Consultation and Treatment Planning
What you must understand
A consultation is a structured process: consent, history, assessment, goal setting, plan, and documentation. History covers medical conditions, medications (including isotretinoin, anticoagulants, photosensitisers), allergies, pregnancy, past aesthetic procedures, and social factors such as sun exposure and occupation. Candidates should write SMART goals with clients, sequence treatments realistically, and explain downtime, expected outcomes, and alternatives including doing nothing. Risk assessment includes contraindications, relative versus absolute, and when to seek medical clearance.
Traps in questions
Questions often blur absolute and relative contraindications. Active infection at the site is absolute; recent isotretinoin is a relative contraindication requiring medical advice and a waiting period. Another trap is accepting a client's goal without exploring motivation - unrealistic expectations predict dissatisfaction. Do not treat a plan as fixed; it should be reviewed and revised. Consent is a process, not a signature, and must cover risks, benefits, alternatives, and the right to withdraw.
Rule of thumb
Apply the "if in doubt, defer and refer" rule: postponing a treatment costs a session; proceeding against a contraindication can cost a client's skin.
Worked example
A client on anticoagulants requests a deep microneedling session. The plan is deferred pending medical advice, and a gentler hydrating option is offered meanwhile, with the rationale documented and the client's agreement recorded.