Do You Tip for Botox Laser and Peels?

To tip, or not to tip?

I got a direct message on Instagram recently that asked an excellent question—one that I hadn’t thought about before, even after all of the times I’ve gotten treatments at a dermatologist or aesthetics center: When it comes to getting any type of procedure from Botox, to lasers, to facials—when is it appropriate to tip?

Thankfully I have some really awesome digital friends in that space who were happy to answer, so let’s dig in!

Here’s what an esthetician at a medical skin center says:

“I’ve always been trained to never expect a tip. Some [people] don’t tip and I’ve learned that from my serving days.

Obviously it’s a super nice gesture — facials/massage/nails/hair/waxing—those are typical services that many tip on [myself included] and have received tips. Same goes for chemical peels. Some of the more ‘medical’ treatments such as microneedling, Botox, fillers, lasers, many don’t see as a treatment that is deemed a ‘tipping service,’ especially when it’s at a derm[atologist’s] office.

But when I used to work the front desk I had clients ask if they should tip, and I just say it’s always a nice gesture to show if you enjoyed the service provided to you. 

It’s definitely a touchy subject for some. I’ve worked at spas that are strictly low hourly [rates], so the tips were how you made a bulk of your income. And places where you receive commission … helps on those days [when] the tips aren’t fruitful.”

Here’s what a plastic surgery physician associate (PA) says:

“If it is a medical office and medical professional they probably don’t expect tips for the laser treatments. If the facial treatments are facials, etc, with an esthetician, then I would tip individually on those.”

Here’s what a business development manager of aesthetics says:

“Facials are appropriate for tipping—not services such as lasers and injectables.”

Here’s what an registered nurse (RN) working in a cosmetics center says:

“It typically boils down to pay structure for the provider. Physicians will earn 100% of the product price because it is their practice, but an RN, NP [nurse practitioner], PA would earn an hourly rate—let’s say $25/hour and a commission fee which is a small amount (around 3%) of the product price. In those cases I would say it’s entirely appropriate to tip.

Rule of thumb: If your injector own the practice, no tipping necessary. If they are an employee it is customary to tip. That being said, no one expects 20% tip of their service.

Let’s say you get Botox that costs $40. If you tip your provider $20 they will be appreciative and likely to take some extra special care of you next time.

Some offices operate on a commission basis only for RNs but it is not as common. So no hourly rate but 30% of product total.”

And one more super helpful tip!

“If you see small envelopes by the register that is the best indicator [that you can tip], but in general if you are seeing anyone aside from the physician that owns the practice, you should tip something. $20 goes a long way in making your provider feel appreciated, in my experience.”

Hope that helps! Knowledge is power, friends. Hope you get an extra shot of Botox for being a good tipper next time you go in. 😉