A medical aesthetician is a professional who has specialized in skin care, particularly non-invasive cosmetic treatments. They are distinct from cosmetologists, as they focus on skin care, especially facial care. Medical estheticians provide a variety of services, procedures, products and consultations to help improve and maintain the appearance and health of the client or patient's skin. These services include chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser therapy, and potent acids.
Before enrolling in a training program for medical estheticians, it is important to research the program and ensure that it is authentic and provides appropriate training. Medical estheticians bring their skincare skills and experience to a medical environment. Their main job requirement is to help patients learn to care for their skin while undergoing medical treatment for a variety of diseases and conditions that may have an effect on the appearance of the skin. Cosmetologists generally focus on applying cosmetics and rarely work in a medical setting.
Estheticians are also qualified to apply cosmetics and provide beauty treatments, but their expertise includes a much wider range of skin care. A medical esthetician will provide advanced skin care at a medical level. They are trained to become familiar with chemistry, nutrition, pharmacology and advanced makeup techniques, working with chemical peels, scrubs and other more intensive treatments. Medical estheticians may work for doctors and patients with more complex skin care needs.
It is important that when you choose your medical aesthetics course, you make sure that it meets the requirements of the province in which you plan to work. Medical estheticians can also be self-employed entrepreneurs who hire their services from doctor's offices. A licensed medical esthetician working in a medical setting, such as a dermatology office, can provide you with many of the same procedures you might receive at a spa or beauty salon, with one important distinction. For medical estheticians who aspire to own and operate their own medical spa, a good knowledge of business practices and financial management is considered essential.
Medical estheticians also perform manual lymphatic drainage and other non-invasive medical procedures in cancer clinics. Most medical estheticians complete their training as estheticians before starting specialized training or as part of their training to become a medical esthetician. There are a number of aesthetic medicine diploma courses across Canada that generally require between 1,000 and 1,100 hours of training to complete them. Medical estheticians can also perform the same tasks as a beautician; however, they have received additional training that allows them to work in a clinical environment where they can perform more specialized treatments. Medical estheticians working in medical spas can see clients with hyperpigmentation, scarring, or other skin conditions. They may have training in more advanced medical spa techniques such as laser light energy treatments, galvanic treatments or radiofrequency treatments.
