Offering Minimal Downtime Procedures in the Aesthetics Industry

Facial transformations, from fillers to injectables to lifts, seem to be an ongoing part of the pop culture conversation, but potential patients and clients may not realize what’s possible for their budget. To engage patients and clients interested in a transformation with low commitment, minimally invasive treatments may be both physically and financially manageable.¹

Being transparent about the physical and financial investment in personal self-care may be beneficial to cosmetic service providers. It also may help to understand the spending habits of cosmetic patients and clients and how they budget and make decisions about self-care. The opportunity to take advantage of health and wellness financing is an option you can provide as you encourage patients or clients to work toward their ultimate transformation goals.

Here are tips for talking about minimally invasive, low-downtime cosmetic treatments and help patients understand both the results and the costs.

Managing Expectations and Costs

Say a patient or client sees before-and-after images of a celebrity with a refreshed face. They may come to you asking for the same results, but without the invasiveness of any surgical procedures. You and your team can manage patient or client expectations about what’s possible within their comfort level and budget.

• Clarify key physical differences. Cosmetic patients and clients may have a lot of information to absorb when it comes to understanding the differences between various cosmetic procedures. What a surgical brow lift can do versus a non-invasive injectable may not be clear to every patient or client. It’s important to educate patients and clients on the differences between procedures and learn what their goals are based on timeline, budget and degree of comfort.
• Present cost structures and investment. Minimally invasive treatments can be seen as a more affordable cosmetic enhancement and a savvy way to maintain a look, which makes them a popular choice for those willing to invest.¹ Cosmetic treatments are not usually covered by insurance because they are not considered medically necessary, so clarifying out-of-pocket costs and fee structures can help patients and clients realize if their preferred procedures are possible with financing support.¹
• Advertise transparency. When you engage in detail with patients or clients about the level of invasiveness of cosmetic treatments and the investment they require, these efforts can help foster trust and realistic expectations. During consultations, you can promote non-surgical and minimally invasive treatments to help patients or clients ease into the idea of dermal fillers, injectables, laser skin resurfacing or microneedling and make informed decisions about cosmetic enhancements.²

Decoding Patient Investment Patterns

Patients and clients differ, but data about cosmetic patient investments can show who is spending on aesthetic upgrades, what motivates them and why they have chosen cosmetic treatments to satisfy their personal beauty wants and needs.

• Trends in frugality. Patients and clients are spending on aesthetic care but are on the lookout for cost-effective treatments and products. Only 7% of those surveyed in the neuromodulator, dermal filler and facial rejuvenation segments would stop treatments completely should economic changes affect them, while about 46% would willingly switch to lower-price brands or products. Should there be any financial constraints, many respondents intend to stay with current treatments and brands, like the 52% who receive BOTOX Cosmetic® or Dysport®.³
• Diverse consumer base. The medical aesthetics industry appeals to many patients and clients due in part to a widespread, dramatic shift regarding appearance and self-image.³ Stigma around men considering plastic surgery has diminished, with many opting for non-invasive neuromodulator injections rather than invasive procedures. However, women continue to represent the majority of cosmetic transformation patients.¹
• Social media mirror. Consumer attitudes are reflected via social media, which has shifted beauty standards and plays an increasingly important role among cosmetic patients. Viewers of cosmetic transformations on TikTok or Instagram may ask for a face that makes them “look better in selfies” and reduces the signs of aging.³
• Entry points. Whether it's a matter of cost or a comfort situation, every patient and client may have a unique entry point that impacts whether they move forward with cosmetic enhancements. Starting with injectables is a common beginner’s choice for many before they opt to move to surgical options because the results are often reliable, age-diminishing and more natural and nuanced.¹
• Spending motivation. Patients and clients pursue cosmetic treatments for a variety of emotional and psychological reasons. Whether they're aiming to feel more confident, appear younger, reduce social anxiety or invest in a seasonal refresh, having open conversations can help reveal their underlying motivations, such as enhancing their look to remain competitive in their professional lives.¹
• Consistent demographics. Patients and clients ages 40 to 54 represent the largest segment of plastic surgery patients, accounting for 38%, while those ages 55 to 69 comprise 25%. Their financial stability and disposable income may play a role in their ability to invest in cosmetic procedures.¹

Clarify Patient and Client Transformation Goals

Aesthetic patients and clients may prioritize cosmetic treatment outcomes in various ways, with some wanting a natural, fresh look and others preferring noticeable changes. Whether they request a subtle or dramatic look, it can be important for you and your team to understand each person’s separate transformation goals.

• Prioritize desired outcomes. Through in-person consultations, you can help create opportunities for potential patients and clients to learn about treatment options for their appearance. Building this relationship provides evidence that you prioritize their desired outcome and are prepared to help them achieve their vision.⁴
• Make treatment accessible. Virtual consultations allow for early connection with your patients or clients, creating a platform to share knowledge and expertise one-on-one and personalize the work you do. By assessing a person’s goals at this entry stage, you can match treatments to patients or clients accordingly.⁴
• Guide patients through a staged journey. You can help guide patients through a hypothetical journey to the aesthetic results they want by presenting a roster of minimally invasive treatments. Before-and-after photos, success stories and online case studies can showcase the positive results of customized cosmetic journeys and help instill confidence in potential patients and clients.⁴

Financing Options That Empower Patient Decisions

The cost of cosmetic treatments can be a concern for some patients and clients as they approach this investment and consider whether it is the best way to help build their confidence and self-esteem. You have the power to show patients or clients that cosmetic care is accessible through financing options.

• Offer common financing tools. Payment plans, third-party loans and in-house credit are all viable methods to help patients and clients get the cosmetic care they want.
• Introduce cost discussions early. Train staff to highlight patient financing and reinforce the benefits at natural times in the conversation. Some patients and clients may want to know their financial options at the start of the conversation, while others may prefer a gentle recommendation to consider available options. Practicing financing discussions among your staff can be helpful for moments of engagement.
• Normalize financing. Financing may help reduce patient and client concerns and help boost confidence about the affordability of their investment in long-term aesthetic self-care. The CareCredit credit card is a practical financing choice that works well in the cosmetic industry for non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments that are repeated regularly.

Cosmetic Treatments With Confidence

People interested in becoming patients or clients of cosmetic care practices and businesses may have questions about treatment affordability and what will work best for them. Med spa financing for cosmetic procedures like fillers, injectables, laser resurfacing and other minimally invasive procedures can give patients and clients financial confidence to invest in the cosmetic procedures of their choice.

A Flexible Financing Solution for Your Cosmetic Practice

Want to make it easy for patients and clients to manage the cost of treatment at your cosmetic practice or business? Consider offering the CareCredit credit card as a financing solution. CareCredit offers individuals a way to pay for surgical and non-surgical treatments and procedures over time while helping enhance the payments process for your practice or business.

When you accept CareCredit, patients or clients can see if they prequalify with no impact to their credit score, and those who apply, if approved, can take advantage of special financing on qualifying purchases.* Additionally, you will be paid directly within two business days.

Learn more about the CareCredit credit card as a financing solution for your cosmetic care practice and business or start the provider enrollment process by filling out this form.

Author Bio

Elizabeth Weiss is a freelance writer and editor with more than 20 years of experience in content development for dentistry, orthodontics and cosmetic dermatology. She focuses on making healthcare topics accessible to readers and contributes to many fields, from family and estate law to industrial services and landscape design.

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