At the risk of showing my age … when I was a kid, cosmetic procedures were mostly about having a boob job, facelift or liposuction. These highly invasive procedures carry a lot of associated risks, and there are enough good as well as bad tales available to encourage anybody to think twice before booking in a sitting for silicone implants. Nowadays, though, the lines have become a lot more blurry! Instead of having a facelift, we get anti-wrinkle injections or have laser wrinkle reduction. Instead of getting collagen injections, we have much longer lasting dermal fillers. And instead of having our face sandblasted or peeled away with near-industrial strength acids, we have very safe laser acne treatments. However, we still need to be careful to ensure that your expectations match your reality after a new cosmetic procedure, so today we look at 7 smart questions that you can ask yourself and your wrinkle reduction or laser hair removal clinic before you book in the big appointment.
Questions to ask yourself
How does the pricing relate to other places I have seen?
There’s a reason that some products and services are cheap while others are expensive … and when it comes to having things like laser hair removal, dermal fillers and other procedures done, ultra-low everyday prices usually indicate substandard training or products being used. You can still save a lot of money (with little risk) by paying attention to the promotions and specials at reputable clinics.
Does it sound too good to be true?
Too many people find out the hard way about things that sound too good to be true…
Am I taking a balanced view?
Of course, it is easy to become overly fearful and reluctant to try anything for fear of adverse consequences. One thing to remember is that we have very involved, evidence-based and balanced government departments and agencies here in Australia, and if something was widely known to cause harm to even a significant minority of patients it would not be allowed to occur.
Questions to ask your cosmetic clinic
What is your experience in performing this procedure?
Online courses, watching someone else perform the procedure, and having read the laser hair removal machine’s owners manual don’t count!
What sort of results can I expect?
You should be able to see a range of Before and After photos from people who’ve had the same procedure as you at the same clinic. The photos should show faces and bodies without cosmetics, in a neutral position, and both with similar lighting.
Is it safe?
Your laser hair removal, acne treatment or wrinkle reduction clinic should be able to give you an accurate picture of the risks and rewards of a particular procedure. Be wary of those that say there are no side effects whatsoever, and the procedure is completely safe!
Questions to ask your doctor
Will this procedure interact with any of my medical conditions or medications adversely?
Your cosmetic clinic will also screen you for known interactions between their products/procedures and common medical conditions or medications. For example, people taking Roaccutane cannot have laser acne treatment. However, your doctor will have all your records and knows you inside out – they are an excellent source of personalized information.