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What this visit is for
Many people put off booking because they assume they need to arrive with a decision already made. You do not. Choosing a treatment from a list of several dozen options is not the patient's task, but that of the person assessing the skin.
The cosmetologist combines knowledge of dermatology, cosmetic chemistry and dietetics, carries out advanced treatments independently and resolves skin problems that do not require a doctor's involvement. At NL Clinic they work in the same team as aesthetic medicine doctors, so if a matter goes beyond cosmetology, the handover to a doctor happens in the same place.
The consultation has another practical purpose: it protects you from spending money on treatments that have no chance of working at that particular moment. Irritated, inflamed or unprepared skin responds to a stimulus differently than an online description assumes.
Recording from the consultation
What the consultation looks like
The visit is a two-way conversation. It is not only us gathering information about you, you also check whether the answers you hear sound credible and whether you want to work with us.
Skin examination and diagnostics
A lot can already be seen during the conversation, but looking alone is not enough. The skin needs to be touched to assess its structure, texture and tension. This is the palpation examination, and it is the basis of qualification.
Palpation examination
Assessment of the skin's structure, texture and tension. The basis, without which choosing the working depth is guesswork.
Skin analyser
Information on hydration level, the distribution and depth of pigmentation, and the degree of keratinisation.
Wood's lamp
Reveals changes not visible in daylight, particularly useful for pigmentation and inflammatory changes.
This information forms the answer to the question of what the skin needs first. Sometimes it is a treatment, and sometimes a change in daily care and a return visit in a few weeks.
How to prepare
The more specific information you bring, the more accurate the qualification will be. The day before your visit, it is worth gathering a few things.
List of cosmetics
The names of what you use every day. The simplest way is to take photos of the packaging and ingredient lists.
Medicines and supplements
Everything you take, including vitamins and herbs. Some preparations change the skin's sensitivity and affect the qualification.
Allergies and reactions
What you are allergic to, and what has irritated your skin before: cosmetics, treatments, dressings.
Cold sores
Whether it appears and how often. With recurrences, some treatments require preventive treatment beforehand.
Previous illnesses and antibiotic therapy
When you were last ill and whether you needed antibiotics. This affects the condition of your skin and the timing of the treatment.
Come to the appointment without make-up. If you are thinking about a specific treatment and want to consider it straight away, mention it when booking, and we will book a longer appointment.
What you get after the visit
Skincare advice
What to stop using, what to keep, what is missing from your daily routine.
Priorities
What to address first and what can wait. This is usually the most reassuring part of the conversation.
Treatment plan
A proposed order and schedule, along with the cost, before we start anything.
Clarity about limits
What a given method will not do and when a doctor is the right person to see.
The basic consultation is free of charge and does not commit you to anything. Preparing a detailed, written home care plan is a paid service in line with the price list, and the decision to follow it is entirely yours.
What the cosmetologist will not do
It will not make a diagnosis or assess a pigmented lesion for oncological risk. For a lesion that is growing, changing shape or colour, or bleeding, we refer you to a doctor before starting any aesthetic treatment.
It does not treat skin diseases. Severe acne, a flare-up of rosacea and dermatoses require a doctor, with cosmetology sometimes only the next step.
It does not carry out treatments reserved for a doctor. Botulinum toxin, fillers, threads and blood-derived preparations require a doctor's consultation, paid in line with the price list.
It will not promise a result. It will explain what you can expect, within what timeframe and what it depends on, and if your expectations are unrealistic, it will say so directly instead of selling you a course of treatments.
What is usually done at a given age
This is a guide, not a fixed scheme. The skin of two people the same age can be in a completely different condition, and age is only one of the variables.
In your twenties
Teenage acne with oily skin, the first expression lines with dry skin, dark circles under the eyes, congested and sensitive skin.
Usually: acid peels, anti-acne treatments, moisturising treatments.
In your thirties
More pronounced wrinkles, pigmentation, vascular issues, a decline in firmness and hydration. Sometimes adult acne or the early stages of rosacea.
Usually: laser vessel closure and pigmentation reduction, needle mesotherapy, acid or retinol therapies, biostimulating treatments.
In your forties
A decline in elasticity, more defined furrows, signs of photoageing, dryness, a change in the oval of the face.
Usually: laser treatments, radiofrequency, needle mesotherapy, tissue stimulators, body contouring.
In your fifties
Loss of fat tissue in the cheeks and temples, deep furrows, drooping corners of the mouth and eyebrows, thin and dry skin.
Usually: laser treatments, tissue stimulators, platelet rich plasma, threads, intensive regenerative therapy. Some of these are already a doctor's domain.
Preventive measures carry the same weight in cosmetology as corrective ones, although they tend to be underestimated. Correcting minor changes early usually gives a better starting point than working on changes that have become established.
The questions we are asked most often
Is the consultation paid?
The basic cosmetology consultation is free of charge. Preparing a detailed, written home care plan is paid, in line with the price list. A consultation with an aesthetic medicine doctor is a separate, paid service.
Do I need to buy a course of treatments straight away?
No. The consultation ends with a proposal, not a commitment. The decision to follow the plan and set the timing is entirely yours, including when you want to think it over or spread it out over time.
Can a treatment be carried out at the first visit?
Sometimes, yes. With more complex therapies, the skin sometimes needs preparing beforehand, or simply more time than a consultation appointment allows. If you are thinking about a specific treatment, mention it when booking.
Will I see a result after one treatment?
Not always. Some problems, such as pigmentation or acne, require a course of treatments and consistent home care. At the consultation, we explain what you can expect after the first session, and what only comes after the whole course.
Do the cosmetics I use matter?
Yes, a great deal. Poorly chosen products can weaken the effect of treatments or keep irritation going. That is why the consultation includes a review of your home care, not just an assessment of your skin.
How should I prepare?
Come without make-up, with a list of your cosmetics, medicines and supplements, and a list of allergies. Also think about what bothers you most, because we start the plan from your priorities.
Can you go to the sauna or a sunbed after a treatment?
No. Most procedures require avoiding sun, sauna and intense exercise, to prevent skin irritation. More intensive treatments are best planned before a day off, and care treatments can be scheduled at any time.
Does a cosmetology consultation replace a visit to the doctor?
No. A cosmetologist assesses the skin from an aesthetic point of view and refers you to a doctor in case of doubt. If the matter concerns medical issues or treatments performed by a doctor, a medical consultation is the right choice from the start.
I am coming for the first time and I do not know what I want. Is that a problem?
No, this is a typical situation and a good moment for this visit. The cosmetologist's task is to translate what bothers you into a specific course of action, not to quiz you on treatment names.
This material is for information and does not replace a consultation or an assessment of suitability for the treatment.