What to expect at your first med spa visit

If you've never been to a med spa before, knowing what the process looks like can help you prepare and make better decisions about where to go. Here's what a visit at a well-run practice should look like.

Before you arrive: intake forms and health history

Expect to complete intake paperwork before your first appointment — either online ahead of time or on arrival. You'll typically be asked about:

Current medications and supplements (some, like blood thinners, affect treatment eligibility)
Allergies, particularly to lidocaine or other local anesthetics
Prior aesthetic treatments and any complications
Medical history relevant to your treatment (e.g., autoimmune conditions, herpes history for treatments involving skin disruption)

This isn't administrative friction — a practice that skips the health history is a practice that isn't taking safety seriously.

The consultation: what it should cover

For any injectable or procedural treatment, you should have a consultation before anything touches your skin. The consultation should include:

An assessment of your concern. The provider looks at your skin, muscle movement, and facial anatomy — not just your selfie. A forehead injection site that works for one patient may not work for another.

Realistic outcome discussion. Good providers describe what's achievable and what isn't. If someone promises to make you look like a particular person or promises dramatic results in one session, be skeptical.

Explanation of the product and technique. You should know what is being injected, how much, and where. "We'll do Botox" is not enough — "We'll use 20 units of Botox in your frontalis and corrugator muscles" is the kind of detail a careful provider shares.

Informed consent. You'll sign a consent form acknowledging the risks. This isn't a formality — read it. Common risks (bruising, swelling, temporary asymmetry) and rare risks (vascular occlusion for fillers, ptosis for Botox near the eye) should be disclosed.

The treatment: what typically happens

Depending on what you're having done, the treatment itself usually takes 15–30 minutes. Some things to expect:

Topical numbing cream is often applied 20–30 minutes before filler treatments; most Botox injections skip it because the needles are very fine
Photography — most practices take standard-position photos before treatment for their clinical records; this is normal and appropriate
Multiple injection points — treatments aren't one shot; expect several small injections at specific anatomical locations
Pressure and pinching — providers often apply gentle pressure after injections to minimize bruising
You can stop — if something feels wrong or you're uncomfortable, say so. Good providers welcome that feedback mid-treatment.

After your treatment: the first 24–48 hours

Most injectable treatments have minimal downtime, but the first day or two involves some restrictions:

Botox: Avoid lying flat, heavy exercise, rubbing the treated area, or excessive heat for 4–6 hours
Fillers: Avoid vigorous exercise, heat, and pressure on the treated area for 24–48 hours; swelling is normal and peaks around day 2
Redness and bruising are common, usually resolving within a few days to a week
Results timing: Botox takes 4–7 days to fully take effect; fillers show immediate (though swollen) results; Sculptra/biostimulators show gradual results over weeks to months

The follow-up

Two to four weeks after an injectable treatment, a reputable practice will either schedule or offer a follow-up visit to assess results. For Botox, this is when a small touch-up can be done at no additional charge if undercorrection occurred. For fillers, it's an opportunity to assess symmetry and whether additional volume is needed.

If a practice doesn't offer a follow-up mechanism, that's a sign they're more interested in throughput than outcomes.

Questions worth asking before you book

"How long have you been performing this specific treatment?"
"What's your complication rate and how do you handle adverse events?"
"Do you have hyaluronidase on site for filler emergencies?" (This should be an immediate yes.)
"What does a follow-up look like if I have concerns after my appointment?"

The answers tell you more than any review.

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