What to Expect During a Botox Consultation

Key Points

This step-by-step guide will take you through what to expect during a Botox consultation. Here you can find out more about the following:

• The consultation process
• Common questions about Botox consultations
• Consultation warning signs
• Where you can have a Botox consultation

Would you like to find out more about having Botox at Health & Aesthetics? Speak to the team today on 01252 933133 or email info@healthandaesthetics.co.uk to book your consultation with Dr Rekha Tailor.

Botox is a prescription-only medicine. This means that you should first have a detailed face-to-face consultation with an experienced cosmetic doctor or nurse.

If you’re at the stage of choosing which practitioner to administer your Botox, read our guide How to Find the Right Practitioner for Your Botox Treatment. This will help you choose a qualified, experienced practitioner.

The consultation process

During an in-depth consultation, the practitioner will discuss the following:

• Your medical history

The practitioner will take a detailed medical history from you. This includes any allergies you have, any potential contraindications and any previous cosmetic treatments you have had. Please also make a list of what medication you are taking.

• Your expected outcome

Your practitioner will discuss what you would like the treatment to achieve and which areas of your face you have concerns over. During your consultation, your practitioner might discuss alternative treatments that are more appropriate. Also might provide you with complementary treatments aimed at helping you achieve the results you want.

• A detailed skin analysis

At Health & Aesthetics, as part of your consultation process, we use a 3D Digital Skin Imaging System called VISIA. This analyses your skin’s age and health, including texture, lines and wrinkles, and redness. By looking at the skin in such close detail, we can develop a skin care plan that is bespoke to your specific needs. The results may reveal that treatments, such as chemical skin peels or radiofrequency treatment for example, are more suited to your skin than Botox, or may be used to complement your Botox treatment.

• Potential risks and side-effects of having Botox

It’s important you are aware of the risks and side-effects of having Botox before having treatment. At the extreme end, an allergic reaction to a wrinkle relaxing treatment could cause anaphylactic shock; however, this is extremely rare. More common side-effects include mild bruising, headache or slight swelling. You can read more about the side-effects in our Botox Aftercare FAQs.

• Aftercare advice

You will be advised on what you should do to ensure your treatment is as effective as possible. Again, there is detailed information on what to do after having treatment in our Aftercare FAQs.

• The opportunity to ask questions

Throughout the consultation, you will be given ample opportunity to ask any questions and share any worries you have about the treatment. Read our guide How to Find the Right Practitioner for Your Botox Treatment for a list of suggested questions to ask your practitioner during the consultation.

• Time to make a decision

You should be given enough time to digest the information you’ve been given. You need to make a considered decision about whether the treatment is right for you. At Health & Aesthetics we give you as much time as you need. Once you have had your consultation and received your bespoke treatment plan.

After your consultation, we recommend you take a minimum of 24 hours to consider all the pros and cons before making a decision and booking a treatment appointment. After your consultation, you will be given an information pack (including a brochure, relevant leaflets and a form with possible outcomes and contraindications) to further help you make a decision.

• Sign a consent form

The last step before going ahead with treatment is to sign a consent form. One of our experts will talk you though the consent form and give you time to read it through before the treatment. When all forms are filled out and consent forms signed, the treatment can take place.

Common questions about Botox consultations

How much does a Botox consultation cost?

This will vary from different clinics – at Health & Aesthetics a thorough consultation with Dr Rekha Tailor is £100 and includes a detailed analysis of your skin, a full clinical assessment and a comprehensive treatment plan. Some clinics offer free consultations, but it is unlikely that a practitioner will be able to gain the detailed information needed to produce the optimum results during a free consultation. A free consultation is highly unlikely to include a skin imaging analysis, for example.

Do I need a consultation before having Botox?

Yes, without a thorough consultation a practitioner will not know what your expected outcomes are or how much Botox to administer to achieve the results you want. Not having a consultation is risky from a health point of view too, as the practitioner won’t have discussed the risks and side-effects with you or be aware of your medical history. Botox takes a minimum of three months to wear off so if you risk having the treatment without a consultation, then you may have to deal with unsatisfactory results for a considerable amount of time.

What about a follow-up consultation after having the treatment?

A reputable clinic should offer you a follow-up consultation as well as a pre-treatment consultation. At Health & Aesthetics, you will have a full follow-up appointment 2-3 weeks after having your treatment. Optimum results from Botox treatment are achieved 18 days after having the injections. That is why you should have an assessment to check you are happy with the results. The follow-up appointment is also an opportunity to have a little top-up treatment if required. Also to check for any side effects. There is no charge for follow-up appointments at Health & Aesthetics.

Consultation warning signs

The following are red flags indicating that the practitioner you’re dealing with may not be the best option for a successful Botox treatment:

• The consultation isn’t with the qualified prescriber who will administer the treatment.
• Free consultations can be tempting but often won’t go into the detail needed for you to make an informed decision about your treatment. There could be added pressure to purchase a treatment after a free consultation.
• If the consultation takes place somewhere other than a clinical setting, for example a Botox party, nail salon or hairdressers, then this is not an appropriate environment to have a medical procedure.
• If you are offered the treatment without an in depth consultation. This is unlikely to get you the results you want. It can also be dangerous, as they will not be aware of your medical history.

Where can I have a Botox consultation?

A reputable clinic will provide an in-depth consultation before offering any treatment. This enables you to make up your own mind, in your own time, about whether it’s the right treatment for you. Health & Aesthetics is a Surrey-based clinic that treats patients from Surrey, Hampshire and the London area.

You can find out more about Botox and other treatments available at the clinic. To book a face-to-face consultation with Dr Rekha Tailor, call 01252 933133 or e-mail info@healthandaesthetics.co.uk.