The practice of medical aesthetics is an increasingly popular and gratifying field of medicine. Medical aesthetics is the practice of medicine and the use of medical procedures to help patients achieve aesthetic goals rather than health-related ones.
What are Medical Aesthetics?
Medical aesthetics are any of a number of medical procedures designed to improve the look of a specific body part. This includes everything from extensive surgical procedures such as liposuction to minor cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal or lip fillers.
Types of Medical Aesthetic Procedure
Here we will go over some of the most common of the different types of medical aesthetic procedures.
Facial Injectables – These include what is commonly known as Botox, as well as various lip fillers and the like. Facial injectables are minimally invasive procedures designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the face, improve the elasticity of the skin or give the skin a plump, youthful look.
Laser Treatments – This includes laser hair removal, laser facials, laser lipolysis (laser lipo), and a variety of treatments administered by laser. These typically aim to improve the skin and complexion, though not always as laser lipolysis indicates.
PRP – Short for platelet-rich plasma, PRP is a common facial treatment. Frequently known as a “vampire facial,” PRP is used to improve skin texture, reduce hyperpigmentation and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Body Contouring – This includes CoolSculpting and all similar forms of treatment. Generally used to address the appearance of fat deposits in various parts of the body, this treatment has grown increasingly common in the medical aesthetics industry in general.
Do You Need a Medical Degree to do Medical Aesthetics?
There is no need for a medical degree to become a medical esthetician. Instead, medical estheticians generally have a background in cosmetology and must pass some sort of state licensing exam to work.
What is an Aesthetic Medical Device?
An aesthetic medical device is any medical device designed to be used in cosmetic procedures. This includes neurotoxin compounds such as Botox, as well as a variety of types of laser.
What Are the Types of Aesthetic Laser?
There are a number of different types of aesthetic lasers, although the main three types are hair removal, skin treatment, and laser lipolysis.
Hair Removal Lasers – These are the types of lasers used in laser hair removal. They focus the intense laser light on the hair follicle’s root and destroy it to prevent hair from growing back.
Skin Treatment Lasers – These are the types of lasers used to treat sunspots and other skin blemishes. There is a lot of overlap between this type of laser and the hair removal type of laser. However, these lasers are generally more sensitive and are able to focus laser light on minute pockets of melanin in the skin and eliminate them.
Laser Lipolysis Lasers – These types of lasers are used in laser fat reduction. They use focused laser light to puncture the side of a fat cell and liquefy the lipids inside it, draining it through the hole bored and excreting it through the body’s lymphatic system. Emerald Laser has pioneered the discipline of laser fat reduction.
What is Laser Lipolysis?
Laser lipolysis, also referred to as “laser lipo,” involves the application of a low-intensity laser. Lasers can generate singular-directional light and heat to a minimal area. With laser lipo, the technician will target the cell with the laser. The laser penetrates the skin, reaches the targeted fat cells, and bores a tiny pore into the cellular membrane. In addition to creating the small hole, the laser emulsifies (melts) the lipids inside the cell, which allows them to seep through the pore. The body’s lymphatic system then naturally disposes of the lipids. Emerald Laser by Erchonia works differently from other laser lipolysis methods. Emerald’s system uses ten 532 nanometer lasers to target fat cells. While the system allows the cells to drain, they remain intact. Other laser systems destroy the fat cells, which can lead to fatty deposits developing in other areas of the body. Additionally, Emerald Laser is relatively painless when compared to other laser systems. Most patients don’t feel anything at all.
Why You Should Offer Laser Lipolysis Treatment
Laser lipolysislaser fat reduction
Even if you’re sold on laser lipolysis, it’s essential to recognize that all laser lipolysis processes are different. The Emerald Laser method has several significant features that other laser lipo processes don’t:
- Emerald Laser is relatively painless when compared to other laser systems.
- Emerald is the only laser system approved by the FDA for individuals with a BMI over 30.
- Erchonia is a pioneer in the medical fat reduction industry. They received the first FDA market clearance for a body fat reduction laser. Since that time, Erchonia has received multiple FDA market clearances.
- With packages ranging from $1,500 to $2,500, Emerald is one of the most cost-effective weight loss systems on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Aesthetics
Here we go over some of the most commonly asked questions about medical aesthetics.
How Old Do I Need To Be To Receive Medical Aesthetic Treatment?
Generally, the minimum age for treatment is 18. There are, however, exceptions for procedures that are deemed medically necessary. Most of the time, though, you have to be at least 18 years old for a medical aesthetics procedure.
How Long Do Treatments Last?
It depends entirely on the specific type of treatment and the extent to which it is administered. Some may last for months, whereas some, such as laser hair removal, may be permanent.
Will Insurance Cover the Cost of My Procedure?
Insurance will generally not cover the cost of cosmetic procedures, as they are not medically necessary. People oftentimes pay for medical aesthetic treatment out of pocket. However, many providers offer payment plans for their procedures.
Why Should My Practice Consider Aesthetic Lasers?
Your practice should consider aesthetic lasers, as they expand your scope of treatment and allow you greater utility in addressing patients’ cosmetic issues. The use of aesthetic lasers is expanding widely and is in demand nationwide, meaning there is a great interest in being able to provide it for your practice.
Why Offer Aesthetic Procedures at All?
The interests of people and the bounds of medical technology are no longer solely limited to the preservation of life and health. Medicine has expanded to the point that it can be used to enhance the aesthetics of someone’s body. While this is nowhere near as essential as life-saving treatment, it is still a worthwhile pursuit to which many have devoted considerable interest. Your patients are undoubtedly interested in medical aesthetics, and the industry is exploding, demonstrating that this demand is not localized.
