The aesthetic industry is now big business – long gone are the days of going on a one-day Botox® training course and then working your way around beauty salons, who would supply both the premises and the patients for practitioners to gain experience and start their career in aesthetics. The industry is now much more complex, with new entrants such as the plastic surgeon, cosmetic dentist, cosmetic nurse, tattoo artist, body sculpting practitioner, skin care specialist and medical esthetician all competing for the same patients. This means that the services that these new entrants offer are becoming more sophisticated and therefore the skills required by the professional will need to be just as sophisticated.
What exactly is a medical aesthetic clinic? How to pick one?
A medical aesthetic clinic is a facility that offers minimally invasive procedures to help patients look and feel their best. These clinics are typically staffed by licensed physicians who have completed special training in the field of cosmetic medicine. What services do medical aesthetic clinics offer? A medical aesthetic clinic will typically offer many of the same procedures an ambulatory surgery center would, but with a few important differences:
Clinic visits tend to be more expensive than ambulatory surgery center visits, as they require a higher level of surgical training. Many of these clinics also provide non-invasive procedures such as laser hair removal and chemical peels. There are several other reasons why you might want to consider a medical aesthetic clinic, but if you’re looking for an affordable option to achieve a healthier, younger-looking appearance, then these centers may be exactly what you’ve been looking for. How to find a medical aesthetic clinic Finding the best medical aesthetic clinic for you can be a daunting task, so we’ve put together some tips on how to make your search easier:
Look in your phone book under “Plastic Surgery Centers.” This will give you a list of medical aesthetic clinics near you. Contact each one and ask for detailed information about their services. Be sure to find out if they offer financial assistance to patients who cannot afford the cost of their procedures. If they do, find out exactly how much assistance they provide. Also find out if they have a written fee schedule, so you know what the costs will be for each procedure. Some clinics use a “pay-for-service” system, which means you only pay for the procedures you have. Other clinics bill on a “per diem” basis, which means you only pay for the procedures that are performed during your visit. Ask about pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative care. Find out what types of medications they will administer to you before, during and after your procedure. Will they give you a follow-up appointment? How long will the recovery period be? Make sure you feel comfortable with the answers to these questions. If you don’t, look for another clinic. You should also find out if the staff are licensed physicians or if they are simply “medical assistants” who have completed a very basic training program. Look for a facility that has been certified by the state as having met certain requirements. These requirements include: A medical aesthetic clinic must be at least 1500 square feet in size, have its own anesthesiologist on site, and must have all required equipment and facilities to perform surgery. Ask to see a copy of the clinic’s certificate of occupancy and to speak to the owner or manager.
Ask around! If you know someone who has had a procedure done at a particular clinic, then ask that person for his or her opinion of that clinic. You can also ask your doctor or other medical professional for referrals. Don’t be afraid to ask for references! Many medical professionals are happy to give you a list of previous patients they have worked with and/or referred to them. Keep in mind, however, that not all clinics are created equal. Some clinics have a very high success rate, while others may not offer the quality of care you need to achieve the results you want. To help you sort through the good clinics from the bad, we’ve put together a list of questions you should ask when looking into a medical aesthetic clinic. The first question you should ask is: What types of procedures does the clinic perform? This will give you an idea of the overall level of training and expertise you will be receiving. If the center only performs minor procedures such as fillers, Botox injections and chemical peels, then it is probably not a clinic you should use.
On the other hand, if the laser clinic offers more advanced procedures such as laser hair removal, microneedling, dermal remodeling and facelift-type surgeries, then it is likely to be a higher quality facility. The second question you should ask is: How many procedures does the clinic perform each week? This will give you an idea of how busy the center is and also how much attention to detail and care you will be receiving. Larger clinics that perform many procedures per week usually have additional staff to make sure all patients receive the same level of attention. Smaller clinics may simply pass you off to another doctor or nurse who is less experienced.
Check out the clinic’s website. Before you even schedule an appointment, check out the clinic’s website to see if it offers any information about the services offered. You should also look for pictures of the doctors who perform the procedures, and a list of procedures and prices. Talk to friends and family. If you know someone who has visited a medical aesthetic clinic, ask them what their experience was like. You can also talk to your own family members to get their take on the best medical aesthetic clinics in your area.
Research the clinics online. This is one of the most important steps when researching medical aesthetic clinics. Make sure you look at reviews, photos and descriptions of the clinic to see if there are any red flags. Ask your insurance company. Many insurance companies cover cosmetic procedures, including medical aesthetic treatments, but it’s important to check with your provider before scheduling any procedures. If they are covered, it will help you save money. What are the benefits of visiting a medical aesthetic clinic? Medical aesthetic clinics can provide many of the same services that an ambulatory surgery center can offer, but they tend to be more expensive. As a result, medical aesthetic clinics are typically found in major cities and large metropolitan areas. The services they offer include: emsella, Laser hair removal. Most medical aesthetic clinics offer laser hair removal to help patients get rid of unwanted hair. Laser hair removal is one of the most popular procedures offered by these centers, as it’s a quick, painless and inexpensive way to remove unwanted hair. Botox injections. Many medical aesthetic clinics offer Botox injections to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
