The aesthetics world is moving fast. Botox and fillers are no longer the whole story: Today, regenerative therapies like PRP and exosome facials promise to tap into your body’s own biology for longer-lasting results.

It’s exciting, but it can also be confusing. What’s the research behind this? What does downtime look like? How are my stem cells harvested? Is this really better than Botox? These are smart questions—and they’re exactly what you should bring into your treatment room.

After all, when it comes to your face and your wallet, going in with eyes wide open is a non-negotiable. And while the right practitioner will put your mind at ease and walk you through your options, it helps to understand what to ask.

We’re here to help. Below, you’ll find a list of questions to ask your dermatologist or aesthetics provider, from initial consultation to aftercare—especially if you’re still wavering between Botox, PRP or next-generation treatments like Acorn YOU^TM secretome.

Before your initial consultation…

You don’t need to decide on a treatment protocol before booking your consult—in fact, that initial appointment is the best time to walk through different options with your provider. But doing some homework beforehand can help you arrive with clarity about your goals, budget, and more.

A few questions to get you started:

“What are my specific goals?”

Are you navigating a specific concern, like hair loss or hyperpigmentation? Are you looking for more generalized improvements, like firmer, younger skin? Ranking your top priorities will make it easier for your provider to tailor their recommendations.

“What is my budget?”

Keep maintenance in mind. Treatments like Botox might seem more cost-effective in the moment, but require continued investment to maintain results. Others, like regenerative therapies, might cost more upfront, but are designed to generate longer-lasting improvements. Deciding what you’re comfortable investing over time helps frame that conversation.

“How much downtime can I realistically manage?”

Recovery varies from treatment to treatment. Some have virtually no downtime, while others can leave you red, bruised, or in need of a quiet few days. If you’re planning around work or a big social event, this is something to keep in mind.

“Based on my answers to these questions, what treatments might be on my shortlist?”

When you arrive at your appointment, you might discuss the following treatment categories with your practitioner:

• Wrinkle relaxers (like Botox): Quick fixes for dynamic lines, but results are temporary and require frequent upkeep.
• Dermal fillers: Add volume or encourage collagen growth using molecules like hyaluronic acid. Fillers require some upkeep, and can subtly shift over time.
• Skin resurfacing and tightening (peels, lasers, microneedling, ultrasound treatments like Ultherapy): Improve tone and laxity, often with some downtime. Results vary by device and depth, and some downtime is common.
• Regenerative therapies (PRP, exosomes, secretome): The next generation of treatments, designed to activate your body’s own repair systems for healthier, more resilient skin (or hair growth) over time. These treatments are often paired with skin resurfacing treatments like microneedling or laser to amplify their effects, optimize penetration, and speed recovery time. Acorn YOU^TM secretome is a great example of this innovative science: banking a product of your own stem cells to help your body do what it does best.

Think of Botox, fillers, and devices as the “traditional toolkit.” Regenerative therapies are the next frontier, and worth extra attention in your consultation.

During your first appointment

Here, your homework becomes a conversation. Your provider will ask you about your specific skincare goals, areas of concern, and guide you through their own analysis of your needs—along with the treatment protocol they recommend.

But this is also your opportunity to dive deeper into things like science and safety to ensure you’re comfortable moving forward (and know exactly what to expect). 

“How do these treatments work differently? What do you recommend specifically for my body, and why?”

Our faces are incredibly unique, and treatments that might be a good fit for some might not be the best course of option for others—due to skin type, anatomy, and other factors. 

It’s why regenerative treatments like Acorn YOU^TM secretome are particularly compelling. Instead of leveraging a chemical or formula that’s one-size-fits-all, they rely on your body’s unique coding to regenerate your skin at the cellular level.

“Where does the material come from?”

If regenerative therapies are on the table, ask where they’re sourcing the materials from (and how they source it).

• PRP treatments involve extracting the patient’s blood, isolating the platelets into a concentrated serum, and injecting it into the targeted area.
  
• Many exosome facials or hair loss treatments often rely on donor or lab-grown stem cells. 

• Acorn YOU^TM is the first regenerative solution that actually uses the patient’s own stem cells, extracting them from hair follicles. It’s a secretome product, which means that it includes other beneficial molecules in addition to exosomes.

“How is it regulated? What’s the research?”

Not all available aesthetic products are regulated or approved in the same way. Established treatments like Botox and many fillers have a long history of FDA approval, while some treatments like PRP might be considered more cutting-edge for aesthetic applications. Ask your provider for the regulatory status and clinical studies behind the treatments you’re discussing together.

“How safe is it?”

Don’t be afraid to ask about both common side effects (like bruising, redness, or peeling) and rare complications. Your provider should also understand your health history before you engage in any kind of new treatment. And they should be transparent: For example, PRP often causes mild swelling, while secretome may allow for a gentler recovery.

“Who will actually perform the treatment?”

Skill and experience matter. Confirm the credentials of the injector or practitioner, how often they perform this treatment, and what protocols they follow for managing complications.

“What is the appointment timeline?”

Depending on the protocol you decide on in your consult, your practitioner may conduct the treatment during that same appointment. Others will require follow-ups or even multiple appointments.

For example, if you opt for a secretome treatment, you’ll first schedule a time to bank your stem cells for your Acorn YOU^TM treatment. Your hair follicles are collected and sent to a lab, where your cells are carefully preserved and an acellular product containing peptides, antioxidant enzymes, exosomes and cytokines is produced—which is then incorporated with hyaluronic acid. Once your product is ready, you’ll return to your practitioner’s office and pair it with a laser or microneedling treatment.

During and after your treatment

Knowing what to expect in the days and weeks after your appointment will help you protect your results… and avoid any surprises.

“What should I expect immediately after? What’s the aftercare?”

Your provider should give you the heads up on any potential redness, bruising, or peeling—and specific tips on how to manage those side effects. You might be told to avoid things like intense exercise, hot showers, makeup, or skincare with fragrance in the hours and days after your treatment.

The beauty of regenerative treatments is that because they’re focused on harnessing your body’s natural healing protocol, they tend to speed up recovery—which is why many patients opt to pair them with treatments like lasers and microneedling.

“How soon will I see results?”

Timelines vary. Botox kicks in at about five to seven days. Filler provides immediate volume, but can also induce swelling. Regenerative treatments might take a bit longer, since they’re focused on stimulating your skin’s repair systems. Secretome treatments, for example, encourage fibroblasts to rebuild collagen and elastin, which unfolds over several weeks.

That said, patients and practitioners who tried Acorn YOU^TM secretome saw visible improvement as soon as seven days after treatment, and 84% showed clear aesthetic improvement by Day 30.

“How long will they last? What is my maintenance protocol?”

It’s important to ask your practitioner how to optimize the lifespan of your results—both through best practices and daily habits, and in your follow-up protocol. If results can improve further with repeated treatments, that’s important info to know.

The bottom line: Even as aesthetics evolve at a breakneck pace, your strategy as a patient is steadfast: Do your research, choose a provider you feel comfortable with, and ask the right questions.

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FAQ

Q: How do I know which treatment is right for me?
A: Start with your goals. (Wrinkle reduction, collagen building, or overall rejuvenation?) Your provider can map your priorities to the right option or combination.

Q: Is secretome therapy the same as PRP or exosomes?
A: They’re related but not identical. PRP uses plasma from your blood; exosome facials isolate one set of regenerative messengers. Secretome therapy includes all those signals—growth factors, peptides, and exosomes—for a more complete regenerative effect.

Q: Is it really better than Botox or fillers?
A: They work differently. Botox and fillers smooth or volumize from the outside in; regenerative therapies rebuild the skin’s underlying structure for natural, longer-lasting improvements.

Q: What’s involved in stem-cell harvesting for Acorn YOU™?
A: It’s a quick, minimally invasive procedure that collects hair follicles from the scalp. These are processed to create a personalized product. (No blood draw or painful injections required.)

Q: How long before I see results from secretome therapy?
A: Visible improvement can begin within one to two weeks, with most patients seeing significant results by Day 30. 

Q: How should I prepare for my consultation?
A: Know your top priorities, budget, and tolerance for downtime. Bring those details to help your provider design a personalized plan.

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