Cosmetic Consultations Part 2: Client Treatment Suitability

Clients have been known to attend appointments with someone who is coercing them into treatment, and this person may attempt to answer your client’s questions. Sometimes this may be due to extreme embarrassment. However, the relationship is between you and the client and therefore, they must be able to answer and ask their own questions. In situations like this, it may be worth asking the attending person to wait outside. It is always worth considering the potential for this client to be a vulnerable adult if they are being coerced or bullied by another person.

In addition to their medical suitability, it is worth considering other factors which will impact on the results – social history;

• Are they able to attend appointments as required E.g. Are they likely to travel/long haul regularly/Do they have regular UV exposure, etc. some of these aspects may contra-indicate certain treatments.
• Financial implications; are they able to commit to the financial implication of treatment. Obviously this depends on the initial and long term cost of treatment, but should be considered at consultation as if treatment requires ongoing maintenance treatment this could become an issue.
• Motivation for treatment – is their desire for treatment genuine, or have they been coerced by a friend or family member to undergo treatment they would not normally consider.

Once these points have been covered (providing expectations are realistic, and your client is suitable for and wishes to proceed to treatment) then a treatment plan can be outlined. This should include details of the treatment itself, cost and commitment(s), likely outcomes, aftercare advice and contact details.

Clients should be given a copy of these details to take away and review in their own time out of the clinical setting, with details of how to find further information if required.

Reassessing your client’s expectations at each appointment thereafter will serve to ensure compliance and satisfaction for both you and your client. For this, I recommend including additional time to ask questions like ‘have you seen a difference/improvement’ – and other leading questions, which will encourage your client to tell you about their perception of results (note, this can be quite different to your perception of results! Before pictures are imperative to assess this without bias). This should then follow on to discuss your clients compliance with any aftercare advice given and their healing rate etc. and the treatment plan can be tailored as required to suit your client as an individual. Thus promoting a holistic client journey, and continued satisfaction.