What a Medical Director Actually Does at a Med Spa

Willow and Oak Aesthetic Collective's medical director is Marjorie Lantum, M.D.

Most people booking a facial never think about that. But if you are booking anything on the medical side of our menu — neuromodulators, filler, hormone therapy, weight management, IV therapy, laser — then the medical director is one of the more important facts about the clinic you have chosen.

The short version

A med spa sits across two worlds. Some of what happens is cosmetic: facials, waxing, lash work. Some of it is medicine: prescription products, injectables, medical devices.

The medical side needs physician oversight. The medical director is the physician providing it.

What the role involves in practice

Broadly, a medical director is responsible for the clinical governance of the practice — that medical services are delivered appropriately, by appropriately trained people, with proper assessment and proper protocols behind them.

The practical consequences for you as a patient:

• There is a physician accountable for the medical services offered here
• Providers are working within defined protocols rather than improvising
• There is a clinical answer available when a case is not straightforward
• Someone with medical training decided what this practice will and will not do

Why you should ask about it anywhere you go

This is the part worth taking away even if you never visit us.

If you are booking injectables, laser or any prescription service at any med spa, it is entirely reasonable to ask:

• Who is the medical director here?
• Who will actually be performing my treatment, and what are their qualifications?
• Who assesses me before treatment?
• What happens if something does not go as expected?

A well-run practice will answer these without hesitation. Hesitation is itself informative.

Regulation varies

The specifics of what is required of a med spa vary by state and change over time. We are not going to summarise Tennessee's requirements here, because a blog post is the wrong place to rely on for that and anything we wrote could go out of date.

What we will say is that the questions above are good ones to ask anywhere, and that the answers tell you a lot about how a practice is run.

At Willow and Oak

Our medical services are provided following consultation with a licensed provider, under Dr. Lantum's oversight. Our aesthetician services — facials, peels, dermaplane, waxing, lash work — sit on the cosmetic side and are delivered by licensed aestheticians.

If you are ever unclear which side of that line a particular service sits on, ask us. It is a reasonable question and we would rather you asked it.

Medical side, cosmetic side

A rough map of our own menu, since the distinction matters:

Medical — requires consultation with a licensed provider

• Botox and Xeomin
• Cheek, lip and facial filler, and smooth threads
• Laser services, including CO2 resurfacing and laser hair removal
• Microneedling RF
• Hormone pellet therapy
• IV hydration therapy
• Medically supervised weight management

Cosmetic — delivered by licensed aestheticians

• Relaxing and custom facials
• Dermaplane
• Chemical peels
• Back-cial
• Waxing
• Lash lift and tint
• Red light therapy

Some of these sit closer to the line than others, and if you are unsure which conversation you are having, ask us.

Common questions

Will I see the medical director at my appointment?

Oversight of a practice and performing every treatment are different things. Your provider will tell you who is delivering your treatment and what their qualifications are — ask if it is not volunteered.

Does a facial need physician oversight?

No, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Facials, dermaplane and waxing are cosmetic services delivered by licensed aestheticians.

Why does this matter for injectables specifically?

Because they are prescription medical products. Assessment, appropriate use and what happens if something is unexpected are all clinical questions.

What if a clinic will not tell me who their medical director is?

Draw your own conclusion. It is not a confidential fact.

Is this the same everywhere?

No — requirements vary by state and change over time, which is exactly why we have not summarised Tennessee's here. The questions above travel well regardless.

Booking

126 Stadium Drive, Hendersonville. Prices shown are starting prices and are subject to change. Every plan is confirmed at consultation.