Planning Consultation Checklist for Facial Harmonization (HOF)

A good planning consultation looks simple from the outside, and that is the goal. Inside, it follows a sequence that protects the patient, the decision and the professional. This page gathers the chronological order, what to record at each step, and where the Harmy simulation fits in without taking the place of the assessment.

What is the sequence of the consultation?

What should be checked at each step?

The checklist below can be used during the consultation itself. Tick items off as you go.

The medical history has its own page at medical history in HOF, and documentation at patient records and documentation in HOF. To standardize photos, use standardized clinical photography.

How do you handle concerns and expectations?

Ask before you examine, and listen without finishing their sentences. "What do you see when you look in the mirror?" tends to yield more information than "What do you want to treat?". Then ask what they do not want to change. That list of limits is worth as much as the concern itself and protects the patient's identity. See facial identity: how to preserve it.

If a request comes up that the plan cannot deliver, address it on the spot and record it. Useful references: aligning expectations at the first consultation and patient with unrealistic expectations.

When does the simulation come in?

After the examination and photos, when you already have candidate areas. In Harmy: New projection, patient name, 1 frontal photo, marking the points, ml per area and intensity, Create projection. The patient sees the Before and After on a slider, and the professional can turn on "Show procedures" to see the ml for each area.

Golden rules: the simulation is illustrative, not a promise, and does not replace the explanation of risks. The conversation about this is in explaining that a simulation is not a guarantee and in when the simulation helps the plan.

How do you close the consultation without pressure?

Closing depends on three deliverables, in order: the written plan, the quote and the follow-up date. If the patient wants to think it over, offer the material and agree on a deadline. The quote's validity must be clear, and plan review follows validity of the treatment plan.

More on the subject: how to close the consultation without selling and linking plan and quote.

And after the consultation?

On the same day, record what was agreed and, if appropriate, send the summary through the channel the patient accepted. Note who should be contacted, when and why. Use the patient's history to keep projections organized by patient: organizing projections by patient.

How do you adapt the consultation to different profiles?

The sequence is the same, but the pace changes. Three common profiles call for adjustments.

• First-time patient. Give more time to explaining what HOF is, what it is not, and the risks. Consider a minimal plan and a short follow-up visit. See plan for a first time in HOF.
• Patient who has had procedures before. Spend more time on the history: products used, when, where, result and satisfaction. Ask for photos and records, if they exist.
• Anxious or undecided patient. Break the decision into small steps, avoid pressure and offer the plan in writing. See undecided patient and anxious patient in the consultation.

It is also worth preparing the room: standardized lighting, a neutral background, a spot for the photo and space for the patient to look in the mirror. Part of the quality of the consultation comes from the environment, not only from what is said.

Finally, define how long the consultation lasts and tell the patient. Consultations that are too long tire everyone, and ones that are too short skip steps. One strategy is to separate the assessment visit from the procedure session, which gives time to think and reduces impulse decisions.

What mistakes hurt the consultation most?

Four slips come up again and again. The first is skipping the medical history when the patient is in a hurry or already known: details like pregnancy, medications and allergies change from one visit to the next. The second is showing the simulation too early, before understanding the concern, which anchors the patient to one image. The third is not recording what was explained, which leaves the consent form without backing in practice. The fourth is closing under pressure, whether from the patient or from the schedule.

A good antidote is to read the checklist quietly at the start and at the end of the consultation. Nothing replaces attention, but a short list prevents oversights on busy days.

Summary

The planning consultation is a process, not a sales event. Follow the sequence, keep records, let the simulation play a supporting role and give the patient time. Decisions about product, volume and technique belong to the licensed professional, according to the rules of their professional board in Brazil.