Booking your first appointment at an aesthetic medicine clinic can raise a few questions: what will they ask you, will you have to decide anything on the spot, will you be treated that same day? A first consultation is above all a conversation with a doctor: a chance to get to know your skin, understand what you would like to improve and decide whether there is a suitable treatment for you. This is how it usually goes.
Your medical history
The consultation starts with what matters most: your health. The doctor will ask about your medical history, allergies, regular medication, any previous aesthetic treatments and habits such as sun exposure or smoking. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, that is also worth mentioning.
This is not a formality. Some treatments are not suitable in certain situations, and others need the skin to be prepared first or have to wait for the right moment. It helps to bring a note of the medicines you take and any treatments you have had before.
Assessing your skin and face
Next comes the examination. The doctor looks at the quality of your skin (hydration, texture, spots, redness or pores), at lines both at rest and in movement, and at the structure of your face: its support, its volumes and how these have changed over the years.
It is an overall assessment. What catches your eye most in the mirror is often linked to something you had not considered, and understanding that helps choose the most suitable approach.
Your goals, in your own words
Much of the consultation is about listening to you. What would you like to change? Are you after a subtle improvement, or do you have an event coming up? How much recovery time can you allow? The more specific you are, the easier it is to tailor the proposal to what you really want.
This is also the time to talk about expectations. The doctor will explain honestly what is reasonable to expect in your case, bearing in mind that results vary from person to person.
Options, plan and timing
With all of this in mind, the doctor will talk you through the options that make sense for you: how each treatment works, how many sessions it usually needs, what aftercare is involved and which side effects may occur. Sometimes the best option is a single treatment; sometimes it is a plan combining several in a particular order.
Timing matters too. Some treatments are best done in autumn or winter, when sun exposure is lower, and others are best planned well ahead of a specific date. You will leave with a clear idea of the plan and its timeline.
Questions worth asking
Bring your questions written down. Some useful ones are:
- Which treatment do you recommend, and why?
- Are there alternatives?
- How many sessions are usually needed, and how often?
- What aftercare will I need to follow?
- Which side effects are possible?
- What will follow-up look like?
Finally, a first consultation does not commit you to anything. You can go home, think it over calmly and decide later. You will only sign an informed consent form once you choose to go ahead and have no remaining questions.
If you would like to find out what aesthetic medicine can do for your skin, you can book a first medical assessment at our clinics in Palma or Manacor.
