Medical Esthetician Training

What Is A Medical Esthetician?

A medical esthetician is a state-licensed skin care expert who works in healthcare facilities and medical spas, providing skin care therapies to help clients whose illnesses, injuries, surgeries, or age have adversely affected their appearance. Medical estheticians also help everyday clients look and feel better in their own skin by prescribing treatments for acne, sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles.

There’s a genuinely meaningful clinical side to this work, too. In hospitals and clinics, medical estheticians support patients recovering from operations and medical treatments that affect the skin. They may teach patients how to use makeup to reduce the appearance of facial swelling, skin discoloration or hair loss, while also showing trauma patients how to properly clean and care for sensitive skin. It’s a side of the profession many people never consider, but one that makes a real difference for patients navigating a difficult recovery.

Why Estheticians Are Getting Cosmetic Laser Training

Estheticians are drawn to cosmetic laser and medical esthetics training because the two skill sets are, quite simply, a perfect marriage.

A higher earning potential

Medical estheticians consistently out-earn traditional estheticians. The average facial runs about $70, compared to $300 for a photofacial, meaning in the same amount of time it takes to perform a facial, a medical esthetician can earn over four times as much. Laser hair removal typically runs $75 to $200 per session compared to about $40 for waxing, and radiofrequency skin tightening can bring in $400 to $800 for a treatment that shows dramatically rejuvenated results. Because you’re earning more per client, you can also afford to spend more time and attention on each one, upgrading their overall experience.

A more competitive, well-rounded service menu

As an esthetician, chemical peels and microdermabrasion can only do so much for your clients. Medical aesthetics training lets you offer dramatic results your current skill set doesn’t address: wrinkle reduction, indented acne scar reduction, skin tightening, body contouring (like CoolSculpting) and laser tattoo removal.

More effective treatments, deeper results

Estheticians normally work with superficial, surface-layer treatments. While these can make a real impact, laser treatments go deep below the surface of the skin, producing far more dramatic, longer-lasting results and are genuinely rewarding for both the client and the practitioner providing the treatment.

Greater career advancement

Medical estheticians can be found working in hospitals, physicians’ offices, care centers and other healthcare facilities. Plastic surgeons and dermatologists commonly hire medical estheticians to perform cosmetic procedures (including medical peels, exfoliations, and photo light facials) under their supervision.

More job opportunities and a competitive edge

Medical spas and cosmetic-service businesses are always seeking new talent. Additional laser training and certification separates you from the competition and shows potential employers you have a genuine thirst for the industry. With the right training, you can pursue opportunities that can add financial growth. The skills you gain as a cosmetic laser technician can allow you to perform treatments like laser hair removal, skin tightening and acne reduction in a variety of aesthetic settings like med-spas, dental practices and other medical professional facilities.

Greater confidence

The more clinical, hands-on training and experience you gain, the more confidence you’ll carry into every client interaction and every job interview.

A stronger professional network

Training alongside other passionate, like-minded professionals opens the door to new connections. It gives you the opportunity to brainstorm with people, ask questions you may have or possibly even go into business down the road.

Learning from the best

Students at National Laser Institute have the opportunity to learn from up to 13 different expert instructors with five to 20 years of experience in the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to already be an esthetician to pursue medical esthetician training? 

No, though it’s certainly a natural stepping stone. Estheticians already bring a strong foundation in skin care, client consultation and hands-on treatment technique that carries over well into laser and injectable training. That said, plenty of our students come from entirely unrelated backgrounds and build the same career from scratch.

How is a medical esthetician different from a regular esthetician? 

Regular estheticians are licensed to work only on the surface (epidermal) layer of the skin, performing services like facials, waxing and chemical peels. Medical estheticians are trained to go deeper, using cosmetic lasers and other advanced technology to treat concerns at the dermal layer, which produces more dramatic and longer-lasting results.

Will my current clients follow me if I add laser services? 

Many estheticians find their existing clients are eager to try laser treatments once they learn they’re available, since there’s already an established relationship and trust in place. Offering both traditional and laser-based services also lets you serve a wider range of client preferences without losing your existing base.

What if I’ve been in the industry a long time and worry about learning something so different? 

That worry is common, but medical esthetician training is designed with exactly that transition in mind. Combining classroom instruction with genuine hands-on practice on real clients means you build confidence gradually, rather than being expected to master new technology overnight.

A Real Success Story

One National Laser Institute graduate, Merilee, described struggling to find esthetician work because she kept being told she lacked experience. She decided to further her education by becoming a cosmetic laser technician instead, and within two weeks of completing her courses, she found employment as both a laser technician and esthetician. She’s since credited the organization, knowledge and professionalism of the staff; particularly the hands-on training and the way instructors made sure every student felt comfortable before moving on.

What You’ll Learn As A Medical Esthetician

Estheticians who pursue laser training at National Laser Institute can earn their certification in about two weeks with the Comprehensive Laser Course, led by top cosmetic laser experts, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons. The course combines didactic classroom education with hands-on clinical training for the ultimate learning experience. In the classroom, you’ll learn laser safety training, the Fitzpatrick scale, facial anatomy, skin and tissue interactions, and patient care. The remaining days are spent gaining hands-on clinical experience, treating a wide variety of scheduled clients in a luxury medical spa environment.

By the end of the course, you’ll feel prepared to confidently perform in-demand treatments including laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, IPL photofacial skin rejuvenation, radiofrequency skin tightening, laser stretch mark removal, body contouring, skin tightening, Botox, dermal fillers and more — in any medical aesthetic setting, from medical spas to physicians’ offices.

Medical Esthetician Training At National Laser Institute

The beauty and wellness industry is one of the fastest-growing industries today. Americans have spent well over $20 Billion annually on medical aesthetics treatments, and as more people become concerned with their outward appearance, the job outlook for the beauty industry remains genuinely positive.

National Laser Institute was the first to pioneer the cosmetic laser training curriculum and has been an industry leader for well over a decade, training countless estheticians, cosmetologists, medical professionals, and total career changers. Our students arrive with many different levels of experience, and the one thing they all have in common is a passion for helping people feel confident in healthy, beautiful skin.

Graduates also gain access to our Graduate Services Department, which sends out job leads and interview support, plus our online medical esthetic library — thousands of pages of resources, including books, statistics, terminology, and videos.

If you are ready to expand your skill set and your income, we invite you to start your medical esthetician training today. Call us today at 1-800-982-6817 or fill out our form now. We’re here to answer all of your medical esthetician training questions!