How to Become a Dermal Filler Injector

If you’re passionate about helping patients look their best, working in the medical aesthetics industry is one of the best career options for you. However, the path to becoming an aesthetics professional can be long and challenging, especially if you want to become a cosmetic injector and provide dermal filler treatments in your practice.

So what’s the process to becoming a certified aesthetic injector? To be able to perform cosmetic injectables, you need to earn a medical degree and become either a licensed doctor, registered nurse, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. You’ll also have to complete specialized training courses on dermal filler injections to get more background and hands-on practice on the cosmetic procedure.

All You Need To Know About Being A Dermal Filler Injector

Dermal fillers remain to be one of the top-performing minimally invasive procedures for facial enhancement. According to a report by The Aesthetics Society, there’s an estimated 1.8 million dermal filler procedures done in 2021. The high demand for nonsurgical cosmetic treatments is expected to continue driving the preference of patients for dermal fillers in the years to come.

With more people wanting to get dermal fillers, it’s the best time for aesthetic practitioners to enter the field and start training to be a cosmetic injector. Being an injectable provider is a fulfilling job that allows you to work closely with patients and help them reach their beauty goals. However, not everyone can simply jump into the industry and begin performing injectable fillers.

The requirements to become an aesthetic injector are different from what is needed to be a beauty therapist. Even though a dermal filler injection is minimally invasive, it still involves placing foreign materials beneath the skin which requires advanced skills and techniques. That’s why it’s essential for an injector to take aesthetic medicine courses with a specialization in dermal filler training.

Who Can Perform Dermal Filler Treatments?

Each state has different regulations regarding who can perform treatments such as dermal filler and Botox injection. But generally, neurotoxins and cosmetic fillers are given by a medical professional. They’re the ones who are most qualified to provide filler injections since they have expert knowledge of facial anatomy and are equipped with the common safety protocols of the procedures.

Here are some of the types of medical professionals who can administer dermal fillers in a medical spa or clinical setting:

• Licensed medical doctor: In most states, medical doctors are the ones who are legally allowed to practice dermal filler treatments. They can also supervise injectable filler procedures done by other practitioners in the medical spa.
• Registered nurse: An RN can also undergo cosmetic nursing training and complete a dermal filler training course to be able to include injectables in their scope of work. However, aesthetic nurses can only inject dermal fillers under physician supervision.
• Nurse practitioner: They are advanced registered nurses who can provide a variety of healthcare services to patients. In some states, they can also administer injectables as long as they have sufficient dermal filler or Botox training and they’re supervised by a physician.
• Physician assistant: PAs are also qualified to provide dermal filler injections as long they comply with the state rules and regulations. However, they may not be able to practice independently and require physician supervision.

Requirements for Becoming A Certified Cosmetic Injector

There’s no shortcut to becoming a highly qualified aesthetic injector. Although it’s very easy to know about dermal filler techniques with DIY videos, it’s not recommended to do injectable training at home. You should always learn from professionals who have proven expertise in facial aesthetics and cosmetic injections.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can become a dermal filler injector:

1. Complete a Formal Education and Attain a Degree

To work as a cosmetic injector, you need to obtain a medical degree and become licensed in your state. The path to earning your degree may vary depending on your desired specialization but generally, injectors should have at least an undergraduate and graduate qualification.

For physicians, they need to complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree before attending medical school. They’ll spend another 4 years of medical education and complete their residency training prior to applying for licensure.

For registered nurses and cosmetic nurse practitioners, they should at least have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing and then complete a master’s program. They’ll also have to pass a certification exam and apply for state licensure before they can start practicing in a healthcare or clinical setting.

2. Enroll in a Dermal Filler Training Course

After getting the required medical or nursing degree, you can enroll in the dermal filler training course. You’ll have to present your certification and transcripts from medical school or nursing programs to enter the course.

Most dermal filler training courses usually take 1 to 2 days of coursework and hands-on training on performing the aesthetic procedure. Some of the things that you can learn in a dermal filler course are:

• Principles and foundations of aesthetic medicine
• Advanced study of the facial anatomy
• Foundation Botox and dermal filler injection techniques
• Safety and sanitation protocols
• Reminders for patient screening and diagnosis before the injection
• Different treatment areas that can be injected with fillers
• Types of dermal filler materials and their common applications
• Patient preparation before the procedure and aftercare management

3. Earn Your Dermal Filler Injector Certification and Gain Work Experience

Most training courses provide certification upon successful completion of the program. You can use this certification to start working under a physician supervisor and assist them in providing dermal filler treatments. However, you may not immediately be asked to perform filler injections on your own.

Depending on your state regulations, you may be allowed to provide dermal fillers without supervision after some time of training or apprenticeship. New cosmetic injectors may first have to shadow medical professionals and watch how they administer the injections. This is helpful in developing your own cosmetic injection technique and skills.

4. Continue Improving Your Skills

You’ll only become an expert injector if you continue learning and training to keep up with the latest cosmetic trends and injectable techniques. There are master injector programs that provide extensive knowledge on advanced Botox injections and dermal filler procedures. While it’s not a requirement, it’s a nice certification to have that will give you a competitive edge in the medical aesthetic industry.

Why You Need Additional Training to Become a Dermal Filler Injector

Although dermal fillers are done for cosmetic enhancement, they’re still considered medical procedures which is why it’s crucial for any practitioner to have proper injectable training. Here are some of the benefits of taking a dermal filler training course:

• It helps you ensure the best possible results while minimizing side effects during and after a dermal filler procedure.
• It improves your skillset and makes you more qualified to perform any aesthetic injection.
• A certification can help you stand out in the aesthetics industry and maximize your earning potential.
• It helps you grow your network and increases your patients’ trust in your services.
• In some states, medical professionals and aesthetic nurses are required to pursue continuing education in specialized procedures, such as dermal fillers, in order to qualify for license renewal.

What You Should Look For in a Dermal Filler Training Provider

It’s recommended that you get your dermal filler training from an accredited institution or reputable provider. To help you find the best aesthetics program, here are some questions you should ask yourself or the school:

• Who is the instructor that will conduct the dermal filler training?
• How many hours of hands-on practice will I get to experience?
• Will the curriculum cover the study of facial anatomy?
• What kind of support will the school give to help start my aesthetic injector career?
• How many students do they accept for each course?
• Will they provide a dermal filler certification upon completion?

Develop Your Injector Skills With Advanced Training from Dr. Lanna

Anyone with a medical professional degree can further their career and enter the aesthetics field to work as a cosmetic injector. The best way to increase your qualifications for dermal filler treatments is to build your skills through advanced aesthetic training courses.

Dr. Lanna is a master injector of Botox and dermal fillers and has helped thousands of patients with their cosmetic needs. She also provides 2 days of specialized training to help you develop your techniques in dermal filler injections. Contact us today for more information about her training program or to inquire about our services.