Medical Malpractice Insurance and General Liability Insurance for Med Spas

As med spas continue to grow in popularity by combining medical procedures with traditional spa services, owners and practitioners must navigate a complex landscape of legal and insurance requirements. Two of the most essential forms of protection are medical malpractice insurance and general liability insurance. While both are vital, they serve very different purposes. Understanding the distinctions between the two is critical to protecting your business, staff, and clients.

What Is Medical Malpractice Insurance?

Medical malpractice insurance (also called professional liability insurance) is designed to protect healthcare providers against claims of negligence or errors in the delivery of medical services. For med spas, this includes procedures such as:

• Botox and dermal fillers,

• laser hair removal,

• chemical peels,

• microneedling, and

• body contouring treatments.

If a client alleges they were harmed due to an error, omission, or professional negligence—such as a botched injection or improper laser treatment—medical malpractice insurance helps cover legal fees, settlements, and court judgments.

Who Needs It?

Anyone who performs or supervises medical procedures should carry malpractice insurance.

This includes:

• physicians (even if they only supervise),

• nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and

• registered nurses and licensed aestheticians (in some cases).

What Is General Liability Insurance?

General liability insurance covers non-medical risks that any business may face. This includes:

• slip and fall accidents in the lobby or treatment rooms,

• property damage caused by your business activities, and

• personal and advertising injury such as defamation or copyright infringement.

For example, if a client trips over a cord and breaks their ankle while in your med spa, general liability insurance would respond—not malpractice coverage.

Who Needs It?

Every business, regardless of industry, should have general liability insurance. It’s foundational protection that covers many common risks not related to medical procedures.

Why Med Spas Need Both

Because med spas straddle the line between healthcare and personal care, they are exposed to both professional and general liability risks. Relying on only one type of insurance leaves major gaps in coverage.

The following scenarios are examples of what each insurance may cover.

• A patient claims their skin was burned during a laser treatment – malpractice claim

• A client slips on a wet floor in the lobby – general liability claim

• A staff member posts a before-and-after photo without permission – general liability

Tailoring Coverage to Your Practice

Many insurance providers offer combined policies tailored specifically for med spas. These may bundle general liability, medical malpractice, and other forms of coverage like:

• property insurance (for equipment and space),

• cyber liability (if you store client data electronically), and

• employment practices liability (for HR-related claims)

Be sure to work with a broker or insurer that understands the unique risks of aesthetic medicine and spa operations.

Conclusion on Medical Malpractice Insurance and General Liability Insurance for Med Spas

Med spas operate in a hybrid space that demands comprehensive insurance protection. Medical malpractice and general liability insurance are not interchangeable—they’re complementary layers of defense. Investing in both ensures that your business, reputation, and clients are well-protected, no matter what challenges arise.

Feel free to reach out if you need more specific information or further clarification.

Weitz Morgan is a leading law firm in Texas in providing comprehensive advice and guidance to med spas. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges and complexities faced by this rapidly growing industry, our team of experienced attorneys is dedicated to helping med spas navigate the legal landscape successfully.

We recognize that med spas operate at the intersection of healthcare and beauty, which necessitates a multifaceted approach to representation. Our firm offers a range of services, including a flat-fee med spa formation package and an outside general counsel subscription, tailored to meet the specific needs of med spas, ensuring compliance, mitigating risks, protecting licenses, and fostering a legally sound business environment.