Idaho is expected to have over 590,000* people with at least one tattoo. Planning on starting a tattoo removal clinic in the Gem State? The article covers everything you need to know to set up a laser tattoo removal clinic in Idaho – from the building blocks of a tattoo removal business start up to Idaho tattoo removal laws.
Tattoo Removal Business Start Up
When starting a tattoo removal business, there are several crucial things to consider, plan, and implement. For a step-by-step guide to starting a tattoo removal business, click here. This article covers important aspects of building your business including:
- tattoo removal equipment choices
- types of laser tattoo removal machines
- tattoo removal business space
- marketing and business plan
- training and hiring
- tattoo removal business profitability, and
- Licenses, state regulations, and insurance
For a detailed analysis of which insurance covers the business might need, click here.
It ultimately comes down to this: laser tattoo removal. Laser removal has emerged as the go-to treatment. It is effective and comparatively safe, being a non-invasive skin treatment. A laser tattoo removal clinic can be a highly profitable business.
Tattoo Removal Market Size Idaho
Not everyone loves their tattoo forever. According to Harris Poll (2015), almost a quarter of people with tattoos suffer from tattoo regret. In fact, the tattoo removal market is currently witnessing a huge expansion. It is set to grow into a $795 million market by 2027 at a growth rate of 19.3% (Allied Market Research). Over 590,000 people in Idaho have at least one tattoo. Many of these tattooed individuals will face tattoo regret too. And when they do start looking for removal options, your tattoo removal clinic in Idaho can emerge as their savior.
Idaho Tattoo Removal Laws
The Idaho State Board of Medicine is responsible for the health and medical sector of the state. Under Title IDAPA 24, the ‘Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses’, the Board lists out the ‘Rules of the Board of Medicine for the Licensure to Practice Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine in Idaho’ (Rule 24.33.01). In it, subsection 164 deals with supervising physicians of medical personnel with specific reference to cosmetic treatments.
According to the law, cosmetic treatments that use prescriptive medical/cosmetic devices such as a laser or an intense pulsed light device to penetrate and alter human tissues is considered to be a practice of medicine. Given the potential risks of such a treatment, such as burns, blindness, scarring, and hyperpigmentation, such a procedure must only be performed by a licensed personnel. Thus, in Idaho, only a licensed physician or a personnel under their direct supervision can operate a laser. Delegation is limited to non-ablative and non-incisive procedures.
Rules of Delegation
While the performance of the laser procedure can be delegated to a medical personnel, the delegating physician is fully responsible for the treatment and must provide supervision. She/he must either be present on the premises or be available for instant communication to handle queries and emergencies. The physician cannot delegate their responsibilities and duties to another physician or a business entity/professional corporation/partnership. Other than that, the supervising physician has a few more responsibilities. The physician is required to maintain adequate records of their initial assessment and treatment plan for the patient. They must also periodically review past patient records to evaluate the medical personnel, giving special attention to cases with patient grievances and altered treatment plans. The supervising physician must regularly conduct meetings with the supervised personnel. Furthermore, a physician cannot supervise more than 3 medical personnel at any given time (6 in Board-approved cases).
It is also the duty of the supervising physician to ensure that every patient is made aware of the medical personnel’s education and training and the fact that they are not licensed physicians.
Training:
The medical personnel can perform only those procedures that are within the scope of the supervising physician’s practice. It is the responsibility of the physician to ensure that the medical personnel has adequate knowledge and training in ‘cutaneous medicine, the indications for the prescribed treatment, and the pre- and post-procedure care involved’. The physician must verify the training of the medical personnel with the Board, by filling in the Medical Personnel Supervising Physician Registration form. The document must be available at both the place of work and at the supervising physician’s address. It is also important for the supervising physician to be well-versed with the prescriptive medical/cosmetic devices that are in use.
Laser Tattoo Removal Idaho Laws (In short):
- In Idaho, the use of lasers in cosmetic treatments is considered to be a practice of medicine.
- In case of non-ablative and non-incisive procedures, a licensed physician can delegate the procedure to a trained medical professional. The supervising physician must either be present on-site or be available for instant communication.
Idaho Business Resources & Support
Many organizations and government departments help new businesses start and run efficiently. Some of them are:
- Business.Idaho.Gov is a government website that offers information on licensing, taxes, business funding, assistance resources, and other important business essentials.
- The Idaho Small Business Development Center provides support and assistance to existing and new businesses through its various training programs and free consultation service.
- The Idaho branch of SBA (Small Business Administration) also has a lot to offer. The SBA is not only a storehouse of information but also provides networking opportunities through its various small business events. The Boise District Office serves southern Idaho whereas northern Idaho is covered by the Seattle District Office (through its Spokane branch).
- Score is a non-profit organization offering educational resources and advice and mentorship from business experts. Idaho Score has two separate divisions – Eastern Idaho and Treasure Valley. The Treasure Valley division serves Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, and surrounding communities.
Note: This article does not offer legal advice or interpretation.
*Based on statistics from https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/more-americans-have-tattoos-today
