Picture a patient sitting across from a board-certified physician in a sleek consultation room, reviewing a customized treatment plan that combines neurotoxin injections for forehead lines with a series of broadband light sessions to even out sun damage accumulated over decades of Tennessee summers. That scenario plays out thousands of times each week across the state, where the medical spa sector has grown in step with a national industry that expanded from 8,899 locations in 2022 to roughly 10,488 in 2023 (AmSpa, 2024). Tennessee law treats medical spas as facilities that perform cosmetic medical services, defined under TCA 63-1-153 as any procedure using a biologic or synthetic material, chemical application, mechanical device, or displaced energy form capable of altering living tissue to improve appearance. Every medical spa operating in Tennessee must register annually with the Board of Medical Examiners or the Board of Osteopathic Examination, a requirement established by Public Chapter 494, signed by Governor Haslam on May 20, 2015, and effective January 1, 2016.
The regulatory framework places a licensed physician at the center of every medical spa. The medical director or supervising physician must hold an active Tennessee medical license and maintain an active medical practice within the state. Registration requires the facility name and physical address, the physician license number, ABMS or AOA certification status, and an attestation accepting responsibility for all cosmetic medical services provided at the location. The annual registration fee is $185, and operating without current registration constitutes unprofessional conduct that can result in license suspension or revocation. Tennessee also enforces the corporate practice of medicine doctrine strictly, meaning only licensed physicians, or physicians in combination with licensed chiropractors or podiatrists, may own an entity providing medical services. Non-physicians who wish to participate in the business side commonly use a Management Services Organization structure that separates clinical oversight from administrative operations.
Supervision requirements in Tennessee follow a layered model. Nurse practitioners must maintain a collaborative agreement with a physician and cannot practice independently under TCA 63-7-123. Physician assistants similarly require physician supervision. Registered nurses may perform delegated medical tasks only when a physician, PA, or NP is physically present on site. Licensed aestheticians handle non-medical skin treatments but cannot administer injectables or operate laser devices for medical purposes. Medical assistants may not perform injections of botulinum toxin, collagen, or other fillers, and they are not authorized to use lasers or intense light devices. The facility must also comply with OSHA regulations, including bloodborne pathogen policies, contaminated needlestick protocols, and a laser safety program with a designated laser safety officer. Tennessee signage requirements under TCA 63-1-153 mandate that every medical spa display the medical director name and board certification status at the practice site and in all advertising.
Consumer demand for minimally invasive procedures continues to climb, driven partly by social media visibility and partly by evolving technology that reduces recovery time. Facial injectables, chemical peels, laser hair removal, and body contouring rank among the most requested treatments at Tennessee medical spas. Prospective patients selecting a provider should verify that the facility appears on the Board of Medical Examiners online medical spa registry, confirm that the supervising physician holds a current and unrestricted Tennessee license, and ask about the qualifications and training of the individual who will perform the procedure.
Top Medical Spa Providers in Tennessee
1. ElaMar Nashville
- Address: 4101 Charlotte Ave Suite G100, Nashville, TN 37209
- Phone: (615) 235-9225
- Website: https://elamarskin.com
- Rating: 5.0/5 (610 reviews)
- Services: Botox and Dysport injections, dermal fillers, HydraFacials, microneedling, BBL photofacials, Kybella, thread lifts
- Description: ElaMar Nashville operates as a medical aesthetics boutique on Charlotte Avenue in the Sylvan Park neighborhood, performing thousands of Botox and filler treatments annually. The practice holds Top 250 status with Allergan Aesthetics, placing it in the top 1% of accounts nationally, and employs board-certified aesthetic nurse specialists with over a decade of injectable experience.
2. Glow Medical Spa
- Address: 1109 Davenport Blvd #1000, Franklin, TN 37069
- Phone: (615) 398-1102
- Website: https://glowfranklin.com
- Rating: 4.9/5 (232 reviews)
- Services: Botox, dermal fillers, HydraFacials, Morpheus8 microneedling, chemical peels, Emsculpt NEO body contouring, laser hair removal
- Description: Glow Medical Spa has served the Franklin and greater Nashville area since 2015, operating under a Vanderbilt-trained dermatologist as medical director. The practice ranks among the top 5% of Botox and Juvederm providers in the United States as a Diamond Allergan Partner, and its team includes registered nurse injectors and licensed medical aestheticians.
3. Old City Medspa
- Address: 104 W Summit Hill Dr SW, Knoxville, TN 37902
- Phone: (865) 247-5057
- Website: https://oldcitymedspa.com
- Rating: 4.9/5 (253 reviews)
- Services: Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, dermal fillers, Emsculpt NEO body sculpting, laser hair removal, IPL skin rejuvenation, chemical peels, facials
- Description: Old City Medspa occupies a restored historic building in downtown Knoxville Old City district, supervised by a physician with 35 years of experience in the East Tennessee area. The practice offers membership-based pricing alongside individual treatments and employs AANP board-certified nurse practitioners alongside licensed aestheticians trained in advanced laser and paramedical protocols.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Spas in Tennessee
Q: Does Tennessee require medical spas to register with the state?
Yes. Under TCA 63-6-105, every medical spa in Tennessee must register annually with the Board of Medical Examiners or the Board of Osteopathic Examination. The medical director or supervising physician submits the facility name, address, physician license number, and board certification status. The annual registration fee is $185, and operating without current registration constitutes unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary action.
Q: Who can own a medical spa in Tennessee?
Tennessee enforces the corporate practice of medicine doctrine, restricting medical spa ownership to licensed physicians (MDs or DOs), or physicians in combination with licensed chiropractors or podiatrists. Non-physician entrepreneurs who wish to participate financially in a medical spa typically use a Management Services Organization structure that handles administrative and business functions while a physician-owned entity retains control over all clinical decisions and medical supervision.
Q: What qualifications must a medical spa medical director have?
The medical director must be a medical doctor or osteopathic physician with an active Tennessee license and an active medical practice at a physical location in Tennessee. The physician must also display board certification status (or lack thereof) at the practice site and in all advertising, as required by TCA 63-1-153. Active medical practice means providing patient care at a physical Tennessee location, not merely holding a license.
Q: Can nurse practitioners perform injectable treatments independently at a Tennessee medical spa?
No. Under TCA 63-7-123, nurse practitioners in Tennessee must maintain a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician. NPs may perform injectable treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers, but a physician retains control and responsibility for prescriptive services. For invasive procedures, the supervising physician must often be physically present on site. NPs may prescribe Schedule II through V controlled substances only after consultation with their collaborating physician.
Q: Are aestheticians allowed to administer Botox or operate laser devices in Tennessee?
Licensed aestheticians in Tennessee perform non-medical skin treatments such as facials, dermaplaning, and superficial chemical peels. They cannot administer Botox, dermal fillers, or other injectables, as these procedures fall outside their scope of practice. Laser device operation for medical purposes requires licensure as a physician, NP, PA, RN (under direct physician supervision), or licensed electrologist who has completed a 600-hour training course.
Q: How should consumers verify that a Tennessee medical spa is properly registered?
Prospective patients can check the Board of Medical Examiners online medical spa registry maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health at tn.gov/health. The registry lists registered facilities along with the supervising physician name, license number, and certification status. Patients should also confirm that the physician license is active and unrestricted through the Department of Health license verification portal.