The Patient Journey
The Summit Method - how we build medical spa treatment plans in Clarks Summit and Scranton, PA.
The Summit Method is our practice’s approach to medical spa consultation and treatment planning: every new patient at The Summit Aesthetics receives a complimentary 30-to-45-minute consultation, a physical assessment of their specific concerns, and a written treatment plan they take home – with no fee, no card required, and no obligation to book treatment. The consultation is performed personally by Dr. Charles Dennis → (for injectable concerns) or Lori Barone → (for laser, skin, and body concerns). Every treatment we recommend is then performed by the same provider who built your plan – no rotating injectors, no delegation to junior staff. Whether you’re researching Botox, dermal fillers, laser hair removal, chemical peels, or advanced skin resurfacing, The Summit Method is the process every treatment plan at our physician-owned Clarks Summit medical spa goes through.
Our Philosophy
“We don’t sell treatments. We build plans — and we only recommend what we would do for our own family.”
Lori · Lead Aesthetic Provider
I
Movement One · Day 0 · 45–60 minutes · Complimentary
The Consultation
A quiet, unhurried conversation with Lori — often at the same table where our long-term members started. We review your goals, medical history, prior treatments, and lifestyle. No sales script, no pressure to book. If a treatment isn’t right for you, we’ll say so.
- Honest discussion of what will (and won’t) move the needle
- One-on-one time with Lori — the provider who will personally handle your care
Movement Two · Days 1–7 · Delivered by email · Yours to keep
Your Individualized Plan
Within a week we send a written plan sequenced across weeks and months — not a one-shot upsell. Priorities are stacked so the highest-impact protocol comes first, with clear timing and expected outcomes at each phase.
- Phased sequencing (foundation → refinement → maintenance)
- Clear timing and expected outcomes at every phase
- Built by Lori around your goals and schedule
II
III
Movement Three · Week 2 onward · 30–120 minutes per visit
Precision Treatment
Lori personally performs the majority of injectable, laser, and skin-health protocols in our Clarks Summit suite. Every visit begins with a five-minute re-assessment — plans adjust to your response, never the other way around.
- Same provider every visit — continuity of hand and eye
- FDA-cleared devices, physician-authored protocols
- Real-time plan adjustments based on how your skin responds
Movement Four · Weeks 4, 12, 26 · Included · Ongoing
Continued Care
Results are protected, not just delivered. Every plan includes scheduled check-ins to reassess, refine, and evolve — because skin, seasons, and life all change. Members receive additional priority access and quarterly analysis.
- 4-week check-in included with every plan
- Quarterly skin analysis for Botanical Circle members
- Direct text access to your provider for aftercare questions
IV
What The Summit Method actually is
Most medical spa websites describe their services but not their process. That’s where patients get surprised at their first visit: expectations don’t match reality, treatments feel transactional, and the visit ends with a sales pitch rather than a plan. The Summit Method is our deliberate answer to that pattern. It’s five principles that shape how we consult, plan, treat, and follow up – built to make your experience predictable, transparent, and focused on your actual goals rather than our treatment volume.
The five principles that make up The Summit Method:
- Physician-owned, provider-consistent care – same provider every visit, from consultation through year 3 of maintenance
- Complimentary consultation with written treatment plan – no fee, no card required, no obligation to book
- Honest scope – we refer out when your concern isn’t a good fit for our tools
- Sequenced treatment planning – the right treatments in the right order for your goals, not a menu with a sales pitch
- Long-term relationships over transaction volume – same provider tracking your response across years, plan evolves as concerns evolve
What happens at your consultation: the step-by-step process
If you’ve never had a medical spa consultation before, or if your previous experience felt rushed or sales-focused, understanding what to expect helps you prepare. Here’s exactly what happens from the moment you book to the moment you leave with a written treatment plan.
Step 1: Booking your consultation
You can book by calling (570) 585-0201 or by requesting an appointment through the online form. New patient consultations typically book two to three weeks out. You’ll be asked which category of treatment you’re considering – injectables (Botox, fillers), skin rejuvenation (peels, facials, microneedling), lasers (hair removal, IPL, resurfacing), or general “not sure yet, want to explore.” Your consultation is booked with the appropriate provider (Dr. Dennis for injectables; Lori for everything else).
Step 2: Preparing for your consultation
Bring the following to make your consultation productive:
- Photos of concerns you want to discuss – especially if the concern varies by lighting, time of day, or facial expression
- A list of your current skincare products – cleanser, moisturizer, retinoids, actives, sunscreen – relevant for planning treatment timing
- Your current medication list – including supplements and any blood thinners
- A rough budget range – not to constrain the recommendations, but to help build a plan that fits your actual resources
- Questions you want answered – written down in advance so nothing gets forgotten in the moment
For facial-focused consultations, arrive without makeup if possible. For laser consultations, avoid tanning and self-tanner in the treatment area for 4 weeks before your visit. You can bring a partner, friend, or family member with you – many patients find a second set of ears helpful for absorbing the plan.
Step 3: The consultation itself (30 to 45 minutes)
You arrive at our practice at 116 North State Street in downtown Clarks Summit. Free parking is available on-site. Check-in takes a few minutes for basic intake paperwork.
The consultation itself follows this structure:
- Welcome and history intake (5-10 minutes). Discussion of your medical history, current medications, prior aesthetic treatments if any, and skincare routine.
- Physical assessment (10-15 minutes). For injectables: examination of facial anatomy at rest and in expression, mapping of muscle movement patterns and volume distribution. For lasers and skin: Fitzpatrick skin type classification, examination of treatment area, assessment of pigmentation, texture, vascularity, and firmness.
- Concerns and goals discussion (10-15 minutes). What are you specifically hoping to change? What has and hasn’t worked in the past? What’s your timeline? What’s your comfort with downtime?
- Treatment plan development (10-15 minutes). Together, we build a specific plan: which treatments, in what sequence, at what intervals, with what expected outcomes. If your concern is not a fit for our tools, we tell you and refer you to the appropriate specialist.
Step 4: Your written treatment plan
You leave with a written treatment plan. The written plan documents everything discussed: which specific treatments are recommended, the sequence and timing, estimated investment for each component (dollar amounts discussed if you want them), financing options if relevant, alternatives if you want to consider them, and honest expectations about what results to expect.
The written treatment plan is yours to take home, review at your own pace, discuss with a partner if you want, compare against other medical spas if you’re shopping around, and come back to when you’re ready. There is no pressure to book treatment at the consultation itself.
Step 5: After your consultation
You have three options after the consultation:
- Book treatment immediately. If the plan feels right, our team schedules your treatments right away.
- Take time to consider. You can go home with the plan, think about it, discuss with family, compare with other providers, and book when you’re ready. There’s no expiration date on the recommendations.
- Decide not to move forward. Sometimes the honest answer after consultation is “not right for me right now.” That’s a valid outcome. There is no penalty, no hard sell, no follow-up pressure. The consultation was still worth doing.
How medical spas differ from other aesthetic providers
If you’re researching medical aesthetic care for the first time – or comparing options across different types of providers – understanding the practical differences helps you choose the right setting for your goals.
Details
Physician-owned medical spa (like ours)
Franchise medical spa
Day spa / esthetician-only
Injectables performed by
Physician-owner personally
Nurse injector (often rotating)
Not offered (or not appropriate)
Laser treatments performed by
Same certified provider each visit
Rotating aesthetic technicians
Limited or not offered
Consultation format
Complimentary, 30-45 min, written plan
Often brief, immediate treatment focus
Focused on relaxation
Provider continuity
Same provider across years
Provider varies by visit
Varies
Written treatment plan
Standard
Uncommon
Rare
Physician oversight of complications
Immediate (physician-owner)
Depends on structure
Not medically supervised
Devices used
Medical-grade
Consumer/spa-grade
Physician oversight of complications
Best for
Comprehensive planning, ongoing patient relationships
Fast booking, transactional visits
Relaxation, gentle maintenance
Who The Summit Method is right for (and who might prefer a different practice)
Honest fit assessment is more useful than universal marketing. The Summit Method genuinely fits some patients better than others.
The Summit Method fits patients who:
- Value provider continuity across years of care
- Want comprehensive treatment planning rather than single-treatment transactions
- Are returning after unsatisfying experiences at franchise medical spas
- Are first-time medical spa patients wanting a thoughtful introduction
- Prefer physician-owned care with physician-level anatomical expertise on injectables
- Value honest scope – including being told when we’re not the right practice for their concern
- Are willing to book 2 to 3 weeks out for the right provider
A different practice might fit better if you:
- Need fastest possible booking (we’re 2-3 weeks out for new consultations)
- Prefer anonymous, transactional treatments over ongoing provider relationships
- Are only interested in a single one-off treatment without ongoing follow-up
- Are specifically shopping on lowest price rather than provider structure
- Want extended evening or weekend hours (we’re open 5 days a week with limited Wednesday evening hours only)
This honesty is deliberate. Building The Summit Method around the wrong patient produces disappointment on both sides. We’d rather help you decide honestly whether we’re the right fit before your first visit than have you arrive expecting something we’re not.
The Difference
What sets the Method apart.
Typical Med-Spa
Typical Med-Spa
Menu-driven upsell — book a service, get sold three more
Written plan first — treatment only when the plan calls for it
One-size protocols identical to every patient
Protocols tuned to your skin type, history, and response
Rotating injector schedule
Lori personally performs the majority of visits, every time
Consultation upcharged or waived only with booking
Consultation always complimentary — no obligation to book
Medical oversight in the fine print
Owned by Dr. Dennis, who personally performs every injectable
The Team Behind the Method
Every plan is built and delivered by Lori; every injectable is personally performed by Dr. Dennis.
Owner-injector continuity. Same-provider treatments. Named by name in the majority of our Google reviews.
Your First 90 Days
A concrete timeline.
What the first three months typically look like from your first email to your second-phase reassessment.
1
Day 0
Consultation
45–60 min · complimentary
2
Week 1
Plan Delivered
Written, sequenced, signed
3
Week 2
First Treatment
Precision protocol begins
4
Week 4
First Check-in
Reassess & refine · included
5
Week 12
Full Reassessment
Evolve plan into phase two
"
Lori is honestly the sweetest person I’ve met since moving here. Not only is she incredibly knowledgeable and an expert when it comes to skin, but she’s also so personable and really works with you to reach your skin goals.
Mina Nolan
Verified Google Review
The Process, Answered
Frequently asked questions about medical spa consultations
Different from our general FAQ – these questions are about how the planning and consultation process actually works.
Still curious? Call (570) 585-0201.
Do you offer free consultations at your medical spa?
Yes. Every new patient consultation at The Summit Aesthetics is complimentary – no fee, no card required to book, and no obligation to move forward with treatment. This applies to all consultation types: injectable consultations with Dr. Dennis and laser/skin/body consultations with Lori.
How long does a medical spa consultation take?
Typically 30 to 45 minutes for new patient consultations. Longer for comprehensive multi-treatment planning; shorter for returning patients with focused questions. The consultation includes history intake, physical assessment, discussion of your concerns and goals, and written treatment plan development.
What happens at a medical spa consultation?
A medical spa consultation follows a structured five-step process: (1) welcome and history intake covering medical history and current skincare, (2) physical assessment of your specific concerns and treatment areas, (3) discussion of your goals, timeline, and preferences, (4) collaborative treatment plan development, and (5) written plan you take home. At The Summit Aesthetics, the consultation is performed personally by Dr. Charles Dennis (for injectables) or Lori Barone (for laser, skin, and body treatments).
Do I have to commit to treatment at the consultation?
No. The consultation is complimentary and carries no obligation to book treatment. You leave with a written treatment plan you take home. You can book treatment immediately if the plan feels right, take time to consider it, discuss with family, compare against other providers, or decide not to move forward at all. Any of those outcomes are valid.
Do I get a written treatment plan at the consultation?
Yes. Every consultation at The Summit Aesthetics results in a written treatment plan that documents which specific treatments are recommended for your concerns, the sequence and timing, estimated investment for each component, financing options if relevant, and alternatives if applicable. The plan is yours to take home.
What's the difference between a medical spa and a day spa?
Medical spas use medical-grade devices and prescription-strength product formulations under physician-supervised practice structure. Day spas focus on relaxation and use consumer or spa-grade products with technicians who typically do not have medical training. Medical spas produce measurable clinical results (real changes in pigmentation, texture, firmness, or specific concerns); day spas produce relaxation and gentle maintenance. Both have value; they serve different goals.
How do I know if a medical spa is right for me?
Book a complimentary consultation. That’s specifically what consultations are for – to assess whether the practice, the specific treatments, and the provider fit your actual situation. Medical spas fit patients who want measurable clinical results from medical-grade treatments in a physician-supervised setting. If your goal is pure relaxation with gentle maintenance, a day spa may fit you better. If your goal is targeted improvement in specific concerns (pigmentation, texture, firmness, unwanted hair, expression lines), medical spa treatments are appropriate.
What should I bring to my medical spa consultation?
Photos of concerns you want to discuss (especially if concerns vary by lighting or expression), a list of your current skincare products and medications, a rough budget range, and any specific questions you want answered. For facial-focused consultations, come without makeup if possible. For laser consultations, avoid tanning and self-tanner in the treatment area for 4 weeks before your visit.
Can I bring a partner or friend to my consultation?
Yes. Many patients find a second set of ears helpful for absorbing the treatment plan discussion. Partners, friends, or family members are welcome to accompany you to the consultation.
Is a medical spa consultation appropriate for men?
Yes. Medical aesthetic treatments serve male patients as effectively as female patients. Botox, dermal fillers, laser hair removal, chemical peels, skin resurfacing, and body treatments are all appropriate for male patients with appropriate concerns. Consultation and treatment planning work the same way regardless of gender.
How do I book a consultation at The Summit Aesthetics?
Call (570) 585-0201 during business hours (Monday-Thursday 10 AM to 6 PM, Wednesday until 7 PM, Friday 10 AM to 2 PM) or request an appointment online through our booking form. New patient consultations typically book two to three weeks out.
Now Accepting New Patients
Begin your botanical journey.
Reserve a complimentary 45 – minute consultation with our board-certified team. No card required,
no obligation, no upsell – just a real conversation and a written plan you take home.