How do i become a botox nurse

The beauty industry has seen exponential growth in recent years and cosmetic procedures are in ever-increasing demand.

As more patients becoming interested in trialling injectables, laser therapy, and other treatments, cosmetic nurse career opportunities are soaring to new heights.

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Self-employed cosmetic nurse, Olivia Khan, told HealthTimes that “it’s a great time to be a cosmetic nurse”.

“I’ve never been busier, which is always a good thing to say. There’s a lot of interest in the procedures, and that’s right across the community now.”

However, while the demand for non-surgical cosmetic procedures continues to expand, so does the public's understanding of the importance of having qualified professionals perform those procedures, in order to reduce the risk of complications.

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Nursing is a versatile profession, but whichever path is chosen, a nurse's primary role is to look after the health and wellbeing of their patients.

Cosmetic nursing is no different, with the procedures they perform often playing a role in the confidence and self-esteem of their patients.

What does a cosmetic nurse do?

Cosmetic nurses perform a range of non-surgical procedures to assist patients with their appearance. Procedures include:

Injections

• Botox
• Collagen/other fillers
• Neurotoxin
• Sclerotherapy

Skin treatments

• Microdermabrasion
• Tattoo removal
• Chemical peels
• Light therapy
• Micro-needling

Laser treatments

• Hair removal
• Skin rejuvenation

Ms Khan said she finds cosmetic nursing incredibly rewarding.

“It might not come to mind like it’s the field you get the biggest rush out of, like working in critical care.”

“But I get a real kick out of making patients happy when they see the results they’re looking for. When they say they feel more confident in themselves, and you can see it on their face. I love that.”

“Sometimes, you see a patient who has had a bad experience in the past with a procedure that hasn’t been performed correctly.”

“And being able to give them that positive, safe experience, that makes me feel like I’m doing good.”

Career opportunities

There are numerous career options for cosmetic nurses, including self employment, with many choosing to establish their own beauty clinics or freelance at other establishments.

Cosmetic nurses might also obtain employment at cosmetic medical practices or clinics, cosmetic day hospitals or medical spa facilities.

Benefits of becoming a cosmetic nurse

Once qualified, you can enjoy the following benefits as a plastic surgeons nurse:

• Flexible hours
• Growing industry
• Plentiful job opportunities including contractual work
• Competitive salary
• Career advancement

“A couple of years ago, I became a self-employed practitioner, and it’s the best decision I ever made”, Ms Khan said.

“I feel like I’m driving my own career path, and I get to build my own work schedule, so the flexibility is a big plus.”

“And because of the demand for our services, I still feel really stable job-wise, even though I am working for myself, essentially as a freelancer of sorts.”

How to qualify as a cosmetic nurse

To become a cosmetic nurse in Australia you must first be qualified as a Registered Nurse. RN qualification is usually gained through the completion of a Bachelor of Nursing course, which takes around three years of full time study, however alternate pathways exist for qualified Enrolled Nurses.

The next step is to register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, which sets policies and standards and regulates Australia’s registered health practitioners, and ideally, obtain some general nursing experience.

To become a cosmetic nurse, registered nurses must complete a postgraduate qualification such as a graduate diploma in Cosmetic Nursing. This takes around 10 months of full-time study. Students undertaking their postgraduate diploma must also complete 76 hours of clinical placement to graduate.

To view cosmetic nursing courses, click here.

Salary

Salary for a cosmetic nurse will vary depending on their experience, location and employer however salaries in excess of $80,000 are quite common. Many employers offer commission or incentive based packages which can increase earning potential.

For more information on nurse salaries, click here.

As a degree that offers a seemingly endless number of specializations and unique areas to explore, nursing is truly one of the most multi-faceted careers available for those who want to work in the healthcare industry.

If you are interested in moving away from traditional bedside nursing and want to try your hand at something new and fresh, cosmetic nursing (also known as aesthetic nursing) may be a great fit for you. Quickly becoming one of the most in-demand clinic nursing jobs around the world, learning how to become an aesthetic nurse is an incredibly valuable asset to any new or experienced nurse looking to expand their knowledge base and build out their resume.

In this article, we will be discussing how to become a cosmetic nurse — including everything from role expectations, employment requirements, and even how to find high-quality cosmetic nursing jobs worth applying to. If you are interested in exploring a more niche and patient-focused area of the profession, here is everything you need to know about aesthetic nursing:

What is aesthetic/cosmetic nursing?

An aesthetic or cosmetic nurse is a registered nurse who has become certified to provide a variety of cosmetic medical procedures designed to help patients enhance their physical appearance. Working with their patients to provide education and support, examples of aesthetic procedures that trained cosmetic nurses can provide or assist with include:

• Injectable procedures — As some of the most well-known cosmetic procedures, dermal fillers and paralyzing neurotoxin Botox injections are designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and add extra volume to the face, lips, and more.
• Dermabrasions and micro-needling — Created to procedure healthy and younger-looking skin by creating new collagen production by triggering the healing cascade.
• Chemical peels — Commonly used on the face, chemical peels remove the old, dead layer of skin cells to reveal healthier and more youthful skin underneath.
• Laser hair removal — As a treatment used by both men and women, laser hair removal can target the underarms, legs, arms, and even the face depending on what the client is looking for.
• Non-surgical fat removal and body contouring — Using non-invasive techniques like triggering muscle contractions or targeting and freezing excess fat cells, these treatments can help patients achieve a more toned look.
• Tattoo removal — Using laser therapy, the ink from a less-than-desirable tattoo can be removed from the skin over a series of sessions by a laser-certified cosmetic nurse. 

Cosmetic nursing is an excellent option for registered nurses who want to build meaningful relationships with their patients and empower them to be their best selves. Most commonly working in smaller medical clinics and with smaller teams of medical professionals, the demand for certified cosmetic nurses has continued to climb over the past few years. Additionally, while historically the target audience for these procedures was women, recent increases in male interest in cosmetic surgeries and procedures have allowed aesthetic nurses to expand their practice to include a more diverse range of clients.

What do aesthetic nurses do?

Because the role of a cosmetic nurse is so diverse, there are many different responsibilities that they will be expected to perform. First and foremost, just like every other nursing job, looking after your patients and advocating for their safety is always a top priority for all aesthetic nurses. Whether the patient is coming for treatment for a chronic health condition or is looking to boost their self-confidence with an appearance-altering procedure, ensuring that all patients understand the risks, benefits, and potential complications of any procedure is an essential component of working as a cosmetic nurse.

Depending on the clinical setting that you work in, examples of other responsibilities that an aesthetic nurse would be expected to perform include:

• Running initial consultation appointments for any procedure, including discussing the patient’s motivation for treatment, past medical history, and scheduling future appointments.
• Conducting a thorough physical assessment of the patient, with particular focus on the desired treatment area.
• Providing treatment and supporting patients during non-surgical procedures, including injectable fillers and Botox, chemical facials, laser hair removal, and more.
• Performing pre and post-surgical care for patients undergoing more invasive cosmetic procedures.
• Assisting the attending surgeon during cosmetic surgeries such as liposuction, breast augmentations, tummy tucks, and more.
• Organize and facilitate post-procedure and surgery follow-up appointments to support patients throughout their healing process.

Depending on the specific procedure being performed and facility capabilities, cosmetic nurses may be expected to travel to the operating room with their surgeon to support them during more invasive surgeries. 

Cosmetic nursing requirements

Similar to other nursing specialties, there are unique requirements that any applicant must have in order to successfully land a job as an aesthetic nurse. While the specific requirements may differ depending on the type of clinic you apply for, examples of some must-have requirements for this position include:

• Having a valid RN license — In order to start your career as an aesthetic nurse, you first must become a licensed registered nurse! Whether you choose to take the traditional four-year bachelor of nursing (BSN) program or take the two-year associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), graduating from either of these programs is the first step to becoming a cosmetic nurse. After graduation, achieving a passing grade on the NCLEX-RN exam and holding a valid RN license from your state’s governing association are also required to apply for any aesthetic nursing position.
• Work experience as a nurse — Because of the unique challenges and responsibilities of this role, having experience working as a registered nurse is often a requirement for any applicant. While nurses working in any area of the profession can become cosmetic nurses, having experience working in specialties like plastic and aesthetic surgery or dermatology can be valuable assets to new graduates looking to become an aesthetic nurse.
• Pass the certification to become an aesthetic nurse — As the only specific requirement for this position, many nurses choose to complete the specialist nursing credential through the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board. In order to achieve this credit, no additional training is required, though you do need to pass an exam that is commonly offered twice throughout the year. Additionally, many nurses choose to pay for additional training courses, including filler and Botox injection training and laser certification before they apply for a cosmetic nursing position.

Finding aesthetic nursing jobs

Now that you have met all the criteria to become a cosmetic nurse, it’s time to get hired! As an incredibly competitive nursing specialty, it is not uncommon for newly certified aesthetic nurses to struggle to land a position in this field. And while this whole process can be very demoralizing, it is important to stay positive and stick with the search — you will be successful in time!

For those looking for an extra edge in their pursuit of joining the cosmetic nursing world, here are some of our extra tips for staying engaged and boosting your chances of landing an interview:

• Explore cosmetic clinics in your local area
• Follow other aesthetic nurses on social media
• Conduct online job searches regularly
• Speak with people working in the industry for advice

Putting it all together

Overall, aesthetic nursing is an excellent option for newly graduated or veteran registered nurses who are interested in exploring one of the quickest growing specialties in the medical field. If you love working closely with patients and making a change in their emotional and physical health, cosmetic nursing may be worth exploring as a potential future career move.

With many therapies and treatments becoming available for cosmetic nurses to perform, aesthetic nursing is guaranteed never to be a boring specialty. From Botox and fillers to laser therapy and skin treatments, these common options are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the diverse list of procedures that a certified cosmetic nurse can provide their patients.

If you are looking to make a change and are wondering how to become an aesthetic nurse, we hope this article has been a helpful resource in your journey towards entering this new and exciting area of nursing!

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Explore our available programs, including the TEAS exam preparation and NCLEX prep courses designed to help boost your confidence and expand your knowledge base before you write. Join Simple Nursing online today for free to begin your journey to improved grades and better comprehension today!

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