The world of non-surgical aesthetic treatments can be overwhelming – it’s still a relatively new field, new treatments are being introduced all the time, there’s a lot of strange terms like ‘erbium’, ‘prp’, ‘hydradermabrasion’, and ‘neurotoxin’.
Aesthetic treatments are also offered by a variety of medical specialties from plastic surgeons and dermatologists to registered nurses and probably even your dentist.
So how do you know who to trust? And if you find a trustworthy provider, how do you know they’re the right fit for you?
Breathe. We’ve got you. Whether you use moved to a new city, are new to aesthetics or are just looking for a new provider, we’re going to walk you step-by-step through how to find the best aesthetics providers near you, and give specific tips on how to analyze your options to find the best provider for you.
Take some time to read through aesthetics websites to learn the lingo. Here’s what to look for.
Here are some aesthetics websites we really like.
Now you’re ready to find some options to choose from. Here’s what you should type in when searching, and where you should search to get the best results.
Be Specific with Your Search Phrase
Typing ‘aesthetics provider near me’ is going to yield pretty broad results. Narrow it down by being as specific as possible.
For example, let’s say we’re looking for an aesthetics provider in Nashville, TN. Here are a few searches phrases we might use:
Search in Multiple Places
Now that you know what to search for, it’s important to run this search in multiple places.
Search on Google, Google Maps, Facebook and Instagram. Different businesses optimize their online presence for different platforms. Searching multiple places will ensure you don’t miss any options that may be a good fit for you.
Additionally, If you know which treatment you want, often that company will have a provider finder on their website.
Ask Your Friends
Whether you’ve talked about it or not, some of your friends may have had aesthetic treatments before! Ask them where they went and if they would go back. Ask them what they liked and didn’t, then add these places to your list.
After your research, pick 5 options that look like they might be a good fit and move on to step 3.
For your top 5 options, look at their website, Facebook, and Instagram and ask:
If a business presents themselves well and provides a good experience online, then they are more likely to do so when you visit in person.
Look to see if they provide the services and treatments you’re interested in and view their before and after photos, on both their website and social media accounts. This will give you a picture of their current work, since a lot of practices don’t update their websites as often as social media.
Reviews and photos outside the group’s website will give you a more accurate picture of their work. Reviews featured on website are great, but they are usually cherry picked (we know because we hand pick the reviews on our website!). Read through reviews on Facebook and their Google Maps listing – to do that you can go to maps.google.com and type in the name of the practice.
When looking through reviews, look for quantity and quality. Do they have one review or hundreds? Are most of them five stars or are many of them bad reviews?
Ideally aesthetics is the core of their business. There may be exceptions to this rule, but generally the more you do something the better you are at it and practices that focus on non-surgical cosmetics and skin care typically perform a lot of those services.
Now, narrow your list down to three.
You have researched locations, read reviews, looked at before and after pictures, and scoured websites. Now it’s time to make a phone call.
Don’t feel pressure to make an appointment. The point of this first call is to see how knowledgeable the team is and to find out if you like the people!
What to say when you call:
That’s it! After the call, consider the entire interaction. Did the person you talk to appear knowledgeable and eager to answer your questions? Did they seem attentive to your needs as a potential client?
If the group seemed rude or unwelcoming, then move on. You want a great outcome, but aesthetics should be fun too! If they provide a good experience on the phone then they’ll probably provide a good experience when you visit.
After you’ve called your top 3, pick your favorite and schedule a consultation.
A consultation allows you to get a feel for the provider, not just the front desk staff, and to ask questions in-person to clarify what you don’t understand to ensure you are confident about your treatment selection.
We asked our ElàMar providers what questions they recommend you ask during a consultation with a new provider. Here’s what they said:
At this stage, it’s critical to be honest about what you want as a client. Explain what your goals are and what you are hoping to get out of treatments.
Our Medical Director, Dr. Gill, noted that “You should get the sense that the provider is really listening to your concerns and customizing a plan that addresses your individual needs and budget”.
Does the provider listen to what you want? You’ll know they do if they’re able to repeat your concerns or goals back to you. A red flag in a consultation is the provider specifically trying to “sell” a particular service rather than providing options to achieve your goals.
Here are a few more questions to ask during a consultation.
Pay attention to how you feel during the conversation, you should feel comfortable.
Ultimately you want someone who cares, and care is expressed in the details. Looking online and finding a website that is pretty and easy to use demonstrates their attention to visual appeal and client experience. Visiting for a consultation gives you a genuine look at the space and how the provider operates. Are they punctual? Organized? Clean? Friendly? If they demonstrate care in the seemingly trivial details, they are far more likely to care for your outcome and experience.
Lastly, always remember that you do not have to move forward with a treatment if you don’t feel comfortable yet. Just keep learning and asking questions. You’ll know when you’re ready and have found the right provider for you.
Good luck on your aesthetics journey!