Medspas offer a range of advanced aesthetic treatments that help clients look and feel their best. While many of these services appear simple, they are classified as medical procedures and require physician oversight under Tennessee law. Operating without proper supervision can lead to legal complications, fines, or even shutdowns.
If you’re a medspa owner, licensed esthetician, Nurse Practitioner (NP), or Physician Assistant (PA), understanding which treatments require a Medical Director’s oversight is essential to stay compliant and deliver safe, effective services to your clients.
1. Microneedling
What It Is:
Microneedling involves using fine needles to create micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating collagen production and improving texture, tone, and elasticity.
Why It Requires Oversight:
Microneedling devices penetrate the skin’s surface, making it a medical procedure. In Tennessee, estheticians can only perform microneedling under the supervision of a licensed physician.
Benefits:
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- Improves acne scars and pigmentation
- Enhances overall skin rejuvenation
2. Injectables (Botox and Dermal Fillers)
What It Is:
Injectables like Botox and dermal fillers are used to smooth wrinkles, restore volume, and enhance facial contours.
Why It Requires Oversight:
Injectables are classified as medical treatments and require a licensed physician’s oversight to ensure they are administered safely and correctly. Typically, NPs and PAs perform these treatments under the supervision of a Medical Director.
Benefits:
- Reduces crow’s feet, forehead lines, and laugh lines
- Restores volume to cheeks, lips, and under-eyes
- Provides non-surgical facial rejuvenation
3. Laser Treatments
What It Is:
Laser treatments include services such as hair removal, skin resurfacing, and pigmentation correction using specialized devices that emit targeted light energy.
Why It Requires Oversight:
Laser devices can cause burns, pigmentation changes, or scarring if used incorrectly. Tennessee law requires physician oversight to ensure safe and proper usage.
Benefits:
- Permanent hair reduction
- Treats sun damage, age spots, and pigmentation
- Improves skin texture and tone
4. Chemical Peels (Medium to Deep)
What It Is:
Chemical peels use acids to exfoliate and penetrate deeper layers of the skin, treating wrinkles, scars, and pigmentation.
Why It Requires Oversight:
While superficial peels may not require medical supervision, medium to deep peels involve a medical risk, such as burns or pigmentation issues, making physician oversight mandatory.
Benefits:
- Reduces deep wrinkles and acne scars
- Treats hyperpigmentation and melasma
- Improves overall skin clarity
5. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
What It Is:
PRP therapy uses a client’s blood plasma, enriched with growth factors, to rejuvenate the skin, stimulate hair growth, or enhance microneedling results.
Why It Requires Oversight:
PRP involves blood handling and injections, which require a medical professional to ensure sterility, safety, and proper administration.
Benefits:
- Boosts skin regeneration and healing
- Stimulates natural hair growth for hair restoration
- Enhances the effectiveness of microneedling
6. IV Therapy and Vitamin Infusions
What It Is:
IV therapy delivers vitamins, minerals, and hydration directly into the bloodstream for fast absorption and recovery.
Why It Requires Oversight:
Administering IV treatments involves medical preparation and monitoring, which must be supervised by a licensed physician to ensure safety and efficacy.
Benefits:
- Enhances hydration and energy levels
- Supports immune function and recovery
- Provides quick nutrient replenishment
Why a Medical Director is Essential for These Treatments
Each of these procedures comes with specific risks, such as infection, complications, or adverse reactions. A Medical Director ensures:
- Safety Protocols Are in Place: Ensuring treatments are performed safely and with proper guidelines.
- Legal Compliance: Helping medspa owners and providers meet Tennessee’s state regulations.
- Support for Practitioners: Providing supervision and guidance for NPs, PAs, and estheticians performing advanced treatments.
- Client Confidence: Clients feel reassured knowing treatments are backed by physician oversight.
Partner with Dr. Lindsay Keith for Medical Director Services
Dr. Lindsay Keith, MD, offers Medical Director services for medspas across Tennessee. With her expert supervision, you can confidently offer treatments like microneedling, injectables, and laser services while meeting all legal requirements.
Why Choose Dr. Keith?
- Experienced in medspa oversight and compliance
- Supports NPs, PAs, and estheticians in delivering safe, advanced treatments
- Known for being approachable, responsive, and easy to work with
Stay Compliant and Grow Your Medspa
By partnering with Dr. Lindsay Keith, MD, you ensure your medspa meets Tennessee’s regulations while delivering the highest standard of care to your clients.
