First-Time Injectables in London: What Actually Happens at Your First Appointment
Never had injectables before? Your first appointment is a £50 consultation, not a needle. Here is what happens at that consultation, why some patients leave without treatment, and how first doses are kept conservative so the result looks like you on a good day.
In this article
The short answer
If you have never had injectables, the first step is a conversation, not a needle. You book a £50 consultation, Dr Oli takes a full medical history and assesses your face, and you leave with a written, costed plan. Anti-wrinkle injections can often be done the same day; first-time filler is deliberately not, so you have time to decide.
Your first appointment is a consultation, not a treatment
Every new patient starts with a £50 paid consultation. It covers your medical history, what is actually bothering you, an anatomical assessment, and a written plan with costs. The fee is fully redeemable against any treatment you go on to have, so where you proceed the consultation is effectively free.
This matters more for injectables than for most treatments, because the right answer is not always the treatment you came in asking for. A patient who arrives wanting filler in a frown line usually needs anti-wrinkle injections into the muscle instead, not filler. The consultation exists to get that decision right before anything is injected.
Why some patients leave without treatment on the day
Two reasons, both deliberate.
First, honest patient selection. Not every consultation ends in treatment. If your goal cannot be met safely, or is better served by skincare or simply doing nothing, Dr Oli will tell you. That conservative answer is the point of seeing a doctor rather than a salesperson.
Second, the thinking-time gap. For dermal filler in patients new to the treatment, a minimum 7-day gap between consultation and treatment is built in. It is best-practice in UK aesthetic medicine and a fixed standard here. It gives you time to read your plan, ask questions, and decide without pressure. Anti-wrinkle injections, which wear off naturally and carry lower risk, can usually be done on the day.
How first doses are kept natural
The most common fear a first-time patient brings is looking overdone. The clinic is built around avoiding exactly that. First doses are kept conservative, because adding a little more product at a review is straightforward, whereas an over-projected result has to be dissolved with hyaluronidase and reset. Dr Oli deliberately under-doses on a first treatment and reviews the result at two weeks.
The clinic strapline, “you, but on a really good day,” is the operating principle. The goal is never a different face. It is the one you already have, looking rested.
Does it hurt, and what is the downtime?
Anti-wrinkle injections use a very fine needle, and most patients describe a brief sting rather than pain. Dermal filler is placed with a fine needle or a blunt cannula, usually with numbing cream, and the modern products contain a local anaesthetic.
Downtime is modest and depends on the treatment:
- Anti-wrinkle injections: essentially no downtime. Small raised bumps at the injection points settle within an hour.
- Dermal filler: lips can swell for 3 to 5 days, peaking at around 48 hours; cheeks, chin, jawline, and tear-trough usually settle within 24 to 72 hours. A small bruise is possible.
If it is your first filler in a given area, plan a two-week buffer before a wedding, holiday, or big event.
How to prepare
A few simple steps reduce the chance of bruising and give the best result:
- Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin, vitamin E, fish oil, and alcohol for 24 to 48 hours before filler.
- Consider starting arnica tablets 3 days before, which some patients find helps with bruising.
- Come with clean skin where possible, and allow enough time that the consultation does not feel rushed.
Your full, treatment-specific aftercare is provided at the appointment and emailed to you afterwards.
How booking works
Consultations are booked through the Zenoti online store, or you can ask a question first by WhatsApp. The £50 fee is taken at booking and is redeemable against treatment. Cancelling more than 48 hours ahead is free; under 48 hours forfeits the fee.
Most first-time injectables happen at UNTIL Marylebone; laser treatments are at UNTIL Soho.
Bottom line
A good first injectables experience is mostly about the consultation. Book the £50 assessment, bring your questions, and expect an honest plan rather than a hard sell. If you want to sanity-check any clinic before you book, including this one, the safety standards and how to verify a doctor guides show exactly what to look for.
Frequently asked questions
Is my first appointment a treatment or a consultation?
Your first appointment is a £50 consultation, not a treatment. It covers your medical history, what is bothering you, an anatomical assessment, and a written, costed plan. The fee is fully redeemable against any treatment you go on to have, so where treatment proceeds the consultation is effectively free.
Will I be treated on the same day as my consultation?
For anti-wrinkle injections, same-day treatment after the consultation is usually fine. For dermal filler in patients new to the treatment, a minimum 7-day thinking-time gap between consultation and treatment is built in, so first-time filler is never done on the day. Returning patients can usually book consultation and treatment together.
Will people be able to tell I have had something done?
The aim is that they cannot. First doses are kept deliberately conservative, because adding more product later is simple whereas an overfilled result has to be dissolved and reset. Dr Oli under-doses on a first treatment and reviews at two weeks, and the goal is a rested version of your own face rather than a different one.
Does it hurt, and how much downtime is there?
Most patients describe anti-wrinkle injections as a brief sting. Dermal filler uses very fine needles or a blunt cannula, often with numbing cream. Downtime is minimal. Anti-wrinkle injections have essentially none, while filler can bruise or swell for a few days, so if it is your first filler in an area, leave a two-week buffer before any big event.
What if I decide not to go ahead after the consultation?
There is no pressure to proceed. Many patients take the written plan home and return when they are ready, and some are advised that treatment is not right for them at all. Where you choose not to proceed, the £50 fee covers Dr Oli's time and any assessment, photography, or written plan provided.
