Every Med Spa owner knows the excitement of welcoming new patients. They come in curious about Botox, fillers, laser treatments, or body contouring. They are eager to get started. But before anyone picks up a syringe or turns on a device, there is one non-negotiable step that sets the standard for safe, compliant care: the Good Faith Exam.
The Good Faith Exam is not a box to check. It is a medical assessment, a compliance safeguard, and the foundation of your patient relationship. If you think of your Med Spa as a high-performing team, the Good Faith Exam is the playbook that makes sure every move is safe, legal, and tailored to your patient’s needs.
What Is a Good Faith Exam?
A Good Faith Exam is a medical evaluation that determines whether a patient is a safe candidate for an aesthetic treatment. It must be performed before the patient undergoes any non-surgical procedure.
During the exam, a licensed provider reviews:
- The patient’s medical history
- Current prescriptions and supplements
- Allergies or sensitivities
- Prior aesthetic or surgical procedures
- Health conditions that could affect treatment outcomes
This is not just a quick conversation. It is a legally required medical process. And it is always documented.
Real-world scenario
A 32-year-old patient books lip filler. She looks healthy, but during her Good Faith Exam she mentions taking a daily blood thinner after a recent surgery. Without this knowledge, treatment could lead to excessive bruising and bleeding. The Good Faith Exam flags the risk and ensures treatment is postponed until safe.
That is the heart of it: a Good Faith Exam is not about saying yes to every treatment. It is about making sure yes is the right answer.
Why Do Med Spas Need to Perform Good Faith Exams?
State regulations require Good Faith Exams for one clear reason: to protect patients and providers.
- They keep patients safe by uncovering contraindications
- They protect your Med Spa from legal exposure
- They professionalize aesthetics by reinforcing medical standards
Skipping a Good Faith Exam may feel like cutting out paperwork, but the risks are massive. If a patient has an adverse reaction and you cannot produce a compliant exam, you are exposed to fines, investigations, and reputational harm that no amount of marketing can fix.
For a deeper dive, see: Why is a Good Faith Exam required in Med Spas?
Good Faith Exams vs Regular Medical Exams
Patients often ask, “Didn’t I just have a physical with my primary care doctor? Isn’t that enough?”
The answer is no. A Good Faith Exam is not a general physical. It is procedure-specific.
- A physical looks broadly at a patient’s overall health
- A Good Faith Exam focuses on whether a specific treatment, like microneedling, filler, or laser resurfacing, is safe given their health history
Example
A primary care doctor might listen to a patient’s lungs. A provider conducting a Good Faith Exam, on the other hand, will ask whether that same patient is using retinoids before scheduling a chemical peel. The scope is narrower, but the focus is sharper.
(See also: How is a Good Faith Exam different from a regular medical exam?)
Who Can Conduct a Good Faith Exam?
This is where Med Spa owners need to be cautious. Not everyone in your practice can perform Good Faith Exams. Depending on state law, they must be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
Allowing unqualified staff to perform Good Faith Exams is not only risky, it can invalidate the exam altogether.
Timing: How Long Does a Good Faith Exam Take?
Most Good Faith Exams are efficient, taking 7-15 minutes depending on patient history.
- A healthy 28-year-old new patient seeking Botox may be cleared in minutes
- A 52-year-old with diabetes, hypertension, and multiple prescriptions may require longer
The point is not speed. It is thoroughness. Patients appreciate the extra layer of care when you position it as part of your commitment to safety.
Virtual Good Faith Exams: Modern Compliance
One of the biggest frustrations for Med Spas used to be scheduling delays. Patients might wait days or even weeks for an available provider. Virtual Good Faith Exams eliminate that barrier.
With Spakinect, patients connect with a licensed provider in under 4 minutes. Once connected, the provider conducts the full review of health history and current status, documents findings, and determines eligibility for treatment, all through a secure virtual platform.
Benefits for Med Spas
- Keeps compliance airtight
- Eliminates scheduling bottlenecks
- Improves the patient experience by making your Med Spa efficient and professional
Is a Good Faith Exam Always Required?
Yes. Every new patient requesting a regulated treatment must undergo a Good Faith Exam. Prior experience with treatments at other Med Spas does not transfer to your practice.
Example
A patient insists: “I’ve been getting Botox for 10 years, I don’t need this.” But compliance requires you to conduct your own Good Faith Exam before moving forward.
(See: Is a Good Faith Exam required for every patient?)
Same-Day Treatment: Is It Allowed?
Often, yes. If the provider completes the Good Faith Exam and finds no red flags, same-day treatment can move forward. But it is not guaranteed.
If new medications, health changes, or allergies come up, treatment may need to be delayed. This should always be positioned as a safety-first decision, not a barrier.
Renewal Requirements
Good Faith Exams are not a one-and-done. Regulations vary, but most states require renewal annually or sooner if a new treatment type is introduced.
Example
- A Botox patient returning after 12 months needs renewal
- A filler patient who now wants laser resurfacing requires a new Good Faith Exam specific to that procedure
- A patient recently diagnosed with an autoimmune condition must repeat the exam before any new treatments
The Cost of Good Faith Exams
Med Spas structure Good Faith Exam pricing in different ways. Some include it in memberships, others charge per exam, and some bundle it into treatment costs. However you package it, one truth is clear: the cost of compliance is far less than the cost of non-compliance.
But here is something Med Spa owners often overlook: the hidden costs of doing Good Faith Exams in-house. Every hour your staff spends scheduling, documenting, and following up is an hour not spent on revenue-generating activities like treatments, sales, and client relationship-building.
Find out how much time and money you can save by outsourcing your Good Faith Exams.
The Good Faith Exam Calculator is a quick tool we built to show Med Spa owners the true impact of outsourcing. In less than five minutes, it reveals how many hours you could free up each week and how that time translates into new revenue opportunities. Instead of getting buried in compliance tasks, you will see exactly what is possible when you shift those hours back into treatments, sales, and growth.
[Access the Calculator]
It may also be helpful to review Spakinect’s Pricing page to see how virtual Good Faith Exams can be viewed not as a cost, but as a smart investment in compliance, efficiency, and long-term growth.
FAQs About Good Faith Exams
How often should a Good Faith Exam be performed on a patient?
The most widely recognized standard of care amongst states is to have a new good faith exam annually., or when the patient requests a new treatment type. If the patient’s health changes significantly, the exam must be updated as well..
What are the key components included in a Good Faith Exam?
A thorough review of medical history, prescriptions, allergies, prior aesthetic procedures, and current health conditions. The exam must also document findings and treatment plan for the patient.
Who is qualified to conduct a Good Faith Exam in Med Spas?
A licensed medical provider, typically a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, depending on state regulations.
Why is performing a Good Faith Exam important for safety?
Good Faith Exams uncover risks that could make treatments unsafe, such as blood thinners, autoimmune conditions, or skin sensitivities. They protect both the patient and the Med Spa.
How does a Good Faith Exam differ from a regular physical exam?
A physical covers overall health, while a Good Faith Exam focuses specifically on whether an aesthetic procedure can be performed safely. It is narrower in scope but critical for compliance and patient safety.
Final Takeaway
A Good Faith Exam is more than a regulatory requirement. It is the standard that elevates your Med Spa from offering treatments to delivering safe, professional, trusted care.
By building Good Faith Exams seamlessly into your intake process, whether in person or virtually, you protect your patients, safeguard your practice, and strengthen your brand.
