FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Tucked on the first floor of The Flats on Bancroft Street in downtown Fairhope, MD Aesthetics of Mobile Bay is a physician-supervised medical spa that pairs familiar aesthetic treatments with medically managed weight loss and wellness programs. The practice grew out of a conversation at a Daphne restaurant and is run by a small team with deep roots in Gulf Coast health care.
The clinic’s story, shared in November 2025, reflects a broader shift in the medical spa industry. Where med spas once focused mainly on skin and cosmetic procedures, many now offer prescription weight loss medications and other wellness services under a physician’s direction, a change driven in large part by the arrival of a new generation of weight loss drugs.
The timing of the clinic’s story was no accident. It was shared as the 2025 holiday season approached, the time of year when rich meals, parties and busy schedules make many people put health goals on hold until January. The clinic’s message was that there is no need to wait, and that a doctor-supervised plan can focus on overall health rather than the number on the scale alone, including programs aimed at helping healthy people recover from workouts or prepare for and recover from surgery.
A Restaurant Conversation Becomes a Clinic
The idea for MD Aesthetics of Mobile Bay took shape at Southwood Kitchen in Daphne, the restaurant that Tracy and her husband, Jeremiah Matthews, opened in 2017. It was there that Dr. Mary Wells, a local OB-GYN, approached Tracy about helping her and general surgeon Dr. Dusty Smith open a medical spa clinic.
Tracy brought a long background in medicine to the project. She grew up in Lake Zurich, Illinois, and came south to attend Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa on a softball scholarship, playing second base. After graduating, she moved to Birmingham, where she worked in a pulmonary medical office before moving into medical sales. She relocated to Fairhope in 2004.
Drawing on that sales experience, she helped open the OB-GYN office of Dr. Jennifer Grace at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, the Eastern Shore’s main hospital and part of the Infirmary Health system, and later managed a plastic surgery and med spa clinic in Mobile. Her husband eventually persuaded her to help manage Southwood Kitchen, and it was through the restaurant that she met Smith and, ultimately, joined the effort to launch the new clinic.
The Team Behind the Treatments
Sarah Graham is one of three aesthetic technicians on staff, along with Jody and Ciara. A Fairhope native, Graham earned a marketing degree with a focus on medical sales from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After college she returned home and commuted to Mobile, where she spent 10 years working at a med spa and weight loss clinic. She joined MD Aesthetics of Mobile Bay about two years before the clinic’s story was shared, glad to be working in her hometown.
At the time, Wells and Smith were available at the clinic twice a week to perform injectables, and the two physicians supervise the practice’s weight loss and peptide therapy programs.
A Consultation-First Approach
The clinic describes its approach as personalized and physician-driven. “We start with a consultation to determine what your overall goal is to achieve health and wellness, whether that be weight loss, added energy, recovery, aesthetics, or all of those combined,” Graham said.
Staff emphasized that plans are monitored and adjusted over time. “This is modern healthcare. We have the patient’s best interest at heart. Plans are modified based on results and health. Many of the programs we prescribe help prevent future issues,” the clinic’s team said. Whether a patient’s goal is weight loss or easing the effects of age, each program is designed and monitored individually. As Tracy put it, “One size does not fit all.”
Asked what distinguishes the clinic from the many weight loss and med spa options along the coast, Graham pointed to how weight comes off. “Sometimes weight loss is achieved in an unhealthy way,” she said. “You can lose weight and not look or feel healthy. Our approach is to provide a plan that helps you lose weight and feel good at the same time. We can monitor and adjust doses as needed based on how each patient feels. Many people achieve the desired weight loss and then go on a healthy maintenance program.”
Weight Loss Medications and Peptide Therapy
The clinic’s weight loss program includes tirzepatide and semaglutide, two of the most widely discussed medications in American health care. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound. These drugs mimic hormones involved in appetite and blood sugar regulation. Certain versions are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for type 2 diabetes, and others for chronic weight management in adults who meet specific criteria. They require a prescription, and common side effects include nausea and other digestive symptoms, which is one reason medical supervision and dose adjustments matter.
The clinic also offers a peptide therapy program. Graham said emerging research suggests peptide therapy can shorten recovery time and support overall health, wellness and energy, and the clinic offers programs intended to help patients before and after surgery. She said two of her in-laws were using the program, one after ankle surgery and one after a hip replacement, and that both had good results.
Readers should know that “peptide therapy” is a broad label covering many different compounds, and the scientific evidence behind them varies widely. Some peptides are well established, FDA-approved medicines, while many others marketed for recovery, energy or anti-aging have limited human research behind them. Anyone considering such treatment should discuss the specific product, the evidence and possible risks with a physician, particularly before or after surgery.
A Full Menu of Aesthetic Services
Alongside its wellness programs, MD Aesthetics of Mobile Bay offers a range of aesthetic services, including:
- Skin care treatments
- Laser technology
- Microneedling
- Botox and other injectables
- Hair growth and hair removal treatments
- Treatment for severe acne
“We help people feel better about themselves while becoming healthier. We are physician-driven with proven medical treatments that enhance your overall well-being,” Tracy said.
“We are a small business in the community that is women-empowered, yet we serve women, men, and teenagers with procedures including Botox, improved hair growth, hair removal, weight loss, and even extreme cases of acne. Basically skin care, health, and wellness,” Graham said.
Microneedling uses fine needles to create tiny controlled injuries in the skin, prompting a healing response intended to improve texture and scarring. Laser treatments cover a range of uses, from hair removal to addressing pigmentation and sun damage, a common concern in a place where residents spend so much time outdoors.
What to Ask Before Choosing a Med Spa
Medical spas have multiplied along the Eastern Shore and across Baldwin and Mobile counties as the region has grown. For anyone considering a med spa or a medically supervised weight loss program, a few general questions can help:
- Which physician oversees treatment, and how often is that physician on site?
- Who performs each procedure, and what training and licensing do they hold?
- For prescription weight loss drugs, where does the medication come from, and how will side effects be monitored?
- What does the initial consultation include, such as medical history and lab work?
- How will the plan be adjusted, and what happens once a goal weight is reached?
- What are the total costs, and are any services covered by insurance?
It is also wise to keep a primary care physician informed, especially for anyone with chronic health conditions or upcoming surgery.
General habits still matter no matter what treatment a patient chooses. Health organizations consistently point to regular physical activity, sleep, a balanced diet built around whole foods, and limits on alcohol as the foundation for managing weight, and prescription medications for weight loss are generally intended to be used alongside those changes rather than in place of them.
Visiting the Fairhope Clinic
MD Aesthetics of Mobile Bay is located on the first floor of The Flats on Bancroft Street, in the walkable heart of downtown Fairhope near the city’s shops, restaurants and flower-lined streets. In late 2025 the clinic was open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and advertised a Friday happy hour from 2 to 4 p.m. “We always have specials going on throughout the year,” Tracy said.
Fairhope, founded in 1894 as a single-tax colony on the bluffs above Mobile Bay, has grown into one of Baldwin County’s most sought-after communities, and its compact downtown has filled with boutiques, galleries, restaurants and a growing number of professional and health services. Bancroft Street runs through the center of that district, putting the clinic within an easy walk of the pier, the city’s municipal buildings and the shops along Section Street and Fairhope Avenue.
Whether a patient is hoping to lose a significant amount of weight or simply wants to feel better, the clinic’s team says every plan is built around the individual. Prospective patients should contact the clinic directly for current hours, services and pricing.
Matthews says the program has made a personal difference for her as well. Diagnosed with lupus years ago, she has adjusted her therapy according to her lupus status and says her fatigue is gone. “My physician is amazed by the healthy results,” she said. “He told me, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing, but keep doing it.’ We monitor and adjust my plan based on results. One size does not fit all.”
Staff also point to recovery support as one of the less obvious uses of the clinic’s programs. One prospective client, scheduled for surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, was told that peptide programs may help shorten the recovery period before and after surgery, on top of the clinic’s weight-loss and aesthetic services.