This is probably one of the biggest changes our clients have noticed.

You might message us asking, “How much does it cost to treat this area?” and wonder why our reception team can’t simply send you a price like they may have in the past.

For some cosmetic treatments involving prescription-only medicines, The Lime Tree Clinic no longer provides specific treatment recommendations or associated pricing through general phone, email or social media enquiries.

Instead, we will ask you to book an appropriate consultation.

We promise we are not trying to make things difficult!

It allows the conversation to happen in the right setting, where an appropriately qualified health practitioner can assess you individually before discussing which options may be suitable.

And when you think about it, there is another important reason for this too: A price isn’t particularly useful until we know what treatment, if any, is actually appropriate for you.

A cosmetic treatment should never really start with:

“Which treatment do you want?”

It should start with:

“What is concerning you?”

According to the TGA, “Patients should make informed decisions about which treatments are right for them in consultation with a qualified health professional. A consultation provides the most reliable way to determine whether a prescription medicine is appropriate for an individual.”

Two people can come into The Lime Tree Clinic with what appears to be exactly the same concern and need completely different approaches.

Something that looks like a simple line, hollow, pigmentation or skin laxity on the surface can have several different underlying causes.

Your anatomy is different.
Your skin is different.
Your medical history is different.
Your goals are different.

And that means your treatment plan should be different too.

During your consultation, we can assess the concern properly and discuss the options that may be suitable for you, rather than recommending something simply because it’s the treatment you originally asked about.

If you have been browsing The Lime Tree Clinic website recently, you may have noticed we are increasingly talking about skin concerns such as:

• Facial fine lines and wrinkles
• Changes in facial volume
• Skin texture
• Pigmentation and redness
• Skin laxity
• Body shaping and contouring
• Acne and scarring
• Eye area concerns
• Overall skin quality

There is a reason for that.

Starting with the concern allows us to educate you about what may be contributing to it without encouraging you to self-select a particular prescription treatment.

Once we meet you and assess the area, we can discuss whether a prescription treatment, skin treatment, device-based treatment, another option or sometimes no treatment at all, is appropriate.

A consultation isn’t simply an extra appointment before your treatment.

It’s where the important decisions are made.

Depending on your concerns and the type of consultation required, your appointment may include:

1. Talking about what is concerning you and what you hope to achieve
2. Reviewing relevant medical history, medications and health information
3. Assessing your skin, facial anatomy or treatment area
4. Discussing which options may and may not be suitable
5. Talking through realistic outcomes and limitations
6. Explaining relevant risks, recovery and aftercare
7. Providing pricing once an appropriate treatment plan has been determined
8. Giving you time to ask questions before deciding whether you would like to proceed

And importantly, having a consultation doesn’t mean you have to go ahead with treatment. It is an opportunity to understand your options and make an informed decision.

Behind the scenes, we have been doing a lot of work.

We are continually reviewing and updating our website, treatment information, booking platform, social media and other public-facing content to ensure the way we communicate reflects current guidance.

You may see treatment names change. You may see more educational pages about specific concerns. Some pricing may no longer be publicly available. And our reception team may direct you towards a consultation rather than answering certain treatment-specific questions through a general enquiry.

The words may have changed, but our approach hasn’t.

The Lime Tree Clinic remains focused on providing personalised care, honest education and treatment plans based on the client.

Our clinic is led by Dr Robert Lau, an AHPRA-registered medical practitioner, and supported by our clinical team, including Eunah Seo, an AHPRA-registered nurse.

Where a treatment requires medical assessment or prescribing, this is carried out by the appropriate registered health practitioner.

You don’t need to arrive at The Lime Tree Clinic knowing the name of a treatment.

In fact, we would rather you tell us what is bothering you and let us start there.

Whether your concern is lines, pigmentation, changes in volume, skin laxity, texture or simply that your skin doesn’t feel quite like it used to, we can assess the area and talk you through the options that may be suitable.

Book a consultation with The Lime Tree Clinic in West Perth and let our team help you understand your options.

*This article contains general educational information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Treatment suitability, risks, expected outcomes and relevant pricing are discussed as part of an appropriate consultation.