How Noninvasive Procedures Can Grow Your Plastic Surgery Practice or Med Spa

What do Botox, dermal fillers, and tissue lifting all have in common? They’re noninvasive procedures that can be offered by med spas and plastic surgery practices. In recent years, noninvasive procedures have become more popular and accessible. They provide patients’ and clients’ desired cosmetic results in less time, without a lengthy recovery process, and with fewer side effects.

It’s easy to see the appeal for patients, and the benefits are just as attractive for practices. In the long run, offering noninvasive procedures allows plastic surgery practices and med spas to expand their patient base, open up new locations, and increase the bottom line, thanks to noninvasive cosmetic procedures. 

What Are Noninvasive Procedures?

Noninvasive and minimally invasive procedures at med spas and plastic surgery clinics are cosmetic or aesthetic medical services that don’t require large incisions or anesthesia. Instead, they produce desired results with a procedure that is less intensive than one that would require significant cutting or instruments entering the body. Common noninvasive procedures include Botox, dermal fillers, and lip fillers.

These procedures appeal to patients since the risks are lower, the recovery time is shorter, and the follow-up steps are easier. Many practices find them appealing too, as noninvasive procedures require less time to perform and support from staff, increasing profit margins and enabling practices to serve more patients. 

Plastic Surgery vs. Noninvasive Procedures

Traditionally, plastic surgeons have performed invasive procedures or surgeries. These tend to be more intensive, requiring anesthesia and large incisions. Today, they still perform these invasive procedures, and medical advancements have made many of them less intensive than in the past. However, plastic surgeries still have a longer recovery time and can have possible complications that may deter some patients.

To serve a wider patient base and offer more services, many plastic surgery practices offer noninvasive procedures. The advantages to noninvasive procedures include:

• Faster recovery time
• Fewer complications 
• Fewer follow-up steps or appointments 

Types of Noninvasive Procedures at Med Spas and Plastic Surgery Practices

There are many types of noninvasive procedures. At med spas or plastic surgery practices, the most common include:

• Injectable treatments: Injections such as Botox and dermal fillers can reduce wrinkles and smooth skin. 
• Skin resurfacing: A procedure to change the look and feel of skin with lasers.
• Tissue lifting: Treatment to elevate or lift skin tissue. 
• Chemical peels: A popular skincare procedure that helps eliminate acne, wrinkles, and other unwanted marks on the skin. 
• CoolSculpting: A noninvasive way to tone the body and remove fat.
• Laser hair removal: This treatment is an alternative to shaving or waxing. 
• Microneedling: Puncturing the skin with tiny needles to trigger healing. 

Benefits of Noninvasive Procedures for Patients

Noninvasive procedures are a favorite with plastic surgery practices, med spas, and their clientele because they offer unique benefits for all parties involved. Recipients of these treatments enjoy benefits such as:

• Better recovery: Recovery is faster and less painful than for larger scale aesthetic surgeries.
• Achieve similar results without surgery: Unlike with surgery, general anesthesia is not required and there’s no overnight hospital stay, yet results are similar. 
• Less expensive: Often, noninvasive procedures are much more affordable for patients than more intensive surgeries. 

Benefits of Noninvasive Procedures for Plastic Surgery Clinic and Med Spa Owners

Plastic surgery practices and med spas also benefit, with the most prominent advantages being:

• Less time-intensive: Surgeries take longer to complete, whereas your team can conduct noninvasive treatments much faster.
• Higher profit margins: Surgery comes with more expenses, such as the time and resources required to perform the procedure (including anesthesia) as well as additional efforts required throughout the recovery process. In comparison, noninvasive procedures cost less to perform, leading to higher profit margins.
• Easier to recruit patients: Thanks to fewer complications, faster recovery, and affordability of noninvasive treatments, it’s often easier to recruit new prospects.
• Serve a larger patient base: There’s a larger population of individuals interested in noninvasive procedures compared to traditional aesthetic surgery, meaning there’s greater opportunity to expand your business. 

Risks of Noninvasive Procedures

Like any treatment, noninvasive procedures are not without their risks. Some of the most common include redness, burning sensation, pain, discomfort, lumps a patient may feel but not see, and bruising. However, for experienced care providers, such complications are rare.

Certain procedures may have additional complications or side effects. Botox, for example, can also cause:

• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Dry mouth
• Blurred or double vision
• Allergic reactions

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Perform Noninvasive Procedures?

The exact guidelines on who can and cannot perform noninvasive procedures differ by state (and procedure). A good rule of thumb is that someone must have a relevant medical certification. In all states, an MD would fit the criteria. In other states, physician’s assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), registered nurses (NPs), dentists, and even licensed estheticians can perform some or all noninvasive procedures, with appropriate training. 

When deciding whether your practice should perform noninvasive procedures, consider the interest level of your current patients and clients in these procedures. Advanced technology platforms, with a robust EHR and practice management software, can poll current patients and collect that data about their preferences. Cassileth Plastic Surgery found this easy to do, thanks to their data-driven administrative technology. Dr. Lisa Cassileth reflected, “Part of the reason we can be so attuned to our patients is because we know what’s going on thanks to Nextech.”

How to Highlight Credibility of Non-Surgical/Cosmetic Providers

The proliferation of healthcare consumerism is expanding throughout all areas of healthcare and wellness, and it’s especially evident with elective and aesthetic treatments. Patients and clients are evaluating provider credentials and choosing those who appear the most qualified to provide nonsurgical cosmetic procedures and offer the best care experience. To stand out, your marketing materials and patient communication should highlight:

• Your education and medical license
• Any additional certifications related to specific procedures
• Outcomes or testimonials from past patients who had specific procedures
• Educational material on the procedure’s benefits and risks
• Offer free consultations before agreeing to a procedure

Seamless scheduling leads to a greater closure rate on consultations. So, it's important for providers to be able to rely on their technology system to deliver smooth, simple administrative processes. For example, after switching to administrative technology that was easier for staff and patients to use, Dr. Mark Epstein’s plastic surgery practice experienced a 20% increase in booking closure rates.  

Emerging Trends in Noninvasive Procedures at Med Spas and Plastic Surgery Practices

The technologies required to perform noninvasive procedures and the administrative work to support them is advancing at a pace similar to the increased demand for these treatments. Some emerging trends to watch include:

• New treatment technologies: JUVÉDERM VOLUX XC, an FDA-approved gel implant/dermal filler, is a great example of a newer treatment option with substantial popularity. 
• Artificial intelligence (AI): AI has been making waves as a great chatbot to answer patient questions, and there’s research into how it may also improve distribution of Botox and fillers.
• Virtual reality (VR): Using VR during noninvasive treatments can improve surgical accuracy and precision.
• Workflow changes: Improvements in administration software can help your practice process payments and paperwork for more procedures, faster.

North Texas Plastic Surgery was able to offer more services across multiple locations when they switched to more modern administrative technology. “The system is so intuitive that most things are just self-explanatory,” says Linsey Grindle, Vice President of Business Operations and Human Resource Management at the practice. 

Optimize Opportunities for Expanding Noninvasive Procedure Business

Nextech provides specialty-specific technology tailored to the unique needs of plastic surgery providers and med spa clinics, empowering them to streamline operations and maximize efficiency.

By optimizing workflows, scheduling, and patient management, Nextech enables practices to allocate more time and resources toward expanding their offerings of noninvasive procedures. With integrated solutions designed to enhance patient engagement, track outcomes, and drive profitability, Nextech helps providers stay at the forefront of innovation while delivering exceptional care.

Get a free demo and experience it for yourself.