Aesthetics business?

[Nurse_cox]

Has anyone known any aesthetics nurses or just licensed aestheticians that owned there own businesses? I've heard that this is possible but I don't know if you have to work under a MD or what. I'm a BSN with 11 years of hospital experience. I would like to get in with a plastic surgeon or dermatologist but that is very difficult to do. Openings at plastic surgery offices are rare and they usually want someone who is already experienced. There are 8 month certifications from community colleges but I'm not sure if that would be beneficially or if that is more like a cosmetology license. Can anyone tell me what route to take to get in to this business?

[NedRN]

You own the business but you hire a medical director ("hire" as in 1099, not W-4). Often all they do is occasionally review charts remotely, depending on the nature of the business. Nice if you happen to have an MD after your name. I was approached for help once on this by someone I met online and thought of a good college friend who is a poor pediatrician (as are most pediatricians relatively - I make more than many of them as a nurse). She lived in Indiana but had a California license from residency there where the opportunity was. Thought it might be a good match, easy 6 figure or so addition to her income (effectively more than doubling it) for part time work. My stressed out friend declined saying that she though if her peers found out that she would lose respect. Kind of bogus for someone in private practice, but that was her rationalization.

So I don't know how to find such directors but the search sounds difficult without inside knowledge or how to make a good pitch to a doc. Surprising to me that it is so difficult because with little risk and little work (both again depending on the nature of the business), most physicians could add a good bit to their income. Start by googling medical directors, or placing an ad on a physician oriented site. If you already knew what you were doing, it would be much easier. Set up the business with everything financed and employees and business manager ready to go and research/business plan to show investors (most such businesses require a decent amount of capital) and a director would be much easier to find.

You certainly need the malpractice insurance coverage not only to make the director feel secure, but also protect your own assets - a corporate shield will not necessarily protect them from your negligence or malpractice.

Of course if you already knew what you were doing, you wouldn't be coming here to ask questions. So besides that limited help, I have one more suggestion. Virtually every business type has others helping the startup process with consultation and training. That will be expensive, but worth it depending on how well you are financed. There are likely franchise opportunities as well to explore.

As far as skills needed to do the clinical part, I doubt that is a hindrance. Most such businesses involve products or devices whose manufacturers will support full training of direct users.