Skin treatment consultation checklist: what to bring and ask

A consultation is the visit where a practitioner looks at your skin, listens to what you want and explains the options. It is the best place to slow things down. A good one ends with you knowing more, not with a payment.

Use this page as a checklist. It is general information, and a licensed professional must assess your own skin.

What should I bring?

Bring facts that help the practitioner be safe. If you forget something, say so and offer to send it later.

• Any health conditions, allergies and past skin reactions
• Medicines and supplements you take, and anything you put on your skin, including prescription creams
• Whether you are pregnant, trying to be, or breastfeeding
• Recent sun exposure or tanning
• Any past treatments and how your skin reacted
• A list of your own questions

What should the practitioner ask you?

A careful practitioner will ask about your health, your skin history and your goals. If you are not asked about allergies, medicines or past reactions, say so yourself and ask why they did not ask. Our page on who should be injecting you has more on this for injectables.

Questions to ask your clinic

Questions to ask your clinic

1. Who am I speaking with, and are they licensed for this treatment?
2. Who will carry out the treatment itself?
3. What is the treatment, and how does it work, in plain words?
4. What are the risks and side effects, and how common are they, in general?
5. Are there other options, including doing nothing?
6. What preparation and aftercare are needed, and for how long?
7. How many sessions, and what is the total fee?
8. What happens if I have a problem, and who do I call?

Ruling: if you do not get a clear answer to number 4, do not book.

What to expect

• Before: the consultation, a look at your skin, a talk about options and a written plan with costs. Typically you should be able to take time. Ask for a cooling-off period.
• At the treatment visit: consent form, a check of your details, and often a patch or test area. Ask your clinic.
• After: written aftercare, and a number to call. Ask how long redness or other effects typically last, and what is not normal.

Skin changes that are painful, spread, blister, ooze or come with fever need prompt medical care. Do not wait for a clinic appointment.

Red flags

• Treatment starts at the first visit with no assessment
• You are asked to sign a form you were not given time to read
• Nobody asks about health or medicines
• Risks are described as "none"
• A deposit is demanded today "to hold the offer"

How do I compare two clinics?

Ask both the same questions and compare the answers, not just the totals. Our guide to reading a treatment quote shows how to see what a price includes. Also read how to check a clinic before you book.

Common mistakes

• Leaving out health details because they seem unrelated
• Not mentioning medicines or skin creams
• Treating a quick chat as a full assessment
• Booking a package before trying one session
• Skipping the written aftercare

Where does the answer change?

If you are unwell, have broken or sunburned skin, or have a new or changing mark, a beauty treatment may not be suitable. A changing mole needs a doctor, not a salon. See should I get a mole checked.