Before any skin treatment, you should know who is treating you, what your skin concern actually is, what the treatment can and cannot do, and what happens if something goes wrong. A good practitioner will welcome these questions and answer them clearly. If you feel rushed or pressured, that is a reason to pause.
This guide is part of our skin service, and it sets out the questions I would want any patient to ask, whether they come to Aarva or go elsewhere.
Who will assess me, and who will treat me?
Skin treatments in the UK are delivered by a wide range of people with very different training. It is fair to ask:
- What are your qualifications, and are you registered with a professional body?
- Will a doctor or other qualified prescriber assess me in person before treatment?
- Is the person assessing me the same person who will treat me?
Some treatments involve prescription medicines, and these legally require a face-to-face assessment by a qualified prescriber. If anyone offers to supply a prescription treatment without seeing you, treat that as a warning sign.
What exactly is my skin concern?
This is the most important question, and it is often skipped. Many skin problems look alike but need very different care. Melasma and sun damage can both appear as brown patches, yet some treatments that help sun damage can make melasma worse. Acne scars come in several types, and each responds to different approaches.
Ask what the diagnosis is and how it was reached. Our posts on melasma or pigmentation and acne scarring show why getting this right changes the whole plan.
A good assessment should also include questions about your general health, medicines, pregnancy or breastfeeding, history of cold sores, scarring and previous treatments. Some medicines, including certain acne treatments, affect how safely the skin can be treated.
Related readingMelasma or pigmentation? Why the difference changes everythingRead the article →What can this treatment realistically do for me?
Before-and-after photos are chosen to impress. What matters is what is likely for your skin. Useful questions include:
- What improvement is realistic, and how will we measure it?
- How many sessions are usually needed, and how far apart?
- When would I expect to see a change, and how long does it last?
- What will it not do?
- Is there a simpler or less invasive option I should try first?
An honest answer sometimes includes “this will not help you much”, and hearing that early saves money and disappointment.
What are the risks for my skin type?
Every treatment carries some risk. Ask for the common side effects and the rare but serious ones. Skin type matters here. Darker skin tones have a higher risk of patches of darker or lighter pigment after some lasers, peels and microneedling, so settings and preparation need adjusting. Ask whether the practitioner has experience treating skin like yours.
It is also reasonable to ask whether a patch test is needed, what the downtime will be, and what aftercare you will need to follow, including sun protection.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Complications are uncommon, but you want to know the plan before you need it:
- Who do I contact if I am worried after treatment, including out of hours?
- Can you manage complications yourselves, or would I be referred elsewhere?
- Is the device or product you use approved for use in the UK, and can you tell me what it is?
- Do you have appropriate insurance for this treatment?
Am I being given time to decide?
You should receive written information, a clear explanation of the costs and the chance to go away and think. Consent is a process, not a signature on the day. Be cautious about time-limited offers, pressure to book several sessions at once, or treatment offered on the same day as a first consultation without a clear medical reason.
When to see a doctor sooner
After any skin or aesthetic treatment, seek help promptly if you notice:
- Increasing redness, heat, swelling, pain or pus, or a fever, which may mean infection. Contact the practitioner who treated you, your NHS GP or NHS 111 the same day
- Skin that turns pale, white, dusky or blotchy with severe pain after an injectable treatment. This needs urgent assessment the same day
- Blistering, burns or open wounds after a laser or peel
Call 999 if you have any change in your vision after an injectable treatment, or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing.
Separately, if you have a mole or patch of skin that is changing, bleeding or not healing, have it checked by a doctor before any cosmetic treatment of that area.
This list is not exhaustive. If you are not sure about something, see a doctor.
How we approach this at Aarva
At Aarva, skin care is doctor-led. As a skin doctor in Sutton Coldfield, I see every patient first for a skin consultation, where we take a full medical history, examine your skin and use our AURA 3D skin analysis to look at pigment, texture and other features in more detail than the eye alone.
We then explain what we think is going on and what is likely to help, which is sometimes medical-grade skincare rather than a procedure. You leave with a written treatment plan with clear pricing, and there is no pressure to book on the day. If a treatment will not help, we will tell you. You can read about what to expect, meet our doctors, see our approach to safety and standards, or explore our skin services and the treatments we offer.
Questions patients ask
Should a doctor see me before a skin treatment?
For many treatments, a medical assessment is the safest start, because it confirms the diagnosis, checks your health and medicines, and makes sure the treatment suits your skin. Treatments involving prescription medicines legally require a face-to-face assessment by a qualified prescriber.
Is it normal to be offered treatment on the same day?
Some practitioners do this, but it gives you little time to think. At Aarva there is no pressure to book on the day, so you can read your written plan and decide in your own time.
Are skin treatments safe for darker skin?
Many are, but darker skin has a higher risk of pigment changes after some lasers, peels and microneedling. The treatment choice, settings and preparation should be tailored, so ask about the practitioner’s experience with skin like yours.
What should I bring to a skin consultation?
A list of your medicines and skincare products, details of any previous treatments and reactions, and your questions. Arriving without make-up on the area of concern also helps the assessment.
If you are considering a skin treatment and want a medical opinion first, book a consultation with a doctor, or use find your starting point to see where to begin.
This article is general information and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
