Oceanmist Wellness Brings a Different Approach to Health and Wellness in Rincón

Mother and daughter duo, Dr. Mayra Bonet and Frances Alicea recently opened Oceanmist Wellness, a concept that combines medical care with wellness treatments. The goal is to deliver IV therapy, Botox and pain management care in a setting closer to a living room than a waiting room.

Mayra handles the medical and clinical side. Frances handles administration, marketing, events and business development.

“I have experience in sales, marketing and business administration, and my mom has all the medical and clinical experience,” Frances says. “Being able to combine our strengths and create something together was a no-brainer for us.”

Asked what’s been most meaningful about building this together as mother and daughter, Mayra says it’s been the chance to share a longtime dream with her daughter and watch her bring her own creativity and vision to something she’d pictured for years.

For Frances, it comes down to the time itself. “It’s been about spending time with my mom and helping her make a dream she’s had for a long time come true,” she says. “The time we get to spend working together is priceless.”

Building a Practice

Dr. Bonet was born and raised in Rincón and studied at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez before building a career in anesthesiology and pain management. Her training includes a residency in anesthesiology at University Hospital in Río Piedras, and she serves as Director of Anesthesia at Bella Vista Hospital. She is also certified in IV therapy, peptide therapy, Botox, and medicinal cannabis.

“Having an office or clinic in the town of Rincón was always a dream of mine,” she says. “I always imagined a space dedicated to pain management, medicine and a more holistic approach to wellness. When the opportunity came to build that with my daughter, we felt it was the right moment.”

Frances’s role is administrative and she makes it clear that the clinical work belongs to Mayra and the practice’s registered nurse, Vidaliz Méndez Gordils.

“She is a genius in what she does,” Frances says of her mother.

Physician-Directed Care

Dr. Bonet describes physician-directed care as evaluating the patient before recommending anything.

“Before recommending a treatment, we take into account the history, health conditions, medications, allergies and the goals of each patient,” she says. “We don’t believe in offering the same thing to everyone. We believe in evaluating first and personalizing afterward.”

A first visit starts with a conversation about what the patient wants and their medical history, followed by a review of medications, allergies, existing conditions and, when relevant, recent lab work.

“From the moment they arrive, we want the experience to be relaxed and personal,” Frances says. “We don’t want them to feel like they walked into a traditional medical office.”

IV Therapy and Botox

IV therapy delivers fluids, vitamins and other nutrients directly into the bloodstream for faster, more controlled absorption. The specific mix depends on the patient.

“People come to us for different reasons,” Frances says. “Hydration, general wellness, energy, recovery after a workout or a sporting event, or just as a complement to their personal care routine.”

One of the more requested treatments is the Myers Cocktail. It is a combination of saline with vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, B12, magnesium and calcium.

Dr. Bonet clarifies that results vary from patient to patient, and that these treatments aren’t meant to replace medical care or cure any condition. The goal is to support the body’s normal functions and general wellness, when the treatment is appropriate for that patient.

“IV therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution,” she says. “First we evaluate the person, then we determine what, if anything, is appropriate for them.”

The same approach applies to Botox, which they also treat as a case-by-case decision rather than a default offering.

One misconception they run into often: that these treatments are some kind of magic fix that works the same for everyone.

“That’s not the case,” Mayra says. “Both IV therapy and Botox require evaluation, realistic expectations and an individualized approach.”

“We also want people to understand that wellness doesn’t have to be complicated,” Frances adds. “Sometimes it’s simply about taking time for yourself and getting the right care.”

Who It’s For

Patients come in for a mix of reasons. Some are focused on aesthetics, including Botox. And some are athletes looking for recovery. Others are simply interested in a more holistic approach to their health.

Frances says the goal is for Oceanmist to feel elevated without feeling out of reach.

“We want it to feel special and high quality, but not exclusive or inaccessible,” she says. “Our philosophy is that anyone who can benefit from our services is welcome.”

The Experience

Music, refreshments and a calmer pace are part of how Oceanmist is set up to feel different from a standard doctor’s visit.

“We want to create an experience,” Frances says. “From the moment you walk in to the moment you receive your treatment, we want it to feel more like being at home than going to the doctor.”

She describes the practice as a combination of two things.

“The science is in the preparation, the evaluation and the medical supervision,” she says. “The serenity is in how we make the patient feel. We want them to feel like they arrived at a place where they can lower the pace, that they feel comfortable, welcome and as if they were at home.”

Being Part of Rincón

In May, Oceanmist partnered with Villa Cofresí on a wellness event that brought together several local women-owned businesses: Mar de Qi Acupuncture, Inner Beauty with Waleska for reflexology, Cait Lawson of Sunburnt & Salty for a yoga flow session as well as Simply Greens and Isla Made.

The practice has also collaborated with Rincón Beer Co., Roots, Gylro, Tinto Wine & Charcutería, El Atiko, Vatos Locos, The Bean, Café 413 and La Tribu on experiences aimed at visitors exploring the town.

“We want Oceanmist to be part of Rincón, not just a business in the town,” Frances says.

The Takeaway

Whether someone comes in for IV therapy, Botox, pain management or just to understand what physician-directed wellness looks like, Mayra says the approach starts the same way every time.

“Everything starts with listening to the patient,” she says. “We talk about their goals, history and previous experiences with treatments. We never want to assume a treatment is appropriate simply because it worked for someone else. Care has to be individualized.”

Asked what she hopes people take away from Oceanmist, Mayra points to the idea that medicine and wellness don’t have to be separate. 

“We want to care for our patients in a professional, human and personalized way,” she says. “At the end of the day, we want you to leave Oceanmist feeling a little better than when you walked in.” Frances shares that hope and adds one of her own: that the visit leaves people looking forward to the next one. 

Oceanmist Wellness

Location: 18 Calle Comercio, Rincon, Puerto Rico

Phone: 939-312-9330 

Website: oceanmistwellness.com

Social Meda: Facebook and Instagram

*Photo credit: W. Amor Studio