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Treatment package or pay per session: which to choose

Treatment package or pay per session? Here is how they differ, the risks of paying upfront, the questions to ask and a simple rule for choosing.

Sofia Benyahia3 min read

A small stack of plain paper vouchers and a pen on a table
Image by AlexanderStein from Pixabay

Verdict: pay per session is safer when you are new to a clinic or a treatment, because you can stop. A package can make sense later, if you know the treatment suits you, the clinic is solid and the terms are clear in writing.

Which wins on

QuestionPackagePay per session
FlexibilityLower, you have paid aheadHigher, you decide each time
Price per sessionOften lower, as clinics advertiseOften higher
Risk if you stopUnused sessions may be lostYou lose nothing
Risk if the clinic closesMoney paid ahead is at riskSmall
Pressure to continueCan feel higherLower
Best whenYou know it suits youYou are trying it out

"Often lower" is general. Ask the clinic for the numbers on paper.

Pick a package if

  • You have already had a session and are happy with how it went
  • The clinic has put refund, expiry and transfer terms in writing
  • Your practitioner has explained why a set number of sessions is suggested
  • You can afford to lose some of it if the clinic or your plans change

Pick pay per session if

  • This is your first time with the treatment or the clinic
  • Your skin or health may change
  • The clinic cannot show terms in writing
  • You do not know how you will react

Decision rule

Never buy a package at the first visit. Try one session, wait, review, then decide. A clinic that cannot wait a week for you is telling you about itself.

Questions to ask your clinic

  1. What is in the package, and how many sessions?
  2. Why is this number suggested for me?
  3. Does it expire, and what happens to unused sessions?
  4. Can I transfer it or get a refund if I stop?
  5. What if the practitioner leaves or the clinic closes?
  6. Is the price per session in writing?
A folded receipt and a pen on a counter
Keep every receipt and written termImage by 777546 from Pixabay

Caution

Treatments such as peels, lasers and injectables can have effects that vary between sessions. A set number of sessions may not fit what your body does. Ask your practitioner to review after each. See laser hair removal: what to ask and how to read a treatment quote. For deposits, see deposit and cancellation questions.

General information only. Ask a licensed professional about your own case.

Quick questions

Are packages a good deal?

Sometimes, if the terms are fair. A lower price per session is only a deal if you use all sessions.

What if I want a refund?

Ask before you pay. If it is not in writing, do not assume it.

Can the clinic change the price later?

Ask whether the package price is fixed and for how long.

Is a voucher the same as a package?

Not always. Check the expiry and what it covers.

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