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What is a Medical Esthetician?

Estheticians are trained professionals who consult and treat client skin care needs. More and more, people are concerned with skincare and cosmetics. People are willing to buy more skin care products and services that reduce age spots, make their skin look healthier, and reduce stress wrinkles. This is all very good for estheticians, who are the professionals who provide services like chemical peels, facials, hair waxing and removal, and more. Many estheticians work in day spas and salons, but other estheticians, called medical or paramedic estheticians, work in medical settings.

Medical estheticians typically work in dermatologists’ offices, oncologists’ offices, or even hospitals. Unlike day spas, doctors are able to prescribe medicines that affect skin care as well as perform certain medical operations. Because of the increase in the number of people seeking medical services for their skin care, many dermatologist offices and hospitals are hiring estheticians to work with patients who want esthetic advice.

Medical estheticians can perform skin care procedures like Botox injections or laser hair removal. They can also consult with patients about their skin care needs and help dermatologists make decisions about prescription services or drugs. They can also give facials in a medical office just like they would in a spa or salon.

More and more, medical estheticians are working with patients who have cosmetic needs after medical situations that have resulted in the loss of skin or hair or severe burns. Medical estheticians can help these patients use makeup and topical products to help conceal burns. They can also help patients who have lost hair or eyebrows use makeup, beauty products, or clothing to conceal abnormalities. Medical estheticians working with these patients help to boost patient self esteem and help patients to have a positive self image, while also seeing that they are treating wounds in a healthy way.

Medical estheticians tend to be paid more than estheticians who work in day spas, but they tend to be one of the lower-paid careers in medical services. Typically, medical estheticians make anywhere from $25,000 to $52,000, based on experience level and expertise.

Medical estheticians, like other estheticians, have to go to school to get an associate’s degree or vocational certificate. While some medical estheticians attend a normal esthetics program and work their way up, there are also many who go to an esthetics program that focuses on medical services.

Being a medical esthetician can be a rewarding career. You can help victims of severe trauma by helping them achieve a new sense of self through the use of beauty products. Many find that working as a medical esthetician is a more positive experience than working in a salon or spa. If you like skincare and want to work as a medical esthetician, consider enrolling in a training program to be on your way to a new career!

Last Updated: April 15, 2015