Your first aesthetics consultation — what to expect.
You’ve booked your free 30-minute consultation at Refined. Maybe you’ve never had an aesthetic treatment before. Maybe you’ve had filler somewhere else and want a second opinion. Either way — here’s what actually happens.
Spoiler: there’s no needle. Not on consultation day. Not even “just a small one” if we both agree it would be useful. Same-day consultation-and-treatment is a corner-cutter. We don’t do it.
Before you arrive
Park on Double Row — free parking right outside the pod garden. Look for the Refined sign. The clinic is in a quiet pod off Double Row. Walk in, kettle’s usually on. There’s a waiting area and a treatment chair, both private.
Bring:
- A list of any medications you take regularly — I’ll ask
- Photos of any results you like (and any you don’t) if you have specific reference points
- If you’ve had aesthetic treatments elsewhere — what was done, when, and ideally the brand of product. The clinic that did it can usually email this if you ask
- An honest answer to one question: “What are you actually hoping for?”
The first ten minutes
I make a brew. We sit down. I ask you what brought you in. Sometimes there’s a specific concern (one line, one feature, one comment from a friend you can’t un-hear). Sometimes it’s broader (“I just look tired”).
Then I’ll ask:
- What you’ve already tried — skincare, treatments elsewhere, anything else
- Your medical history — conditions, allergies, recent dental work, recent illness, current medications
- Whether you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive
- Whether you’ve had filler before, and if so, what and when
- Whether you have any events coming up — weddings, photo shoots, holidays
- What outcome you’re hoping for — this is the open-ended one
This isn’t a tick-box exercise. The answers shape what I recommend. A client whose mum has had a serious autoimmune condition, who’s on metformin, and who has a wedding in 10 days — that’s a different consultation from a 35-year-old in good health with a flexible timeline.
The actual examination
I’ll look at your face properly. In good light, asking you to make various expressions: smile, frown, raise your brows, purse your lips. This is so I can see how your face actually moves, not just how it looks at rest.
For lip filler consultations specifically, I’ll look at the symmetry of your existing lips, the proportion between upper and lower, where the cupid’s bow sits, how thin or thick the vermilion border is. I’ll usually point things out you’ve never noticed about your own face. That’s normal.
For anti-wrinkle, I’ll watch your forehead and brow movement, where the lines settle in, how dynamic versus static they are.
For cheek and mid-face, I’ll often photograph your face from a few angles — with your permission, and stored on our consent platform, not anywhere public — so we can compare honestly at follow-up.
The honest opinion
Here’s where consultations at Refined diverge from the industry default. I’ll tell you what I think will work, what won’t, and sometimes what I won’t do.
Examples of conversations I’ve had this year:
- “I think your lips don’t need filler — you’ve got natural definition. What you’re describing as flatness is just the lighting in your bathroom mirror. Try a tinted lip oil for two weeks before we book anything.”
- “You’re asking for cheek filler but I think you’d see more change from a course of polynucleotides under the eyes — the issue is skin quality, not volume.”
- “You’ve had filler with three other clinics and I can see migration from the chin into the jaw. We’d need to dissolve before adding anything new. That’s a bigger conversation than today.”
- “You sound stressed. Is now the right time to start something cosmetic, or would you rather come back in three months?”
None of these are sales pitches. They’re just the truth about what I think. You’re free to disagree, get a second opinion, or come back in six months when you’ve had time to think.
Questions I’d love you to ask me.
- “What product are you using and where do you source it?” — the answer should be a known brand from a licensed pharmacy.
- “What happens if something goes wrong?” — I should have a clear protocol; I should be able to describe what occurs and what I do.
- “Are you a prescriber?” — for botulinum toxin treatments, yes, I am.
- “What dose are you suggesting and why?” — I should be able to explain the reasoning.
- “What does aftercare actually involve?” — not a generic answer.
- “What if I don’t like it?” — for filler, dissolving is on site; for anti-wrinkle, it wears off and we adjust next time.
- “Are you on Save Face / JCCP / NMC?” — yes to all.
What happens after
You leave with a plan, not a pressured booking. The plan might be:
- “Book the treatment when you’re ready — here’s a recommended timeline.”
- “Try this skincare for two months and let’s reassess.”
- “Wait three months — you’ve just had treatment elsewhere, let’s see how it settles.”
- “Speak to your GP about [X] before we proceed.”
- “Honestly, I don’t think you need anything. Save your money.”
If we agree to proceed, I’ll send you a written treatment plan, the medical questionnaire (digital, takes 5 minutes), and the next available appointment. There’s a 7-day cooling-off period for prescription medicines, so if we’re doing anti-wrinkle the next appointment will be at least a week later.
If we agree not to proceed, I’ll send a brief follow-up note summarising what we discussed. No pressure, no “limited time offer” nonsense, no ringing you up next week.
Why “not today” is sometimes the best answer.
The industry default is to convert every consultation into a treatment. Mine isn’t. I’d rather you walk out with a clear plan and book later (or not at all) than rush into something you’re uncertain about.
If you’re reading this and thinking “but what if she says no to me?” — honestly, sometimes I will. And sometimes that’s the most useful thing I can give you. The first nurse who tells you “you don’t need this” is the one worth coming back to when you do.
Free 30-minute consultations are bookable through the contact page or WhatsApp me. If you’ve got a specific question and you’re not ready to book yet, message me anyway — I reply to every WhatsApp myself. 🤍
Nurse Rachel · NMC-registered, Independent Prescriber V300