January 26, 2007

Evergreen sisters open Blu Cocoon MedSpa on Coleman Avenue

Sisters Cristina Ignacio and Cecilia Cayabyab, both Evergreen residents, opened the doors of Blu Cocoon MedSpa on Jan. 20.

Located in the San Jose Market Center on Coleman Avenue, Blu Cocoon is a medical spa offering technologically advanced skin care treatments in a relaxed, spa setting, according to Ignacio and Cayabyab. The medical spa is operated by licensed medical professionals including registered nurses and licensed estheticians.

Ignacio has been a registered nurse for more than eight years and is currently employed in the coronary care unit of Stanford Hospital with a dual role of Staff Nurse IV and Resource Nurse. She has also worked locally at a medical spa as a registered nurse and has performed laser and light therapy treatments.

In addition, Cayayab has been a registered nurse for more than 12 years, primarily in a management role. Currently, she is employed with O’Connor Hospital in San Jose as a nurse manager for the oncology unit. Her management duties include coordinating the staff schedule and the unit budget.

“My sister and I wanted to open our own business but did not want to let go of our nursing background,” said Ignacio. “Unlike many med spas that are owned by business people who concentrate on revenue generation, Blu Cocoon’s priority will be on medical services.”

Blu Cocoon’s staff and operations will be overseen by its medical director, Dr. Al Shen, MD, MPH, FAAP. Shen, who is currently in private medical practice, served his residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (UCLA School of Medicine affiliate) and also spent several months working within the USC School of Medicine hospitals in dermatology. Shen worked for a year at Stanford Medical Group as a staff physician and associate faculty for the Division of General Internal Medicine while also working part-time with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.

Aside from his dermatology background during his residency, Shen has certification in several aesthetic laser and light therapies, as well as Botox and other injectables. He is also a part of the Solana Medical Group.

Among the services offered at Blu Cocoon are: Botox and Restylane injections, medical peels, laser hair reduction, laser vein therapy, Vibradermabrasion (skin resurfacing), classic facial, corrective acne treatment and live stem cell skin therapy, as well as other treatments.

Blu Cocoon MedSpa is located on 519 Coleman Ave., suite 50, at the San Jose Market Center in San Jose. For more information, please call (408) 295-2580.