Medical Spa Training

Medical Spa Training

According to the International Spa Association, medical spas are the fastest growing segment of the spa industry. The number of medical spas has grown by 88 percent since July 2008. There are already over 900 medical spas, or medi-spas, in the U.S.

At a medi-spa, clients receive medical treatments as well as spa therapies. For example, they may receive cosmetic surgery and advanced skin rejuvenation treatments along with spa treatments expressly designed to reduce swelling, minimize discomfort and speed healing. At a minimum, medical treatments available at a medi-spa include laser treatments, facial peels, microdermabrasion, as well as collagen and Botox injections. Cosmetic surgeons may also collaborate with medi-spa staff members to help patients recover from more extensive cosmetic surgeries, such as liposuction and breast enhancement.

Medical spas must have at least one licensed physician on staff and often have additional medical staff including nurses. However, medical spa therapists—primarily estheticians and massage therapists—play a critical role and provide many basic and advanced treatments for clients.

Medical Spa Degrees and Qualifications

Anyone treating clients in a medical spa must be a licensed professional working within a legal scope of practice. This includes doctors and nurses, but the minimal qualification for most medical spa jobs is beauty or massage therapist licensure as either an esthetician or a massage therapist.

If you already have one of these licenses, you can take additional post-graduate medical spa training seminars and courses. If you're just starting out, you can earn one of these licenses through a program that has a specific medical spa training focus, such as medical massage therapy or medical esthetics. These programs typically offer an associate's degree through a two-year program which will give you extensive preparation and credibility.

Medical Spa Training Courses

In most areas, only medical doctors and registered nurses can perform surgeries and give collagen and Botox injections legally. However, two main types of medical spa training for non-medical professionals are available:

Medical Esthetics

In addition to the basics of skin care and facial beauty that every licensed esthetician treats, specific medical spa training may include any or all of the following:

• Administering light chemical peels
• Performing micro-dermabrasion
• Providing clinical facials
• Preparing skin for cosmetic treatments, such as lasers
• Advising patients on how to help delicate skin tissue heal, including recommending skin resurfacing kits and sunscreens.
• Applying camouflage make-up to hide post-operative bruises
• Using laser cosmetic resurfacing treatments

Medical Massage Therapy

In addition to the anatomy, physiology, basic massage technique and other skills every massage therapist needs, you will need the following additional medical spa training to be successful in the medi-spa environment:

• Lymphatic drainage massage, a specific form of massage designed to remove fluid that builds up in reaction to surgery, minimizing swelling and improving circulation to speed healing
• Body wraps and other pampering techniques specifically designed to reduce post-operative pain and support the healing process
• Cosmetic surgical procedures and healing processes
• Collaboration skills to work successfully with doctors and other medical professionals
• Thorough understanding of the benefits of massage therapy

Choosing the Medical Spa Career Path

For many aspiring spa professionals, medical spa training is an exciting opportunity to deliver advanced beauty treatments and to collaborate with medical professionals. Medical spa therapy is also a lucrative profession that is very much in demand.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment of estheticians and other skin care specialists will increase 34 percent between 2006 and 2016—more than three times the average for other professions. This increase is anticipated to be a result of advancements in facial beauty procedures, such as those performed in medical spas. In addition, the field of massage therapy is expected to grow primarily through growing acceptance of its benefits during times of healing and recuperation. Therefore, medical spa training is a great field for those who enjoy integrating spa services with conventional therapy treatments.

Related Articles:

• Inside a Spa
• Growth of the Spa & Beauty Industry
• Find the Field that Fits
• What's Hot in Spa & Massage
• Top Ten Beauty Treatments

View all our Spa and Beauty Articles to learn more about the spa, massage and beauty industry.

Return to the Beauty Career Center home page.

Looking for Spa Therapy or Beauty Schools?

Try our Spa, Massage & Beauty Schools page. There you will find a comprehensive list of schools which offer program descriptions. You can also request information from the schools that interest you most.

Sources:
International Spa Association, 2009
PlasticSurgery.com, 2003-2009
SkinInc.com, 2007
Clover Park Technical College, 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009