How to Find a Medical Director for an Aesthetic Practice

At a Glance

• Start by confirming what your practice needs from a medical director.
• Look for relevant clinical familiarity, state licensure, and availability.
• Structure the relationship with a clear agreement, protocols, and chart review.
• Watch for red flags that suggest name-only arrangements.
• The right medical director is a clinical partner, not a signature.

Confirming What the Practice Needs

Before searching, define:

• Which treatments you plan to offer
• What oversight your state requires
• What delegation and supervision you need
• Whether a Good Faith Exam is required and who may perform it
• What chart review frequency is appropriate

See Does a Med Spa Need a Medical Director? and What Does a Medical Director Do?.

Relevant Clinical Familiarity

A medical director should have experience relevant to the treatments your practice offers. A physician who is not familiar with aesthetic treatments may not be the best fit, even if they are licensed. Consider:

• Experience with injectables, lasers, or other aesthetic treatments
• Familiarity with the products you plan to use
• Understanding of aesthetic complications and their management
• Experience with the provider types in your practice

State Eligibility

Confirm:

• The physician is licensed in your state
• They are in good standing with the medical board
• They are permitted to serve as a medical director under your state's rules
• Whether your state restricts the number of practices a physician may direct

Availability

A medical director must be available for:

• Protocol development and review
• Consultation during treatments
• Emergency response
• Chart review
• Staff training and competency review

Distant or unavailable oversight is a risk. Confirm how availability will work in practice.

Agreement Structure

A medical director agreement should define:

• Scope of services and duties
• Delegation and supervision responsibilities
• Availability and response times
• Chart review frequency
• Compensation
• Term and termination
• Insurance and indemnification
• Compliance with state rules

Work with qualified counsel to draft or review the agreement.

Protocol Support

The medical director should help establish:

• Treatment protocols for each service
• Delegation rules for each provider type
• Good Faith Exam workflow
• Emergency response procedures
• Adverse event documentation

See Practice Compliance.

Chart Review

Confirm:

• How often charts will be reviewed
• What percentage of charts will be reviewed
• How findings will be communicated
• How deficiencies will be corrected

See Chart Review.

Communication Expectations

Define:

• How the medical director will be reached
• Expected response times for non-emergencies
• Emergency escalation procedures
• Frequency of in-person or virtual meetings

Growth Into Additional Services or States

If you plan to expand:

• Confirm the medical director is willing to support new services
• Confirm they are licensed in additional states if needed
• Discuss how protocols will be updated for new treatments

Red Flags

• The physician is not licensed in your state
• They are not familiar with aesthetic treatments
• They are not available for consultation
• They offer to lend their name without meaningful involvement
• They are unwilling to review charts
• They are unwilling to establish protocols
• They are difficult to reach

Evaluation Questions

• Are you licensed and in good standing in my state?
• What experience do you have with aesthetic treatments?
• How do you handle delegation and supervision?
• What is your availability for consultation and emergencies?
• How often do you review charts?
• How do you handle adverse events?
• Are you willing to support practice growth?
• What is your compensation structure?

What Providers Should Verify

• The physician's license and standing in your state
• Their experience with aesthetic treatments
• Their availability and response commitments
• The agreement structure and duties
• Whether the arrangement is substantive, not name-only

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a medical director cost? Costs vary based on the state, services, and level of involvement. This is a negotiation between the practice and the physician.

Can one medical director cover multiple states? Only if they are licensed in each state. Some states may also restrict the number of practices a physician may direct.

What if I can't find a medical director? Consider Medical Director Coverage through NOVI, which connects practices with qualified physicians.

How do I know if a medical director arrangement is defensible? The arrangement should involve meaningful clinical involvement — protocols, delegation, chart review, and availability — not just a signature. Work with qualified counsel.