equipment with a hanging copper pot from which oil drips onto your forehead. But it was a little noisy when the therapist pushed it into place and the oil had cooled by the time it hit my forehead because the copper pot drew away all the heat. She added more hot oil, but it was not the seamless, soothing experience one hopes for (and rarely finds.) Right now you can only get Abhyanga and Shirodhara together. It would be nice if you could get the Abhyanga without the Shirodhara.
Injectables By A Physician
Suddenly Slimmer offers injectables and Sophia Yang, M.D., does all the injections herself -- a good sign. I have been watching my skin go south and was feeling like it was time for a facelift because of the alarming appearance of jowls and marionette lines. "Too soon," said Dr. Yang. She persuaded me that Restylane ($300 - $500 per syringe) could take care of it. My sister had always told me Restylane "hurts like hell," but Dr. Yang numbed the injection areas with with novacaine, like a dentist does, so it didn't hurt.
The results were immediate. I looked a couple of years younger, instantly. I liked that Dr. Yang took her time to explain everything and was very careful with the way she injected me. I was so happy I went back a week later for another syringe, and got the big furrow between my eyebrows filled in and a little more work on the marionette lines. The results last about six months, and I'll definitely be back.
I get Botox every once in a while because of the big expression line between my eyebrows that came from too many years of pulling my eyebrows together when I read. It had been a while and was time to "reup" on the Botox ($12 per unit.) Dr. Yang took her time to show me that it was a fresh vile of authentic Botox, with an expiration date far in the future, and explained how she was diluting it with saline to achieve a more natural effect. She was scrupulous about sanitation and used about 30 units on my eyebrows and forehead.
Botox Antibodies
Mysteriously, there was no effect even after two weeks. So she injected me again at a higher concentration. Again, no effect. Neither one of us had seen this before. Dr. Yang called the manufacturer and said that 1% of the population develops antibodies to the Botox so that it doesn't work. We tried a third time at an even higher concentration and I finally saw some results. I can still frown, but it's harder for me to do it. I'm just not a very good candidate for Botox anymore.
All in all, I was very impressed with the services I received at Suddenly Slimmer and recommend it. It has a pleasant atmosphere, the staff is knowledgeable and skilled and there is a clear emphasis on excellence.
Suddenly Slimmer Day Spa At A Glance:
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with some complimentary treatments for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
