If you have never had laser hair removal or a professional facial, walking into a med spa for the first time can feel a little intimidating. What will they ask? Will it hurt? Do I have to undress? What if I do not know what to ask for? Here is the reassuring truth: a good first visit is mostly conversation. You fill out a short health form, sit down with your provider, talk about your goals, and leave with a clear plan and clear pricing, whether or not you choose to begin treatment that day. This guide walks you through every step of a first visit, from booking to aftercare, and ends with the questions worth asking any clinic in Calgary, including ours.
Related Services
Treatment areas, GentleMax Pro technology, and what a series looks like.
Our Signature facials and HydraFacial, and how to choose your first one.
In This Guide
- Step 1: Booking Your First Visit
- Step 2: The Consultation and Intake Form
- Step 3: The Patch Test (for Laser)
- What to Wear and How to Prepare
- Privacy and Modesty in a Women-Exclusive Space
- Knowing the Price Before You Begin
- Aftercare and When to Come Back
- Questions to Ask Any Clinic
- Getting Here
- Frequently Asked Questions
Step 1: Booking Your First Visit
You can book online at any hour through our appointment page, which opens our secure online booking so you can choose your service, date, and time. If you would rather talk to a person first, call us at (403) 815-0150. We are open seven days a week: Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM.
Not sure which service to book? That is exactly what the consultation is for. You do not need to arrive knowing the difference between a Signature facial and a HydraFacial, or which laser wavelength suits you. Book the consultation and let your provider guide you.
A small tip for first-timers
Give yourself a little extra time on your first visit. Arriving a few minutes early means you can complete your intake form without rushing and settle in before your appointment begins.
Step 2: The Consultation and Intake Form
Your visit begins with a short health and intake form. It can feel like a lot of questions for a beauty appointment, but every one of them is there for your safety. Your provider needs to know about anything that can affect how your skin responds to treatment.
What the intake form usually asks about
- ●Medications and supplements, especially anything that makes skin more light-sensitive.
- ●Your skincare routine, including retinoids, exfoliating acids, and recent at-home treatments.
- ●Recent sun exposure or tanning, which matters a great deal for laser.
- ●Pregnancy or breastfeeding, skin conditions, and any history of cold sores or sensitivity.
- ●Your goals, in your own words. There is no wrong answer.
Then you sit down with your provider. She will look at your skin (and your hair, for laser), identify your skin type, ask about what is bothering you, and explain which treatments make sense and why. For laser, this is where your skin tone and hair colour guide the choice of wavelength and settings. For facials, it is where your provider matches the treatment to your skin's needs, whether that is hydration, congestion, or simply a glow.
At Lavish Beauty the consultation is $10, credited toward your first treatment. It is time set aside purely for you, and you are never obliged to book anything afterward.
Step 3: The Patch Test (for Laser)
If you are starting laser hair removal, your provider will usually perform a patch test: a few pulses on a small area so she can see how your skin responds to the settings chosen for you. It takes only a few minutes, and it is one of the clearest signs of a clinic that puts safety ahead of speed.
Many first-timers are surprised by how it feels. Most describe the sensation as a quick snap, similar to an elastic band, followed by a cooling burst. At Lavish Beauty we use the Candela GentleMax Pro, a dual-wavelength laser (755nm Alexandrite and 1064nm Nd:YAG) used for hair removal on all skin tones, with integrated cooling for comfort. If you are curious about the sensation in more detail, read what laser hair removal actually feels like.
Laser hair removal delivers permanent hair reduction over a series of sessions. It is not a one-visit treatment, and a good provider will be honest with you about that from the start.
What to Wear and How to Prepare
A little preparation makes your first appointment easier and your results better. The details depend on what you are booking.
For laser hair removal
- ●Shave the treatment area 24 to 48 hours before. Do not wax, thread, or pluck, because the laser needs the hair root in place.
- ●Avoid sun exposure and self-tanner on the area in the weeks before.
- ●Arrive with clean skin: no lotion, deodorant, or perfume on the area.
- ●Wear loose, comfortable clothing over the area you are having treated.
For a facial or HydraFacial
- ●Come with little or no makeup if you can. We will cleanse your skin either way.
- ●Pause retinoids and strong exfoliants for a few days beforehand, and mention them on your intake form.
- ●A top that is easy to slip off at the shoulders is helpful, and you can tie your hair back.
For the full checklist, including medications and timing, read our guide on how to prepare for laser hair removal.
Privacy and Modesty in a Women-Exclusive Space
For many women, the most nerve-wracking part of a first visit is not the treatment itself but the vulnerability of it, especially for a Brazilian, bikini, or body area. That feeling is entirely normal, and a thoughtful clinic designs the experience around it.
Lavish Beauty is a women-exclusive med spa. You are treated by women, in a space where only women are present, in a private treatment room. Here is how modesty is respected during body laser:
What to expect for Brazilian and body laser
You undress in private
Your provider gives you privacy to change and settle in before your treatment begins.
Only the treatment area is uncovered
Everything else stays covered, and the area is treated section by section.
Every step is explained first
Your provider tells you what she is about to do before she does it, so nothing comes as a surprise.
You are in control
You can ask to pause, take a breath, or ask a question at any point. Your comfort sets the pace.
Your provider performs these treatments every day. To her, a Brazilian is simply a treatment area, and her focus is on your skin, your settings, and your comfort. If you are deciding between areas, our guide to bikini vs. Brazilian laser hair removal explains the difference.
Knowing the Price Before You Begin
You should never have to guess what a treatment costs. Our full menu is posted on our pricing page, priced per session, so you can see exactly where you stand before you book. A few of the treatments first-timers ask about most:
- ●Consultation: $10, credited toward your first treatment
- ●Laser hair removal: upper lip $25, underarms $85, Brazilian $150 per session
- ●Signature Custom facial: $110 (60 min)
- ●HydraFacial: Signature $199 (60 min), Platinum $375 (90 min)
- ●Eyebrow threading: $10
During your consultation your provider will tell you the price of anything she recommends before it begins, and for laser, roughly how many sessions to expect. If a price is ever unclear, ask. You deserve a straight answer.
Aftercare and When to Come Back
Before you leave, your provider will walk you through aftercare. It is simple, but it matters, because how you treat your skin in the days after an appointment affects both comfort and results.
After laser hair removal
Mild redness or small bumps around the follicles are common and usually settle within hours. Avoid heat (hot tubs, saunas, intense workouts) for a day or two, protect the area from the sun, and do not pluck or wax between sessions; shaving is fine. Treated hairs shed over the following weeks. Our laser hair removal aftercare guide covers every detail.
After a facial or HydraFacial
Most women leave glowing and can go straight back to their day. Keep your routine gentle for a day or two, skip strong actives briefly, and wear sunscreen.
Your rebooking rhythm
Laser hair removal is done as a series, usually spaced about four to eight weeks apart depending on the area, because hair grows in cycles. Facials and HydraFacial are commonly booked every four to six weeks. Your provider will suggest a rhythm that suits your goals, and you can book online whenever it suits you. For a sense of how a laser series unfolds, read how many laser hair removal sessions you actually need.
Questions to Ask Any Clinic
Whether you choose us or another clinic, these questions will help you feel confident in your decision. A good clinic will answer every one of them clearly and without hesitation.
About the device
- ●Which laser do you use, by name and model? Is it a true laser or IPL?
- ●Does it have built-in cooling to keep treatment comfortable?
About training and experience
- ●What training and certification do your providers have?
- ●Will you patch test me and adjust my settings as my hair changes over the series?
About your skin tone
- ●How much experience do you have treating skin like mine?
- ●Which wavelength would you use for me, and why?
About pricing and results
- ●Is your pricing posted, and will I know the full price before treatment starts?
- ●How many sessions should I realistically expect for my goal?
If you have a medium to deep complexion, the device question matters most of all. Our guide to laser hair removal for every skin tone explains why wavelength makes the difference. You can also browse our frequently asked questions for quick answers before you book.
Getting Here
Lavish Beauty Laser Med Spa is at #1020 - 1155 Cornerstone Blvd NE, Calgary, AB T3N 2E9, in the Cornerstone neighbourhood of NE Calgary. There is free parking directly in front of the spa, so you can step out of your car and walk straight in.
If anything comes up on the way, or you are running a few minutes behind, just call us at (403) 815-0150. We would much rather hear from you than have you worry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at my first med spa appointment?
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Your first visit usually begins with a short health and intake form, followed by a one-on-one consultation where your provider assesses your skin (and hair, for laser), listens to your goals, explains your options and pricing, and answers your questions. For laser hair removal, a small patch test is typically done so your settings can be confirmed before a full session. Nothing happens without your agreement, and you are always welcome to simply ask questions and go home to think about it.
Do I need a consultation before my first treatment at Lavish Beauty?
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A consultation is recommended for anyone new to laser or professional skin treatments. At Lavish Beauty the consultation is $10 and is credited toward your first treatment. It gives your provider time to assess your skin tone, review your health history, perform a laser patch test where appropriate, and build a plan with clear per-session pricing.
What should I wear to my first laser or facial appointment?
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Wear something comfortable and easy to change out of. For laser, loose clothing over the treatment area is kindest to freshly treated skin. For facials, come without heavy makeup if you can, and consider a top that is easy to slip off at the shoulders. Leave jewellery near the treatment area at home, and skip perfume, self-tanner, and lotions on the area that day.
I feel self-conscious about Brazilian or body laser. How is modesty handled?
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It is completely normal to feel shy, and your provider has seen it all before. Lavish Beauty is a women-exclusive med spa, so you are treated only by women in a space where only women are present. You undress privately, only the area being treated is uncovered, and your provider explains each step before she begins. You can ask to pause at any time.
How much does a first visit cost in Calgary?
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At Lavish Beauty the consultation is $10, credited toward your first treatment. Per-session prices are posted on our pricing page, for example laser hair removal on the upper lip is $25, underarms $85, and Brazilian $150; a Signature Custom facial is $110; HydraFacial Signature is $199 and Platinum is $375; and eyebrow threading is $10. You will always know the price before anything begins.
Is laser hair removal safe for my skin tone?
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With the right device and settings, laser hair removal can be safe for all skin tones. Lavish Beauty uses the Candela GentleMax Pro, which offers two wavelengths: 755nm Alexandrite for lighter skin and 1064nm Nd:YAG for medium to deep skin. Your provider selects the wavelength and settings for your skin type and confirms them with a patch test before your first full session.
How often will I need to come back?
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It depends on the treatment. Laser hair removal is done as a series, usually spaced about four to eight weeks apart depending on the body area, because hair grows in cycles. Professional facials and HydraFacial are commonly booked every four to six weeks to keep skin on track. Your provider will suggest a rhythm that fits your goals and schedule, with no pressure to prebook.
Your First Visit, Made Simple
Come as you are, ask everything, and leave with a plan that feels right. Lavish Beauty Laser Med Spa is a women-exclusive med spa in NE Calgary with the Candela GentleMax Pro, private treatment rooms, posted pricing, and 600+ Google reviews · 4.9★.
$10 consultation · Credited toward your first treatment
View PricingBook a ConsultationDisclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Results may vary. Lavish Beauty Laser Med Spa treatments are performed by certified laser technicians and licensed estheticians.