The Emotional Side of Aesthetics: Tending to Client Insecurities While Discussing Realistic Expectations

Every single client has a different reason for seeing an aesthetician.  Some see us for professional reasons.  An attorney who spends time in front of a jury wants to look her best.  So does an actor, a model, a TV news anchor, or any other professional who is in the public eye.  Other clients see us to treat aspects of their bodies and their appearance that they are not happy with, and perhaps have not been happy with for a very long time.  These clients may have small, personal insecurities that you have to deal with in a professional manner, while making them fully aware of the realistic expectations that they should have in regards to any recommended treatments.

The Hair Removal Example

As an example, some women have higher testosterone levels than others, and tend to have coarser, darker facial hair, especially in the upper lip area. These women sometimes appear to have mustaches, a male trait, rather than a female trait. If a woman has had these facial hairs for a long period of time, and especially if these hairs developed during puberty, then they could have taken an emotional toll on the client.  Making sure that the client doesn’t expect a single hair removal treatment by electrolysis, laser or IPL to solve the problem is part of your job as a professional.  Because the laser or IPL treatment will work primarily on hairs in the growth stage, and not all hairs will be in that stage at the same time, and as such multiple treatments will be necessary.  Make the client aware of this limitation in the treatment to avoid undue expectations and problems.   (Side Note: If you want to learn more about advanced hair removal, you may want to read a recent blog post on the topic)

Skin Care and Treatment Expectations

Many clients also think that one or two treatments will make their skin perfect again, just as they imagined it was during their early twenty years.  While skin care regimens can improve the skin, the amount varies from client to client, and depends on their own skin.  For instance, acne scarring can be helped by an aesthetician, but the level of scarring will determine how much can be accomplished via a chemical peel, microdermabrasion or other treatment.

The same is true of wrinkles and crow’s feet.  How intense are they?  While we are professionals, we are not magicians.  On the first visit with a client, it is important to go over expectations and ensure that you and the client are on the same page.  Only guarantee the results that you are sure of, and always make sure that the client understands that no two people are exactly the same and that you will be taking the course of action that is best for her and her particular metabolism, current skin condition, age and overall lifestyle.

Patience and Understanding Go a Long Way

Always remember that we are in the ‘people’ business.  We need to have an empathetic ability in dealing with our clients, and an ability to present the facts and the possibilities in ways that are understandable. We need to be sympathetic to the needs of our clients, and we need to do our best to help them but it is equally important to be candid with treatment abilities and expected results. After all, in the end, helping our clients’ look AND feel their best, is always our first priority.