A consultation is supposed to be your evaluation of the practice, not theirs of you. Most consultations are structured to sell you a treatment. The best ones are structured to honestly assess fit. Use these 10 questions as your checklist for any consultation you book — with us or anywhere else.
1\. “Who personally performs my procedure?”
What to listen for: Is the answer a specific named individual, or vague (“one of our certified providers”)? Many practices market under a senior physician’s name but use rotating technicians for actual treatment. You want to know exactly who will be holding the device.
Red flag: Inability to name your specific provider in advance.
2\. “How many of these procedures have you personally performed?”
What to listen for: A specific number. Hundreds or thousands of cases over years of experience matters meaningfully. New providers can be excellent, but experience reduces the variance of outcomes.
Red flag: Vague answers (“many”, “a lot”) without ranges, or extremely small numbers (under 50).
3\. “What is the realistic result I should expect from this treatment?”
What to listen for: Honest calibration. A good provider will tell you what to realistically expect for YOUR specific skin and concerns, not show you best-case marketing photos.
Red flag: “You’ll look 20 years younger!”-style promises. Or only being shown perfect-outcome photos of other people with completely different skin profiles.
4\. “What results have YOUR clients seen at MY age and skin type?”
What to listen for: Specific examples — ideally photos — of clients similar to you in age, skin type, and concern. Good providers have these readily available.
Red flag: Only generic stock photos, or photos of clients in completely different demographics.
5\. “What’s the total cost, including everything?”
What to listen for: A specific number with no ambiguity. Includes the procedure, follow-up visits, recommended skincare, any required maintenance treatments within the first year, and any “package” obligations.
Red flag: “Starting at $X” without a real ceiling. Or pricing that only becomes clear after you’re emotionally committed.
6\. “How many sessions will I need for the result I want?”
What to listen for: An honest range. For Morpheus8, this is 3-4 sessions. For the Butterfly Facelift, it’s typically one. For Ultherapy alone, 1-2.
Red flag: “It depends” without further commitment, especially when combined with a price quote that’s only for one session.
7\. “What’s the worst-case outcome with this procedure?”
What to listen for: Direct acknowledgment of real risks. For non-invasive treatments, this is typically minor (mild redness, brief sensitivity, very rarely temporary muscle weakness with focused ultrasound).
Red flag: “There are no risks!” Every procedure has some risk, even minor.
8\. “Am I a good candidate for this specific procedure?”
What to listen for: An honest answer. Sometimes the right answer is “no” or “maybe, but X would be better for your specific concerns.” A provider who tells you you’re a candidate for everything is selling, not advising.
Red flag: “Everyone is a candidate!”
9\. “What happens if I’m not happy with the result?”
What to listen for: A clear answer about touch-up policies, satisfaction guarantees, or refund policies. Specific timelines.
Red flag: Vague answers or a refusal to commit to any post-treatment support.
10\. “Is there a treatment you would recommend over this one for my situation?”
What to listen for: Honest consideration of alternatives. A good provider knows competitors’ strengths and acknowledges when another approach might serve you better.
Red flag: “Ours is the best for everything.” No procedure is best for every client. A provider who can’t name a scenario where you’d be better off elsewhere is selling.
Bonus Question: “Why did you start performing this procedure?”
This isn’t a checkbox question; it’s a vibe check. The answer tells you whether you’re talking to someone passionate about the work or someone running a transactional practice. Both can deliver good results. But your experience will be different.
How We Answer These at Newport Beach Skin Tightening
For full transparency, here’s how we typically answer these in our own consultations:
- 1. Who performs: James Hooper, the procedure's creator, is personally involved in every consultation and treatment plan.
- 2. How many performed: Hundreds of Butterfly Facelifts at our practice, built on years of experience in advanced wellness and non-surgical rejuvenation.
- 3. Realistic result: We tell you specifically. We show you clients similar to your demographic.
- 4. Client results at your age/type: We have documented before/after at every age range from 40 to 75+.
- 5. Total cost: $3,500-$4,500 depending on areas, with full transparency upfront. Financing available.
- 6. Number of sessions: One. Maintenance optional at 12-24 months.
- 7. Worst case: Mild temporary redness, occasional minor bruising. We’ll walk through specifics in consultation.
- 8. Are you a candidate: We’ll tell you honestly. See our self-assessment guide.
- 9. If unhappy: We work with you directly to address concerns. Reasonable touch-ups included within 30 days.
- 10. Alternatives we’d recommend over us: If you have severe laxity, we’d recommend a surgical consultation. If you specifically want Morpheus8 for acne scarring, we’d send you to a specialist.
See real results: the Butterfly Facelift with Ultherapy — real before & after photos »
Questions, Answered
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a consultation typically take?+
At our practice, about 45 minutes. Long enough to actually examine your skin, ask the questions above, and give you a real assessment. Avoid practices where consultations feel rushed or under 20 minutes.
Should I bring anything to a consultation?+
Photos of yourself from 5-10 years ago if available (useful baseline), a list of any current medications and skin products, and your honest questions.
Is it normal to leave a consultation without booking?+
Yes — in fact, the practices most worth working with will explicitly invite you to think it over. If you feel high-pressure tactics in a consultation, that’s a warning sign.
Should I get multiple consultations before deciding?+
For a significant investment, yes. Two or three consultations from different practices will give you a much clearer picture of who you trust.
Related Reading
Before your consultation, it also helps to study real outcomes — browse our before-and-after photo gallery to see the results clients have achieved without surgery.
Located in the Heart of Orange County
Newport Beach Skin Tightening serves clients across Orange County from our Costa Mesa location at 3151 Airway Ave, Bldg K, Suite 106, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Book a free consultation with James Hooper by requesting a free consultation online or calling (949) 500-0719.
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Ready to See Real Results?
Book a free, no-pressure consultation with James Hooper, creator of the Butterfly Facelift, at our Costa Mesa practice — and discover what real, natural-looking results can do for you.
A consultation does not guarantee candidacy or results. Individual experiences vary.