Starting Your Aesthetics Career – Life After Level 7

After taking their Level 7 Diploma in Botox and Dermal Fillers students often have questions about their future. To answer some of these, Dr Jaymi Lad held a Harley Academy “Ask Me Anything” event on starting your aesthetics career, called 'Life After Level 7'.

Dr Lad is a successful Level 7 graduate, NHS doctor and practising aesthetics specialist with her own clinic. She is also a Harley Academy clinical trainer, so has a lot of insight to offer when it comes to starting your aesthetics career and exploring various industry job opportunities.

Is it worth doing the Level 7 compared to a shorter course?

"I would recommend doing the Level 7 Diploma in Botox and Dermal Fillers qualification over one of the shorter courses. It’s a really well recognised qualification in the industry from an employability point of view.

"Also, I definitely wouldn’t have felt confident injecting after a one-day course. What was absolutely invaluable for me was having that mentorship through my first set of toxin and filler cases before I felt confident enough to inject alone.

"The Level 7 Diploma requires you to look at the field of aesthetic medicine in a lot more depth – so more than just the practical element. I think this is what will really set you apart as a practitioner – this background knowledge of the aesthetic medicine field."

I don’t want to set up my own aesthetics practice. What’s the best way to find a job after Level 7?

"My first port of call would be to join Comma – the community for medical aesthetics app.

"It’s a platform dedicated to healthcare practitioners within aesthetics so it’s a place where you can discuss and learn with your peers, but also from the Harley Academy trainers and some of the experts in the industry.

"Members who are recruiting injectors for their clinics also sometimes post job adverts there!"

Do you think it’s easier to work in a clinic or work for yourself after graduating the course?

"There are lots of pros and cons when comparing working in a clinic setting that’s already established to working on a self-employed basis.

"If you're going to be working in an established clinic, you’re often working as part of a team and you may learn from other individuals who already have more experience than you. The main focus of your job role will be carrying out your treatments. In an already established clinic you often have to work within the time constraints that clinic offers for appointments, you’ll also typically have no autonomy over the products you use or the treatments that you offer there.

"The Level 7 Diploma requires you to look at the field of aesthetic medicine in a lot more depth – so more than just the practical element. I think this is what will really set you apart as a practitioner – this background knowledge of the aesthetic medicine field."

How did you get your first job in aesthetics?

"I started off by applying to between 30-40 different independent businesses that didn’t offer non-surgical aesthetic treatments but had a venue that would lend itself well to them, for example a salon or a dental practice, and I worked between two-to-three different locations at first, offering my non-surgical aesthetic services."

Can I look for a job while I’m still doing my Level 7 Diploma?

"You don’t have to wait until you’ve finished your Level 7 to think about starting your aesthetics career and applying for jobs and starting your career in aesthetic medicine.

"Whilst I’m mentoring, I always like to encourage my trainees to think about their next steps as they’re progressing through the course."

How did you get your own clients and how long did it take to build up a good client base?

"My initial clientele were friends, family friends, work colleagues and I grew from here by advertising on social media platforms."

How do you get a job in an aesthetics clinic when employers are looking for experience?

When you take the Level 7 Diploma in Botox and Dermal Fillers you’re required to complete a set number of treatment cases for your portfolio. You’ll administer at least 20 botulinum toxin and dermal filler treatment as part of your portfolio. This hands-on experience can be used to demonstrate your practical experience within the industry.

For further experience, targeting popular treatment areas, Harley Academy runs a number of Injectables Masterclasses. These offer more hands-on, mentored injecting experience that's really great to help build your portfolio and your treatment cases for when you’re applying for aesthetic practitioner jobs.

We hope you find this advice on starting your aesthetics career helpful!

For further information and medical aesthetics career advice, check out the Careers section of our Aesthetic Medicine Articles homepage.

If you're a Harley Academy trainee wishing to access our private Harley Academy group on Comma, simply contact Student Support for your exclusive invitation.

All information correct at the time of publication