If you’ve booked, or are thinking about booking, a cosmetic consultation in North Sydney, it’s completely normal to wonder what actually happens in the room. Will you be pressured to commit? Do you have to decide on the day? This guide walks you through your first cosmetic consultation step by step, so you know exactly what to expect, how to prepare, and what questions to bring. A consultation is now a required first step under Australia’s 2025 rules, and there is no obligation to proceed.
Key takeaways
- A consultation is now a legal first step: from 2 September 2025, AHPRA requires a practitioner to consult with you, in person or by video, before prescribing a cosmetic injectable (Clayton Utz, 2025).
- The practitioner must discuss the risks, benefits and alternatives in plain language, and your reasons for wanting treatment.
- You’ll leave with a personalised plan and a quote, and results are always described as temporary and individual.
- There is no obligation to proceed on the day, and cost is only ever quoted after you’ve been assessed.
- The most important part of any consultation is who is assessing you: at Skin Project Clinics, that’s a registered medical doctor.
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Why does a cosmetic consultation come first now?
The rule sits inside two new sets of AHPRA guidelines for higher-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures, one for practitioners who perform them and one for those who advertise them. Both took effect on 2 September 2025 and were introduced to strengthen patient safeguards (AHPRA, 2025). In plain terms, a proper conversation and assessment with a qualified practitioner is no longer optional. It’s the standard.
For most careful clinics this simply formalises how they already worked. If you’ve felt uneasy about places that seemed happy to book you straight in without an assessment, the 2025 framework exists precisely to protect you from that. To see how injectable treatments fit into the bigger picture, our complete guide to cosmetic injectables in North Sydney covers the treatment categories in detail.
What actually happens at your first cosmetic consultation?
Here’s the typical flow, step by step. The order can vary, but a thorough consultation covers all of it.
Assessment of the relevant areas
The practitioner looks at the areas you’re concerned about, and often at your face as a whole, to understand your skin, your facial movement and your proportions. This is a medical assessment, so they’ll usually ask about your health history, any medications, and whether you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, because these can affect what’s suitable for you.
A discussion of your goals and reasons
You’ll be asked what’s prompting you to consider treatment and what you’d like to achieve. This isn’t a formality. AHPRA’s 2025 guidelines specifically require that “a patient’s reasons and motivations for requesting a procedure are discussed” as part of assessing suitability (Clayton Utz, 2025). A good practitioner listens more than they sell.
Honest options and realistic risks
The practitioner explains what your options are, what each can and can’t do, and the risks involved. Under the guidelines, this information must be given in plain language and “must not minimise the complexity of the cosmetic procedure or overstate or imply the person can achieve outcomes that are not realistic” (Clayton Utz, 2025). If something isn’t suitable, they should say so.
A personalised plan and quote
You’ll receive a plan tailored to you, along with a clear quote for that plan. Cost is only ever quoted here, after you’ve been assessed, because the right amount and type of treatment differs from person to person. There’s a reason you won’t find a price for prescription injectables advertised online, which we explain further below.
No obligation to proceed
At a careful clinic, you’re never expected to commit on the day. You can take the plan away, think about it, ask more questions, or simply decide it’s not for you. Taking your time is a good sign, not an awkward one. Being able to pause and reflect is part of giving genuine, informed consent.
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How honest should the risk discussion be?
Informed consent isn’t a piece of paper you sign at the end. It’s the conversation itself. The published guidance is clear that consent should explain both the minor and the major risks in everyday language, so a patient can make an informed decision rather than skim a form (Aghera et al., PMC). If a clinic glosses over risk, that’s a warning sign.
It’s also reassuring to know that many treatments are temporary and, in some cases, adjustable. Anti-wrinkle injections wear off gradually, and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers can be broken down using an enzyme called hyaluronidase if a result needs correcting, with susceptibility varying by product (Rao et al., PMC). Your practitioner will explain what applies to your specific plan.
Will the results last, and what will they cover?
Setting realistic expectations is a core part of the consultation. Results vary between individuals, so timeframes are always a guide, not a promise. The table below summarises what the published evidence says about two of the most commonly discussed treatments, in general terms.
| Treatment type | When effect appears | How long it typically lasts | Reversible or temporary? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-wrinkle injections (muscle-relaxing) | First to fourth day, peaking at about one to four weeks | Approximately three to six months, then gradually wears off | Not dissolved, but the effect is temporary and fades on its own |
| Dermal fillers (hyaluronic acid) | Volume is visible soon after treatment | Temporary, lasting many months and eventually absorbed by the body | Reversible: hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme if needed |
For a deeper walkthrough of one of these treatments from a first-timer’s point of view, see our guide to anti-wrinkle injections in North Sydney. It covers the areas that can be treated and what a typical appointment involves.
Why can’t clinics tell you the price or product before you come in?
This is exactly why you’ll see careful, generic language on reputable clinic websites, including this one, rather than product names, prices or patient photos. It isn’t a clinic being evasive. It’s a sign the clinic is following the rules that exist to protect the public. The consultation is the proper place to learn what’s suitable for you and what it will cost.
So if a clinic is advertising named products or headline prices for injectables, that’s worth questioning rather than trusting. The absence of those things is a marker of a compliant, patient-first practice.
Is there a cooling-off period before treatment?
The seven-day rule and psychological assessment apply specifically to under-18s, reflecting the extra safeguards for younger patients. For adults, the emphasis is on informed consent and never feeling rushed. At any careful clinic, taking a few days to think things over is welcomed, and you can always come back with more questions.
How should you prepare for a cosmetic consultation?
A few practical things to do before you arrive:
- Note what you’d like to improve. A simple description of what bothers you is more useful than a specific product request.
- Bring your health information. List any medications, allergies, medical conditions, and mention if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Think about your reasons. The practitioner will ask, and reflecting beforehand helps you and them.
- Write down your questions. It’s easy to forget them in the room, so a short list keeps you on track.
- Allow time. A genuine consultation isn’t rushed, so don’t schedule it in a hurry.
Questions worth bringing to your consultation
Good questions help you judge both the treatment and the practitioner. Consider asking:
- Who will actually perform my treatment, and what are their qualifications?
- What are the realistic results, and what can’t this treatment do for me?
- What are the risks, including the less common ones, and how are they managed?
- Is the result temporary, and can it be adjusted or reversed if I’m unhappy?
- What is the full cost of the plan you’re recommending?
You can verify any practitioner’s registration on the public AHPRA register before you book. At Skin Project Clinics in North Sydney, every treatment is planned and performed by a registered medical doctor, and you’re welcome to meet our doctors before deciding anything.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to decide on treatment at my first consultation?
No. A cosmetic consultation is an assessment and a conversation, not a commitment, and at a careful clinic there’s no obligation to proceed on the day. You can take your personalised plan away, think it over, and come back with questions. Being given time to decide is part of genuine informed consent. This is general information only and not medical advice.
Is a consultation actually required before cosmetic injectables in Australia?
Yes. From 2 September 2025, AHPRA’s guidelines require a registered practitioner to consult with you, in person or by video, before prescribing a cosmetic injectable, and prescribing by text, email or online form is not acceptable practice (Clayton Utz, 2025). The consultation is now a required first step. This is general information only and not medical advice.
What will the practitioner ask me at the consultation?
Expect questions about what’s prompting you to consider treatment, what you’d like to achieve, and your health history and medications. AHPRA’s 2025 guidelines require that your reasons and motivations for requesting a procedure are discussed as part of assessing suitability (Clayton Utz, 2025). Thinking about these in advance helps. This is general information only and not medical advice.
Why won’t the clinic tell me the price or product name over the phone?
Because the TGA prohibits advertising prescription-only cosmetic injectables to the public, so naming a specific brand or stating a price for one is likely to breach the Act (TGA). Product and cost specifics are discussed at your consultation, once you’ve been assessed. Generic language is a sign a clinic follows the rules. This is general information only and not medical advice.
Is there a cooling-off period after a cosmetic consultation?
For adults, there is no mandatory cooling-off period, although a careful clinic will always let you take time to decide. For patients under 18, AHPRA’s 2025 guidelines require a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period between the first consultation and any procedure, plus a mandatory psychological assessment (Clayton Utz, 2025). This is general information only and not medical advice.
How should I prepare for my first cosmetic consultation?
Come with a clear idea of what’s bothering you, a list of your medications and relevant health history, and any questions written down. Because the practitioner must discuss your reasons and motivations, reflecting on your “why” beforehand helps the conversation (Clayton Utz, 2025). Allow enough time so you’re not rushed. This is general information only and not medical advice.
How long do cosmetic injectable results last?
Results are temporary and vary between individuals. Anti-wrinkle injections typically last around three to six months before gradually wearing off, and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are temporary and eventually absorbed by the body, with some able to be dissolved if needed (Satriyasa, PMC; Rao et al., PMC). Your practitioner will explain what applies to you. This is general information only and not medical advice.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Cosmetic injectables are prescription medical treatments that carry potential risks and require a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. Individual results vary and are temporary. No treatment should be undertaken without an individual assessment. Skin Project Clinics, North Sydney. (02) 9929 0455.
