What to ask a provider before you decide

A checklist for your consultation

Ask each one and note the answer.

• License and role of the person performing the treatment
• Their training and how often they do this treatment
• The device, product or method being used
• What a series involves and how it is spaced out
• Aftercare instructions and how long they apply
• Possible side effects and how they are handled
• What happens and who pays if something goes wrong
• Total cost in writing before you start

What a provider will want to know

Expect questions about your health, so have the answers ready:

• Medical conditions and recent illnesses.
• Prescription medications, supplements and topical products.
• Allergies and sensitivities.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Previous cosmetic treatments.

Then add your own list of questions, such as who will perform the treatment and what the total cost will be. A licensed provider uses this information to decide what is suitable for you.

How to look up a license

Each state has boards that license nurses, physicians, physician assistants and, in many states, other aesthetic professionals. In California, you can usually search these boards online by name.

Ask the provider who will perform your treatment and what license they hold, then look it up. Also slow down if you feel pressure to book that day, if there is no consultation, if answers about who does the work are vague, or if the cost will not be written down.