This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

SkinFX Medical Spa is a physician-owned med spa in Pasadena, on E Walnut Street just east of the Playhouse District. It has been open since 2019.

Med spas sit in an odd middle ground. They are not day spas, and they are not dermatology clinics, and the differences matter more than the marketing usually admits. This overview covers what SkinFX offers and what to check before booking anywhere.

A bright, sun-drenched photograph capturing a modern storefront facade from a direct, straight-on perspective. Symmetrical in composition, the central entrance features prominent, clean-lined, light-colored raised letters spelling "SKINFX MEDICAL SPA" on a dark fascia. On the glass door, large white text reads "109" above "709 E. WALNUT". To the left, a dark vertical banner sign displays "SkinFX". Lush, colorful modern landscaping in planters and two young trees frame the forecourt and sidewalk. Modern architecture is visible in the background under a clear sky.

What Does SkinFX Medical Spa Offer?

The practice groups its work into eight service areas. Its published service list covers injectables, skin treatments, laser hair removal, facials, medical weight management, wellness, and men’s treatments.

That range is wider than a typical single-focus clinic. Some med spas do injectables and little else; others are laser-only. A broader menu can be convenient, though it also means asking who specifically handles each treatment type.

The practice serves Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, and the wider San Gabriel Valley, according to its own site. For a service where repeat visits are the norm, that catchment area is worth noting before you commit to a course of treatments.

Treatments That Need a Course, Not a Session

Several of these services are not one-and-done. Laser hair removal, skin resurfacing, and similar treatments are usually sold as a series spaced weeks apart, because the tissue needs time between rounds.

Ask how many sessions a realistic plan involves and what the total comes to before you pay for the first one. Practices differ on whether packages are refundable if you stop partway, and that is easier to settle up front than later.

Who Owns and Runs the Practice?

SkinFX is owned by Dr. James Kojian, MD, FACS. His profile lists more than 15 years in aesthetic medicine and cosmetic surgery, and the practice describes itself as physician owned.

Ownership structure is one of the more useful things to know about a med spa. A physician-owned practice means the medical responsibility sits with someone who is in the business rather than contracted from a distance.

That said, the owner is rarely the person holding the device. Ask at your consultation who will actually perform your treatment, what their license is, and how many times they have done the specific procedure you want.

The practice dates its founding to 2019, which puts it past the point where most new aesthetic clinics close. Longevity in this field is a modest signal, but it is one of the few a patient can check without stepping inside.

What Should You Ask Before Booking Any Med Spa?

Ask who performs the treatment, what their training is, and who supervises them. Tufts Medicine notes that med spa risks usually come down to improper oversight, providers not properly licensed for certain procedures, hygiene issues, and inadequate training.

The same piece points out that a medical director may be a physician without formal aesthetic training, and is often off-site. That is not a reason to avoid med spas, but it is a reason to ask specific questions rather than trusting a polished waiting room.

Questions Worth Asking Out Loud

Who is performing this, and what is their license? How many of these have they done? What happens if something goes wrong, and who do I reach after hours? A practice that answers these plainly is giving you useful information.

Ask About Your Own Skin, Not the Average

Results and risks vary by skin type, medications, and health history. Bring a full list of what you take and any conditions you have, since some common medicines make skin more sensitive to light-based treatments.

How Do Laser Treatments Actually Work?

Medical lasers use focused light to treat or remove tissue. The FDA describes them as devices used for cosmetic purposes including removing tattoos, scars, stretch marks, sunspots, wrinkles, birthmarks, spider veins, or hair.

Laser surgery uses non-ionizing radiation, so it does not carry the long-term risks associated with X-rays. The FDA does list real potential risks, though: incomplete treatment, pain, infection, bleeding, scarring, and changes in skin color.

Those last two matter most for darker skin tones, where the margin between a good result and a pigment change is narrower. Ask directly what device is being used and whether it is appropriate for your skin type.

What Changes in Aging Skin?

Skin loses collagen and elastic fibers over time, and sun exposure speeds that up more than anything else. The National Institute on Aging describes the outer layer getting thinner, paler, and less elastic with age.

MedlinePlus puts it similarly: changes in connective tissue reduce skin strength and elasticity, a change called elastosis, and the greatest single factor is sun exposure. Pigment changes and loss of elasticity both trace back to accumulated UV damage.

This is why daily sun protection does more for how skin ages than most treatments do. The NIA recommends a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, reapplied at least every two hours, plus a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves outdoors.

Be Skeptical of Antiaging Claims

The NIA also advises caution with products marketed as antiaging. Many are regulated as cosmetics rather than drugs, which means they are not required to be tested in humans or approved before going on the market.

How Does a Med Spa Differ From a Dermatology Office?

A med spa focuses on appearance; a dermatology practice diagnoses and treats skin disease. The overlap in equipment is large, which is why the distinction gets blurry for patients.

If the concern is a mole that is changing, a rash that will not clear, or anything that might be skin cancer, that belongs with a dermatologist. Aesthetic treatment is not the right setting for a diagnostic question.

Pasadena has board-certified dermatologists who handle both sides. Ronald Rigor, MD, for example, is a board-certified internist and dermatologist practicing in Pasadena who treats skin conditions alongside cosmetic procedures.

Families comparing options can also browse clinicians by specialty to see who covers dermatology and primary care in the area. Knowing which door to knock on first saves a wasted appointment.

There is also a practical overlap worth planning around. If a cosmetic treatment leaves a reaction that lasts longer than the practice said it would, you want a physician who can assess it rather than a receptionist offering a follow-up facial.

Location, Hours, and Contact Details

SkinFX Medical Spa is at 709 E Walnut St., Suite 109, Pasadena, CA 91101. The practice is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday until 6:00 p.m., and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.

Phone: (626) 803-4648

Email: info@skinfxmedicalspa.com

Website: skinfxmedicalspa.com

Hours and services change. Confirm current availability and pricing with the practice directly before planning a visit.

Sources Used

Aging changes in skin – MedlinePlus (2024)
Are Medical Spas a Safe Choice for Cosmetic Procedures? – Tufts Medicine (2024)
Medical Lasers – U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2023)
Medical Spa Services Pasadena CA – SkinFX Medical Spa
Skin Care and Aging – National Institute on Aging (2025)
Best Medical Spa in Pasadena CA – SkinFX Medical Spa

SkinFX Medical Spa