If you are considering having a few non-surgical cosmetic procedures done, such as anti-wrinkle injections or fillers, there are some essential questions to ask your cosmetic specialist.
Unlike more simple beauty procedures such as facials and waxing, non-surgical cosmetic work carry an element of risk and therefore requires serious consideration. You want to know as much as possible about your prospective injector’s skills, experience and credentials before stepping into that treatment chair.
So without further ado, here is my list of top six questions to ask your cosmetic specialist before deciding if he or she is the right choice to perform your procedure.
1. Are you qualified to do the job?
The most important question is this: “are you qualified to perform this procedure?” The best way to reduce the risk is to consult a specialist who is qualified and well trained. Currently in Australia cosmetic injections can only be administered by a registered nurse with the appropriate training and under the medical supervision of a doctor.
2. How many times have you done this procedure?
Nobody wants to be someone’s guinea pig or even an early test case. The more experience your injector or specialist has with the procedure the more confident about their ability to do a good job. To give you an idea of just how experienced some cosmetic specialists can be, I myself have performed more than 60,000 injectable procedures during my career. So it’s fair to say that my clients are in great and capable hands.
3. What can I expect during a consolation?
The initial consultation is your opportunity for you to talk to your specialist and have any questions answered. Your specialist should also welcome any questions you may have concerning your procedure, their training and credentials, experience and personal techniques regarding your intended procedure, fees and payment policies. Prepare a list of questions before attending your appointment and remember to take notes if there is anything you are confused about. Feel free to ask to see before and after pictures of patients on whom they have performed the same or similar procedures.
4. What are the risks associated with this procedure?
Every procedure carries some risk; this is common to all medical dealings. Risks may vary widely from most patient to patient and from one procedure to another, although recent advances continue to make complications more and more unlikely. Still this is an important question to ask. It’s essential that you are informed of the possible risks and complications of this procedure and if they crop up, how will they be managed? Ask them too: what is your complication rate with this procedure?
5. Do you have a consent form outlining the procedure for me to review?
Your cosmetic specialist should definitely give you an informed consent form detailing all the most pertinent information for you to read and sign. This should detail all the possible risks and require yours signature before proceeding with the procedure.
6. Are there any side effects?
Last but not least you need to know what is normal after a procedure and what isn’t. So ask these important questions: will there be any discomfort following the procedure? What are the expected side-effects and which ones aren’t? If problems do pop up how will they be managed and what should I do in the event of an emergency?
Once these questions have been answered you can be sure that you now well-informed enough to make a wise choice.
Have you seen a cosmetic specialist? What were some questions you asked? Tell us below…
