Written by: Dr. Akash Chandawarkar, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Mirror Plastic Surgery | Last updated: September 9, 2026
Key Takeaways
Before you book your consultation, keep these points in mind:
- A medical spa consultation is a comprehensive medical evaluation where a qualified provider reviews your concerns, health history, and goals to create a personalized treatment plan.
- Preparation improves safety and results. Bring your medication list, medical history, and aesthetic goals, and follow pre-appointment guidelines such as avoiding blood thinners and alcohol.
- Provider credentials matter. A physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant must perform the required Good Faith Exam before injectable treatments, and you should confirm that the same provider will treat you.
- A thorough consultation includes an in-depth anatomical assessment, baseline photography, and a clear discussion of procedures, realistic outcomes, pricing, and alternatives without pressure to book immediately.1
- Choose a practice that prioritizes safety and individualized care. Schedule your consultation at Mirror Plastic Surgery to experience surgeon-led evaluations that put your well-being first.
Step 1: Booking And Pre-Consultation Preparation
Your consultation starts the moment you reach out to the practice. A quality front desk team responds promptly, answers questions clearly, and never pressures you. At Mirror Plastic Surgery, new patients can call or text 727-361-6515 or email hello@mirrorplasticsurgery.com.
Arriving prepared makes your consultation safer and more productive. Before your appointment, compile a complete list of all medications and supplements, especially blood thinners, aspirin, fish oil, and vitamin E, which increase bruising risk with injectables, write down your specific aesthetic goals, and bring a valid photo ID.
To make the most of your visit, bring the following items with you:
- A complete list of current prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements
- Your full medical history, including prior aesthetic procedures
- Reference photos of desired outcomes
- Photos of yourself from five to ten years ago to show your natural aging patterns
- A written list of questions prepared in advance
In the days leading up to your appointment, a few simple steps reduce complication risk. For injectable treatments, avoid NSAIDs and blood-thinning supplements such as fish oil, vitamin E, and garlic for five to seven days, and avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your appointment. Do not start new skincare actives, retinoids, or exfoliants immediately before your visit, and arrive with a clean face so the provider can assess your skin in its natural state. If you take prescription medications, do not stop them without first speaking with your prescribing physician, because some are essential for your overall health.
Plan to arrive ten to fifteen minutes early, and schedule your visit on a day when you do not feel rushed by important events.
Step 2: Paperwork And Health History Review
Once you arrive, you complete intake and consent documentation. Patients at a med spa can expect to fill out a personal health information privacy agreement, a medical history form, an intake form, and informed consent documents that outline risks, possible outcomes, and the treatment plan.
The depth of this review reveals the quality of the practice. A thorough provider asks follow-up questions about your history instead of skimming the form. High-volume clinics often rush through intake to maximize patient volume. A concierge practice treats this step as the clinical foundation it is. At Mirror Plastic Surgery, Dr. Akash personally reviews your complete health history before making any recommendations.
This thorough review is critical for safety. It identifies contraindications such as pregnancy, autoimmune disorders, and active infections, and it helps prevent complications such as medication interactions that increase bruising risk.
Step 3: Meeting Your Provider And Confirming Credentials
Your experience during the consultation depends heavily on who leads it. At a medical spa, patients may encounter several types of licensed healthcare professionals, including medical doctors (MD), osteopathic doctors (DO), nurse practitioners (NP), physician assistants (PA-C), registered nurses (RN), and licensed estheticians (LE).
In most states, a Good Faith Exam by a qualified provider, such as a physician, NP, or PA, must occur before any prescription treatment, including neuromodulators and fillers. Skipping or backfilling the exam is one of the most cited scope failures in the industry. In Florida, a registered nurse cannot perform the Good Faith Exam required before injectable treatments. A physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant must complete this step.
Always verify credentials so you know who is responsible for your care. Ask who the medical director is and their specialty, confirm the injector’s license and aesthetic training, and ask how many procedures the provider has performed. Also confirm that the person who consults you will be the one who treats you, because some high-volume clinics separate these roles.
At Mirror Plastic Surgery, Dr. Akash Chandawarkar personally performs every injectable and non-surgical treatment. Dr. Akash is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and holds a fellowship in aesthetic surgery. He also serves on advisory boards for Merz Aesthetics and Tiger Aesthetics. This means every injectable is placed by a physician with a surgeon’s command of facial and subdermal anatomy, which makes treatment both safer and more precise.
Step 4: The In-Depth Assessment And Facial Evaluation
The clinical assessment forms the core of your med spa consultation. A thorough provider evaluates you from top to bottom instead of focusing on a single area. During a medical spa consultation, the provider reviews the patient’s medical history, including medical conditions, prior procedures, skin reactions, and any history of complications, because treatment safety can change based on skin sensitivity, healing patterns, pigment tendency, or previous exposure to advanced procedures.
A surgeon’s anatomical training supports a more nuanced assessment than many nurse injectors can provide. Knowledge of the muscles, blood vessels, and fat compartments beneath the skin improves both safety and results. Dr. Akash evaluates how your facial features work together to create natural, harmonious outcomes and avoids treating an isolated area without context.1
During this assessment, your provider should:
- Analyze skin quality, volume distribution, muscle activity, asymmetry, and structural support
- Evaluate how facial features interact across the upper, middle, and lower face
- Ask what bothers you most, what results feel meaningful, and what your lifestyle can accommodate
- Document baseline features through before photographs
- Use structured diagnostic approaches, such as symptom-based severity scales for conditions like temporal hollowing
At Mirror Plastic Surgery, this assessment can take up to an hour. The pace stays unhurried so you feel heard and fully evaluated.
Schedule your consultation with Ellie to experience a top-to-bottom assessment led by a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Step 5: Your Personalized Treatment Plan And Clear Pricing
After the assessment, your provider outlines a personalized treatment plan. A thoughtful plan includes recommended procedures, expected results, treatment timeline, number of sessions, recovery expectations, home skincare recommendations, estimated investment, and a maintenance schedule.1
A reputable provider explains the reasoning behind each recommendation. You learn why one product or approach fits your anatomy and goals better than another and what results you can realistically expect.1 Alternatives, including choosing no treatment, remain part of the conversation. Red flags include pressure to book that day, package upsells before understanding your goals, vague answers about products or devices, recommendations for procedures you did not request, and prices far below market.
Mirror Plastic Surgery operates as a supplier-neutral practice. Dr. Akash recommends products based on your anatomy and goals rather than manufacturer quotas or commissions. His approach reflects the honesty of a trusted physician. He often advises patients that an expensive treatment is not yet necessary, which builds long-term trust.
Pricing at Mirror Plastic Surgery is personalized to your treatment plan. You receive a clear breakdown during your consultation, and you can take time to decide. A quality practice always allows space for thoughtful consideration.
Step 6: After Your Consultation And Ongoing Support
After your consultation, you receive a summary of the recommended plan and can ask follow-up questions by phone, text, or email. Same-day treatment may be available, but you choose the timing. Some treatments require preparation, such as avoiding blood thinners, so a separate visit may be safer.
Ongoing support separates a concierge practice from a high-volume clinic. Mirror Plastic Surgery offers communication beyond typical office hours so you can reach your care team when questions arise. Post-treatment follow-up, progress checks, and maintenance planning form a standard part of the patient journey.
Why Choose Mirror Plastic Surgery For Your Consultation?
Mirror Plastic Surgery delivers a level of attention that high-volume clinics rarely match. Every injectable treatment is performed by Dr. Akash Chandawarkar himself. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, he brings advanced anatomical expertise that enhances both safety and precision. Consultations are unhurried and often extend to a full hour. The practice remains supplier-neutral, so recommendations focus on what fits your anatomy and goals.
The office is located at 780 4th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, and welcomes new patients seeking non-surgical treatments throughout the St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay area. You can reach the team by calling or texting 727-361-6515 or by emailing hello@mirrorplasticsurgery.com.
Start your journey with a consultation at Mirror Plastic Surgery and take the first step toward aesthetic care that prioritizes your well-being.
Red Flags To Watch For: A Supplementary Checklist
Recognizing warning signs helps you protect your safety and investment. Red flags that should prompt you to leave a med spa consultation include no medical director identified, pressure to book treatment immediately, prices significantly below market average, staff unable to name the product brands they use, no medical history intake or allergy screening, unlicensed staff performing injectables or medical-grade lasers, unsanitary conditions, and aggressive upselling.
A consultation that lasts fewer than fifteen minutes and skips a medical history review also signals poor standards. A good first visit feels structured rather than rushed, and the consultation remains thoughtful, professional, and specific to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Med Spa Consultations
Do You Tip For Botox Or Other Injectables?
Tipping is not expected for medical procedures performed by licensed healthcare professionals. Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and registered nurses performing injectables receive compensation through their professional fees, and many medical providers cannot accept tips because of ethical guidelines. Industry data shows that med spas have the lowest tip rates of any beauty and wellness vertical, with a median of 0%. If you love your results, a detailed Google review or a referral to a friend or family member offers the most meaningful thanks.
What Should You Not Do Before A Med Spa Consultation?
To support safety and accurate assessment, follow the same preparation guidelines discussed earlier in this guide. Avoid blood-thinning medications and supplements for several days before injectable treatments unless your prescribing physician advises otherwise. Skip alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment. For your skin, do not start new actives such as retinoids or exfoliants immediately before your visit, and arrive with a clean face so the provider can see your natural skin. Bring a complete list of your current medications and supplements, and share your medical history honestly so your provider can plan safely.
How Can You Tell If A Med Spa Is Good?
Quality med spas feature board-certified providers or physician-supervised care, a clean and professional facility, and a thorough consultation that includes medical history review. You should receive transparent communication about risks and pricing and feel no pressure to book same-day treatment. Verify that a licensed physician serves as medical director and ask who will actually perform your treatment. Warning signs include prices far below market, staff who cannot name the products they use, no medical history intake, and aggressive upselling. A practice that schedules a real consultation, takes baseline photographs, and explains risks clearly is demonstrating the standard of care you deserve.
Do Med Spas Charge For Consultations?
Consultation policies vary by practice. Some med spas offer complimentary consultations, while others charge a fee that often applies toward treatment if you proceed. Ask about consultation fees when booking so you understand the policy. At Mirror Plastic Surgery, the initial consultation is comprehensive, and the fee structure is discussed transparently when you book. The depth and quality of the consultation matter more than whether it is free.
How Long Does A Med Spa Consultation Take?
A thorough consultation typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes. As noted earlier, consultations at Mirror Plastic Surgery are designed to be thorough and unhurried, with enough time for a complete assessment and your questions. If a consultation feels rushed or ends in under 15 minutes, that suggests the practice may not prioritize individualized care.
Conclusion: Your Aesthetic Journey Starts With The Right Consultation
A well-structured medical spa consultation follows six essential steps. You book and prepare, complete paperwork and health history review, meet a qualified provider, undergo an in-depth assessment, receive a personalized treatment plan with clear pricing, and establish a follow-up relationship with ongoing support.
A thorough consultation forms the foundation of safe, satisfying aesthetic care. When you understand what should happen at each step of the med spa consultation process, you can walk in with confidence and leave with a plan that supports your long-term goals.
Mirror Plastic Surgery invites you to experience surgeon-led care in St. Petersburg, FL. Reserve your consultation with Ellie today.
Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person. Editorial content, before and after images, and patient testimonials do not constitute a guarantee of specific results.
1 Results may vary from person to person. Editorial content, before and after images, and patient testimonials do not constitute a guarantee of specific results.
