What to ask before any med spa treatment

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.

Pause if you see these

A consultation that goes well usually leaves you with clear answers and no rush. Pause if instead you get:

• A push to pay a deposit or book on the spot.
• Treatment offered with no consultation.
• Fuzzy answers about who performs it and their license.
• A refusal to give the total cost in writing.

You can look up licenses through the Iowa state boards. A short search before you book is worth the time.