Beauty treatments are the perfect pick-me-up for enhancing your features and boosting your confidence. If you’re considering your first procedure, you may be wondering what you should expect at your first aesthetics appointment. It’s perfectly understandable to feel a little nervous your first time attending a clinic, so for your peace of mind, we’ve broken down each step of the process to help you prepare.
Let’s dig in and explore the aesthetics treatment journey, from the initial consultation right up until the aftercare process.
Choosing an aesthetician
Picking the right clinic and aesthetics practitioner to administer your non-surgical treatment is, without a doubt, the most critical step in your cosmetic journey. There are several factors to consider, and different clinics may be more suited to your needs and aesthetic goals than others. Thorough research is key for ensuring the best experience and results for your first aesthetics appointment. Here are some important details to think about when making your decision:
- Clinic hygiene – The cleanliness of a clinic correlates directly to the level of service you can expect to receive. Requesting a tour of the premises before committing to treatment can help restore your mind and allow you to instil trust in your chosen practitioner.
- Treatments on offer – Although you may have one specific procedure in mind, a good clinic will have a range of different options and be able to best advise on the best procedure or combination of techniques to undergo to attain your specific aesthetic goals.
- Expertise – Any aesthetic procedure is a huge responsibility that should only be administered by a qualified and competent medical professional. It’s also a large field with frequent advancements. Look out for a clinic that demonstrates proof of its continued dedication to the industry.
- Reviews – With verified testimonial websites and social media, modern technology is a powerful research tool when choosing an aesthetic clinic. Take your time to read verified reviews from previous clients before you take the plunge and get in touch with a clinic.
The initial consultation
The aesthetics consultation will be your first point of contact with your practitioner and an excellent opportunity to resolve any concerns or apprehensions you have about your first aesthetics appointment. The consultation should be broken down into the following steps:
- Medical history – A complete medical, social, drug and family history.
- Aesthetic history – Disclosure of any previous cosmetic treatments, as well as a number of general lifestyle questions.
- Risk assessment – Your aesthetician will conduct a risk assessment to explore your psychological reasons for undergoing treatment — this is simply part of their duty of care as a healthcare professional.
- Expected results – A good clinician will gain a comprehensive understanding of the results you would like to achieve and work with you to create realistic expectations for your aesthetics procedure.
- Potential risks and side-effects – Your practitioner should not only talk you through any possible complications in detail but also give you the opportunity to ask any questions or present any concerns that you have about your first aesthetics appointment.
Preparing for your appointment
You should be given a detailed guide on preparing for your first aesthetics appointment during the consultation stage, but some general rules to follow for any injectable procedure include:
- Avoid alcohol in the 48 hours leading up to your appointment.
- Drink plenty of water before attending the clinic.
- Avoid wearing makeup or skincare products that could penetrate the skin and interfere with treatment.
- Don’t take blood-thinning painkillers such as Ibuprofen before treatment, as they may increase bruising post-treatment.
The treatment
It’s natural to feel some pre-treatment nerves on the morning of your first aesthetics appointment, but taking the time to plan out your day can help to alleviate those jitters and relax you ahead of your visit to the clinic. Get plenty of rest the night before, fill up on water in the morning to stay hydrated and give yourself plenty of time to make it to your appointment on time to avoid any travel-related stress,
While your full appointment time is likely to be around one hour, much of this will be dedicated to checking in, discussing the procedure with your aesthetician, and, if applicable, application of a numbing cream and the additional time it takes to take effect. Your aesthetic practitioner will use a needle to inject the filler in the appropriate area of the face or neck under the skin. It may feel slightly uncomfortable but should not be painful. The treatment itself is unlikely to take more than around 20 minutes, but this, of course, depends on the size of the area being treated.
Post-procedure aftercare
Once your injections have been successfully administered, your clinician will take the time to take you through the aftercare process and steps to maximise the results of your procedure. While side-effects are most minimal, it’s essential to take extra care in the days immediately following treatment. By keeping your face makeup-free, staying out of direct sunlight and avoiding putting any pressure on the treated area, it’s much more likely that you’ll enjoy a speedy recovery and beautiful results.
Model patients at Acquisition Aesthetics
Acquisition Aesthetics is a leading provider of training in aesthetics medicine and injectable procedures, including Botox and dermal fillers. We work with qualified medical professionals, including doctors, dentists and nurses, and model patients remain a fundamental part of our training process.
We’re pleased to offer discounted treatments to model patients who attend our training days throughout the UK and Ireland. If you’re interested in finding out more about the procedures we offer, locations and available dates, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at models@acquisitionaesthetics.co.uk or call 0203 514 8757 to speak to a friendly member of our team.
