CoolSculpting or cryolipolysis is now an extremely popular procedure in the US with over 8 million treatments having been completed since 2019.
If you’ve arrived for your first CoolSculpting treatment or have just finished it and are looking to settle the bill, you might be wondering whether you need to tip.
Tipping is a key part of managing any budget and it’s important to get your tip game right. If you tip too much you’ll lose money hand over fist. Tip too little and you could fall foul of customs.
To help you decide whether you need to tip and how much if so, we’ve done the donkey work for you and have looked into what the customary practice is for tipping after CoolSculpting, what your CoolSculpting practitioner is likely to earn, and what the procedure will cost.
Keep reading to find out…
Do You Tip for CoolSculpting? The Short Answer
Whether you tip for CoolSculpting will depend on who performs the procedure. If it’s done by a qualified doctor like a Plastic Surgeon or other medical professional like a nurse practitioner you don’t need to tip. If the procedure is done by an esthetician (or other none medical-trained person) you can leave a tip but it’s not required.
We will come on how much to tip (if you decide to) below.
How Much Will a CoolSculpting Practitioner Earn?
If you’re thinking about tipping following your CoolSculpting, it might be useful to look at what the salaries are of those performing the procedure.
It’s commonly accepted in the US that workers within some industries require their
CoolSculpting can be done by anyone with certification to complete the procedure.
You don’t need to be a medical doctor to perform the procedure as it is non-invasive.
However, at some establishments, the procedure will be performed by qualified doctors like Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists, or other appropriately qualified practitioners such as nurse practitioners.
We won’t cover their salaries as they’re not usually allowed, ethically, to accept tips and you shouldn’t tip it if it’s this sort of practitioner who performs your procedure.
However, some CoolSculpting procedures are done by estheticians who aren’t medical doctors.
It’s fine to tip this type of worker and so we will cover their salaries to establish whether their income warrants tipping.
According to Estheticianedu.org, the median salary for this type of worker is $31,290, raising to $59,790 per year with experience.
According to Mint.Intuit the average salary in the US is $56.310 per year, so on that basis, it would appear that estheticians earn below-average earnings unless they fall into the top-earning bracket within their profession.
Given the median salary of an esthetician is $31,290, that is quite a bit below the US average yearly salary and therefore you may consider this warrants a tip. Indeed this is what we found when we look at whether you should tip following Micro Needling.
We’ll leave this to your good judgment.
Related Article:
Do You Tip For Laser Hair Removal?
How Much Will a CoolSculpting Procedure Cost?
Another key factor to consider when tipping is how much the procedure will cost you.
Tips are generally applied in the US at a rate of 10-20% of the total sale value of the goods purchased so pricing is important when it comes to calculating tips.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, CoolSculpting costs on average $1300 – $1500.
On this basis, on average your tip would cost you $130 – $300 if you apply the above percentages.
However, this is extremely steep and most people will opt to offer a fixed sum rather than apply the percentage amount if they do decide to tip.
How Much to Tip for CoolSculpting?
As above, the standard rate in the US is 10-20% of the bill.
However, this will lead to a huge tip of $100+ even at 10% on the basis of the above figures.
Most people in this scenario will opt to tip a fixed sum.
We’d propose $10 – $30 as being ample.
Tipping isn’t generally required in this industry. No heads will be turned if you don’t tip so any amount is likely to be well received.
You should bear in mind that some surgeries will apply a gratuity onto the bill already so be sure to check this before you dip into your wallet for a tip.
The last thing you want is to be tipping twice in an industry where you don’t really need to tip at all.
Related Article:
Do You Tip for Microblading?
Other Ways to Tip for CoolSculpting
It’s important to remember that you don’t always have to leave a monetary tip.
And if the practitioner is a doctor or other medical professional then you shouldn’t be tipping with cash anyway and the practitioner is unlikely to accept it.
Tipping can be done in other ways such as:
- By leaving a review on the company’s website or on Google;
- A Thank You card;
- Gift Vouchers;
- A bottle of wine or chocolates.
Simply praising the practitioner is a great way to show your gratitude.
When You Shouldn’t Tip
You should never feel obliged to tip and it’s perfectly acceptable to not tip when something goes wrong or the service wasn’t as expected.
You might decide to withhold a tip if:
- The procedure wasn’t to your satisfaction in terms of results or workmanship;
- The practitioner was rude or unprofessional;
- The practitioner is a medical doctor or nurse (non-monetary tips are fine providing they aren’t too extravagant);
- You’ve been overcharged.
On the flip side, you might decide to tip more or tip when you usually wouldn’t if:
- The results surpassed your expectations;
- You were given a good deal on the price;
- During the holidays;
- If the practitioner is an esthetician and not a doctor.
Final Thoughts
There are no hard or fast rules when it comes to tipping after a CoolSculpting procedure.
The only real rule is that you don’t generally need to tip medical doctors or nurses and they will likely turn down your tip if you offer it, especially if it’s a monetary one.
Estheticians who aren’t medical doctors may be willing to accept your tip but don’t be offended if they don’t.
Some companies outright ban their employees from receiving tips.
If you do decide to tip then $10 – $30 is fine but remember to check the bill or ask the staff at the surgery to make sure a tip (i.e. gratuity or service charge) isn’t already included in the bill.
In this industry, we’d suggest that a non-monetary tip is probably more appropriate but don’t be afraid to withhold a tip if you’re not happy with the service.
