The Consultation

Here at Edgebrook Dermatology, we see patients for medical dermatology exams in our Medical Center. But how do I get into our Laser and/or Aesthetic Center? What if my skin concerns aren’t medical, but just cosmetic? What if I’m interested in resurfacing texture, improving scarring, and investing in long-term anti-aging and protective skin regimens?

That’s what our Cosmetic Consultations are for.

Our FREE Cosmetic Consultations are complimentary sit-downs with an educational consultant who can assist patients in cosmetic concerns and interests. This is an opportunity to discover products, treatments and services that will work to support your skin health and goals.

This can include treatments such as:

• laser resurfacing (PicoSure and/or Erbium)
• intense pulsed light
• tattoo removal
• laser hair reduction
• vein removal
• Potenza RF microneedling
• Botox
• dermal fillers
• physical or chemical exfoliation

Concerns may include:

• wrinkles/fine lines
• skin texture
• sun damage/brown spots
• pigmentation and/or redness
• acne scars/injury-based scars
• discoloration and uneven skin tone
• skin laxity
• volume loss
• anti-aging
• unwanted hair growth
• unwanted tattoos
• unwanted veins/broken blood vessels
• clogged/enlarged pores

We start by reviewing your medical history first, which is why some paperwork is required at the start of your visit (unless you are already an active medical patient and it’s all in the system!). This grants us the background information we may need to ensure you’re a safe, qualifying candidate for any treatment options (ruling out allergies, medical conditions, interactive medications, and more that may be important).

Once this has been assessed, we proceed with a sit-down skin analysis, inquire about your direct concerns and examine your skin to formulate the most suitable treatment plan. This includes the actual concern, severity of the concern, your skin type, products you may or may not already be using, lifestyle factors, and history (such as treatments you may have already received).

With this information, we can then provide a customized plan for your individual needs and desired results. This may include injectables, such as Botox and/or filler, laser or light treatments, exfoliation treatments, and topical products to use at home. We can determine roughly how many treatments it may take, or at least the minimum it will take to provide visible results, depending on the severity of your concerns and the abilities of those services. Our consultants are forward and transparent about realistic expectations—which can include the timeline, frequency or quantity of our treatments or whether or not our treatments will achieve the outcome you have in mind. In some circumstances, when there are potentially unrealistic expectations or excessively high expectations, we may even refer patients to surgeons or specialists who may have more invasive options. Here, we mostly specialize in non-invasive treatment options that can provide natural, refreshing and rejuvenative results (such as with facial fillers or microneedling).

Some patients wonder who their consult will be with, and that’s a great question! Dr. Maria Al-Basha and her providers have ensured the full training, education, and capabilities of our Cosmetic Consultants to perform skin assessments and review treatment plans for them. Our providers have full schedules every single day, to see and treat all of you! Here at EdgeDerm, we value the importance of education before proceeding with any procedure, even those that are non-invasive, so our patients can feel fully confident in us and in their plan. It’s our job to take our time with you, then get you to your providers to receive the treatments discussed. A provider does step into the consultation for a brief moment to review and approve or adjust the plan that has been discussed. Our consultants always ensure that if there are any questions or unique circumstances, a provider will give a second opinion or suggestion. Otherwise, all questions, concerns, and information regarding your treatment options (including what it is, how it works, the process, expectations, downtime, pre- and post-care) and plans are exactly what our Cosmetic Consultants specialize in. That’s what our providers trust our consultants to do, as they are extremely knowledgeable. We can also review visuals such as photos and videos, and we’ll discuss pricing and package options as well.

Our consultants will also discuss your current skincare routine (or lack of) and provide recommendations suitable for your skin’s needs. This can include specific cleansers, antioxidants, treatments or serums, sunscreens, and moisturizers. In some cases, we may even have to evaluate if your topical regimen conflicts with or compliments your services.

After your initial consultation, our consultants are always here! While they take appointments daily for these consultations, they also have time for phone calls or quick sit-downs to discuss progress and further needs as you go. It’s important to remember that skin care is an investment—our skin is exposed to the natural process of aging, the sun, and environmental factors each and every day. There is always something more we can do to protect and preserve the health of our skin and maintain our results, and the media can cloud your judgement, which is where our consultants can provide professional guidance throughout your aesthetic journey.

If you’re looking to receive an in-depth cosmetic skin analysis and start YOUR aesthetic journey to vibrant, youthful skin, or remove unwanted tattoos or hair growth, give our office a call to schedule your complimentary consultation today at (815) 229-9333 ext 2. Whether you already know what you’re interested in and just need more information and pricing to schedule, or have no idea where to start, we can help!

We’re so excited to work with you and get you on the path to your best skin yet. Enter your skincare era today.