Transform Your Career 
Estheticians find many benefits in working with cosmetic surgeons 
By: Rebecca Hoffman

 
Many things get better with age … wine, cheese, friends.  We know all too well that skin is certainly not at the top of that list.  It wrinkles, sags, droops and becomes spotted.  As people age, very few are completely happy with the state of their skin.  An increasing number of men and women are turning to cosmetic surgeons to correct these problems with facelifts, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and other anti-aging treatments. 

Since many Americans are now aware of the importance of skin care, it is no longer adequate for a doctor to surgically correct sagging skin and simply send the patient on her way.  The patient wants to know how to care for her skin at home to prevent future problems.  She may want to know which products are best for her specific skin type, which ingredients are essential in a good sunscreen, or which kinds of makeup can camouflage a bruise while it heals.

Surgeons, alone, do not have the time nor the expertise to offer these services to their patients.  Many cosmetic surgeons are finding that working with a medical esthetician creates a natural partnership.  Ultimately, both professionals are focused on restoring healthy, youthful-looking skin for their patients.  “We have found that having an esthetician on our staff has rounded out our practice very nicely,” says Dr. Robert K. Sigal, surgeon at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery in Reston, Virginia .  “As doctors, we are able to make skincare recommendations, but an esthetician can follow-up with the patients more thoroughly and provide services that we simply do not have the time or often the abilities to perform.”

For some estheticians, partnering with a surgeon is a great career move that provides tremendous growth potential.  “There is only so far you can go in a spa as far as clinical capabilities go,” says Wendy Canzanese, medical esthetician at The Austin-Weston Center.  “I am able to do so much more for my patients with the support of doctors in a medical setting.”  Canzanese joined the cosmetic surgery practice after working in a traditional spa for two years and has found the switch personally and professionally fulfilling.

Medical vs. Spa Environment 

The pampering elements that a client typically expects in a spa are not the primary focus in a medical facility.  Plush robes, flavored water and scented candles are considered extraneous luxuries for the highly professional medical setting.  In place of this pampering, the patient receives better professional care and higher quality service than she would receive in a traditional spa. “I have had treatments in a spa, but I have found that a medical facility has more access to research and the staff is more knowledgeable, and that makes me feel better about the service I am receiving,” says Dawn Frier, a patient at The Austin-Weston Center. The primary concern in a medical facility is to provide the patient with the most effective medical treatment for her particular condition.

However, nurturing abilities are important for every esthetician, regardless of the setting. Patents should still be treated in a way that allows them to feel comfortable and relaxed.  Clients should be assured that they will be offered the best services and products available, while being cared for in a personal, genuine manner.  The esthetician provides the medical team with a person who has the time and the training to deal personally with the patient before and after the treatment and during the follow-up services.

The Role of the Medical Esthetician 

The medical esthetician may be one of the first contacts a patient has in the facility.  Often patients aren’t quite ready for cosmetic surgery, but are looking for a more serious skincare treatment or program. Patients who have some concerns regarding the appropriate treatment appreciate a consultation with an esthetician.  This professional can alleviate the patient’s trepidations while directing her toward the most suitable treatment.  Men and women in their 30s and 40s often have concerns, such as wrinkles or sun spots, but these problems may not be serious enough to warrant surgery.  Many medical aesthetiques offer light to moderate peels, microdermabrasion, facials and anti-aging treatments, which achieve the desired results without the downtime of more aggressive treatments or surgery.  More aggressive peels, dermabrasion and fillers, such as Botox and Restalyn, would be referred to the physician.

Estheticians need to align themselves with a reputable dermatologist in the area.  Estheticians have a responsibility to understand and point out irregularities in the skin that cause concern since estheticians are often the first line of defense in finding skin cancers.  Patients will appreciate a referral to a dermatologist who is personally known and respected. The dermatologist, in turn, can refer patients who desire skincare treatments that he does not perform to the esthetician.

Good estheticians will act as great marketers for the medical practice, whether they realize it or not.  An esthetician has the opportunity to build ongoing relationships with patients, since these people visit their esthetician much more frequently than they would visit their surgeon.  “People feel good about the relationships we build.  They feel like they are receiving extra attention, and it gives them another reason to come back to the practice,” Canzanese explains.  Her patient, Cathy Wolfley, has never had cosmetic surgery, but says if Canzanese recommended it to her, she would seriously consider it.  They have discussed the possibility of a mid-facelift in the future.

Education 

Skincare education is a key responsibility of the medical esthetician.  The esthetic professional should have a thorough understanding of the skin in order to analyze different conditions and recommend treatment.  An esthetician in a cosmetic surgery practice should familiarize herself with the different surgical and non-surgical procedures offered and how the skin is affected by each.

It is advisable to hold an educational seminar to attract new patients to the practice and to introduce new products or treatments to existing patients.  Representatives from your product lines are typically happy to participate with you.  Advertise the event and invite the local media.  The seminar will help to position you as a skincare expert and increase your credibility. 

Credibility is extremely important in the medical setting and it takes time to establish.  Show the staff that you are serious about your job and about establishing relationships with the staff and patients.  Once your patients start noticing results, you will gain the respect of your co-workers.

Align yourself with a good product manufacturer who offers support and educational opportunities.  “This is one of the most important things an esthetician can do for herself,” says Canzanese.  “It is extremely important to know the product lines you are retailing and the ingredients that are in them.”  Some of the key ingredients that Canzanese suggests looking for in medical-grade skincare products are hydroquinone, topic retinoids, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy / beta hydroxyl acid and L-Ascorbic acid.

Every member of a staff should be an illustrative example of good skin care.  The Austin-Weston Center held a staff appreciation event during two days in order to increase staff awareness of the services, products and education that are available.  Each staff member was offered a facial, microdermabrasion or a light peel, as well as a home care regimen.  “We want everyone on the staff to have healthy skin because it reflects well on what we do here,” Canzanese says.

Each staff member at the Austin-Weston Center refers patients to the esthetique. Patient consultants give each patient a certificate for a free skin evaluation and discount on initial services and products, whether the patient is having surgery or not.  They have found that it gets the patients excited about skincare and most take advantage of the offer. 

Surgeon referrals constitute a large portion of business in a medical esthetique. “I do recommend that my patients visit the esthetique, as everyone can benefit from skincare education at the very least,” Sigal says. Occasionally the doctors will invite Canzanese into the consultation with the patient to discuss a skin concern.  Concerns, such as sun spots or acne, may not be addressed with the selected surgical procedure, but are challenges that can be remedied in the esthetique.  Patients appreciate that they are able to have all of their skincare needs addressed in one location by a staff they trust.

Pre-Operative Care 

Many surgeons are stressing the importance of getting the skin in its best possible condition before facial cosmetic surgery.  When the skin is healthy before surgery, it heals faster and has better results.  At least four to six weeks before a facial procedure, an esthetician should analyze the skin, develop a skincare regimen and administer a thorough cleansing to draw out impurities. 

“A skin resurfacing treatment is often good before a surgical procedure,” Sigal says.  “Ingredients, such as Retinol, decrease the thickness of the outer layer of skin and make it easier for the skin to be penetrated by lasers.  It also increases blood flow, which helps the skin heal faster.”

When patients notice their skin looking better even before the surgery, they get excited about the upcoming procedure and the results they will see afterward.

 
Post-Operative Care 

Canzanese’s focus for her patients after surgery is to teach them how to care for their skin while it is healing.  “So many patients are afraid to touch their face after surgery,” she says.  “Knowing how much pressure to apply and how to properly massage the skin can help circulate blood and accelerate the healing process.”

Camouflage makeup can give a patient the confidence to socialize during the healing process.  Bruising after surgery is common, but embarrassing nonetheless.  Teaching a patient how to cover the bruises with a mineral makeup that is good for the skin is a great post-operative service.  Patients must realize, however, that the bruises will change with time and the patient will need to know how to adjust her makeup routine as these changes occur.  Encourage the use of minimal camouflage that will not draw attention to the bruise.

 
Partnering with a Cosmetic Surgeon

There are continuing opportunities available to work with a cosmetic surgeon, as well as other medical professionals.  If you are considering making the switch from the traditional spa setting to a medical setting, understand that the environment and treatments offered will be very different from what you are used to.  Thoroughly consider the benefits and tradeoffs of each.  If you find that the medical setting is where you will best be able to develop your level of expertise and find personal satisfaction, carefully research the practice before signing on the line.  Surgeons are looking for an individual who is extremely knowledgeable about the skin, has excellent people skills and fits with their personalities and the practice’s vision.  If you are not comfortable with the practice’s vision, beliefs and staff, you will likely not be happy there.  The selection process is a two way street and you should both feel positive about the decision. 

Working with a cosmetic surgeon allows you to be part of a patient’s complete transformation.  You will be a key component in helping the patient prepare for the surgery and in aiding the healing process after the surgery.  It is extremely rewarding to help a patient regain her confidence and encounter a new outlook on life.  With the cooperative efforts of qualified professionals, some people do get better with age!