How often have we scraped our knees or suffered a cut fully expecting it to scab over, not giving it another thought? This routine process is actually quite complex. It’s important to know about this process since the plasma pen procedure will leave hundreds of tiny pinpoint scabs over the surface of your client’s skin. 

The heat emanating from the plasma pen creates a cauterizing effect within the skin, quickly sealing off the vessels from bleeding. The blood in the treated area clots and is covered by a brown scab. This effect means you will not see the bleeding that is associated with other controlled micro-trauma treatments like microneedling. It also promotes a safer treatment with reduced risk of infection. 

It's important to stress to your client that no matter how tempting, picking at the scabs will interfere with their body's fine-tuned healing response. The micro-dot scabs will fall away on their own in approximately 3-7 days. During this time period the area should be kept sterile and free of makeup. Makeup is easily cross contaminated and should be avoided for 7 days following treatment. An aftercare cream or antiseptic ointment will help ensure the area heals properly.  

The inflammation response of the body will swell the area and create an instant tightening effect. Be sure your client understands that true results will take some time to see and this is simply swelling in the area of the micro-injury. Some individuals will experience redness for up to two months following this procedure as the skin takes time to repair and remodel itself.

We are sure you are excited to begin enhancing your skills and money-making ability by learning how to perform this treatment. Educating yourself on how to provide this service to your clientele is a worthwhile investment with low startup costs and the potential for long term lucrative returns. Practice makes perfect. In order to refine your technique and make the most of this minimally invasive treatment you will need a few items on your road to becoming a certified Plasma Fibroblast specialist. 

As a professional within the beauty aesthetics industry, you already are well aware of the importance of a client consultation. In this module we will review the steps of a basic client consultation. 

A client consultation not only protects your interests but can make sure your client has reasonable expectations on how the Plasma Fibroblast Skin Tightening treatment can benefit them. A consultation is also an important sales tool that you can use to identify any other potential treatments that may help them achieve their aesthetic goals. You will also need to determine if the procedure is the right choice for a client’s skin type to avoid liability, as well as be prepared for specific issues that may arise during the pretreatment consultation.  

A good consultation will be an interactive process. Encourage your potential client to ask questions about the procedure so that you and the client are on the same page. During this consultation you should walk through every step of the treatment, discussing aftercare, long term implications and the number of sessions needed to treat the client’s concerns. 

 A detailed intake form should cover the client’s medical history, potential allergic reactions, sensitivities to hyperpigmentation and any possible contraindications. At this time you can either confirm the booking, or rule them out as a candidate for Plasma Fibroblast Skin Tightening. Even if you determine this particular treatment is not a fit for their needs, you can steer the client toward another service you offer that would be more advisable for them. For your benefit and theirs, be sure to keep fully detailed records and images on each client you have. 

We want you to be fully prepared to administer this treatment at the end of this certification course. We will provide you with consultation forms customized for Plasma Fibroblast Skin Tightening once the training is completed. 

At your client’s first appointment, schedule enough time to provide a full and thorough consultation. Once you have recorded their information and determined that it is safe to move forward with the procedure, have your client sign the form confirming that the information provided is true and accurate. For multiple sessions continue to record the client’s progress and have them sign the form indicating they are satisfied with the procedure. 

The Plasma Fibroblast Skin Tightening treatment is extremely effective in skin tightening because the volume of skin is reduced when the plasma vaporizes the section of skin. This soft surgery procedure produces results that last nearly as long as traditional surgery, but without worrisome side effects and risks. Of course, the aging process is continual, so no aesthetic treatment produces permanent results. However, many have experienced very good outcomes with this tightening treatment with results that should last for years.

There will be a noticeable tightening immediately following this therapy as the heat causes the connective fibers to shrink. Swelling and inflammation may exaggerate results, so be sure the client understands that some of the tightening they are seeing is related to the healing process and is temporary. Final results are seen at approximately 8 weeks after the skin tightening treatment. 

An additional treatment after 8 weeks may be needed to enhance results. Certain lifestyle factors such as frequent exposure to the sun or tanning beds, heavy alcohol consumption and smoking will temper results by increasing the look of aging in skin. Current skin laxity and how the individual responds to treatment will vary. You and your client can discuss the number of treatments to be performed for the best results. 

Appointments must be spaced out by a minimum of 8-12 weeks. 

Once completed the area of the skin where you placed your plasma pen will be covered in carbon crusts or scabs. The feeling is comparable to a moderate sunburn and may feel irritated for a couple of hours. Make sure that your client is aware of the possibility of swelling increasing in the hours immediately after the procedure and may last for up to 3 days. 

Sensitive areas such as around the eye or upper lip will have pronounced swelling and inflammation. Your client can expect the carbon crusts or scabs to heal and fall off anywhere from 5 to 12 days after the session. The area will continue to improve in appearance over the following 2 months. 

Provide a print copy of detailed aftercare instructions for your client to reduce chances of infection. In the week following your client’s treatment session, have them avoid using any chemical or physical exfoliating cleansers on the treated area. A pH balanced soap such as Dove or any other gentle wash would be ideal for aftercare. We will talk more in depth about aftercare and pre-treatment sessions below. You will also receive a printable pre/post care form when you complete your certification. 

Since the skin will be inflamed and swollen, avoiding the sun or tanning salons is absolutely necessary in the days before and after treatment. A sunblock with a minimum protection of SPF 30 must be used daily for two weeks prior to the Plasma Fibroblast Skin Tightening. 

Skincare actives such as retinol, salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), tretinoin or any vitamin A derivatives should be discontinued two weeks prior to the session. Alcohol consumption should be avoided 3 days prior to the appointment and caffeine beverages should be cut off 24 hours before the therapy appointment begins. If the client is at risk for developing cold sores or other side effects a practitioner may need to prescribe an appropriate medication. 

Your client will need to complete all treatment, medical history and liability waivers before the treatment begins. We also recommend taking a before and after photo, so you will need photo consent forms as well. 

Allow the lidocaine numbing solution to sit underneath plastic wrap for a minimum of 30 minutes before beginning treatment. If you are a physician or nurse and can provide lidocaine shots legally, you can also choose this option instead of a topical cream. A lidocaine shot will outperform topical lidocaine cream in terms of how long the numbing effect lasts. If you do not have access to a lidocaine shot, don't worry, topical lidocaine will do the job just fine.

Stress to your client that they must not pick at scabs or scrub them!

This can lead to infection, scarring and hyperpigmentation. Weeping at the treatment site is simply liquid plasma oozing from the scab area and is a natural wound healing response. The oozing will subside on its own and the crusts will flake off after a few days. Natural moisturizers or hyaluronic acid are great choices for keeping the skin hydrated. Hyaluronic acid can attract 1,000 times its weight in water, making it an excellent hydrator. Moisture is the key to proper healing and enhanced outcomes. 

To reduce redness and swelling, ice packs can be applied to the area. A red LED light immediately following treatment will improve healing and decrease swelling. Hydrating masks can be used after 7 days if no harsh ingredients or exfoliants are present in the formulation. In the rare cases where a client does not heed aftercare instructions, swelling can persist for more than three days. If treated near the eye area this can even interfere with vision. Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or antihistamines may be helpful for swelling, but they should consult with their doctor first.  

Alcohol-based face wash, facial brushes, scrubs or exfoliating face washes should be discontinued until the scabs have fallen off. Clean the area with water and a gentle pH balanced cleanser twice a day. Harsh cleansers will hinder healing in the area by further irritating delicate skin. Also, be sure to advise your client to stay away from salt or chlorine pools and hot tubs for a week following their treatment.

If you're a little green behind the ears when it comes to working in the field of medical aesthetics you most likely won't be able to charge as much as someone that has been in the industry for a decade. If you are very new, you may do well to offer your first procedures for very little money or even free. A free service may seem counterintuitive to your goals, but the hands on experience is an investment that will pay off down the road. 

Doing a few procedures for free will also give you valuable marketing resources such as patient photos and testimonials to use to sell your services. If you do a great job, online reviews and word of mouth exposure are worth their weight in gold. Many businesses unethically pay money in exchange for positive reviews. Having genuine great reviews is the kind of social proof that is priceless in this field. Free is not sounding so bad right now, is it? 

If you are already well established, you can simply cross-sell this service to your existing clients or bundle it with other popular procedures. You may have enough of an established business presence to charge standard pricing right out of the gate.