Now that many esthetics practices have been closed for several months, it's time to begin thinking what those spaces will be like once appointments resume. The Skinbetter Science Institute, which consists of some of the nation’s top dermatologists, plastic surgeons and infectious disease doctors, created a set of guidelines fo physician offices to help them reopen their practices and resume esthetic care.
Here are a few key protocols from the AesCert Guidance that both you and your practice should closely follow:
Pre-Screening
- Consultations may be arranged through patient portals or telemedicine to minimize nontreatment-related office visits.
Office arrival, check-in and check-out:
- Arrive to your appointment alone; individuals accompanying you should be required to wait in their vehicle or outside the office for the duration of the appointment.
- Bring a face mask or similar covering to your appointment and expect to wear it for the duration of your appointment, unless you are undergoing facial procedures.
- Do not adjust your face mask or touch your eyes, nose or mouth; you will need to wash or sanitize their hands before and after such contact.
- Minimize handling your cell phone during the appointment and rewash or re-sanitize your hands following any such use.
Non-Surgical Treatments (i.e. injectables, non-invasive body contouring, energy-based procedures of the face & neck, skin treatment procedures):
- For staff, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required for all office esthetic treatments based on the type of procedure, including injectables and non-invasive body contouring, a three-ply surgical mask, safety glasses, gown and gloves.
- Energy-based procedures and certain skin care procedures (i.e. microneedling) requires enhanced infectious control protocols, designated treatment rooms, and maximum PPE (i.e. N95 masks, face shields, etc.)
- The duration and number of procedures per patient should be limited, as should intra-procedure conversations and close face-to-face proximity by both provider and patient.