Shivaughnette Mendoza is looking to expand her spa operations into Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.

Popularly known as ‘Bella’, Mendoza, who operates Bella Body Spa and Beauty Lounge, says the recent explosion in demand for cosmetic surgeries in the region is likely to be followed by an uptick in those requiring after care and additional services to maintain their new look.

Mendoza already has an established spa in the heart of Queens, New York and last week opened a branch in her native Trinidad and Tobago.

“So we just opened on Monday (November 15). Since we’ve opened the reception has been pretty good. We’re getting a lot of calls and we’re already booking clients. So it’s pretty amazing to bring that into the country,” Mendoza told OBSERVER ONLINE.

Mendoza shared that body sculpting and butt plumping were among the most demanded services, noting that she anticipates even further growth in demand in these areas.

According to Mendoza, cosmetic surgery may help an individual to achieve the look that they want but to maintain the results, other techniques are necessary.

“So even if you do plastic surgery, and you do the traditional liposuction, you still have to come back and do the maintenance. After a while, your body is going to lose memory. It’s going to start growing fat cells in certain places. But maintenance is very important when you do any type of procedure like this,” Mendoza explained.

Mendoza went on to explain that customers don’t just visit and ask for a particular service, noting that there is an extensive consulting process designed to ensure customer satisfaction and safety.

“So you have to consult first so we can see what your body basically needs. And then we could build something around your needs for your body,” said Mendoza.

“Because sometimes not everybody needs reducing, you probably just need tightening. So, with the machines and stuff that we have, we’re able to tighten the body in different areas through red light therapy, which is radio frequency,” added Mendoza, who sought to give a brief insight into the body sculpting process.

On the matter of safety, Mendoza said the services performed in her spa are non-invasive, often utilising a compression technique which she said is very safe.

“The body sculpting that I do is non-invasive. So we’re not using any needles or anything like that. It is done through machines and it involves techniques like cavitation, radio frequency and Russian currents,” Mendoza explained.

While not discouraging exercise and diet, Bella noted that she personally understands how tedious that process can be, sharing that she got her body done in 2007.

“My second son was really big, he was nine pounds, 10 ounces. So it really took a toll on my stomach area,” said Mendoza

“It was a lot of loose skin.  And when you diet, you lose more fat cells, so your skin is going to get even looser and it makes it harder for when you work out, for your skin to tighten. It’s a very tedious process. And I just wanted a quick fix,” she added.

Her experience trying to recover from her pregnancy catapulted Mendoza into the world of cosmetics, with the mom of two going on to study aesthetics at the prestigious Berkowits School in New York.

After Mendoza outgrew her home-based operation, Bella Body Spa and Beauty Lounge opened in Queens in July 2019.

The spa is a one-stop shop for cosmetics, offering services ranging from nails, hair and makeup to body sculpting, dermaplaning and butt plumping.