Beauty served better.

Every new treatment starts with a consultation, usually at the beginning of your first appointment: we go through your medical history and what you'd like to achieve, explain the options, the risks and the aftercare, and agree the plan before anything begins. Permanent makeup has its own PMU consultation, and its fee comes off the treatment price. Laser hair removal and laser tattoo removal also need a patch test before your first session, usually 24–48 hours beforehand (£20) — without a valid patch test the treatment may be declined.

Shave the area the day before and come with clean skin — no deodorant, cream or self-tan on it. Before and during your course, shave rather than pluck, thread, epilate or use hair-removal creams, because the laser needs the hair root in place. Avoid sun, sunbeds and self-tan in the weeks before each session, and tell us about any new medicines. Your first session needs a patch test beforehand, so allow for an extra short visit.

For a few days beforehand, avoid alcohol and — if you only take them occasionally — anti-inflammatory painkillers and supplements such as fish oil or vitamin E, as they can make bruising more likely. Never stop a medicine you take on medical advice, including low-dose aspirin or blood thinners, without speaking to your GP; just tell us about it. Let us know about any recent illness, planned dental work or vaccinations, and come with clean skin and no make-up on the area if you can.

It starts with a PMU consultation, where we talk through the shape and colour you'd like and check your health details. On the treatment day we draw the shape on first and only begin once you've approved it. For 24 hours beforehand avoid alcohol and occasional anti-inflammatory painkillers (never stop a prescribed medicine without asking your GP). For brows, skip tinting and tweezing for about two weeks; for lips, tell us if you get cold sores; for eyeliner, remove anything glued to your lashes and wear glasses rather than contact lenses on the day.

Please tell us about pregnancy or breastfeeding, allergies (including to local anaesthetic), skin conditions, recurrent cold sores, any tendency to keloid scarring, medicines such as blood thinners or steroids, prescription acne tablets taken in the last 12 months, fillers or other injections in the last 4 weeks, and sun or sunbed exposure in the last 2 weeks. You can fill this in privately in the health profile in your account, which we keep only with your consent. If in doubt, check with your GP before your appointment.

You may feel a sting, a pinch, heat or pressure — how much depends on the treatment, the area and your own sensitivity, so we won't promise that any treatment is completely comfortable. For some treatments, such as injectables and permanent makeup, a numbing cream may be applied first. Tell us if you're nervous: we'll explain each step, and you can ask us to pause at any time.

Every cosmetic treatment carries some risk. Short-term redness, swelling, tenderness or bruising are common; we explain the risks of your treatment beforehand and give you aftercare advice with our contact details. After an injectable treatment, if you notice increasing pain or a pale, blotchy or dusky patch of skin, contact us straight away — and if you can't reach us, call NHS 24 on 111. Any change in your vision is an emergency: call 999 or go to A&E immediately.

Often, yes — but it depends on your skin tone and hair colour, which we assess at our Bathgate clinic with a consultation and patch test before your first session. Darker and tanned skin carry a higher risk of burns and pigment changes, so we choose settings cautiously, may ask you to wait until a tan has faded, and will tell you honestly if laser isn't right for you. White, grey, blonde, red and very fine hair usually respond poorly. Individual results vary.

PDO threads are usually considered for mild to moderate loosening of the skin. They aren't a substitute for a surgical facelift where there's significant sagging, and the threads themselves dissolve gradually over the following months. Every PDO thread treatment starts with a consultation, where we'll tell you honestly whether threads suit your face and your goals. Individual results vary.

Yes — from your account or through LUCY on WhatsApp, at any time. Your first change with at least 24 hours' notice costs nothing: the whole payment moves to your new date or stays as credit on your account for 90 days. Each payment covers one change; for later changes, shorter notice or a missed appointment our cancellation terms apply, and you always see the exact amounts before you confirm. If we have to cancel, the whole payment comes back to you as credit. Full details are in our terms, which don't affect your statutory rights.