A aesthetic consultation reviews the concern, medical history, timing, expectations, risk factors and whether treatment is appropriate. The aim is to make a careful decision before any plan is discussed. A consultation may lead to treatment planning, a decision to wait, referral, or a recommendation not to proceed.
Good preparation before a aesthetic treatment appointment helps achieve the best possible result and reduces the likelihood of bruising, swelling or other minor complications. At Core Aesthetics in Oakleigh, Corey Anderson, AHPRA registered nurse, covers preparation as part of every consultation. This article outlines the key steps you can take in the days before your appointment.
In the Week Before Your Appointment
Bruising is the most common minor side effect of injectable treatment and the most influenced by preparation. To reduce bruising risk, avoid or minimise blood thinning supplements where clinically safe to do so. These include fish oil, high dose vitamin E, gingko biloba and similar supplements. Do not stop any prescription blood thinning medication without consulting your prescribing doctor first.
“Good information changes the quality of the decision.”
Aspirin and anti inflammatory medications like ibuprofen also thin the blood. If you take these for pain relief, paracetamol is a safer alternative in the days before treatment where appropriate. Again, do not stop any prescribed medication without medical advice.
In the 24 to 48 Hours Before
Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment, ideally 48 hours. Alcohol dilates blood vessels and increases bruising. This is particularly relevant for appointments where facial volume treatment is planned in areas prone to bruising such as the lips or tear trough.
If you have an active cold sore or any infection in the treatment area, contact the clinic before your appointment. Cold sores can be reactivated by injectable treatment, and active infection in or near the treatment area is a contraindication to proceeding.
On the Day of Your Appointment
Arrive with a clean face. You do not need to remove all makeup but having the treatment area clean simplifies preparation and reduces infection risk. Avoid applying retinol, AHAs, BHAs or active skincare to the face on the day of your appointment.
Arriving Prepared
Eat a light meal before your appointment. Arriving fasted increases the likelihood of feeling lightheaded during or after treatment. Staying well hydrated on the day is also helpful.
Wear comfortable clothing that does not need to be pulled over your head, particularly if you are having upper face treatment. Avoid wearing turtlenecks or high collars to appointments involving the neck or jawline area.
What to Bring to Your Consultation
Bring a list of all medications and supplements you are currently taking. If you have had previous aesthetic treatment elsewhere, note the approximate timing, the areas treated and the practitioner if known. This information helps Corey assess your current situation accurately and avoid any compounding effects with recent treatment.
If you have specific concerns or images that illustrate what you are hoping to address, bringing these to the consultation is helpful as a communication tool, provided you understand that what treatment can achieve is always determined by the individual anatomy assessed at consultation rather than by a particular image.
After Your Appointment
The aftercare relevant to your specific treatment will be covered by Corey at your appointment. As a general principle, avoid intense exercise, saunas, excessive sun exposure and alcohol for 24 hours after injectable treatment. Avoid touching, massaging or applying pressure to the treated areas immediately after treatment unless instructed to do so.
Read the specific aftercare guides for wrinkle treatment aftercarelip treatment aftercarefacial volume treatment aftercare and managing bruising after injectables.
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Related: Read more about what to expect at a consultation and book a consultation at Core Aesthetics, Oakleigh.
General Information Only. This article is general in nature and does not replace a consultation with a qualified health practitioner. Treatment outcomes, suitability and risks vary by individual. Any medical or prescription treatment options can only be discussed and provided where clinically appropriate following an individual assessment.
Clinical References
- AHPRA: Guidelines for nonsurgical cosmetic procedures
- TGA: Regulation of aesthetic treatments in Australia
Safety, Suitability and Clinical Assessment
All aesthetic treatment procedures carry risk. The suitability assessment at consultation identifies any contraindications or relative risk factors specific to your circumstances, including medical history, current medications, previous procedures, and anatomical features that may affect the risk profile for a given treatment area. This information is reviewed before any treatment is planned.
For certain conditions and medications, injectable treatments are not appropriate, or require modification of technique or timing. For others, the treating practitioner may recommend that you consult with your primary healthcare provider before proceeding. These are clinical judgements that can only be made with accurate, complete medical history information, which is why the consultation history taking process is thorough.
Complication recognition and initial management are part of the clinical competency required of practitioners performing injectable treatments under AHPRA’s September 2025 guidelines for nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. The practitioner at Core Aesthetics holds current training in this area and maintains the relevant management supplies on site. Understanding that risk exists and is actively managed is more useful than assuming risk does not exist.
Review Appointments and Ongoing Care
A review appointment at four to six weeks is a standard part of every treatment cycle at Core Aesthetics. The review is not contingent on whether you have concerns, it is a clinical standard that applies to every patient. At review, the practitioner assesses the result across all treated areas, compares the outcome to the pretreatment clinical photographs, identifies any asymmetry or variation in response between sides, and determines whether any adjustment is appropriate within the same treatment cycle.
The review is also where longitudinal data about how your specific anatomy responds to treatment is recorded. Over multiple treatment cycles, this accumulated data allows the practitioner to refine the dosing and approach to better match your individual response pattern, which is one of the most significant advantages of maintaining a consistent treating practitioner rather than moving between clinics.
If you have any concerns in the period between your treatment and your review appointment, contact the clinic directly. The practitioner who treated you has the clinical context to respond accurately to any post treatment question, which is preferable to relying on general online information that may not reflect your specific situation.
What the Assessment Covers
The assessment at the consultation appointment is a face wide evaluation, not a focused review of only the area you have identified as a concern. This full face approach is deliberate: anatomical features interact with each other, and addressing one area in isolation, without understanding the broader facial context, can produce results that look disproportionate even when the individual area was technically treated well.
The practitioner evaluates facial symmetry, bone structure, soft tissue distribution, skin quality, and the dynamic movement patterns associated with each treatment area. The history taking covers your current medications, any previous injectable or surgical procedures, relevant health conditions, and any prior reactions or complications. From this assessment, the practitioner develops a treatment plan that reflects your specific anatomy and circumstances.
Results vary between individuals. What the assessment finds in one patient may be different from what it finds in another patient with a similar presenting concern, which is why templated treatment protocols are not used here. All treatments at Core Aesthetics are consultation based and individually assessed.
About This Information
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes. It is not a substitute for clinical advice and does not constitute a recommendation that you proceed with any particular treatment. Aesthetic treatments are prescription medical procedures. They carry risks that vary between individuals and that must be assessed and discussed in a clinical context before any treatment decision is made.
At Core Aesthetics, Corey Anderson assesses every patient individually. The consultation is the point at which your specific anatomy, medical history, and goals are evaluated together. No treatment is offered at a first appointment, and no treatment is appropriate for everyone. This page is a starting point, a way to understand what is involved before you decide whether a consultation is the right next step for you.
If you have questions about anything on this page or about whether treatment might be appropriate for your situation, you are welcome to call the clinic or book a consultation at no obligation.
This page provides clinical information about How to Prepare for Cosmetic Injections. It is intended for adults aged 18 and over who are considering aesthetic treatment and want to understand the clinical process, suitability factors, and what to expect from a consultation based practice. All treatment decisions at Core Aesthetics follow individual assessment, no treatment is offered at a first appointment without a separate consultation. Results vary between individuals and are reviewed at follow up.
Is this for you?
Consider booking a consultation if
- You want to understand aesthetic consultation before deciding whether treatment is appropriate
- You are 18 or older and want an individual clinical assessment
- You value a consultation-first approach with risk and suitability discussed before planning
- You are open to waiting or not proceeding if that is the safer recommendation
This may not be for you if
- You are seeking a not guaranteed outcome or a same-day decision without assessment
- You are under 18 years of age
- You are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding and are seeking elective aesthetic treatment
- You have an active infection, unhealed skin or an unresolved medical concern in the area to be assessed
Suitability is confirmed at consultation. This list is general guidance, not a substitute for clinical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What clinical steps are involved when attending Core Aesthetics for How to Prepare for Cosmetic Treatments?
Attendance at Core Aesthetics begins with a clinical assessment by Corey Anderson RN that covers the presenting concern, medical history, current medications, prior treatment and suitability. This assessment forms the basis for any recommendation. Treatment is not performed at the consultation appointment. Specific considerations for How to prepare for cosmetic treatments patients are discussed at the individual consultation.
How does How to Prepare for Cosmetic Treatments fit into the consultation-first model at Core Aesthetics?
Core Aesthetics applies a consultation-first model to all patients. This means individual assessment precedes any treatment plan. The consultation for concerns described in topics like this establishes what is present, what may be appropriate and what the realistic outcome range is before any decision is made. Specific considerations for How to prepare for cosmetic treatments patients are discussed at the individual consultation.
What does Core Aesthetics require from patients before addressing concerns related to How to Prepare for Cosmetic Treatments?
A full individual assessment is required before treatment is considered. This covers medical history, current medications, prior treatment, the specific concern and suitability. Patients also need to allow for the AHPRA-required 72-hour gap between consultation and any subsequent treatment appointment. Specific considerations for How to prepare for cosmetic treatments patients are discussed at the individual consultation.
How does the 72-hour AHPRA cooling-off period apply to topics like How to Prepare for Cosmetic Treatments?
AHPRA guidelines require a minimum of 72 hours between the initial consultation and any non-surgical cosmetic procedure. This applies to all treatment areas at Core Aesthetics. Patients attending a first consultation cannot have treatment at the same appointment regardless of the area of concern. Specific considerations for How to prepare for cosmetic treatments patients are discussed at the individual consultation.
What would lead to no treatment being recommended following assessment related to How to Prepare for Cosmetic Treatments?
Assessment may result in no treatment recommendation when the concern is outside the scope of injectable options, when anatomy or medical factors make treatment unsuitable, or when expectations cannot be met. This outcome is honest and acceptable. Not every consultation at Core Aesthetics leads to a treatment plan. Specific considerations for How to prepare for cosmetic treatments patients are discussed at the individual consultation.
What information should be brought to a consultation about topics covered in How to Prepare for Cosmetic Treatments?
A current medication list, details of any prior treatment in the relevant area, how long the concern has been present, how it has changed and any specific questions help the consultation be efficient. Photographs showing how the area has changed over time are also useful where relevant. Specific considerations for How to prepare for cosmetic treatments patients are discussed at the individual consultation.
How does Corey Anderson RN approach individual assessment for concerns like those in How to Prepare for Cosmetic Treatments?
Corey Anderson RN assesses each patient from first principles. Concerns of the type described here are evaluated in the context of individual anatomy, medical history and realistic expectations. A standard protocol is not applied. The recommendation reflects what the individual assessment supports, not what is typical or most common. Specific considerations for How to prepare for cosmetic treatments patients are discussed at the individual consultation.
What is the two-appointment process that applies to treatment related to How to Prepare for Cosmetic Treatments?