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If you’re building an aesthetic practice—or adding aesthetic services to your existing practice—you’ve probably asked yourself: “Which services should I offer?”
The answer isn’t as complicated as it might seem. While the aesthetic medicine field offers dozens of treatment options, successful practices are built on three core service categories that work together to create comprehensive patient care and consistent revenue.
Understanding how these three services complement each other will help you make strategic decisions about training, equipment investment, and service expansion.
In this guide, you’ll discover:
You don’t need to offer all three services on day one. In fact, most successful practitioners start with one category and expand strategically based on patient demand and practice goals.
But understanding how these services work together will help you build a practice that delivers comprehensive results and maximizes revenue potential.
Injectables are the most requested non-surgical aesthetic procedures in the United States. They offer the highest patient demand, the fastest return on investment, and the lowest barrier to entry for practitioners new to aesthetic medicine.
Botox® and dermal fillers address different aesthetic concerns:
Botox® (botulinum toxin) temporarily relaxes muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles—the lines that appear when you make facial expressions. Common treatment areas include forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines between the eyebrows.
Dermal fillers restore volume loss and smooth static wrinkles—the lines that are visible even when your face is at rest. Fillers can enhance lips, restore cheek volume, smooth nasolabial folds, and improve overall facial contours.
Injectables create predictable recurring revenue because results are temporary. Botox® typically lasts 3-4 months, and most fillers last 6-18 months depending on the product and treatment area.
Patients return regularly for maintenance treatments, creating a stable patient base and consistent cash flow.
The average Botox® treatment costs patients $300-$600, and dermal filler treatments range from $600-$1,500 depending on the product and amount used. With proper patient volume and pricing, practitioners can generate $75,000-$150,000 annually from injectables alone.
If you’re only going to master one service category, injectables should be it. They require minimal equipment investment (syringes, needles, and product), have a relatively short learning curve, and generate immediate revenue.
Most importantly, injectables create the patient relationships that support your entire practice growth.
One of the most important skills in injectable practice is managing patient expectations.
Learn how to set realistic expectations and avoid common pitfalls: How to Set Realistic Expectations for Botox® Patients
While injectables are your foundation, lasers and body contouring are the services that differentiate your practice and command premium pricing.
These treatments address concerns that injectables cannot—including skin texture, pigmentation, scarring, unwanted hair, and body fat reduction.
Common laser and body contouring services include:
Laser treatments and body contouring procedures have some of the highest profit margins in aesthetic medicine.
While they require significant equipment investment (laser devices can cost $30,000-$150,000), they deliver higher per-treatment revenue than injectables.
Laser hair removal packages typically range from $1,500-$5,000 depending on treatment areas. Body contouring treatments range from $1,000-$4,000 per session, with most patients requiring multiple sessions for optimal results.
Practices that offer comprehensive laser services can generate $150,000-$300,000+ annually, depending on patient volume and service mix.
Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and other facial rejuvenation treatments are the accessible, low-overhead services that keep patients coming back between major procedures.
They improve skin texture, tone, and overall appearance through exfoliation and stimulation of cellular turnover.
Common facial rejuvenation services include:
Facial rejuvenation treatments have excellent profit margins because they require minimal product cost and can be performed quickly.
Individual treatments typically range from $150-$500, and many practices offer package pricing or membership programs to encourage regular visits.
These treatments are perfect for building long-term patient relationships because they can be performed monthly or quarterly, creating multiple touchpoints throughout the year.
Month 1: New patient starts with Botox® to address forehead lines
Month 3: Patient returns for Botox® maintenance and adds a chemical peel to improve skin texture
Month 6: Patient returns for Botox® maintenance and begins laser hair removal package
Month 9: Patient returns for Botox® maintenance and adds dermal filler to enhance lips
Month 12: Patient continues quarterly Botox®, monthly facials, and completes laser hair removal series
This patient journey demonstrates how the three core services support each other:
Patients rarely have just one aesthetic concern. By offering services across all three categories, you can create comprehensive treatment plans that address multiple concerns simultaneously or sequentially.
For example, a patient concerned about aging might benefit from:
Creating these comprehensive treatment plans starts with effective patient consultations. Learn how to conduct consultations that build trust and identify patient goals: Mastering the Aesthetic Patient Consultation.
This comprehensive approach delivers better patient outcomes and significantly higher revenue per patient than offering a single service category.
Start with injectables. Master Botox® and dermal fillers first. They have the highest demand, the lowest barrier to entry, and the fastest path to revenue. Once you have a solid injectable patient base and consistent cash flow, you can invest in laser equipment or expand your facial rejuvenation offerings.
New to aesthetic medicine? Read our guide: Starting an Aesthetic Practice? These 4 Pillars Can Set You Up for Long-Term Success
Add injectables first, then expand based on patient demand. Survey your current patients to understand which aesthetic services they’re interested in.
If you have a younger demographic, they might request injectables and laser hair removal. If you have an older demographic, they might request injectables and skin resurfacing.
Let patient demand guide your expansion strategy.
Plan to offer all three service categories within your first 12-24 months. You don’t need to launch with everything, but you should have a clear roadmap for adding services as your practice grows.
Start with injectables to generate immediate revenue and build your patient base.
Add facial rejuvenation treatments within the first 3-6 months because they require minimal investment and create regular patient touchpoints.
Plan to add laser services within 12-18 months once you have the patient volume and capital to justify the equipment investment.
Trying to offer everything at once.
It’s tempting to launch with every service imaginable, but successful practices don’t win by spreading themselves thin. They win by mastering core services first, then expanding strategically.
Offering too many services too soon leads to:
The three core services—injectables, lasers, and facial rejuvenation—work together to create comprehensive patient care and consistent revenue. You don’t need all three on day one, but understanding how they complement each other will help you make strategic decisions about training, equipment investment, and service expansion.
Start with your foundation (injectables), build patient relationships, and expand strategically based on demand.
That’s how successful aesthetic practices are built.
Do I need to offer all three services to be successful?
No. Many practitioners build profitable practices offering only injectables, especially in the first 1-2 years. However, offering all three service categories allows you to serve a wider range of patient needs and significantly increases revenue potential.
Which service should I start with if I’m brand new to aesthetic medicine?
Start with injectables (Botox® and dermal fillers). They have the highest patient demand, require minimal equipment investment, and generate immediate revenue. Master injectables before adding other services.
How much does it cost to add laser services to my practice?
Laser equipment costs range from $30,000-$150,000 depending on the device and capabilities. However, laser treatments command premium pricing ($1,000-$5,000 per treatment or package), so the investment can be recouped relatively quickly with proper patient volume.
Can I offer facial rejuvenation treatments without expensive equipment?
Yes. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and dermaplaning require minimal equipment investment (typically under $5,000 to start). These treatments have excellent profit margins because product costs are low and treatments can be performed quickly.
How long does it take to become proficient in injectables?
Most practitioners feel confident performing basic Botox and filler treatments after completing comprehensive training and treating 20-50 patients. Mastery comes with continued practice and education. Plan for 3-6 months of focused practice to build solid foundational skills.
Should I hire staff before offering aesthetic services?
Not necessarily. Many successful aesthetic practices start with the physician or nurse practitioner performing all treatments solo. Add staff (medical assistants, aestheticians, front desk) as patient volume increases, and you can justify the additional overhead.
What’s the biggest mistake new aesthetic practitioners make?
Trying to offer too many services too soon. This leads to overwhelm, inconsistent patient experiences, and poor financial performance. Start focused, master core services, then expand strategically based on patient demand.
How do I know when I’m ready to add a second service category?
You’re ready to expand when: (1) You’ve mastered your current services and have consistent patient outcomes, (2) Your schedule is consistently full or near-full, (3) Patients are asking for additional services, and (4) You have the capital to invest in training and equipment without straining cash flow.
Our training bundles are designed to match how successful practices are built—starting with the essentials and expanding strategically.
View our online training bundles →
About IAPAM: The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine has been training physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in aesthetic medicine for over 20 years. Our courses are AMA PRA Category 1 CME accredited and taught by board-certified dermatologists and industry experts.
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Contains: Emerging trends, expert discussions, recommendations, technique comparisons… and more!