Expert Spotlight

Dr Albert Ho
Cosmetic Physician

Choosing a cosmetic clinic

We commonly seek expert help to achieve certain results: for instance, using a personal trainer to help us lose weight and raise our fitness levels. But how do we find help for our cosmetic concerns, such as facial wrinkles and lines?

To help you choose a cosmetic clinic, cosmetic physician Dr Albert Ho suggests several questions you could ask in an initial phone call.

“The key things to consider are qualifications, experience and services on offer,” he said. “Questions to ask include the types of products used by the clinic and treatment fees. You could also ask the clinic questions about a certain treatment you have in mind. However, such advice might be limited if given over the phone.”

What to expect from an initial consultation

“Any questions or concerns should be raised at the initial consultation. Your doctor should be able to discuss every single issue related to looking younger and looking good,” Dr Ho said.

Good questions to ask during an initial consultation include:

• Duration of treatment and how often treatment needs to be repeated
• Pre- and post-treatment care
• Downtime after treatment
• Potential side effects and risks
• Cost

Depending on the treatment requested, you may be able to undergo treatment directly after the consultation, or to return on another occasion.

What to expect from subsequent consultations

You will probably be asked to return two weeks after treatment for a review to check that the treatment has given you the results that you and your clinician were aiming for. Depending on the outcome or treatment plan, you may or may not undergo further treatment.

While most treatment plans go smoothly after any concerns or issues have been clarified, there may be the odd possibility of a patient being dissatisfied with treatment results.

“If this happens, the patient should discuss it with the clinician and discuss the options for getting a more satisfactory result. These options include waiting before re-evaluating (some problems can correct themselves over time), repeating the treatment or using a different treatment method,” Dr Ho said.

Good communication between you and your clinician is key to getting the most out of cosmetic treatments. Make sure that you feel comfortable with the treatment plan and be open and honest about all your concerns. In that way, you can be sure that both you and your clinician are aiming to achieve the same results and that the overall outcome will be good.