Meet A Cosmetic Nurse

A registered nurse can move into cosmetic nursing fairly quickly. Also called aesthetic nurses or plastic surgical nurses, they administer nonsurgical procedures and treatments that help clients reach their aesthetic goals.

The work requires a valid RN or nurse practitioner (NP) license and professional experience, and many cosmetic nurses also hold certifications in specific procedures. You will find them in private practices, dermatology offices, medical spas, and occasionally hospitals, working under the direction of physicians and plastic surgeons.

Q&A with a Cosmetic Nurse

Fay Asghari is a board-certified cosmetic RN in Beverly Hills, California. She holds a double bachelor's degree in microbiology and nursing science and is in school to become a nurse practitioner. She has worked as a cosmetic injector for almost four years, specializes in facial contouring and nonsurgical mini facelifts with PDO threads, and trains and speaks nationally on cosmetic procedures and PRP treatments.

What is a cosmetic nurse, and what do you do?

A cosmetic nurse is an RN or NP who performs nonsurgical cosmetic procedures: Botox, dermal fillers, nonsurgical facelifts using PDO threads, hair restoration and skin rejuvenation using PRP, chemical peels, microneedling, and IV drips.

What drew you to this work?

I have always been passionate about beauty and aesthetics, and I have painted portraits since I was young. After nursing school and a few years in the ICU, I learned I could do cosmetic procedures as an RN. It combined my interest in aesthetics with my desire to help people in a medical setting, and I have loved it ever since.

What does a typical day look like?

A lot of facial contouring and lip injections, at least four or five lip augmentations a day, plus mini facelifts with PDO threads. I also travel to teach injectables in different states most months, and I study for my NP program after work. Watching a client's reaction to their results is the most rewarding part.

What are the biggest challenges and rewards?

Some clients come in with a fixed idea and don't always follow my suggestions. The ones who do listen realize they got what they actually wanted. I spend a lot of time educating clients so they decide based on knowledge rather than Google or word of mouth. The biggest reward is earning a client's trust and seeing the impact good results have on their confidence and self-esteem.

What was becoming a certified cosmetic RN like?

You earn your BSN, license as an RN in your state, then get certified in each procedure you plan to perform. You need significant hands-on experience with each one before you build a practice. I hold more than five certifications across my procedures, plus board certification in aesthetics.

Any tips for nurses trying to build a following?

Stay engaged with your followers and share educational material on the procedures you do. I post a lot of before-and-after photos, because people want to see your work before they trust you with their face, and I run monthly Q&As.

What advice would you give nurses considering aesthetic nursing?

Attend conferences and classes for each procedure and keep educating yourself. Learning to manage complications matters as much as learning the procedures. Start with safer areas of the face and stay conservative while you are new.

How to Become a Cosmetic Nurse

Cosmetic nurses come to the field after working as RNs or NPs and must hold a valid license. RNs need an associate or bachelor's degree and pass the NCLEX-RN. NPs need a graduate degree and a national certification exam, and they earn higher pay with more autonomy, including prescriptive authority in all 50 states.

In a cosmetic setting, RNs administer injectables and perform procedures such as facial contouring, laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, and body contouring. Only licensed dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and physicians can order the injectables used in those procedures, so RNs and NPs work under their direction rather than running their own practices, though experienced NPs often practice more independently.

Certifications

Cosmetic nurses don't strictly need a certificate to get hired, but credentials add credibility, and states regulate the process. The Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board is the primary credentialing body. Common options include:

Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS): qualifies an RN to administer dermal fillers and Botox. Requires a current license, at least 1,000 practice hours, and two years of supervised experience under a board-certified physician.

Certified Plastic Surgical Nurse (CPSN): for nurses caring for patients undergoing surgical procedures like breast augmentation or liposuction. Requires a valid RN license and at least two years of plastic surgical nursing experience. Recertify every three years.

Botox and filler certification: common among nurses in private practice and medical spas. The coursework runs about eight hours and can be completed in a day or over a weekend.

Salary and Job Outlook

Pay tracks education and experience. Most cosmetic nurses arrive as established RNs or NPs.

As of May 2024, RNs earn a median of about $93,600 a year, and nurse practitioners earn a median of roughly $129,210. NPs out-earn RNs and the gap is widening. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects NP employment to grow 46% from 2023 to 2033, one of the fastest growth rates of any occupation, against 6% growth for RNs over the same period. Treat these figures as approximate national averages that shift over time.