Jessica B. Doto and her daughter Francesca Figueiredo’s local business is doing something no other med spa in the Ithaca area is: providing gender-affirming care for transgender patients.
“We work a lot with the trans community, especially with laser hair removal and also with facial balancing whether it’s male to female or female to male,” Doto said. “That’s been really emotional and exciting for us because we are watching our patients go through this process and we want this to be a really safe space for them and I’m pretty sure there’s no one else in the area that’s doing that.”
Doto opened Galvanic medical spa during the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2021 alongside her daughter Francesca Figueiredo, after they both learned about so many people’s negative experiences at other med spas. Doto and Figueiredo wanted to change the narrative through a business that would actually address and treat skin care concerns.
“We did see that there were a lot of medical spas playing fast and loose with treatments in general and we really wanted to make a place of our own that was very regimented, very treatment-oriented,” Figueiredo said.
A New Start
Doto was no stranger to Ithaca when she decided to open Galvanic on the Ithaca Commons. She was going back and forth between her med spa in Fanwood, New Jersey and her job in Ithaca as a board-certified nurse practitioner in Cayuga Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit.
After her previous med spa in New Jersey closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Doto was motivated to bring her services and expertise to the Ithaca community.
“People thought we were crazy but no, this is something that is really needed and something we’re good at, so we decided to take the plunge and do it here,” Doto said.
What makes Galvanic stand out
Doto takes a practical approach when it comes to creating customized treatment plans for each client. She sets her local business apart from the competition by utilizing services that are designed to be safe and effective for all skin tones.
“We wanted to really focus on things where we could service the entire community,” Doto said. “We just wanted to make a place that was inclusive and safe and available and that’s what we did.”
Some services offered at Galvanic med spa include: microneedling, laser hair removal and IV therapy. More information about these treatments and a full list of available services can be found on the business’s website.
A family business
Figueiredo is a licensed esthetician and medical assistant who has been working alongside her mom for the past several years. Both say that they are constantly learning from each other about skincare.
“Francesca and I have a working relationship because she knows her value in terms of the services she’s providing and I respect that and vice versa,” Doto said. “I go to her for skincare advice because I trust her.”
IV treatments at Galvanic
After being diagnosed as anemic, Daniela Hess wanted to ensure that she was doing everything she could to feel her best self. She originally scheduled for 12 sessions of intravenous (IV) micronutrient therapy. Her bi-weekly appointments help ensure that she has enough vitamins and nutrients so that she no longer struggles with fatigue, hair loss and other side effects from anemia. Hess also loves how she can adjust the treatment so that she’s receiving different essential vitamins with each visit.
“Galvanic and Jess, in particular, have literally been life-saving,” Hess said. “If you don’t feel well it’s very hard to live well.”
Galvanic medical spa is located on 102 N Tioga Street, right above American Crafts on the Ithaca Commons. New clients can book a free in-person or virtual consultation at Galvanic Medical Spa here.
