The 3 Things I Look At Before I Recommend A Treatment
Sometimes what you think you need isn't actually what I'd recommend.
One of the things I really enjoy about consultations is that they aren't about looking at someone's face and immediately deciding what treatment they should have.
In fact, quite often, the conversation goes in a completely different direction to what someone expected.
You might come in thinking you need Botox for a particular line, or filler because you've noticed a change in one area of your face. But before I recommend anything, there are a few things I want to understand first.
Because your face isn't a collection of separate bits that can be treated independently.
Everything is connected.
So, what am I actually looking at?
1. What are you actually bothered by?
This sounds obvious, but it's probably the most important place to start.
If you tell me you're bothered by your cheeks, for example, I'm not going to immediately start talking about cheek filler.
I'll want to know what it is about your cheeks that you're noticing.
Is it a change in volume? A shadow? Skin laxity? Something that's become more noticeable as you've got older? Or perhaps it's simply something you've become aware of recently because you've been looking at lots of photos of yourself.
And sometimes what someone thinks is the problem isn't actually the thing creating the concern.
That's why I always want to hear what you see before I start looking at what I could potentially treat.
I'm not trying to find things that need fixing.
I'm trying to understand what you'd actually like to change.
2. How does your face move?
This is particularly important when we're talking about anti-wrinkle treatments.
Your face isn't supposed to sit completely still.
You smile, frown, laugh, raise your eyebrows, squint when you're outside...
And those movements are part of what makes your face your face.
So when I'm assessing someone, I'm not just looking at where they have lines when their face is completely relaxed.
I'm looking at how their muscles move and where those movements are creating the concerns they're coming in with.
Two people can have a very similar-looking line but completely different facial movement behind it.
Which means they might need completely different approaches.
3. What's going on with the face as a whole?
This is the bit that can be easy to miss when you're focusing on one particular area.
Your face has balance and proportion, and changes in one area can affect how another area looks.
For example, if you're noticing that your lower face looks different, the answer isn't necessarily to treat the lower face.
It could be related to changes in volume elsewhere, skin quality, muscle activity or simply the way light and shadow fall across the face.
This is why I don't really like the idea of having a “menu” of treatments where you just pick an area and add something to it.
I'd much rather look at the bigger picture.
And sometimes, that means the treatment I recommend isn't the one you came in asking for.
And sometimes, I won't recommend anything at all
I think this is worth saying.
You don't need to have a treatment just because you've booked a consultation.
Sometimes I'll look at someone's concerns and think there is a treatment that could genuinely help.
Sometimes I'll recommend skincare or a different approach.
And sometimes I'll say I don't think you need to do anything.
I know that probably isn't the most exciting thing to hear from someone who offers aesthetic treatments. 😂
But I'd much rather you left feeling like you've had an honest conversation than feeling as though you've been talked into something.
Because ultimately, the aim isn't to change your face.
It's to understand what you're hoping to achieve and work out whether there's a safe, appropriate and natural-looking way of getting you closer to that.
And if there isn't?
I'll tell you.
Bianca x
Not sure what treatment you need? You don't have to know before you book a consultation. That's what the consultation is for! See you in the clinic.