Appearance Enhancement Service vs. Med Spa Service

Med spa service providers generally offer a range of services including both non-medical procedures, that can be performed by individuals with a non-medical license, as well as services that are medical procedures that can only be performed by individuals holding a professional license.

Spa services are non-medical procedures that can be performed by individuals with a non-medical license issued by the Department of State. 

How Do I Identify Med Spa Service?

Medical services tend to be more invasive and riskier than traditional spa offerings, although there are several well-known cosmetic procedures that require a medical license to perform. Some common medical procedures include, but are not limited to:

  • Injections of any drugs (including Botox) or any fillers (including as Restylane) whether by needle or pressure pen
  • Cool Sculpting
  • Cryotherapy
  • Microneedling
  • Ear Candling
  • Laser procedures (except for laser hair removal)
  • Peels (dermal)
  • Pen Treatments
  • Plasma Treatments
  • Radiofrequency Procedures (e.g., Facials and Body Treatments)
  • Skin Tag Removal
  • Ultrasound
  • Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1, compound or name brand weight loss drugs such as Ozempic)
  • Intravenous (IV) Therapy
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Vitamin Infusions

Med Spa Procedures

 

Any business offering these procedures or promoting “med spa” services must be licensed as a medical facility. or a medical practice. These medical facilities employ licensed physicians or nurse practitioners to serve as medical directors, who ensure that patients receive safe and effective medical care from qualified staff. Physician practices are owned and operated by licensed physicians responsible for providing safe and effective care to patients

  • CONSUMER TIPS: Providers offering these services through a professional entity, such as a professional corporation (PC) or a professional limited liability company (PLLC), must receive a Certificate of Authorization from the New York State Education Department. Before receiving any treatments, you may wish to verify an entity’s professional licensure on the NYS Education Department’s website Online Registration Renewal | Office of the Professions .
  • Even if the provider is organized as a “PC” or “PLLC” they cannot have the word “spa” in their name. If your medical provider has “spa” in their name, that could be a red flag for other violations. 

Who Licenses Med Spas?

There is no individual NYS agency that licenses providers of med spa services. Depending on the type of services provided, providers may be regulated by the Department of State, the State Education Department and/or the Department of Health.  It is highly recommended that consumers check with the appropriate agency to ensure that such providers are appropriately licensed prior to services being performed.

Is Your Med Spa Safe?

How to Identify Licensed Medical Professionals

  • Medical facilities that offer med spa services usually have a medical director who is a licensed physician or nurse practitioner in good standing. The name of the medical director and their credentials should be easily found on business’s website. Physician practices are owned, operated and staffed by licensed physicians or nurse practitioners. Licensed physician assistants and registered nurses often work for physician practices. It is a red flag if this information is not available. Look for any memberships to reputable professional organizations or associations.
  • Check the New York State Department of Health Office of Professional Medical Conduct website to see if the physician has had disciplinary action taken against them. Additionally, you can verify whether someone is a licensed health care professional, such as a physician or nurse, on the New York State Education Department’s website.

medical misconduct search

  • See what other consumers have to say: Look online for reviews and pay attention to consumer complaints.
     
  • Get a medical consultation before any procedures: All providers of med spa services must provide consultations and give you the opportunity to ask questions about the procedures you’d like to have done. These are medical procedures, and you must be seen by a medical professional prior to receiving any services. Important questions to ask include:
    1. who will perform the procedure and what that entails;
    2. how much experience the practitioner has with the procedure; and
    3. whether the practitioner has had any adverse outcomes or complications and how these were managed.
    4. while Med Spas may provide a wide variety of services, it is best to work with a practitioner who has significant experience performing the specific procedure you would like done.

File a Complaint

Consumers need to file complaints with the appropriate authority.

Department of health complaints

state education complaints

licensing services complaints

  • Unlawful practice of medical procedures/Harm: In cases where an unlicensed practitioner has performed a procedure in violation of the law that has caused harm, consider contacting local law enforcement.