For information only. Not meant as advice in any form. Please consult your medical professional or lawyer.
Med spas (sometimes known as medi-spas or med spas) offer the soothing pleasures that traditional spas are known for while also offering medical procedures that are more typically associated with a doctor’s clinic. Several jurisdictions, including California, have tight regulations for how med spas must operate.
So how does one go about opening a med spa in California? Med spa laws differ from state to state. Who may own a med spa, who may offer med spa services, and other pertinent information may be impacted by state regulations. While some states are somewhat lenient, others are rather stringent. California has strict regulations that apply to med spas in general.
Requirements to Open a Med Spa in California
There are several med spa requirements and parameters that need to be met before one gets approval to open one in California. These requirements can be broadly classified into 3 main categories: Business requirements, legal requirements, and clinical requirements.
1. Business Requirements
There are several business requirements for a med spa, such as marketing strategies, branding, treatment concepts, public perception, available equipment, and funding. Every company starts off as a concept, and before you can start putting your plan into action, it may take months or even years of planning.
One needs to be clear and precise about the menu of services that are to be offered by the med spa. A variety of spa services are available at med spas, and the majority choose a specialism (medical weight loss, de-aging processes, or chemical facial treatments, among others). Just ensure not to overextend the capabilities of your med spa.
Med spas must provide services beyond top-notch medical and aesthetic procedures performed by a nurse practitioner. In order to draw customers, they must also establish a welcoming and exciting environment. Designing the interior in a way that makes the nervous patients who are on the fence about aesthetic procedures to meet their beauty goals feel right at home is a great way to boost the revenue of a newly established med spa.
A lot of paperwork is required before lenders like banks and loan officers can give you the money you need to launch your business. Before you can obtain finance, you must demonstrate on paper that your firm can be successful, unless you are starting it with personal funds. Business factors like revenue, cash flow, spending, operating costs, and organizational structure must be covered in your plan.
2. Legal Requirements
Once you have a firm grasp on the business goals for your med spa’, you must make sure that the facility complies with all legal specifications set forth by the Californian government. The most crucial legal prerequisite is to confirm that you have the appropriate license to run a med spa. Unless you got it from someone else, this usually entails being a doctor or a physician certified by a medical board.
The majority of legal bodies also demand insurance as a legal need to pay for liabilities and damages. In the med spa sector, the price of business and health insurance is of the utmost importance. Med spas use general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance among other types of insurance plans.
Most states require med spas to be owned by a registered physician or physician-owned firm due to the specialized nature of the industry. Fortunately, there are ways for non-doctors to run med spas legally and legally while they own and operate them. A management services firm makes it possible for non-doctors to establish med spas (MSO). An MSO manages employment, payroll, accounting, and company operations.
In essence, an MSO is in charge of every area of the company but for the actual medical care. To stay compliant, you’ll still need to work with a professional doctor (usually a dermatologist, medical director or plastic surgeon), but the day-to-day will be entirely under your hands. Finding a doctor approved by a medical board to collaborate with is an essential step for non-doctors in developing your med spa business.
3. Clinical Requirements
Important clinical considerations that need to be addressed are the services you provide, the qualifications of your team, and the medical equipment available. Usually, an excellent med spa will offer both holistic and medical services. However, it can be a good idea to start by concentrating on one area. For instance, you can provide skin treatments, masks, chemical peels, body contouring, and facials in addition to Botox injections.
You can target the same client several times by concentrating on a variety of invasive and holistic offerings. For instance, many only require Botox every three to four months. You can persuade that client to return in between Botox sessions for a different cosmetic procedure. For instance, you can promote facials by discussing their ability to tighten skin and boost collagen creation.
California Specific Laws and Regulations for Med Spas
In addition to the standard requirements for med spas, California has several unique laws and rules regarding the establishment of med spas. California law mandates that medical firms be organized as professional corporations. You must change your med spa from an LLC (limited liability company) to a professional corporation if you already operate one in another state and wish to expand in California.
Additionally, a doctor must own this professional corporation. Only medical practitioners licensed by a medical board (such as doctors, dentists, therapists, psychologists, optometrists, and other medical specialists) are allowed to own med spas.
Laws Pertaining to Specific Procedures
Certain med spa treatments are subject to special laws. Botox injections, laser hair removal, and microdermabrasion are all frequently provided therapies in med spas and all call for the supervision of a registered medical professional. The penalties for breaking this law include license suspension and felony charges, among others. Some of the laws regulating include the following:
- Botox Injection Laws: Botox injection is a serious procedure. For this reason, California law prohibits unlicensed medical assistants from administering Botox injections. Only physicians may perform this procedure. A physician assistant or registered nurse may also inject Botox but only under a physician’s supervision.
- California Laser Hair Removal Laws: Laser hair removal, spider vein removal, and tattoo removal are some of the popular services offered in many medi-spas. Not all employees can perform this procedure, however. The California law states that only a licensed physician or under the direct supervision of a licensed physician can procedures that involve lasers and other intense pulse light devices be performed.
- Unqualified Medical Professionals: It’s illegal for the medical assistants, licensed vocational nurses, cosmetologists, electrologists, aestheticians, registered nurses, and physician assistants to perform most med spa procedures independently.
- California Laws on Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion is another in-demand procedure among medi-spa clients. It’s a minimally invasive procedure for treating skin issues such as fine lines, wrinkles, scars, acne, age spots, and melasma, among others. If the procedure will only affect the skin’s surface (stratum corneum), it’s considered a cosmetic treatment, and a licensed aesthetician or cosmetician is allowed to perform it without supervision.
- On the contrary, if the procedure penetrates the deeper layer of the skin (scar removal, blemish, and wrinkle treatments), it’s considered a medical treatment and only a licensed physician can perform it. Registered nurses and physician assistants are allowed to carry it out under a licensed physician’s supervision.
Acquire Certifications in Aesthetic Medicine Specialities at Face Med Store
Training in aesthetics may open up new employment options in regenerative medicine, beauty treatments, and cosmetology. Thanks to the excellent lecturers and course materials, you can learn more when undertaking a certified course in a specialty that interests you. It’s also a great way to boost your credibility as a med spa owner by showcasing your specialized training in aesthetic procedures.
We provide top-notch courses at FACE Med Store that cover various skin care treatments and therapies. Browse our selection of online training courses to learn more about IV therapy, Surgitron equipment, laser hair removal, and other topics. To find out more about the med spa services we can provide for you, get in touch with us right away.
