The question every med spa owner should be asking: What insurance coverage is needed for popular med spa treatments? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. As the aesthetic industry continues to evolve with high-demand services like Botox, laser resurfacing, and chemical peels, so do the risks. While these treatments can boost your bottom line, they also carry the potential for serious harm — and costly claims. That’s why med spa insurance needs to be more than a checkbox. It must be as nuanced and specific as the treatments you offer.
What Could Go Wrong? Procedure-Specific Risks To Watch For
Not all risks are created equal — especially in a clinical spa environment where different treatments come with their own liability profiles.
- Injectables: Popular fillers and neuromodulators like Botox are prone to complications when improperly administered. Nerve damage and vascular occlusion top the list, both of which can lead to disfigurement and malpractice claims.
- Laser resurfacing and microneedling: These procedures can cause burns, scarring, or pigmentation changes, particularly when performed on sensitive skin or without proper patient screening. General liability and rigorous documentation, including signed consent forms, are essential.
- Chemical peels: While generally safe, chemical peels can trigger allergic reactions or chemical burns — especially if the patient has undisclosed sensitivities. Thorough pre-procedure consultations are critical to avoid adverse events.
When outcomes go wrong, lawsuits are rarely far behind. A comprehensive insurance strategy tailored to your treatment menu is your strongest defense.
Are You Legally and Financially Covered?
Standard business insurance often falls short of protecting med spa owners from real-world aesthetic risks. Med spa insurance should include:
- Professional liability (malpractice) coverage for treatment errors or patient injuries
- General liability to protect against slip-and-fall claims and property damage
- Coverage for informed consent disputes, which can be a key legal battleground
- Protection from employee negligence, especially relevant in fast-paced settings with rotating providers
Some policies may exclude specific aesthetic procedures unless specifically added. If your provider doesn’t understand what’s happening on your treatment tables, you’re probably underinsured.
Training, Protocols, and Partners That Protect
According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, adverse events are significantly more likely when non-physician providers perform treatments. In fact, 73% of moderate incidents occurred in non-physician-administered procedures, compared to 41% under physician care.
That’s not just a statistic — it’s a liability flashpoint.
Your best protection? A trained and certified team, supervised by a licensed physician, following proven protocols. That includes:
- Requiring certification and ongoing training for all staff administering treatments
- Documenting informed consent and pre-treatment consultations thoroughly
- Conducting medical history reviews to flag potential risks before they become claims
The right insurance partner does more than write policies — they provide proactive risk-management guidance that strengthens your operation from the inside out.
Build a Safer, Smarter Med Spa Practice
Med spa success demands protection that aligns with your procedures, your people, and your pace of innovation. When injectables cause nerve damage, when lasers burn, or when allergies flare, your liability exposure escalates.
That’s why smart med spa owners choose Olson Duncan Insurance. We understand the pipeline from procedure to potential lawsuit — and build coverage that interrupts that chain before it starts. Our med spa insurance solutions protect you where you need it most, with policies built around your treatment menu and support that doesn’t stop at the claim.
Contact Olson Duncan today to receive a custom risk assessment tailored to your specific services.
About Olson Duncan Insurance
Established in 1945, Olson Duncan Insurance has more than 70 years of experience serving the insurance and risk management needs of California residents and businesses. During our seven decades, we’ve earned the trust of our clients and the outstanding reputation of professional integrity by consistently offering individuals and businesses quality insurance products at fair, competitive prices, backed by exceptionally responsive service.