What Can You Do With An Esthetician’s License?

Medical spas are oases where people go to be pampered and turn back the clock on their bodies. Who would say no to that? Many people are saying yes, a fact that is reflected in the average med spa income. If you’re a med spa manager, then you how much that estheticians contribute to this success.

In fact, medical estheticians provide many services that are not only popular, but highly profitable, minimally invasive and low risk. The average med spa staff is small, so having at least one highly skilled medical esthetician can significantly increase your revenue.

But what, exactly, can licensed estheticians do? Why is it that some can use certain equipment and perform certain services and others cannot? The answers are both simple and in-depth. Within the field of esthetics, there are different professional titles, certifications and state regulations. We’ve broken that all down simply for you below.

1. What’s the Difference Between Estheticians & Medical Estheticians?

Estheticians

Most people think of licensed skin care specialists, makeup artists and consultants who work in salons, spas, resorts and similar environments. Licensed estheticians focus on cosmetic treatments such as facials, superficial chemical peels, body wraps and makeup application, as well as hair removal procedures such as electrolysis, waxing, sugaring and laser therapy. They have an encyclopedic knowledge of skin care, beauty products, and beauty industry trends.

Medical Estheticians

Sometimes referred to as aestheticians, medical estheticians have a more clinical focus and work in medical settings, often with people who have various skin conditions. They work under the supervision of dermatologists, oncologists, plastic surgeons and other medical professionals. Medical estheticians do not have to have medical training, but complete various specialized medical esthetician courses after graduating from esthetician school.

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2. What Services Can Medical Estheticians Perform?

Medical estheticians can provide all the services of basic estheticians, but usually work on patients with more complex skincare needs than their peers do. These include treating rashes, severe acne, burns, skin traumas, major blemishes and aging skin.

Specific treatments that medical estheticians can perform vary based on their training and title, as well as state laws. Some common ones include microdermabrasion, cool sculpting, cellulite reduction, complex chemical peels and skin rejuvenation using potent acids, like BHAs. However, medical estheticians may also have training in advanced medical spa techniques, such as:

Laser Light Energy Therapy

Woman receiving laser hair removal from esthetician

Laser light energy therapy uses high-intensity pulses of light to treat skin discoloration from such issues as sun damage, rosacea and acne scars. Variations are also used for hair removal and tattoo removal. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photofacials are common laser light skin care treatments. IPL therapy is a non-surgical way to improve the color and texture of your skin, undoing the visible damage caused by sun exposure called photoaging. The average cost of laser light treatments is about $50–$150 per session. Laser hair and skin treatments are among the most popular and profitable medspa services.

Galvanic Treatments

Woman receiving galvanic treatment from esthetician in medspa

Galvanic skin treatments use low-level, direct currents to loosen clogged pores. According to Beauty Glimpse, the average cost of galvanic treatments is $150–$220 per session.

Specific galvanic treatments include:

Desincrustation: Desincrustation is a deep-cleansing treatment that combines currents and ultrasonic waves to tighten pores, mattify & smooth the skin and dissolve sebum & oil.
Iontophoresis: Iontophoresis delivers low electric currents through the skin to improve hydration, reduce wrinkles & fine lines and lift sagging skin.

Radio Frequency Treatments

Woman receiving radio frequency skin tightening treatment from esthetician at medspa

Radio frequency treatments use RF waves to tighten the skin and stimulate collagen production. They are considered a less invasive alternative to facelifts. According to Allure, the average cost of radio frequency treatment is $500–$5,000 depending on the part of the body receiving the treatment.

Specific RF treatments include:

Thermage: Thermage delivers radiofrequency energy to the deeper levels of the skin. This stimulates the production of collagen, which is the skin’s main structural protein, and causes it to shrink. The result is an instant tightening effect.
Exilis: Exilis uses radiofrequency energy and ultrasound waves to penetrate deep into the skin’s layers to promote collagen production and create a smoother, firmer appearance.
RF microneedling: This combines tiny needles and radiofrequency waves to rejuvenate facial skin. A form of controlled skin injury, RF microneedling stimulates the growth of healthy new skin. It is used to treat fine lines, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, wrinkles and other common skin issues.

3. What Services Can’t Medical Estheticians Perform?

Woman receiving Botox injection at medspa

The most important thing to remember is that medical estheticians are not dermatologists or surgeons. While they may assist in some of the following body treatments, estheticians are not authorized to administer such treatments as:

Botox injections
Dermal fillers
Medical-level dermabrasion
Deep skin peels

In the U.S., the rules concerning laser and needle treatments are a bit murkier.

Some states, like California, forbid medical estheticians from performing laser treatments, regardless of their certifications and title. The same is true of microneedling. Other states allow medical estheticians to perform microneedling, provided the device used does not penetrate more than 1mm. (about 0.04 in.) into the skin. Utah, by contrast, increases this to 1.5 mm.

It’s important to familiarize yourself with your state’s licensing requirements and check in with its esthetician certification board.

4. How to Obtain Medical Esthetician Licensure

A medical esthetician’s journey begins in the same place as a standard esthetician: cosmetology school. Aspiring estheticians must enroll in beauty school and complete a certified cosmetology or esthetician program to earn their esthetics license. This typically consists of about 600–650 hours of coursework, which is typically completed in about six months. An esthetician must then pass a state licensing exam.

In the U.S., licensure requirements vary from state to state. American estheticians typically pass the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) Exam. Another major certifying body is the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors and Associations (NCEA). The National Esthetician Certification–NCEA Certified credential is the highest standard set by the NCEA.

After completing their basic licensing requirements, a medical esthetician’s career path diverges. They take various continuing education courses, earning multiple professional certifications. Some areas of specialization include:

Cosmetic dermatology
Pre & post-surgical skincare
Permanent cosmetics
Electrolysis
Lymphatic drainage
Advanced hair removal (laser hair removal)

The more skills a medical esthetician has, the more career options, and the more value they can bring to your med spa. There are several other titles that medical estheticians can hold depending on their education, including master estheticians. You can read about more esthetician titles in this article about National A/Esthetician’s Day.

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Medical estheticians, or Aestheticians, bring immense value to med spas because of the range of services they provide. While they cannot perform medical-grade procedures, many of the most popular and profitable med spa services, such as laser therapies, are done by estheticians.

The value a medical esthetician brings is tied to the certifications they obtain after their basic esthetician’s license. Med spa owners should familiarize themselves with the accrediting bodies in the field of aesthetics, as well as innovations and trends in different aesthetic treatments.

Now you know what to look for when hiring estheticians at your med spa. Once you’ve assembled your best team, Vagaro’s HIPAA-compliant medspa software will make managing them a breeze! It will also give you the tools to market, schedule & book all your new services, as well as keep track of all the new clients you bring in. If you want to see what Vagaro can do for your med spa's success, give us a call today. We can’t wait to work with you!