Four questions for the chair

Start with the concern that brought you in, using your own words. Perhaps makeup catches on a patch of texture, a line bothers you in photographs, or you want to understand a change you have noticed. You can describe that without arriving with a treatment already chosen.

Ask the clinician to explain what they see, which options could help, and what each option cannot do. The AAD recommends discussing realistic results and whether a procedure is the best fit for your skin and health. AAD consultation guidance. Ask what happens if you wait or choose no treatment. Those answers belong in the conversation too.

Get the full name, the treatment area and the reason for the recommendation. An attractive package name is not enough detail to compare options. If several procedures are proposed, ask what each contributes and whether they can be considered separately.

For a medicine used off label, ask what evidence supports that use and what alternatives exist. FDA approval of a drug does not mean the agency has established its safety and effectiveness for every possible use. The FDA explains off-label drug use. For filler, request the patient information for the exact product and ask whether the proposed use is approved. AAD filler preparation guidance.

Discuss the expected recovery alongside the serious complications. Ask which effects you can reasonably anticipate, which symptoms require a call, and which require urgent medical care. Find out who answers after hours and whether you can have the instructions in writing.

Your part is to provide an accurate health history. Before filler, the AAD recommends disclosing medical conditions, allergies, previous cosmetic treatments, medicines and supplements. What to tell your clinician. Bring a list if that is easier. Do not stop a prescribed medicine to fit an appointment without advice from the clinician who manages it. If something has changed since booking, say so before treatment begins.

Ask for the total proposed cost, the number of visits, the likely recovery, and any ongoing treatment needed to maintain the result. The AAD includes cost, recovery and the number of treatments among its recommended consultation questions. Questions about the procedure.

Then get practical: is a review visit included, how are additional treatments priced, and what happens to a deposit if you change your mind? Ask what the quote excludes. Put the schedule beside your work, travel and family commitments. A treatment can sound manageable in a room and still be wrong for the month you have ahead.

Use your phone or a notebook to record the plan, with the clinician's permission if you want an audio recording. Write the four questions before you arrive so you can return to them when the conversation moves quickly. A friend can help you remember details, but the choice should remain yours.

Before agreeing, try explaining the proposal back: the change you want, why this treatment fits, the main risks and the full commitment. Ask for anything unclear to be explained again. Leaving with information and no procedure is a useful consultation. You can make the next decision once you have had room to think.