Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/618738
www.ascpskincare.com 55 T he term medical esthetics has gained popularity in recent years as these two industries continue to operate side by side. With some baby boomers moving into their 70s and Generation X bracing for their 50s, there is an increased desire to feel—and look—young and healthy for as long as possible. Modern technological advances complement this growing population concerned with aging, so this business niche is here to stay. As if to prove that point, medical spas are cropping up everywhere. Just take a look around and you can find at least one—even in small towns. Many medical spas (or medi-spas) are owned and operated by a physician or health-care professional, and often have a nurse and an esthetician on staff. By hiring different professionals, medi-spas are able to offer a vast array of treatment options for clients, making their facilities one-stop shops for all types of appearance enhancement. From cosmetic surgeries, lasers, and injectables to chemical peels and waxing, there is a place for a wide variety of specialists in the medical spa setting. As the demand for more results-oriented procedures increases, the need for estheticians who can work alongside physicians will expand. WHAT IS MEDICAL ESTHETICS? The practice of medical esthetics is when a physician (or licensed health- care professional) improves a patient's physical appearance, either for reconstructive or cosmetic purposes, using medical-grade treatments and modalities. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons have always served these types of clients, but now other medical professionals are getting in on the medical spa action. In most states, nurses can perform procedures such as injectables (e.g., Botox, Juvederm, Restalayne, Voluma), as well as use lasers for skin resurfacing and hair removal under a physician's supervision. While estheticians have long considered themselves healers due to their ability to provide holistic, rejuvenating care for their clients, the industry is evolving, and the need for estheticians who have knowledge of how to prepare the skin for more invasive treatments and help support the skin after cosmetic procedures is growing. WHAT'S YOUR SCOPE OF PRACTICE? It is imperative to know your role as an esthetician in the medical spa world. Each state's governing body develops its own set of rules, regulations, policies, and scope of practice specific to your license. Every license holder must, by law, practice within the scope of his or her license, and scope-of-practice definitions vary widely from state to state. In some states, such as Arizona, you may be fined if you represent or promote yourself as anything other than what is printed on your state license. Even if you have taken a course in medical esthetics and received a certificate, or are otherwise experienced in this area, you are still not legally allowed to call yourself a medical esthetician. The need for estheticians who have knowledge of how to prepare the skin for more invasive treatments and help support the skin after cosmetic procedures is growing.