If you’ve never had a cosmetic consultation before, it’s normal to feel a bit unsure about the whole thing. What do they actually do? Will someone try to upsell you? Do you have to commit to anything?
Short answer: no, you don’t have to commit to anything. A consultation is a conversation — a clinical one — and it’s designed to work in your favour. Here’s what to expect when you walk through the door at BLAAH.
Before you arrive
There’s no major preparation required, but a couple of things will make the appointment more useful.
Bring a list of your current medications. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter supplements, and anything you take regularly. Some medications affect how your skin responds to treatment or increase the risk of bruising and other side effects. Your clinician needs to know.
Write down your skincare routine. What products are you using daily? Any active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, or AHAs? This gives your clinician context about what your skin is already dealing with.
Jot down your questions. It’s easy to blank once you’re in the room. Write down anything you want to ask — about specific treatments, recovery time, costs, whatever’s on your mind. Our FAQ page is a good starting point if you’re not sure where to begin.
Come with a clean face if you can. No make-up is best, but not essential. Your clinician will need to assess your skin up close, so they may ask you to remove make-up anyway.
What happens when you arrive
You’ll be greeted at reception and asked to fill in a medical history form. This covers your general health, any conditions or allergies, medications, previous cosmetic treatments, and whether you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
It might seem like a lot of paperwork for what you thought was a quick chat. But this information is important. It helps your clinician understand your health picture before making any recommendations.
Take your time with it. Be honest. Nothing on that form is there to judge you — it’s there to keep you safe.
The face-to-face assessment
This is the core of the consultation. You’ll sit down with your clinician — just the two of you — and talk through what’s brought you in.
They’ll ask about your concerns. Maybe it’s something specific that’s been bothering you for a while, or maybe you’re just curious about what’s available. Both are fine.
Your clinician will assess your skin and facial structure in good lighting. They’re looking at skin quality, symmetry, volume, texture — all the things that inform which treatments might be suitable.
This part isn’t rushed. At BLAAH, consultations typically run 30 to 45 minutes because we’d rather get it right than get it fast.
Treatment options explained
Based on your concerns and their assessment, your clinician will talk you through the options. Not every treatment suits every person, and a good clinician will be upfront about that.
They’ll explain:
- What the treatment involves, step by step
- How long it takes
- What kind of results you might see (and how long they take to show)
- How many sessions you’d likely need
- The risks and potential side effects
- Recovery time and any restrictions afterwards
- How much it costs
This is the part where you ask all those questions you wrote down. There are no silly questions in a consultation room. If you don’t understand something, say so. Your clinician will explain it differently.
Risks and informed consent
Every cosmetic treatment carries some degree of risk. Your clinician is legally and ethically required to explain these to you before you agree to anything.
Common risks vary by treatment but can include bruising, swelling, redness, tenderness, infection, or an outcome that doesn’t match your expectations. More serious complications are rare but possible, and your clinician will cover those too.
This isn’t meant to scare you. It’s about making sure you have the full picture so you can make a genuinely informed decision.
You’ll also be told about aftercare — what to do and what to avoid in the hours and days following treatment. This matters. Good aftercare can make a real difference to your result and your recovery.
There’s no obligation to proceed
This bit’s important. A consultation is not a commitment to treatment. You are not expected to book anything on the day. You are not expected to make a decision under pressure.
At BLAAH, we’d rather you go home, think about it, talk to your partner or a friend, and come back when you’re ready. If that’s next week, great. If it’s three months from now, also great. If it’s never, that’s completely fine too.
Anyone who pressures you to book on the spot is not putting your interests first.
A note on cooling-off periods
If you’re under 18, there’s a mandatory cooling-off period before certain cosmetic procedures can be performed. This is a legal requirement in Australia and exists to protect younger patients from making hasty decisions.
Your clinician will explain this if it applies to you.
What happens after the consultation
If you decide to go ahead, your clinician will put together a treatment plan tailored to you. This outlines:
- The recommended treatment or combination of treatments
- How many sessions you’ll need
- How they’re spaced out
- The total cost
- Any preparation you need to do before your first session
You’ll receive this in writing so you can review it at home.
When you’re ready to book, you can call or book online. Your first treatment session will include a quick check-in to make sure nothing has changed since your consultation — no new medications, no changes to your health.
It’s your appointment
A consultation exists for you. It’s your time to ask questions, raise concerns, and get honest information from someone qualified to give it. You’re not being assessed — you’re being listened to.
If you walk out feeling informed and unhurried, that’s a consultation done well.
If you’d like to learn more about what we offer before your appointment, browse our skin treatments, laser treatments, or non-surgical cosmetic medicine pages. You can also check our pricing page so there are no surprises.
