Cosmetic / Aesthetic Family Nurse Practitioner

BarbaraNP · May 30, 2009

Aly,

I don't know about the salary of an NP working for someone else doing this, however, I will tell you, that several NPs have their own practices doing all sorts of aesthetics and are doing VERY well. If you are in a good location and are good at what you do, it is a lucrative field.

BarbaraNP

alyxoxo82 · May 30, 2009

Thank you for the information!

BChapp3182 · May 31, 2009

Hi, as an RN I opened my own spa which eventually failed due to market and high overhead. It's a very tough field to get into, very competitive. Everyone assumes it's easy money so a new spa opens on every corner, drives down prices and raises pt expectations. Meanwhile your overhead is extreme, you have to pay a doc, advertising, staff, rent, equipment can be as high as $100k.

The pts will burn you out qick. 90% of them really don't have the money to be spending on these services so they expect life transformations from them, regardless of how much you tell them what can be expected. Or regardless of thier consent of possible side effects, when a minor s/e happens they want to sue. It seems nothing is ever cheap enough or good enough for this population. I got real burned out after a couple years.

As an NP, I do plan to go back to it on a very part time basis, like once a week or less. On the upside of the job is it is very social, very relaxed work environment, but you do have to "please" and sell procedures. Not something NPs typically do. Lots of smoozing. It does take some artistic ability and skill to do dermal fillers and you can really improve someone's appearance if your good. This was my favorite part of the job, especially someone with an obvious defect/deformity that impaired thier self esteem, to help them was a great feeling. But that is the rare pt, not the typical.

I see jobs in my area anywhere from $40-$75/hr. As for training, most spas will train you for free. So will the drug companies reps. I spent over $5k on classes but it was not necessary.

I should say that you will lose all your NP skills in this field. It's basically procedure after procedure. You won't be seeing sick people, managing illness or meds, no real dx disease, labs, etc. That could be a perk for some, lol.

alyxoxo82 · May 31, 2009

Thanks. So as an RN you can inject fillers and botox?

BChapp3182 · May 31, 2009

That varies state to state. My state recently passed a law stating only NPs and PAs can do it...you have to check with your state board of nursing..

westcoastgirl · Jun 1, 2009

I have seen ads around here for those centers seeking RN or NP (literally, the same person) so it made me wary if they understood the scope differences?

you could try a part time position as a RN first, and keep a separate NP job.

aet111 · Jul 25, 2011

Must the NP be a FNP or could a WHNP work in Cosmetics/Aesthetics?

danceluver · Jul 26, 2011

second the question right above...I would think if the patient is female, over 12 or 13 (depending on state) it would be ok?

danceluver · Mar 23, 2012

bump...does the practitioner need to be an FNP or will WHNP be ok too? Since most of the patients seem to be female