What a facial harmonization consultation at RUV looks like

A proper facial harmonization consultation is not a step before the procedure. It is the most important procedure — because it is where the decision about what to do gets made, and that decision matters more than the execution.

This article describes what happens, so you arrive knowing what to expect and what to ask for.

How long a facial harmonization consultation takes

Considerably longer than most people imagine. An assessment that genuinely examines does not fit into fifteen minutes.

And a first consultation rarely ends with a procedure. That tends to surprise people, and it is deliberate: the plan needs thought, and you need time to decide.

What happens in the consultation, in order

The conversation about what bothers you

It starts with you, not with a menu. What bothers you, for how long, in which situations it stands out most, and what made you come now.

That part feels informal and is diagnostic. The way someone describes what bothers them says a great deal about where the problem actually is — and about whether the expectation is achievable.

The medical history

Medications, supplements, health conditions, allergies, pregnancy, and every previous procedure. That last block is the most important one and the most poorly answered.

If you had something done years ago and think it "has gone by now", say so anyway. If it was done outside a clinical setting, say that too — there is no judgment, and it is precisely the information that most changes what we do.

The examination

Front, profile and three-quarter view. With the face at rest and in movement. With palpation of the area, which is how old product is identified and tissue quality assessed.

The profile examination is the one most often missing from rushed assessments, and it is where half of the lower-third imbalances show up.

Standardized photography

Same light, same angle, same distance. Before anything else.

This is the record that will allow you, months or years later, to compare against something reliable instead of against memory — which is terrible, and is how accumulation goes unnoticed.

The plan

Here we present what was found, where each complaint comes from, and what we propose to do — with sequence, intervals and priority.

And we also present what we do not propose to do, and why.

What to bring

• Photos of yourself from years ago. It is the most useful reference there is, and almost nobody brings them.
• A list of medications and supplements, including the ones that seem irrelevant.
• Information about previous procedures — dates, products, places, whatever you remember.
• The complaint in your own words, not the procedure you think you need.

That last point matters most. "My profile bothers me" opens a diagnosis. "I want chin filler" closes on a conclusion that may be wrong.

Facial harmonization consultation: what you should leave knowing

An assessment that did its job leaves you with answers to:

• What exactly is causing the thing that bothers me?
• What is volume loss, what is sagging, what is skin quality?
• What is being proposed, in what order, and why?
• What is not being proposed, and why?
• Which products, with what registration, and are they reversible?
• What are the risks, and what happens if there is a complication?
• What does the full plan cost, not just the first stage?

If you left without one of these, it is worth asking before booking.

Why we do not treat the same day

Three reasons.

The plan needs thought. Setting sequence and quantity requires looking at the whole picture calmly, not deciding with the product on the counter.

You need time. An aesthetic procedure is elective. Deciding in the same hour you received the information is not deciding informed.

Haste is the source of much of the excess. Doing everything in one afternoon loses the chance to adjust between stages — which is exactly the mechanism that preserves a natural look.

There are exceptions, in simple cases and when the person is already under our care. But that is the rule.

When we do not move forward

• When the reference brought in is someone else's face and the conversation does not move on to diagnosis.
• When information is missing that changes what we would do — an unidentified previous product, for example.
• When the expectation is not achievable with the anatomy available.
• When the timing is bad. An event coming up, a decision made by comparison, a period of instability.
• When the person wants to decide on the spot and did not ask for that. We offer the time.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a fee for the facial harmonization consultation?

Models vary between clinics. What matters is whether the fee is credited if treatment goes ahead, and what exactly is included.

Will I leave with the procedure done?

In most cases, no. The plan is presented and you decide with time.

Do I need to bring anything?

Old photos, a list of medications and information about previous procedures. And the complaint in your own words.

How long does it take?

Considerably more than fifteen minutes. An assessment that examines front and profile, palpates and photographs needs time.

What if I already know what I want done?

A good starting point, and the conversation still begins with the diagnosis. Frequently what was asked for is not what solves the thing that bothers you.