Your First Aesthetics Consultation: What to Expect at London & Glow

The first consultation at any aesthetics clinic can feel daunting — especially if you have heard stories of high-pressure sales, being persuaded into treatments you weren't sure about, or walking out with a bill that bore no resemblance to what you expected.

At London & Glow, we built our consultation model specifically to be the opposite of that experience. This article explains exactly what happens when you come in for the first time — because we believe that knowing what to expect removes anxiety and helps you get the most from your appointment.

Before You Arrive

You will receive a brief intake questionnaire asking about your medical history, current medications, previous aesthetic treatments, and what brings you to us. This is not a checkbox exercise — your physician reads it before your appointment and uses it to frame the conversation.

There is a $50 consultation deposit. This is applied in full to any treatment you choose to proceed with, and it exists simply to protect appointment time. It is not a commitment to treatment.

Arrive with a clean face if possible — no heavy foundation or concealer. Your physician will want to assess your skin texture, tone, and anatomy in its natural state.

The Consultation Itself

Your consultation is 45–60 minutes. It begins with a conversation, not an examination.

Your physician will ask about:

• What has brought you in — what changes you have noticed or what has been bothering you
• Your hormonal stage — are you perimenopausal, postmenopausal? Are you using HRT?
• Your skincare routine and what you are currently using
• Your lifestyle factors (sun protection, sleep, stress, nutrition)
• Your goals — what does "better" look like to you?

This conversation matters. Menopause skin is not just about what you see in the mirror today — it is about a biological context that determines what treatments will work, in what sequence, and at what intensity.

The Physical Assessment

After the conversation, your physician will assess your skin and facial anatomy. They will look at:

• Skin quality: thickness, texture, hydration, tone evenness
• Dynamic lines: the lines that appear with expression
• Static lines: lines present at rest
• Volume: areas of loss or descent
• Laxity: where the skin has lost its adherence to the underlying structures
• Pigmentation: any patches, uneven tone, or spots

This assessment is clinical and systematic. Your physician may ask you to make expressions, to look in different directions, or to hold certain positions. All of this informs the treatment recommendation.

The Treatment Plan Discussion

Based on the conversation and assessment, your physician will explain what they are seeing and why, and outline what they would recommend.

This is not a menu of services with prices — it is a clinical recommendation, explained in plain language. Your physician will tell you:

• What treatments would address your concerns most effectively
• What realistic results look like
• What the treatment involves, how it feels, and what recovery is like
• Approximate costs and what a sensible programme would look like over time

You will have the opportunity to ask every question you have. There is no time pressure. If you need to think about it and come back, that is completely fine.

What We Don't Do

We do not offer "packages" that need to be purchased on the day. We do not apply pressure or suggest that limited availability requires a quick decision. We do not perform treatments at a first consultation unless the treatment itself is low-risk and you have asked for it.

Our consultation model is designed around the fact that good medical aesthetics decisions are considered decisions — made when you feel informed and comfortable, not when you feel persuaded.

What to Bring and Ask

Bring:

• A list of current medications and any known allergies
• Any previous aesthetic treatment records if you have them
• Your questions — write them down beforehand if that helps

Questions worth asking:

• What results can I realistically expect from this treatment?
• How many sessions will I need?
• What does the maintenance look like?
• Are there any risks specific to my skin or health history?
• What would you recommend if budget is a constraint?

The Decision Is Always Yours

At the end of your consultation, you will leave with a clear recommendation, honest information, and absolutely no obligation. Some patients book treatment that day. Some come back weeks later. Some decide it is not the right time.

All of those are the right answer if they are right for you.

Our goal is to be the clinic you trust — the physician-led practice you return to when you are ready, and the resource you recommend to the women in your life navigating the same journey.