Consultation preparation

Product and device checks

An ingredient name or a familiar-looking box does not answer every safety question. Ask about the exact product or device, where it came from and how it will be used. Your practitioner should explain the details relevant to your treatment.

Start with the exact identity

Ask for the full product name, manufacturer and patient leaflet or instructions. Ask which ingredients are present, what the product is intended to do and which route and body area are planned. For a device, ask for the model and the type of applicator or cartridge.

Local status and the planned use

Ask your practitioner to explain the product’s legal status in the country where you will be treated and show the relevant documentation. Check whether the intended use covers your treatment area and method. If not, ask about the evidence, alternatives and additional uncertainty. A database registration is a different question from authorization for a particular use. In the United States, FDA device registration or listing does not mean FDA approval. In the EU, applicable CE marking concerns conformity with EU product rules; ask for the product’s intended use and supporting documentation.

Packaging, expiry and handling

For a sterile single-use syringe, needle or cartridge, ask to see the intact packaging before it is opened for your procedure. Check the expiry and readable batch or lot details with the practitioner. The sterile barrier matters more than whether the outer cardboard box has been opened. Ask whether storage and preparation followed the exact manufacturer’s instructions.

An opened vial needs context

A labelled multi-dose vial is different from a single-use syringe or a single-dose vial. Ask which format is being used, when it was opened or prepared and what its after-opening limit is. Needles and syringes must be new for you. Do not assume leftover single-use material can be saved for another appointment.

Keep a traceability record

Ask for a record identifying the product or device used and, where relevant, the batch or lot, treatment date and area. A supplied label sticker can help record this information. Ask for an implant card when applicable. A sticker or serial number alone does not authenticate a product; authorized sourcing and clinic records also matter.

Peels and devices need different checks

For peels, ask which acids, concentration and intended depth are planned and why they suit your skin. For microneedling, ask about a fresh cartridge at each session and whether any added substance is intended for that use. For energy devices, discuss the exact model, your skin type and how injury risks are managed; RF microneedling has specific reported risks including burns, scarring, fat loss and nerve damage.

Scope of this guide

Product rules differ by country and by whether an item is a medicine, medical device or cosmetic. These questions support a consultation; they do not certify authenticity or suitability.

Your consultation checklist

Read the original sources

FDA: counterfeit botulinum toxin warning NHS: Before you have a cosmetic procedure FDA: Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers) FDA: Microneedling Devices FDA: Establishment Registration & Device Listing FDA: FDA-Approved Dermal Fillers European Commission / Your Europe: CE marking MDCG 2023-5: Products without an intended medical purpose FDA-hosted manufacturer instructions: hyaluronic acid filler, example labeling CDC: Preventing Unsafe Injection Practices CDC: Safe Injection Practices and Your Health GMC: Cosmetic interventions — Communication, partnership and teamwork MDCG 2019-8 v2: Implant Card guidance FDA: Chemical peel products without professional supervision FDA: Potential Risks with Certain Uses of Radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling

Sources describe specific products, studies or countries. They do not establish approval everywhere.

General education. Your clinician can assess your individual suitability. Rules depend on the treatment country; FDA references concern the United States. External sources may be in another language.