Facial aesthetics
Facial aesthetics consultation
A facial aesthetics consultation is an assessment of facial anatomy, proportion, muscle activity and skin quality, after which suitable options — including doing nothing — are explained in writing before any treatment is agreed.
At a glance
- Layer addressed
- Volume, contour and support
- Course
- A single appointment, with a written plan issued afterwards.
- First appointment
- Assessment and written plan
What is assessed
- What you would like to change, in your own words
- Medical history, medication and previous treatment
- Facial proportion, symmetry and structural support
- Muscle activity at rest and in animation
- Skin quality, texture, hydration and sun damage
- Whether the concern is best addressed by treatment, skincare, dentistry, or not at all
How it works
- 01
Conversation
What is bothering you, how long for, and what a good outcome would look like to you.
- 02
Examination
Static and dynamic assessment of the face, with standardised photography where you consent to it.
- 03
Options
Categories of treatment that could apply, what each can and cannot do, and the alternatives — including no treatment.
- 04
Written plan
A plan with risks, limitations, likely course and costs, so you can decide away from the chair.
Who it suits
- Adults considering facial aesthetic treatment for the first time
- Patients who have had treatment elsewhere and want an independent assessment
- Patients who are unsure whether their concern is skin, structure or dental in origin
What it cannot do
- A consultation is an assessment, not a treatment appointment
- Not every concern has an appropriate treatment, and some are better left alone
Risks and side effects
- Assessment itself carries no physical risk; the risks of any proposed treatment are explained individually before consent
Risks are discussed individually before consent. No treatment is provided on the day a plan is first discussed.
Alternatives
- Skincare and sun protection alone
- Dental treatment where the concern relates to teeth or the bite
- No treatment
Course and aftercare
A single appointment, with a written plan issued afterwards.
- Take the written plan away and read it before deciding
- Ask any further questions before consenting to treatment
Clinician’s note
“Most people who come to me for facial aesthetics do not need as much as they think, and a proportion need something else entirely — sometimes it is the teeth or the bite changing the lower face, not the skin. I would rather spend an appointment working that out than treat the wrong layer well.”
Dr Vikas Prinja, Dental Surgeon · GDC 265374
Some treatments for lines and wrinkles involve prescription-only medicines. UK advertising rules do not permit these to be promoted to the public, so they are not named, priced or advertised on this website. They can only be considered after a face-to-face assessment by a prescriber, who will decide whether treatment is appropriate for you.
Consider alongside
Related facial aesthetic treatment
- Muscle activityLines & wrinkles consultationA lines and wrinkles consultation assesses whether a line is caused by muscle activity, volume loss, skin quality or sun damage, because each of those has a different management route and some respond to none of them.
- Volume, contour and supportDermal fillersDermal fillers are injectable hyaluronic-acid gels used to restore or support facial volume and contour in specific areas; the effect is temporary and the material is gradually broken down by the body.
- Within the skinPolynucleotidesPolynucleotides are injectable products containing purified polynucleotide chains, used in aesthetic practice with the intention of improving the appearance of skin quality in specific areas over a course of treatments.
- Within the skinSkin boostersSkin boosters are injectable hyaluronic-acid preparations placed into the skin with the intention of improving skin hydration and appearance, rather than adding facial volume or contour.
Consultation
Thinking about improving your smile?
Start with a comprehensive assessment and understand your options before deciding on treatment.