Walking into a medical aesthetics clinic for the first time can feel uncertain — even for people who have been considering it for months. You might not be sure what questions to ask, whether you are truly ready to commit to anything, or how you will be received. At Aurelia Aesthetics, we have spent years refining our first consultation experience precisely because we know that first impressions matter — not just for your comfort, but for the quality of your results.
This guide walks you through exactly what happens during your first visit, from the moment you pick up the phone to the moment you leave our clinic on Madison Avenue.
Booking Your Appointment
The process begins simply. You can book your first consultation online through our website or by calling our front desk directly. We offer appointments Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and on Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM. Evening availability can sometimes be arranged for those with demanding weekday schedules — just ask.
When you book, you will be asked a few brief intake questions: your primary area of concern, whether you have had any previous aesthetic treatments, and any relevant medical history. This is not an interrogation — it simply allows us to prepare for your visit and ensure we are allocating enough time for a thorough consultation. Your first appointment is complimentary and carries no obligation to proceed with any treatment.
What to Bring
You do not need to arrive with a detailed wish list or a folder of magazine clippings. However, a few things are genuinely useful:
- A list of any medications or supplements you are currently taking — including over-the-counter products. Some medications affect treatment safety and outcomes.
- Your skincare routine, even just a rough description. Knowing what you apply at home helps us understand your skin's baseline.
- Any previous treatment records, particularly if you have had injectables elsewhere. Knowing what product was used and when helps us plan safely.
- A photo on your phone — if there is a result you admire or a version of yourself you are hoping to return to, having a reference is always helpful.
Come with a clean face if possible, or with minimal makeup. It allows our physician to assess your skin and facial anatomy accurately without working around a full face of product.
Arrival and the Clinic Environment
Our clinic is located in Suite 1201 at 635 Madison Avenue — a quiet, private environment designed to feel nothing like a typical medical waiting room. When you arrive, you will be welcomed by a member of our front desk team and offered a seat in our reception area. We keep our schedule tight to minimise wait times; if we are running late for any reason, we will let you know in advance.
The atmosphere is deliberately unhurried. There is no upselling at the front desk, no promotional material pushed in your direction, and no pressure from the moment you walk in.
Skin Analysis
Your consultation begins with a thorough skin assessment. Your physician will examine your skin in natural and clinical lighting, evaluating factors including skin texture and tone, the degree and pattern of any lines or volume changes, skin laxity, pigmentation, pore size, and overall skin health. In some cases, we use imaging tools that allow us to see beneath the surface — identifying sun damage or structural changes that are not yet visible to the naked eye but may inform your treatment plan.
This is not a cursory glance. Our physicians are trained to see the face as a whole — not just a wrinkle here or a hollow there — because the most natural results always come from treating the complete picture.
The best aesthetic treatments are invisible. Our goal is never for you to look like you have had something done — it is for you to look like yourself, only more rested and refreshed.
The Conversation About Your Goals
After the skin analysis, your physician will invite you to share what has brought you in. This is an open-ended conversation, not a form to fill in. Some patients arrive knowing exactly what they want. Others have a feeling — a sense that something has shifted — but struggle to articulate it. Both are completely fine.
Common themes we hear include: looking tired even when well-rested, noticing more volume loss in the cheeks or temples, wanting to address lines around the mouth or eyes, dealing with uneven skin tone, or simply wanting to feel more confident in photographs. Whatever your concern, there is no judgment and no minimum threshold for coming in.
Your physician will listen carefully, ask clarifying questions, and reflect back what they are hearing to make sure they fully understand your goals before recommending anything.
Treatment Planning
Based on the skin analysis and your conversation, your physician will outline a treatment approach that addresses your specific concerns. This will typically include a description of which treatments they recommend, why those particular approaches suit your anatomy and goals, a realistic sense of what outcomes to expect, and the proposed sequence if multiple treatments are involved.
We believe in explaining the reasoning behind every recommendation. If we suggest a filler before a laser, there is a clinical rationale for that order. If we recommend starting conservatively, we will explain why staged treatment often produces superior long-term results. You deserve to understand the plan, not just receive it.
Pricing is discussed transparently during this conversation. There are no hidden fees or add-ons you will discover at checkout.
How Long Does It Take?
Plan for approximately 45 to 60 minutes for your first consultation. If you decide to proceed with a straightforward treatment — such as Botox — on the same day, that can often be accommodated in the same visit, adding 20 to 30 minutes. More complex or multi-step treatment plans are typically scheduled for a separate appointment to give you time to consider the recommendation without any sense of being rushed.
The No-Pressure Promise
At Aurelia, we never expect a decision at your first visit. If you need time to think, compare options, or simply sit with the information, that is not only acceptable — it is encouraged. Our physicians are not sales representatives. Their job is to give you the most accurate, honest assessment they can, present a treatment plan that serves your goals, and then let you make a fully informed decision on your own timeline.
If after your consultation you decide you are not ready, or that the timing is not right, you leave without obligation and without pressure. We would rather you return when you feel completely confident than proceed before you are ready.
That is the foundation every good result is built on.