Meet a Cosmetic Nurse

Registered nurses (RNs) can transition into cosmetic nursing in just a few days. Also called aesthetic nurses or plastic surgical nurses, cosmetic nurses help clients realize their aesthetic goals by administering procedures and treatments.

Becoming a cosmetic nurse requires professional experience and a valid RN or nurse practitioner (NP) license. Many also hold cosmetic certification. Aesthetic nurses find work in private practices, hospitals, dermatology offices, and medical spas. Full- and part-time cosmetic nurses work under the guidance of plastic surgeons and physicians.

Every day in a cosmetic nurse’s career brings new challenges and excitement. Read on to learn how you can become a cosmetic nurse and what you can earn on the job.

A cosmetic nurse is a registered nurse or a nurse practitioner who specializes in performing non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic nurses perform procedures, such as Botox, dermal fillers, non-surgical facelifts using PDO threads, hair restoration, and skin rejuvenation using PRP, chemical peels, microneedling, and IV drips.

I was always passionate about beauty and aesthetics. I’ve been painting portraits since a young age and have always been passionate about depicting the beauty found in our faces. I realized I had a keen eye for improving people’s appearances. After graduating from nursing school and working in the ICU for a few years, I discovered I can do cosmetic procedures as an RN. I was so happy to find a career path that combined my lifelong interest in cosmetics with my desire to help others in a medical setting. I have been in love with what I do ever since.

I am a board-certified cosmetic RN, specializing in injectables. I often do a lot of facial contouring and lip injections. I would say that I do at least 4-5 lip augmentations a day. I’m also an expert in doing mini facelifts with PDO threads. Each day at work is packed with fun, excitement, and learning opportunities. Watching my clients’ ecstatic emotions is the most rewarding experience of my life, and I get to experience that on a daily basis. I also enjoy being a national trainer and speaker. I usually travel to different states every month and teach about different injectables. I’m currently going to school to become a nurse practitioner, so I usually study after getting home from work. In my spare time, I love to exercise, dance, take my puppy to the park or spend time with friends and family.

To be a cosmetic RN you need to first earn your BSN and become licensed as an RN in the state you want to practice. Then you need to get certifications for each of the cosmetic procedures you will be doing. You need to gain a lot of hands-on experience with each procedure before you can start your career as a cosmetic RN. I personally got over five certifications on each one of the procedures I perform, and I also got my board certification in aesthetics.

I would recommend that injectors stay engaged with their followers and share tips and educational materials on the procedures they are doing. I spend a lot of time sharing before and after pictures because I know people want to see your work before they can trust you with their faces. I try to have Q&As about my work every month.

I would advise RNs who are interested in doing cosmetic procedures to attend a lot of different conferences and classes about each of the cosmetic procedures, and constantly try to educate themselves. Learning how to deal with complications that may arise are just as important as learning how to do the procedures themselves. I would recommend new injectors start with injecting safer areas on the face. Try to be more conservative when you are new to the field.

Cosmetic nurses come to the profession after working as RNs and NPs. They must hold valid licenses to work as cosmetic nurses and voluntarily pursue certifications.

NPs and RNS need to meet different educational requirements. RNs must hold an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing to become an RN. After earning a two- or four-year degree, future RNs take the NCLEX-RN exam within two months of graduating from nursing school. Check out some tips from nurses on passing the NCLEX.

NPs, who need a graduate degree to practice, earn higher wages and enjoy more autonomy in the workplace. NPs must pass a national certification exam before obtaining licensure. You may be interested in this list of the best online NP programs.

Becoming a cosmetic nurse requires board certification in aesthetics. Many aesthetic nurses also hold up to five certifications in different clinical procedures. States regulate the certification process. Certifications, such as a Botox certification, can take as few as a weekend to earn.

Read on to see what other specialized certifications cosmetic nurses hold.

While cosmetic nurses do not need a certificate to find a job, credentials give them more credibility. The primary resource for cosmetic nursing credentials, the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board, offers certifications for aesthetic nurse specialists and plastic surgical nurses.

Candidates must complete continuing nursing education courses to maintain certification. Nurses accumulate contact hours in specialties like plastic surgery, dermatology, and facial plastic surgery. Some of the common cosmetic certifications include:

Cosmetic nurses’ salaries correlate with education level and professional experience. Most come to the profession after gaining experience as RNs or NPs. RNs hold an associate degree or bachelor’s degree, while NPs hold a master’s degree at minimum.

RNs make a median annual salary of $73,300, with the top 10% taking home more than $111,220 a year. The median annual pay for NPs hit $115,800 in 2019, and the upper 10% made $184,180, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.

Earning potential also varies by industry. Hospitals, outpatient care centers, and physician offices pay NPs the most, with salaries falling between $122,420-$113,190. RNs earn the highest pay in government, hospitals, and ambulatory healthcare services, where salaries range from $79,790-$70,330.

The demand for NPs, with a 45% projected job growth rate from 2019-29, should outpace RNs, which the BLS projects to increase by 7% during that same timeframe. Employers could hire some 24,200 NPs each year and 175,900 RNs every year in the coming decade.