Can I see before and after photos from my provider?

Photos feel like proof, but you cannot tell whose face is in them or who did the work. So can you ask a provider to show you their results?

Can I ask to see them?

Yes. Cleveland Clinic puts it plainly: "You can also ask to see before and after photos of others who’ve used injectables." It frames the photos as something you request, so you do not need to wait for a provider to offer them.

What to look for in the photos

A photo shows an outcome. It does not show who gave the treatment. When you look at results, ask these questions:

• Did the person I am booking with perform this treatment?
• Was it the same treatment I am considering?
• Are these patients from this practice?

Your own photos

Cleveland Clinic's cheek filler page adds that a provider "may also take pictures of your face to record before-and-after results." Ask how your photos will be stored and who can see them.

Pair the photos with credentials

Photos are one check, and credentials are another. The Medical Board of California publishes resources on medical spas. The California Board of Registered Nursing keeps a Nursing Practice page. California Healthline covered a bill boosting penalties for illegal medical spa treatments. The American Med Spa Association summarizes California medical spa laws.

What the photos can tell you

Ask "who treated these patients?" and weigh the answer alongside the photos, whether the practice you are considering is in West Sacramento or elsewhere.