Questions to ask a provider
Take this list to your consultation and write down the answers.
- Who will perform the treatment, and what license do they hold?
- What training have they had for this specific treatment?
- Which device or product will you use, and why that one?
- How many sessions does a typical series involve, and how far apart?
- What aftercare will I need, and what should I avoid afterward?
- What are the possible side effects?
- What happens if something goes wrong, and who do I contact?
- What is the total cost, including follow-ups, before I start?
Your consultation notes
It helps to treat a consultation like any appointment where you need to make a decision. Bring notes in, and leave with notes.
Going in, have your health history, medications, allergies and past treatments written down, plus your questions. Coming out, write down who you met, what they suggested, the device or product named, the aftercare, and the total cost they quoted. Notes make it much easier to compare providers or sleep on it.
Take your time
There is rarely a good reason to decide about a cosmetic treatment in a single visit. If a provider pushes you to book that day, that tells you something.
Other signs to slow down: no consultation, vague answers about who performs the treatment, or no written cost. You can look up most health licenses on the California state board website. A provider who is properly licensed will usually tell you their license type and number if you ask.
Tell a provider in Santa Barbara what you would like to ask. You decide what happens after you talk.
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