Suitability for aesthetic treatment depends on the concern being assessed, the individual’s facial anatomy, health history, current medications, prior treatment history, expectations, timing, and the specific approach being considered. A suitability assessment identifies factors that support treatment, factors that modify the approach, and factors that contraindicate treatment at this time. Suitability is always individual — it cannot be determined from a photograph, questionnaire, or self-assessment alone.
What Suitability Assessment Involves
A suitability assessment is not a separate appointment from the initial consultation — it is a core component of every consultation at Core Aesthetics. It is the process by which a practitioner determines whether a proposed treatment is appropriate for a specific patient at a specific time.
Suitability assessment covers:
- Anatomical suitability — whether the patient’s facial structure, tissue quality, and the specific concern present are appropriate for the proposed treatment approach
- Medical suitability — whether health history, current medications, and active conditions are compatible with safe treatment
- Expectations suitability — whether the patient’s understanding of the likely outcome is realistic and consistent with what treatment can achieve
- Timing suitability — whether the current circumstances — health, life events, emotional state, and recent treatment history — make this an appropriate time to proceed
All four areas must be assessed. A patient may be anatomically suitable but medically contraindicated. Or medically suitable but presenting with unrealistic expectations. Or suitable in all clinical respects but at a point in life where waiting is the more appropriate recommendation.
Anatomical Suitability
Anatomical suitability determines whether the concern being addressed is appropriate for the proposed treatment approach given the patient’s specific facial structure and tissue characteristics.
Not every treatment approach is appropriate for every anatomy. The same surface concern — a particular line, hollow, or proportion — may have different underlying structural causes in different patients, and the appropriate response differs accordingly. A thorough anatomical assessment identifies:
- Whether the concern is driven primarily by skin, soft tissue, fat pad, muscle, or bone
- Whether the concern is in an area appropriate for the proposed approach
- Whether the underlying anatomy creates any elevated risk for the specific treatment
- Whether adjacent structures may be affected by the proposed treatment
- Whether prior treatment has altered the anatomy in ways that affect current planning
Anatomical factors that may modify or contraindicate a particular approach include vascular anatomy variants, prior treatment residue, significant asymmetry, skin quality concerns, and structural features that increase the risk of specific complications.
Medical Suitability
The medical history component of the suitability assessment identifies health factors that affect safety and expected outcome. This is not a bureaucratic formality — it has direct clinical relevance to risk.
Medical factors reviewed during the suitability assessment include:
- Current medications and supplements, particularly those affecting bleeding, immunity, or healing
- Known allergies, including prior reactions to aesthetic treatments, local anaesthetics, or injected materials
- Autoimmune conditions, which may affect treatment response and healing
- Active skin conditions in the treatment area
- Recent surgical or medical procedures
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or reproductive planning
- History of cold sores or herpes simplex, which may be reactivated by treatment in certain areas
- History of keloid scarring or abnormal wound healing
- Immunocompromising conditions or medications
- Previous aesthetic treatment, particularly if complications occurred
Some of these factors are absolute contraindications to proceeding. Others require modification of the approach, timing adjustment, or specialist review. At Core Aesthetics, the medical history is reviewed at every consultation — not assumed to be unchanged from prior appointments.
Expectations and Goals
Expectations assessment evaluates whether the patient’s understanding of the likely outcome is realistic, consistent with what treatment can achieve for their specific anatomy, and not unduly influenced by external pressure or unrealistic reference points.
Expectations that are clinically unrealistic may arise from:
- Comparison with images of other people whose facial structure differs significantly from the patient’s own
- Heavily filtered or AI-generated images that do not represent achievable outcomes
- Misunderstanding of what a particular treatment can and cannot do
- Prior experience with treatment outcomes that were the result of different techniques, products, or practitioners
- Pressure from others to achieve a particular appearance
A patient with unrealistic expectations who proceeds to treatment is more likely to be dissatisfied with the outcome, regardless of the clinical quality of what was done. At Core Aesthetics, expectations are discussed openly and honestly during the consultation — including when the stated goal is not one that treatment can reliably achieve.
When Treatment Is Not Suitable
Treatment may be assessed as not suitable when:
- The risk to the individual — from anatomy, health history, or other factors — outweighs the likely benefit
- The concern is driven by a structural or medical factor that aesthetic treatment cannot appropriately address
- Expectations are not consistent with what treatment can achieve for this anatomy
- The medical history identifies a contraindication that requires resolution before treatment can proceed
- Timing is not appropriate — due to an active health concern, recent procedure, life event, or emotional state
- Prior treatment has created a situation that needs to be assessed and potentially addressed before further treatment is appropriate
- The patient appears to be seeking treatment as a response to a non-aesthetic concern, such as relationship difficulty or body dysmorphic thinking
A finding of not suitable at this time does not mean treatment will never be appropriate. In most cases, it means the conditions for safe, effective treatment have not yet been met. The consultation will include guidance on what would need to change before suitability could be re-assessed.
The Suitability Assessment for Specific Areas
Suitability considerations vary by treatment area. Some areas carry higher inherent risk, require more specific anatomical assessment, or have narrower criteria for appropriate patient selection.
Areas with specific suitability considerations include:
- Periorbital and tear trough area — the under-eye region requires careful assessment of orbital anatomy, skin thickness, and current volume state before any intervention is considered appropriate. Not all patients presenting with under-eye concerns are suitable for treatment in this area.
- Lip area — proportion, vermilion border integrity, prior treatment history, and movement pattern all affect suitability for lip assessment and treatment
- Lower face and jaw — the lower face involves complex anatomical relationships between muscle, bone, and soft tissue; structural assessment is particularly important in this area
- Forehead and brow — the relationship between brow position, upper eyelid, and forehead anatomy must be understood before treatment in this area
These area-specific considerations are assessed as part of the whole-face evaluation at Core Aesthetics, not in isolation.
After a Suitability Assessment
Following the suitability assessment, you will receive a clear clinical opinion about whether treatment is appropriate at this time, and if so, what approach is consistent with your anatomy, health history, and goals.
The possible outcomes of a suitability assessment are:
- Proceed — treatment is appropriate, and a plan is proposed
- Proceed with modification — treatment may be appropriate with a modified approach, reduced scope, or timing adjustment
- Wait — treatment is not appropriate at this time due to a specific reason, which will be explained; a timeframe and conditions for re-assessment will be given
- Seek medical review first — the health history or clinical picture requires input from another practitioner before aesthetic treatment can be considered
- Not proceed — treatment is not appropriate for this patient’s anatomy, health, or expectations; the reasons will be explained clearly
At Core Aesthetics, every suitability assessment result is explained with clinical reasoning. You are welcome to ask questions, seek further clarification, or take time to consider the outcome before making any decision.
See also: Why We Sometimes Say No, Consultations at Core Aesthetics, and Patient Safety Information
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I am suitable for aesthetic treatment?
Suitability cannot be determined from a photograph or self-assessment. It requires a face-to-face clinical consultation that evaluates your facial anatomy, health history, prior treatment history, expectations, and timing. A consultation at Core Aesthetics will give you an honest clinical assessment of your individual suitability and explain any factors that affect the recommendation.
What medical conditions affect suitability for aesthetic treatment?
Many medical conditions may affect suitability, including autoimmune conditions, active skin infections, blood clotting disorders, recent surgical recovery, active cold sores, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and immunocompromising conditions or treatments. Medication history — including blood thinners, immunosuppressants, and some supplements — is also relevant. A full medical history is reviewed at every consultation.
I have had bad results elsewhere. Am I still suitable for treatment?
Prior treatment complications or unsatisfactory outcomes do not automatically preclude further treatment, but they are clinically significant and must be assessed before proceeding. The assessment will include evaluation of what prior treatment was received, what the current state of your facial anatomy is, and whether any prior concern needs to be addressed before new treatment is appropriate.
Can I be assessed as suitable and then change my mind about proceeding?
Yes. A finding of suitability is not an obligation to proceed. You are welcome to take time after the consultation to consider the assessment and decide whether to proceed. There is no pressure at Core Aesthetics to book treatment at the end of an appointment.
What does it mean if I am told I am not suitable?
It means the clinical assessment has identified one or more factors that make treatment not appropriate at this time. These factors will be explained clearly, including what would need to change for suitability to be re-assessed. Not suitable now does not mean not suitable ever — in most cases, it means the conditions for safe and appropriate treatment have not yet been met.
Does suitability change over time?
Yes. Health changes, facial changes, and life circumstances all affect suitability. A patient who was not suitable at a previous assessment may become suitable as circumstances change. Equally, a patient who was previously suitable for a particular approach may become less suitable as their anatomy or health changes. Suitability is always assessed at the time of the current consultation, not assumed based on prior findings.
Can I have a consultation specifically to assess suitability before deciding whether to pursue treatment?
Yes. This is exactly what a consultation at Core Aesthetics is for. You do not need to have already decided you want treatment to book a consultation. The consultation is the process by which suitability, appropriateness, and options are assessed — and its outcome may be a treatment plan, a recommendation to wait, or a recommendation that treatment is not appropriate.