Should I Tip My Botox® Injector?

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

“Do I tip my Botox injector?”It’s a reasonable question. After all, while it’s not customary to tip most medical professionals, aesthetic professionals like cosmetologists and spa services providers expect a tip. So do massage therapists. Botox injectors live in a gray area between the medical and aesthetic professions, so it’s not a clear-cut answer either way.

That said, there is a correct answer, or at least a correct way to think about tipping for Botox. Read on to learn more about this common question about tipping.

Should You Tip Your Botox Injector?

The most important factor to consider when deciding whether to tip your Botox injector is their license level. In other words, ask yourself: How long did this person spend in school, and how much (roughly) do they earn?

Tipping a Physician, Surgeon, or Dentist for Botox

Some Botox injectors are board-certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons. As you can imagine, these are highly compensated professionals, many of whom also have valuable equity in their medical practices.

It feels odd to tip someone like that, especially when the procedure itself isn’t cheap. Should you?

No, you should. Many high-level medical providers won’t accept tips even when offered. And within the profession, it’s frowned upon for physicians, surgeons, dentists, and dermatologists to ask for tips when they perform Botox injections (or other aesthetic medical treatments) themselves.

Tipping Nurses & Other Injectors for Botox

What about nurses and other employees cleared to inject Botox?

Here, the answer is “it depends.” Factors that can influence whether injectors expect (or directly ask for) tips may include:

The type of practice. Tipping is more likely to be expected at medical spas and other facilities that offer a mix of cosmetic and non-cosmetic services. It’s less likely to be expected at dental practices and other medical facilities where cosmetic services aren’t the main focus.

The injector’s licensure. Botox injectors must complete comprehensive aesthetic training coursework and in most cases must meet professional prerequisites as well. In many states, a nursing degree is required. The rule of thumb is that injectors with higher educational attainment and higher license levels don’t expect tips to the same degree as employees with less training.

What other procedures were performed (if any). Tipping is customary for “pure” cosmetic services like chemical peels and laser hair removal. If your Botox treatment is bundled with services like these, your provider may expect a tip.

Supervisor policies. Some supervisors and practice owners discourage employees from asking for tips. They may even forbid employees from accepting unsolicited tips. You probably won’t learn of these policies until your injector refuses your money.

Remember that while aesthetic medicine careers can be more rewarding than careers in traditional medicine, many support employees (including some Botox injectors) aren’t raking it in. They’re middle-class folks with bills to pay, just like many of their clients. So unless the supervisor expressly forbids it, tossing them an extra 10% or 20% on the bill for services is a nice gesture.