by Louis Silberman
Since the earliest days of the industry, the role of the massage therapist has remained largely unchanged: providing relaxation and well-being through techniques of touch. However, in the new millennium, breakthroughs in technology and recent shifts in consumer demand are changing this definition.
The modern consumer wants convenience. An example of this concept is a supercenter retail store that offers expanded services. Consumers no longer have to go to separate stores to buy food, appliances and beauty products, because all of the items can be purchased at one convenient location. As a result, the consumer stays at the store longer and purchases more products and services.
Similarly, a licensed massage therapist can become a client’s one-stop health and beauty destination. Think about a regular client of yours. Would she be interested in getting a skin rejuvenation treatment along with her Swedish massage? How about getting rid of some unwanted hair or removing a tattoo?
By adding cosmetic lasers to your practice, you can combine the trusted techniques of the past with the latest high-tech innovations to give your clients a superior experience. Lasers can achieve visible results on skin in a number of ways, from removing body hair to unveiling a fresh and youthful complexion.
Most-requested treatments
- Laser hair removal. The cosmetic laser treatment most requested by clients is laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is a safe and effective way to permanently reduce the amount of unwanted hair on the face or body. This procedure uses a beam of light that penetrates the hair follicle, disrupting the growth cycle. New laser technology is able to achieve results on a variety of skin types. Each treatment can range in cost from $100 to $500. Clients typically see results after three to six treatments.
- IPL Photofacial. The IPL Photofacial has become one of the most sought-after skin rejuvenation treatments. This procedure continues to grow in popularity due to the wide variety of skin problems it can treat, including acne, sun damage, fine lines and age spots. Photofacials utilize a series of intense pulsed light beams that penetrate the skin at the deepest level, targeting unwanted skin pigmentation and stimulating collagen production to improve skin tone and texture. The procedure is noninvasive, and requires virtually no downtime. The average cost is usually between $300 and $500, depending on the size of the treatment area. Three to five treatments are needed for maximum results.
- Fractional laser skin rejuvenation. Fractional laser skin rejuvenation is a popular treatment for eliminating wrinkles, stretch marks and acne scars. This treatment takes a standard beam of laser light and splits it into thousands of microbeams. These microbeams stimulate collagen growth and improve skin texture to create a dramatically younger-looking appearance. The fractional laser treatment can be used anywhere on the body. The treatment is nonablative, and clients can return to work immediately following treatment. Fractional laser skin rejuvenation is one of the procedures with the highest earning potential. It typically costs about $700 to $1,000 per treatment, and three to five treatments are usually needed for optimum results.
Adding cosmetic lasers to your practice
Acquiring the skills needed to perform these procedures is not as difficult as one might think. In most states, a massage therapist can become a cosmetic laser technician by attending an industry-standard two-week course that combines a curriculum of classroom and clinical hands-on training.
This is an exciting time to be a licensed massage therapist. High-tech advancements in the field of cosmetic lasers offer a natural progression to advance your career by expanding your services and increasing your income.
Louis Silberman is president of National Laser Institute (www.nlionline.com), a school specializing in cosmetic laser training. As an expert in laser aesthetics education, Silberman has been a driving force behind creating the most respected laser-training programs in the country.