How to choose a med spa: a practical checklist

"Just read the reviews" is common advice for choosing a med spa, and reviews are a reasonable starting filter — but they mostly tell you whether people had a pleasant visit, not whether the specific treatment you're considering was done well by someone with real experience in it.

Check who's actually performing the injections

In many states, injectables can legally be administered by a range of licensed professionals — physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses — under varying levels of physician oversight. None of these credentials alone guarantees skill, but it's reasonable to ask directly who will be doing your treatment and what their specific training in that treatment looks like.

Ask about experience with your specific treatment, not just injectables generally

A provider highly experienced with Botox isn't automatically equally experienced with thread lifts or RF microneedling. Ask how long they've been performing the specific treatment you're considering, not just how long they've practiced overall.

Look at before-and-afters critically, not just favorably

Good before-and-after photos show consistent lighting, angle, and expression between the two images — inconsistent lighting or angles can exaggerate a result. Look for a range of results across different face shapes and ages, not just the most dramatic examples.

Notice whether they oversell during the consultation

A practice that recommends the same multi-treatment package to everyone, regardless of what they came in asking about, is optimizing for revenue per visit rather than fit. A practice willing to say a treatment isn't necessary, or that a different one would serve you better, is generally more trustworthy.

Confirm what happens if something needs adjusting

Ask directly about the follow-up policy before you book. A practice confident in its work is usually comfortable discussing what happens if a result isn't quite right.