By Andrea Goto
I used to be someone who bounced around, trying out different salons and practices. I was already happy with the service I was getting, but I was lured away by lower rates, bigger promises, trendy-looking spaces (Shiplap! Orchids!) and the belief that maybe there was something or someone I was missing out on.
One toe infection from a pedicure, mullet from enthusiastic thinning sheers and set of over-inflated cheekbones from an overzealous injector later, and I’ve finally learned my lesson. Relationships matter—and once you have a good one, nurture it. The risk outweighs the reward.
When it comes to cosmetic procedures, you need to trust the person behind the scalpel, needle or laser. That trust is built over time, but there are a few early signs to suggest that it might be a relationship worth pursuing.
- You’ve done your research. I don’t mean scouring the internet for reviews, because we all know how suspect they can be. I mean asking friends for recommendations. When I find an outstanding practitioner, I want everyone to know about them, but I’m also honest about any potential drawbacks, like long waits, difficulty getting last-minute appointments, lack of free mints. An advertisement tries really hard to sell you on all the good stuff; a friend sells you on the truth.
- You’re treated nicely — by everyone. This includes the person at the check-in window, the doctor and every contact in-between. Even if you don’t work there, a toxic or tense environment is a red flag for drama you just don’t need in your life — or near your face.
- The surgeon listens to you, then tells you why you’re wrong. Well, sort of. Most of us go in thinking we know what we want — an eyelift, Botox, liposuction, etc. — but leave the procedures up to the professionals. Instead, a surgeon should ask about your goals — a more “awake” look, less wrinkles, shrunken double chin — then tell you the best ways to achieve it.
- You can’t always get what you want. Not all faces are equal. Sometimes a forehead line needs more than Botox. Sometimes Jessica Biel’s nose doesn’t work on everyone. In the sage words of Mick Jagger, you can’t always get what you want. A good surgeon will manage your expectations. It may sting if they suggest that your face may need more lift than a filler can provide, but it’s going to hurt a lot more if you drop a few hundred dollars on a procedure that doesn’t produce.
Once you find this special someone, I suggest sticking with them. Recently, a couple of friends in need of Botox were enticed by an office with lower rates. They paid less, but in the end, they paid more with bruising, discomfort and sub-par results. We all have the right to shop around. But if you’ve done your due diligence from the start, more often than not, you’ll probably just realize how good you had it in the first place.
