If you’ve decided to get professional skin care, it’s important to go to the right provider. Aestheticians and estheticians have similar names and provide forms of skin care services, but the similarities end there.
By learning the difference between an aesthetician and an esthetician, you can choose the best provider for your needs. Understand the differences between aestheticians and estheticians from licensed aesthetician Luba Lander, practicing with Joseph Fodero, MD, PA, at Northeastern Plastic Surgery in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Aestheticians are licensed skin care professionals who tend to work in medical settings, such as a doctor’s office or hospital. An aesthetician is specially trained in a variety of different medical skin care techniques and often works with a plastic surgeon or dermatologist.
Medical aestheticians offer a variety of nonsurgical skin procedures, products, and skin care support. These include:
Aestheticians must maintain their license with continuing education, ensuring they remain current on the latest medical aesthetic techniques. Their training includes extensive awareness of anatomy and kinesiology.
Estheticians are also licensed skin practitioners who take continuing education, but their training has a different focus than aestheticians. An esthetician usually works in a beauty center like a spa or salon.
Some of the treatments estheticians offer overlap with aestheticians, such as some types of facials, massage, acne treatment, and laser hair removal. You might also visit an esthetician for a service like:
Beauty services like tweezing eyebrows and eyelash extensions are also popular services offered by estheticians.
An aesthetician has more medical training than an esthetician and is more likely to be found in a medical office such as Northeastern Plastic Surgery. On the other hand, you’re more likely to meet an esthetician if you go to a beauty center.
The treatments aestheticians offer are more medically complex than those offered by estheticians. They’re trained to diagnose and treat more complicated skincare issues, such as helping people who’ve recovered from advanced burns or cancer.
The treatments aestheticians offer are more advanced for more common skin issues, such as skin problems from aging or unwanted facial hair. While aestheticians and estheticians both offer treatments like facials and exfoliation, aestheticians can offer services like collagen regeneration, deeper peels, and treatments for more serious problems. Estheticians offer gentler peels and acne treatments for more minor or superficial issues.
Estheticians are more likely to offer treatments related to beauty than aestheticians. This includes help related to makeup and shaping or removing hair on the face.
The skin care professional you see depends on your skin needs. You can see either an aesthetician or esthetician for some types of skin services, like mild chemical peels or exfoliation.
Aestheticians are more suitable for medical skin care advice and more in-depth support on skin care. You should see a medical aesthetician if you’d like more complex skin procedures, ranging from producing more collagen to scar or tattoo removal to skin resurfacing.
If you’re looking for more general beautifying services like getting a spray tan or choosing makeup that enhances your best features, an esthetician can help you.
Whether an aesthetician or esthetician is right for your needs, ensure the provider has a current license and a good understanding of the treatment plan for your needs.
To make a skin care appointment with licensed aesthetician Luba Lander or Dr. Fodero, contact our team today.
