HOF consultation checklist so you don't forget anything
A good consultation is one the patient understands and the chart proves. Hurry and routine make professionals skip items that seem obvious, and it is precisely the obvious that tends to be missing when something goes wrong: the question about medication, the photo without authorization, the expectation that was never said. This checklist covers the consultation from start to finish, in 20 items, and can be ticked on the page itself so you can test the flow.
Why 20 items and not fewer?
Each item covers a typical failure. Items 1 to 6 prevent premature diagnosis and the wrong procedure. Items 7 to 11 support the assessment and data protection. Items 12 to 16 align expectations. Items 17 to 20 close the legal side and the relationship side. If the visit is a follow-up or a simple procedure, a shortened version may be enough, as long as the safety questions remain.
How to use it without stiffening the conversation?
A checklist is for backup, not for the script of what you say. Let the conversation flow and check the items at the end, or use a tablet beside you without keeping your head down. A patient who feels they are being "filled in" answers briefly and distrustfully. Communication with a welcoming tone is covered in nonviolent communication at the consultation.
Which items fail most?
In practice, four groups tend to be forgotten:
| Item | Common failure | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Medications and supplements | Asking only "do you take any medication?" | Risk of bruising, interaction or an unidentified contraindication |
| Expectations | Assuming the patient "already knows" | Frustration at follow-up |
| Photos | Photographing without explaining the purpose | Ethical and LGPD (Brazil's data protection law) problem |
| Records | Writing it up later, from memory | Incomplete and not very useful chart |
For more depth on each part, see medical history in HOF, general contraindications in HOF and charts and documentation in HOF.
Where does the simulation fit in the consultation?
After the exam and before the quote. It helps turn the priority into something visual, and the conversation about proportion is usually more objective with an image in hand. In Harmy, the flow is frontal photo, marking the areas and planning in ml, and the projection comes out in a before and after slider you can turn toward the patient.
Always remember the notice: the simulation is illustrative. What to say is in illustrative simulation notice, and the presentation script is in presenting the projection at the consultation.
What if the patient doesn't decide on the spot?
Perfect. Items 18 to 20 exist for that. Give a deadline and a channel, hand over the plan in writing, and avoid offering a perk for "closing today". For cases where they are in too much of a hurry, see saying no to a patient who demands it today. And if the decision is to do nothing, telling the patient they don't need a procedure is also part of good care.
How to keep the checklist alive?
Review it every six months with the team: what was forgotten, what caused problems, what the patient asked that was not in the script. Add, remove and date the version. A checklist that never changes stops reflecting practice, and one that changes without a date makes it impossible to know which version was in force when a given patient was seen.
How to adapt the checklist to a follow-up and a same-day procedure?
Not every consultation is the first. At follow-up, items 1 to 6 become short questions about what has changed since last time: new medications, complications, the patient's perception. Items 7 to 11 come down to the standardized photo and the exam of the treated area. Items 12 to 20 become the decision about maintenance, touch-up or monitoring. See the clinical script in clinical follow-up consultation.
When the consultation and the procedure happen on the same day, the risk is a rushed decision. Mentally separate the two moments: first finish the consultation, including consent, then ask whether the patient wants to go ahead. If in doubt, the procedure can wait. No schedule justifies skipping the conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What must not be missing from a facial harmonization consultation?
A full medical history, clinical exam, a conversation about expectations, explanation of risks, informed consent, authorized photo record and a plan with next steps. The order and detail follow the licensed professional's judgment.
How long should the first HOF consultation last?
It depends on the case and the professional. What matters is having time to listen, examine and explain without rushing, and not deciding the same day if the patient is not ready.
Does the checklist need to be printed?
Not necessarily. It can live in the practice's system or on paper; what matters is that the outcome of each item is recorded in the chart.
Can I adapt the checklist to my practice?
You should. This script is a starting point: adjust it to your specialty, your council and your workflow, and review it at least once a year.
Harmy images are illustrative simulations generated by AI from the patient's photo to support the conversation between practitioner and patient. They are not a promise of results. Indication, technique, product and volume are solely the decision of the licensed practitioner. This content is for information only and does not replace a clinical assessment.