It is the dream of many aspiring injectors to enter the aesthetics industry and build a successful career. While social media may convince us of the high-earning and lavish lifestyles of successful injectors, the reality of the journey is different. There are many intricacies you might want to research before deciding to enter the industry. Here is some advice.

In the beginning, growing in the aesthetic industry will require long hours of work and low pay. Laurie Peterson, RN, CANS, from South Carlsbad, describes the beginning of her career “Since working full time in Aesthetics can be challenging as you build your practice, I worked per diem.” The truth is that, initially, you may not have many clients and might have to take on multiple jobs.

Laurie, thus, explains, “If money is your bottom line, you will lose because there is so much more than providing a service; it's providing trust, outcomes, and a plan of care for a patient. With that comes a happy patient, who refers to their friends, and the revenue will grow organically out of good ethics and great treatments.”

To tackle this problem of low income, Laurie also advises reducing working hours on your current job to gain aesthetic experience without entirely quitting.

Gail Keir, BSN, RN, is an aesthetic injector in Orange County. With an impressive 18 years career, she tells her story of starting it out in the field with a hospital and aesthetic job.

“I went to work in the hospital, and I loved it. I had a great shift with two little kids, but the hospital changed to twelve-hour shifts, and that was hard for me.”

As a result, Gail found herself switching to cosmetic jobs after being recommended by another RN to conduct laser treatments. Through the opportunity, she trained and started a part-time cosmetic job, all while maintaining her hospital work. However, she describes missing family activities and other personal commitments, such as her children’s soccer games. Nevertheless, Gail describes the feeling that kept her going.

“I love the immediate results and making people happy. It was a positive career move for me, as it has only become more sophisticated as the products available have expanded. I enjoy combining treatments and having long-term goals for patients."

On the other hand, you might want to go full in. In this case, consider choosing jobs that offer training, mentorship, and opportunities to grow.

Kristen Doezie, MSN from Temecula, asserts this with “ If you can find a job that will train you, jump on it!”

While there are a lot of opportunities for a successful career, it is the idea of empowering people and instilling confidence that should drive your initial urge to join the industry. Some people might join because they want to try something new or make more money. However, this transition might be the wrong route due to the amount of training needed at the start or the fast-paced setting of the industry.

Laurie explains, “Sometimes I hear, "I'm sick of working in the hospital, and I think aesthetics would be fun.” I'd caution you to go into aesthetics because you are burnt out at your current job. Some nurses don't realize the new challenges they face trying to break into this industry. There is a lot of training!”

It is important to note that when starting to look for jobs, most aspiring injectors realize clinics and spas prefer to hire experienced cosmetic injectors. As a result, the beginning of your career becomes all about gaining experience and often without sufficient compensation. Laurie describes the first moments of becoming an injector as an “unpaid internship.” From the cost of attending injection academies to new employers requiring certifications to out-of-pocket training, the financial and emotional cost of starting out might be too great for some.

Laurie explains, “I always notice that new cosmetic nurses typically work at two or even three places. Why? Because they’re trying to find as much work and experience as possible.”

Nevertheless, aspiring injectors thrive because of their passion for cosmetology and their desire to grow regardless of the loopholes.

Jackie Bischmann, BSN, RN, is the perfect example of this. As she recalls, “I worked full-time as a nurse at Rady Children’s hospital for the medical director who trained me to use his laser as well as a skincare company. Yes, I had three jobs for a while. It took a few years, but when I love something, it is easy to have faith it will work out with hard work.”

While these challenges and realities might feel discouraging, there are many ways to overcome them. The goal is to continually search for opportunities to learn more. You may ask yourself, where do I start? How do I land training?

Nicole Brustkern, DNP from LaJolla, CA, advises, “Ask, ask, and ask some more. The worst thing that anyone can tell you is no. Find local injectors you admire and reach out to them directly about mentoring opportunities. All you need is one person to say yes, and you’ve got your foot in the door.”

Whether you have just completed your aesthetics training or are still thinking about shifting, it is essential to understand yourself. The beginning will be just as hard as the rest of your career, and it will need strategy, learning, consistency, and most of all, it will need passion.

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