At BTS Dermatology & Medical Spa in Cochrane, cutting-edge skin and beauty treatments go hand in hand with a commitment to providing warm, welcoming customer service.
“Because we’re a close-knit team, we want our clients to feel like part of the family,” says BTS part-owner Sammi Van der Walt. “There are so many medical spas and dermatology clinics out there, so we really want to stand out by serving our clients in a fun and supportive environment.”
The family ethos is built into the brick and mortar of the clinic at 103-100 Grande Blvd in Cochrane. Van der Walt, her parents and her soon-to-be husband own and operate BTS Dermatology, where their various skill-sets combine to offer clients the very best in treatments as varied as skin rejuvenation, pigmentation correction, collagen stimulation, stretch mark reduction and hair restoration, among many other services.
The on-site physician also treats a variety of skin conditions, including eczema, acne and skin lesions, and also performs mole examinations and removal. Patients can book directly by calling the clinic or via referral from their family doctor.
“I kind of like to say we’re a one-stop shop, where if someone comes in they can get a consultation and then see a physician,” Van der Walt explains. “Instead of having them wait, we’re able to see them right away. It expedites the experience and makes it easier for us and for our clients.”
Van der Walt, herself, has a background in aesthetics, and both she and her fiance also have business degrees. Her mother has worked in aesthetics, and her father is a physician offering dermatological services.
“My parents and I moved to Canada from South Africa about 15 years ago,” says Van der Walt. “Everything just kind of aligned for us to start this clinic together.”
Initially settling in the Edmonton area, Van der Walt and her fiance moved to Calgary in 2023. They weren’t familiar with Cochrane at that point, but after visiting the community with an eye to buying a house they knew right away that it was where they wanted to launch their business.
“We came out here and thought, ‘Oh, this is beautiful’,” Van der Walt recalls. “It’s close to the mountains, and the people here are so extremely friendly.”
Fast-forward two years and BTS Dermatology & Medical Spa is providing dermatological treatment with some of the industry’s most technologically-advanced equipment.
“We have top-of-the-line dermatology devices,” Van der Walt says, first citing the clinic’s mole-mapping system.
Essentially, a client will have their body scanned and their moles compared against a database of 150,000 different skin lesions. If it reveals a suspicious mole, a doctor can then focus on it instead of manually checking every mole on the body. It saves time, is more accurate and provides a more comfortable experience for the client.
Then there’s the Canfield Visia device – a facial scanner that looks for sun damage, redness, skin texture, wrinkles, fine lines and more that the naked eye might miss.
The Clarity 2, meanwhile, is a laser hair removal device that works with cryogen cooling. It’s safe for all skin types, which Van der Walt says is important as other devices can’t always work with darker pigments.
“The Clarity 2 also does vascular treatment,” she says. “If you have any burst blood vessels around the nose or eyes on your cheeks, we’re able to treat those as well.”
Van der Walt also highlights BTS’s Picosure Pro device, which performs tattoo removal and skin tightening.
“I actually used it for some acne that I was going through, and it just helps close up pores with oil production,” she explains. “I love this treatment.”
Finally, there’s the Potenza device. It performs radio frequency microneedling, where the frequency’s energy heats the skin’s layers and stimulates collagen and elastin production, tightening the skin and reducing fine lines.
Each device, each treatment and each welcoming smile is just part of BTS Dermatology & Medical Spa’s commitment to the community they’ve found in Cochrane.
“It’s just where our heart is, in the smaller communities,” says Van der Walt. “I feel like we’re able to be more involved in a community like Cochrane.”
BTS Dermatology & Medical Spa is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. They can be reached by calling (403) 851-5377, and further information regarding their treatments and services can be viewed on their website.