Did you know the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 40% increase in demand for skin care professionals between 2012 and 2022?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes updated data on industries, occupations, wages, benefits, and unemployment every month.
As the data shows, licensed estheticians are the beauty sector occupation that is expected to see the greatest growth in the coming decade. The United States is home to over 47,000 estheticians and medical estheticians.
More than 11,000 jobs are expected to be created, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a rate of growth that is “higher than normal” at 25%.
Both traditional estheticians and medical estheticians can hold this license. We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions from potential new students and will address them in today’s blog post: What exactly is it that a medical esthetician does? In addition, what distinguishes a regular esthetician from a medical one?
We’ll explain the distinction between the two and the training needed to work in the field of medical esthetics. We intend to equip you with the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision about your future profession.
An Esthetician Is…
Specialists in skin care, or estheticians, offer a range of services to improve and preserve the look and health of the skin. When it comes to improving the skin’s health and beauty, this type of skin care specialist is an invaluable asset. They offer consultations and treatments for skin problems by appointment. In addition to helping their customers improve the look of their skin, they also assist with the treatment of scars from acne and other skin surgeries.
Estheticians help their customers combat the signs of aging by working in tandem with them to create customized treatment plans. After assessing the client’s skin, a treatment plan will be proposed that includes specific product recommendations and suggested steps. Chemical peels, facial scrubs, microdermabrasion, waxing, facials, and body wraps are all examples of services commonly included in a treatment package.
If you want to become an esthetician, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED before enrolling in cosmetology school. Courses in this field might take as long as nine months to complete, depending on the state you live in. Becoming an esthetician calls for you to complete a cosmetology program recognized by your state and get a license to practice in your state.
Although esthetician programs differ in length and content, they all require students to learn about facials, microdermabrasion, specialty masks, chemical peels, and hair removal among other skin care procedures. All states require estheticians to have a license, which typically involves passing a written and, more frequently, a practical exam.
Who is a Medical Esthetician and What Do They Do?
A majority of the time, estheticians may be found working in beauty parlors, where they perform services like waxing and facials. Unless they have specific training, estheticians typically do not participate as actively in laser-based treatments as medical estheticians do.
Most estheticians work in spas and salons, however, medical estheticians are qualified skin care specialists who operate in medical settings utilizing lasers and light sources.
Medical estheticians can be found in a wide variety of settings, including those dealing with plastic surgery, dermatology, medical spas, and other medical situations, as well as in traditional health, beauty, and fitness centers.
Medical estheticians restore youthful vitality to the skin by treating a wide range of skin problems, injuries, and the effects of aging. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser treatment, and strong acids are just some of the services that medical estheticians offer. Research any medical esthetician training program you’re considering enrolling in to ensure it’s legitimate and will provide you with the skills you need to succeed.
Where may one find a Medical Esthetician?
A medical esthetician can work in a variety of settings, including clinics, private practices, and hospitals. Medical estheticians may also find employment in beauty parlors. Medical estheticians are often employed by dermatologists and plastic surgeons to administer medical procedures such as chemical peels, exfoliation, and photo facials.
Medical estheticians assist patients undergoing dermatological procedures or other therapies that affect the skin. Injured patients are advised on how to minimize the effects of things like facial swelling, skin discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles, acne, acne scarring, and much more. In the case of trauma sufferers, they demonstrate proper skin care to ensure a speedy recovery. Patients in need of long-term treatment receive emotional support and a boost in self-esteem from medical estheticians.
Medical estheticians are frequently seen working at dermatologist and plastic surgeon clinics. However, medical estheticians are increasingly being offered by primary care clinics as an extra service for their patients and a means to increase the clinic’s revenue.
The Business Potential of Medical Esthetics
Sometimes, medical estheticians work as entrepreneurs, subcontracting their services to medical facilities. Once you have completed your training and obtained your license as a medical esthetician, you may start looking for a doctor who is not presently working in the field to form a business partnership with. The perfect medical companion is extremely busy and doesn’t dabble in cosmetic procedures.
Your business plan should emphasize the cash-based nature of cosmetic laser and injectable services when pitched to the ideal physician partner. Due to the lower profit margins and lengthier collection times associated with their usual revenue streams (insurance-based), cash is a potential new income stream that few doctors will walk away from. All of the money made through laser and injectable cosmetic procedures is kept right away.
Because of the minimal level of risk involved and the opportunity to treat healthy people, medical esthetic treatments are very simple to incorporate into an established practice. Since you are well-versed in laser safety and treatments, any doctor you go to for medical esthetic work would value your extensive education in the field.