"Policies and procedures" is one of the most searched phrases in aesthetics. A template you download isn't the same as a manual your Board, your medical director and your staff can actually use. Here's what a complete aesthetic manual covers.
Core Sections
- Practice structure and ownership: who owns the practice and the medical director relationship.
- Supervision: how and when the medical director is reached, plus backup coverage.
- Standardized procedures or protocols: in California, written, dated and signed, with the elements set out in 16 CCR 1474.
- Good faith exam: who performs it, timing, repeat intervals and documentation.
- Informed consent: treatment-specific consent forms and photo consent.
- Treatment protocols: one per service on your menu (neuromodulators, fillers, peels, microneedling, sclerotherapy, GLP-1s and others).
- Complications and emergencies: vascular occlusion, anaphylaxis, emergency kit contents and transfer.
- Products and sourcing: approved product list, supplier verification, storage and lot tracking.
- Training and competency: initial and ongoing competency checks, with records.
- Documentation and records: charting standards and retention.
- Privacy and safety: HIPAA, bloodborne pathogens, workplace safety and violence prevention.
- Review and revision: who reviews the manual, how often, and how changes are signed.
Why "State-Specific" Matters
Ownership, delegation, GFE and supervision rules differ by state. A manual written for one state can leave gaps in another.
How We Build Manuals
Our manuals are built around your state, your treatment menu and your practice details, with signature areas for your medical director and staff. A manual supports compliance; it doesn't guarantee it. It works best when it's followed, signed and reviewed.
Want to train your team on the manual? Free CE: Standardized Procedures (1 contact hour) and Guidelines for a Compliant Practice (3 contact hours). California BRN Provider #18009. Browse CE at AestheticNursingCEs.com
Educational information only, not legal advice. Requirements vary by state; confirm with your state board.