Let’s be honest—more and more med spas pop up around Philadelphia every day, and with aesthetics becoming such a popular industry, you can find more aestheticians and skincare providers than ever before.
It leads you to wonder—how do you find the right provider for you?
Working with the best aesthetician for your skin’s needs can make the difference between having a ho-hum aesthetic journey versus having an exceptional one where all your needs are not just met—but exceeded.
Here, we’ll explain what it takes to become an aesthetician and what signs to look out for to know you’ve found one of the top aestheticians in Philadelphia.
What Is an Aesthetician?
Whether you’re visiting our team at About Face Aesthetics or any other med spa, your skincare treatment will probably be performed by an aesthetician.
An aesthetician is a skincare professional who has completed a specialized education program, undergone hundreds of hours of in-clinic, hands-on training, and passed a state licensing exam to ensure they are equipped to safely and knowledgeably treat your skin.
They can use chemical peels, lasers, microneedling devices, and other medical-grade treatments to address your skin concerns, improve your skin’s health, and enhance your overall confidence.
Requirements for Becoming an Aesthetician
Every state has slightly different requirements for becoming an aesthetician, but here are the requirements for becoming a licensed aesthetician in Pennsylvania:
- Pass the state theory and procedural examinations.
- Complete a minimum of 300 hours of instruction in skin care at a licensed school
These carefully monitored programs help aspiring skin care providers learn as much as possible about skin—both esthetic and medical—providing them (and ergo, you) a well-rounded educational experience that leaves them in a position to fully understand how the skin functions, changes with time, and safety precautions.
Aesthetician vs. Esthetician
While people often use the terms interchangeably, there is actually a difference between an aesthetician and an esthetician.
Their roles are similar, but estheticians focus more on the cosmetic or cleaning procedures. They can also have titles like “skincare specialist” or “facialist,” as their services typically include:
- Facial massages
- Facials
- Waxing
- Chemical peels
- Eyelash services (extensions, lifts, tints)
- Makeup application
Most of the time, these services do not include the more aggressive, medical-grade treatments that deliver more dramatic, long-lasting results.
Estheticians have to complete the same training and clinic hours as an aesthetician, but they do not have to have specific training on medical equipment like aestheticians do. However, they still need to understand the basics of skin science and how to safely treat common skin concerns.
Aestheticians, however, get trained and licensed to handle more of the medical-grade equipment, and they receive more training on those devices. The services an aesthetician typically provides include:
When it comes to your care, you should always know which type of provider will administer your treatment. If you’re unsure, you can always ask your provider about their experience and which treatments they are able to provide
The Importance of Finding a Licensed Aesthetician
When looking for the top aestheticians in Philadelphia, start by confirming that your provider is licensed by the state of Pennsylvania (or whatever state in which you are receiving treatment).
Reputable clinics will only employ providers licensed by the state. While it is not required, it is usually a sign of professionalism to display those licenses, or to show them when asked. This license proves that your provider has the necessary experience and training to offer the treatments you need safely and effectively.
What to Look for in Your Aesthetician
When looking for the top aestheticians in Philadelphia, consider these top factors.
Advanced Training
While aestheticians are required to have 300 hours of experience in a licensed clinic or med spa, providers can take additional training on top of their required coursework. This helps them deepen their knowledge of aesthetic treatments and techniques to improve the quality of your care.
Additionally, the best providers continue learning about advancements in aesthetic care by attending conferences and training for new services. That way, they can provide high-quality care with the latest devices and services available in the aesthetics space.
Experience
When looking for the best aesthetician for your needs, it’s also important to look at experience. While an aesthetician who has just received their license can provide the care you want, someone with even a year or 2 of additional experience could likely deliver a higher quality of care.
When looking for the top aestheticians in Philadelphia, think about both how long they’ve been practicing and what treatments they offer you. At About Face Aesthetics, you will not find more experienced providers; our newest aesthetician has been utilizing all of our medical devices (lasers, microneedling, chemical peels, etc.) for over 10-years.
Transparency
When finding the right aesthetician for your needs, choose a provider who is transparent. When you meet for a consultation, a provider should be clear about what issues they can help you with, how long you can expect results to last, and more.
If you ask a provider questions and feel that they aren’t willing to answer them, aren’t telling the whole truth, or truly addressing your concerns, it’s best to trust your gut and keep looking.
If you feel like they aren’t being fully open with you, you can’t build a trusting relationship or receive the best care.
Patient-Centered Care
When looking for the top aestheticians in Philadelphia, you should look for providers who base their care around their patients. One-size-fits-all solutions in skin care simply don’t exist—every patient is a unique person with different needs, and our aestheticians will always adjust their recommended care to accommodate those needs.
If you are talking with an aesthetician and they describe any of their treatments as “the ultimate solution” or “the only treatment you’ll need,” then they’re probably not the provider for you.
The best provider will be one who takes the time to understand your needs, your medical history and your goals, so they can create a custom plan that fits you and only you.
Positive Reviews
Is there a better way to learn about a provider than from their past patients? If your aesthetician has more than a few month’s worth of experience, they most likely have Google reviews.
Google reviews are an extremely helpful resource for prospective clients because they give you a real-life glimpse of someone else’s experience from a provider or practice. Consider how many reviews a practice has, how long the business has been in practice, the main points of each review, and the general consensus.
For example, if a practice has a 5-star rating with only 7 reviews, they may not offer the same scope of experience as a practice that has a 4.5-star rating with over 100 reviews. By looking at the quantity, quality, and tone of the reviews, you can get a good handle on the experience and results each practice might offer.
Pro Tip: Some practices may have reviews posted on their own website. Please keep in mind that the business can completely create and control what is shown on their website, and the advertised reviews may be cherry-picked to make themselves look better, or completely fabricated. However, business-owners cannot alter Google reviews which makes them more trustworthy.
Before & Afters
One of the last things to consider when looking at the top aestheticians in Philadelphia is to evaluate their “Before & After” pictures that showcase their best handiwork.
When looking for your future aesthetician, make sure to look at their practice’s website to see what kind of skin improvements and results can be realistically achieved. (If they don’t have any available online, ask in person!) Professional and experienced aestheticians typically have a collection of before & after pictures they can show whenever a patient asks for them.
Discover Your Team
At About Face Aesthetics, you’ll discover that our team of top aestheticians in Philadelphia goes above and beyond the things mentioned here. Their dedication, continuing education, compassion, and exceptional skill help to safely and effectively achieve your desired skin goals.
Whether you’re looking for lasers, facials, skincare products, or any of our other skin solutions, our team can help. You can easily book an appointment online or use our complimentary virtual consultation tool to begin exploring the best options for treatment based on your individual needs.
