February Blog Round-Up: Medi-spas, Barbershops, and Tattoo Parlors

Here’s what you missed this month on the Red Bags blog.

Medical Spas and The Law

There is a growing demand in the spa industry that goes above and beyond massages and pedicures; nowadays, many clinics are opening medical spas – hybrids of medical clinics and day spas – that help patients with cosmetic enhancements.  This includes Botox injections, skin rejuvenation, laser hair removal, laser vein therapy, collagen induction therapy, and medical grade peels.

Since these go above and beyond your typical facial and massage, what do OSHA, HIPAA, and medical waste laws have to say about disposal and regulatory compliance at the medi-spa? Read on to find out.

Speaking of medical spas, what is up with injectables?

Common therapies offered at the medical spa include injectable services, such as Botox or Dysport, which are designed to treat lines and wrinkles.  This is where the the “med” part of med spa comes into play, as injections certainly fall under services that require skilled, licensed medical care.

Medical spas are held to the same regulations as a medical practice: environments must be clean and sanitized, and  the medication, such as Botox or Dysport, must be secured and stored according to guidelines. Here’s what the law says about these services.

At the barbershop, medical waste disposal exists.

In the latter part of the 19th century, barbers helped people with common medical procedures, such as lancing boils, setting breaks, and even teeth pulling.  While modern-day patients no longer turn to their barbers for medical procedures, barbers are still producers of waste that could be considered hazardous; scissors that come into contact with hair and skin, razors that shave the skin, and combs that brush through the hair of several clients a day.  These types of instruments aren’t waste, per se, rather instruments that are required to be disinfected and cleaned because of their purpose.

Learn all about medical waste at the barbershop and why compliance is important.

Laser hair removal is technically a medical procedure, so here’s what regulations say about these services.

While performed in a spa-setting, laser hair removal is actually considered a medical procedure because of how it works and what it does.  Here’s what medical spas need to know about requirements, regulations, and maintaining compliance with this treatment. 

Tattoo parlors are regulated, too.

Tattoo parlor medical waste refers to the instruments that piercing professionals and tattoo artists produce when piercing or tattooing a client, including sharps, lancets, tattoo needles, sterile dressing, unused ointment, and gloves.  There are health risks associated with tattoo parlor medical waste, just as there are risks associated with labs and healthcare facilities that do not sterilize equipment, or do not follow medical waste removal guidelines.  Here’s what you need to know about tattoo shops and compliance with the law.

Medical waste regulation is an ever-changing landscape, and knowing what laws apply to which states and why is an important part of running a safe and compliant facility.

Stay up to date on all things medical waste by subscribing to the Red Bags blog.

You Might Also Like:

• Administering the Annual Flu Shot? Here is What You Need to Know about HIPAA’s Privacy Rule
• Personal Protective Equipment For Safety and Compliance
• Sharps Disposal 101

Service Areas: Long Island Medical Waste; New York City Medical Waste; Westchester Medical Waste and more!