Beauty salon or medical practice?
Both have their place. The only question is for what. A clear line by law and risk.
What beauticians may do (care, light peels, needling up to 0.5 mm) and what stays medical (botulinum toxin, fillers, PRP, lipolysis, medical needling).
Who may do what?
What belongs in the beauty salon: cleansing, care, massage, light fruit-acid peels, cosmetic needling with short needles, lashes, make-up advice. Good beauticians are valuable for skincare between medical treatments – and often notice early when something should be checked dermatologically.
What stays medical: everything that penetrates the skin or is a prescription medicine. Botulinum toxin (prescription medicine), hyaluronic acid fillers (medical devices, physician use in Germany), PRP (blood draw and re-injection are medical acts), injection lipolysis, medical microneedling with longer needles, medium and deep peels, thread lifts.
The NiSV regulation: since 2021 the German regulation on non-ionising radiation requires that lasers, IPL and certain energy devices on the face be used only with proven expertise – partly physicians only. Here too the market has been sorted out. VIVA DERM itself offers neither laser or IPL treatments nor any training or courses in them.
Why the line makes sense: not out of professional pride but because of complications. A vascular occlusion after filler must be treated medically within hours. A ptosis after botulinum toxin needs medical assessment. A beauty salon has neither the medicine nor the training nor the liability insurance for that.
Cooperation instead of competition: ideal is both: medical treatment for volume, expression and skin structure; cosmetics for care, cleansing and wellbeing in between. Ask openly in both places who does what – and do not get 'injected' at the salon.
The essentials.
A question about Salon or practice?? Send us a short WhatsApp message – we usually reply the same working day.
Ask via WhatsAppImportant note.
This text is general information. It replaces neither a medical examination nor the consultation required before any treatment under German law (§ 630e BGB). Whether and which treatment is suitable for you can only be said after examination and consultation. No treatment results are promised.
Frequently asked questions.
May a beautician use 'needle-free' hyaluronic acid (hyaluron pen)?
The hyaluron pen is not licensed in the EU as a medical device for this purpose and has led to complications. Professional societies and authorities advise against it.
Is microneedling allowed at a salon?
Cosmetic needling with short needles yes; medical needling with longer needles reaching the dermis is a medical act.
Sources and further reading.
- § 630e BGB – duty to inform before treatment (German Civil Code)
- GOÄ – German scale of medical fees (official text)
- § 11 HWG – ban on before/after images and advertising promises
- Professional code of the Medical Association North Rhine
- NiSV – German regulation on non-ionising radiation (laser, IPL)
- MPDG – German medical devices act (fillers are medical devices)
- NHS: non-surgical cosmetic procedures
External links open in a new window; their operators are responsible for their content. Medical responsibility for this page: Katayoun Mostaghimi, specialist in general medicine. Last updated: 2026-10-15.
Talk to the physician.
Book on DoctolibOr simply call: +49 1520 8367711 · info@vivaderm.de
Or start with a consultation only: consultation appointment (€50, credited against a treatment)