A new physician-led medical aesthetics practice, SkinLUX MD, has opened in Carmel Valley's Carmel Country Plaza, bringing a K-beauty inspired, clinically credible approach to the medical spa concept. The practice is owned by Dr. Jessica Yu, a board-certified physician and pediatrician with Scripps Medical. Dr. Yu, an Asian American entrepreneur, emphasizes that her practice is built on the belief that aesthetic medicine should be as trustworthy as any other healthcare branch. All treatments are physician-supervised and evidence-based, inspired by the K-beauty philosophy focusing on natural beauty and the 'glass skin' effect.
SkinLUX MD is located inside Sola Salons, which opened in October 2025 in Carmel Country Plaza. Dr. Yu operates from an upstairs suite with access to a second-story outdoor patio. She moved to Carmel Valley in 2022 after living in Kenya, Toronto, Australia, and Hawaii, completing her medical residency at the University of Hawaii in 2016. After over a decade as a pediatrician, Dr. Yu transitioned into aesthetics, starting patient consultations this month and celebrating a grand opening on May 16, 2026. A portion of opening week sales will be donated to Solana Highlands Elementary School, where her children attend.
The treatment menu includes neurotoxins (e.g., Botox), fillers, chemical peels, and microneedling. Microneedling with Rejuran, a Korean skincare line using salmon DNA to stimulate collagen and elastin, has been the most popular treatment so far, targeting fine lines, acne scars, enlarged pores, and uneven texture. Dr. Yu plans to be the first in the area to offer the Xerf skin-tightening laser, a non-invasive radiofrequency treatment that has been available in Korea for about three years and arrived in the U.S. in August 2025. A priority waitlist is available on her website.
Dr. Yu continues to work full-time at Scripps and is at SkinLUX on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The practice is located at Sola Salons Carmel Valley, 12750 Carmel Country Road. For more information, visit www.skinluxmd.com.
Source: Read the original report | Published: May 25, 2026