Plasma IQ consent form: Free template, treatment protocol & aftercare

Key takeaways

Plasma IQ uses a controlled plasma arc to sublimate micro-spots of skin, which triggers fibroblast activity and collagen remodeling.

One session suits mild laxity, while moderate laxity usually needs two or three sessions spaced six to eight weeks apart.

Downtime is the objection you have to handle upfront, because the face carries five to seven days of visible crusting.

Turning this into a signature service means pricing by zone, selling packages, and booking the consult on a separate day.

The free consent form and aftercare card below give your team a documented starting point from the first booking.

Plasma IQ is a handheld plasma device that tightens skin by sublimating micro-spots of the epidermis. It uses no needles and no blades. This guide is written for the practice deciding whether to add the treatment, not for the patient deciding whether to book it.

What follows is the clinical protocol, a day-by-day recovery table, and an honest comparison with Renuvion and RF microneedling. There is also a free consent form and aftercare card your team can use from the first booking.

The later sections cover chair time, how to price a zone, and the week-two conversation. That conversation decides whether a patient books again.

What is Plasma IQ?

Plasma IQ is a portable electrosurgery device made by Neauvia that generates a controlled plasma arc from ionized gas. The arc crosses a small air gap and sublimates tissue in micro-spots, so the tip never touches the skin. Each micro-spot is a shallow, deliberate injury that wakes up the fibroblasts in the dermis below.

Practitioners usually call it the Plasma IQ pen, because the handpiece is the size of a marker and is held like one. You will also see it listed as the Neauvia Plasma IQ on supplier sites and training courses. It is an FDA-cleared electrosurgery device for tissue ablation and hemostasis, and its aesthetic use rests on clinical evidence for fibroblast stimulation.

The table below is the summary to keep beside you during a consultation. The third column is the part that protects the practice, because a treatment you cannot reconstruct from the notes is a treatment you cannot defend.

Every one of those chart entries has to land somewhere a colleague can find it at the two-week review. Digital forms capture consent by e-signature and attach it to the client record, which removes the print, sign, scan, and upload loop.

How the treatment works: From plasma discharge to shed scabs

The treatment works in four stages. A plasma arc creates micro-spots on the surface, and the healing response rebuilds collagen underneath over the following 12 weeks. Everything the patient can see happens in week one. Everything they paid for happens in weeks four to 12, out of sight.

1. Plasma discharge: voltage across the air gap ionizes the gas between tip and skin, and the resulting arc lands as a single micro-spot.
2. Controlled micro-injury: each spot sublimates a pinpoint of epidermis and delivers heat into the papillary dermis underneath.
3. Collagen and elastin remodeling: fibroblasts answer the injury by laying down new collagen and elastin over the following weeks.
4. Scab formation and shedding: the spots crust within 48 hours and shed by day five to seven, leaving tighter skin that keeps improving.

The five-step treatment protocol

The clinical workflow runs from consult to twelve-week photograph in five steps. Each one has a documentation output, which is why the protocol and the paperwork are the same job.

1. Consult and screen: take medical history, current medications, active skin conditions, and Fitzpatrick type on a structured intake form. A consultation form template keeps the screening consistent between practitioners. Rule out the absolute contraindications listed further down. Record that you discussed downtime and the result curve, then take consent by e-signature.
2. Prepare and numb: cleanse the zone and let it dry completely. Apply topical lidocaine cream 20 to 30 minutes before you start, under occlusion if you want faster onset. Write down the agent, the strength, and the time it went on.
3. Deliver the plasma: hold the handpiece at the angle and distance the manufacturer specifies, and work in systematic passes. Power and spot density follow skin type, zone thickness, and the intensity you agreed with the patient. Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin needs lower power to limit hyperpigmentation. Log the settings, the passes, and the tissue response you observed.
4. Close and hand over: apply the post-procedure gel and a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. A thin hydrocolloid or silicone dressing protects the micro-spots for the first 24 hours. Send the aftercare card home with the patient. Automated workflows then handle the day-1, day-3, and day-7 prompts by SMS or email.
5. Follow up and photograph: review at two weeks to check healing and catch infection or pigment change early. Photograph again at six and 12 weeks. Store every image in the patient’s digital client record, because the 12-week photo is what sells the second session.

How the device compares with Renuvion and RF microneedling

They work at three different depths, so the choice is a depth decision rather than a brand decision. Plasma IQ stays at the surface, Renuvion works under the skin through a cannula, and RF microneedling sits in between. That single difference explains the downtime spread from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.

Renuvion started life as the J Plasma device, which is why surgeons and reps still use both names in the same sentence. It is a theater procedure with a cannula and anesthesia, so it is not a menu item for a treatment room. Choosing a plasma device therefore comes down to how much laxity you are treating and how much downtime your patients will accept.

The practical answer for most aesthetic practices is that these are complements rather than rivals. Plasma IQ takes the eyelids and the fine crepey skin that needles cannot reach safely. RF microneedling takes the scarred cheek and the thicker jawline.

Superficial lesions on those same faces are a different job again, and usually go to a CryoPen. Keep a separate document trail per device, so the notes always say which handpiece touched which zone.

Treatment areas and indications, from eyelids to abdomen

The eyelids are where this device earns its reputation, with the face, neck, and décolletage close behind. The upper-lid treatment is marketed as a plasma eye lift, and it is the reason most patients call. Treating the lower lids is possible, but the work stays superficial. Going too close to the lid margin risks ectropion.

Body zones behave differently. Thicker skin tolerates higher power but takes longer to show a result. A patient treating an abdomen needs a different expectations conversation than one treating a lid. Map the zones you treated on a diagram in the record rather than describing them in words.

Who makes an ideal candidate?

The ideal candidate has mild to moderate laxity, Fitzpatrick I to III skin, and no active skin disease. They also have a clear week in the diary. Everyone else is treatable with adjustments, and the adjustments belong in the notes. A structured intake process using aesthetic questionnaire templates keeps that screening identical between practitioners.

• Age: adults from roughly 30 to 75, with no hard upper limit once medical clearance is in place.
• Laxity: mild to moderate laxity and fine lines respond best. Severe laxity needs several sessions or a surgical route.
• Skin type: Fitzpatrick I to III are the most straightforward. Fitzpatrick IV to VI need lower power, closer monitoring, and firm sun-protection coaching.
• Medical stability: no active infection, no uncontrolled bleeding disorder, and no recent major surgery in the zone.
• Expectations: the patient accepts five to seven days of downtime and a three-to-six-month result curve.
• Sun protection: the patient will wear SPF 30 or higher daily for four weeks and skip deliberate sun exposure.
• Availability: the patient can attend the two-week and six-week reviews.

Contraindications and safety considerations

Screen every contraindication below at intake and write down what you found, including the negatives. A blank field looks like a question nobody asked. Thorough consultation documentation is what stands between your practice and a complaint you cannot answer.

• Do not treat: active bacterial, fungal, or viral infection in the zone, including herpes simplex and varicella zoster. Anticoagulant use or a bleeding disorder. Unhealed surgical wounds. Ablative resurfacing or a chemical peel within the past six weeks. Pregnancy. Immunosuppression from HIV, chemotherapy, or biologic therapy.
• Isotretinoin: do not treat during a course, or within six to 12 months of finishing one.
• Use caution and document your reasoning: Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin carries higher hyperpigmentation and keloid risk. A history of hypertrophic or keloid scarring. Active acne, which should be treated first. Laser or IPL in the zone within the past four weeks. Photosensitizing medication such as tetracyclines or prescription-strength retinoids.
• Melasma: the treatment can trigger or worsen it. Work conservatively at lower power, insist on sun protection, and consider pairing with a depigmenting agent.
• Rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema: all three can flare. Assess stability first, and only treat skin that has been clear for at least two weeks.
• Power by skin type: Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin needs 40 to 60 percent lower power than Fitzpatrick I to II. Thin zones such as the lower lids and inner arms need lighter intensity and shorter dwell time per spot.
• Consent and retention: the written consent must list contraindications, risks, downtime, and the result timeline. Keep it in the client record for at least six years in the US, and per local rules under GDPR in the UK and EU.

Recovery timeline: What patients can expect

Plasma IQ recovery runs to a predictable schedule: crusting by day two, shedding by day six, and normal skin tone by week two. Give the patient this table at the consultation, not on the way out. Patients who know that day three looks worse than day one do not call the front desk about it.

Aftercare instructions to give at checkout

Hand over written aftercare at checkout, then reinforce it with automated messages on day one, day three, and day seven. Picking at crusts is what causes the scarring and pigment change patients complain about. Repeating that instruction three times over a week is worth more than saying it once at the door.

• First 24 hours: keep the zone clean and dry, and apply the prescribed gel or ointment two to three times a day. Wash with lukewarm water and a soft cloth, never hot water. Sleep with the head raised on two or three pillows. No makeup, deodorant, or perfume on the zone. No alcohol, and no exercise that raises the heart rate. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen covers the discomfort.
• Days 2 to 3: micro-crusts form, and redness and swelling peak. Keep cleansing gently and reapplying ointment. A cool compress for 10 to 15 minutes, three or four times a day, manages the swelling. Stay out of pools, saunas, and steam rooms.
• Days 4 to 7: crusts darken and begin to lift. Moisturize two to three times a day with something hydrating and fragrance-free. Redness fades noticeably by day five to seven. Makeup and light exercise can resume once the crusts have gone.
• Weeks 2 to 4: crusts are gone and pinkness fades. Collagen remodeling is happening out of sight, so there is little to see yet. Hold off retinoids and vitamin C for two weeks, then reintroduce them slowly. Keep SPF 30 or higher on every day.
• Weeks 4 to 12: tightening and texture change build through weeks six to eight and plateau by week 12. Book the six-week review for photographs. Most requests for a second session come out of that visit.

Plasma IQ before and after: Setting realistic expectations

A Plasma IQ before and after pair only makes sense at 12 weeks, because the visible change arrives between weeks four and 12. Patients expect it at week two, which is exactly when there is least to see. Say that out loud during the consultation and you remove most of the disappointment.

• Day 1: redness and a little tightening from the injury response. This is not the outcome.
• Week 2: crusts gone, tone normal, texture slightly better. Visible change is minimal, and this is the discouragement window.
• Weeks 4 to 6: tightening becomes apparent and fine lines soften. Shallow acne scars improve noticeably. This is when patients say they can see what they paid for.
• Weeks 8 to 12: maximum tightening and texture change, then a plateau. One session gives a subtle result on mild laxity. Moderate to severe laxity needs two or three sessions, six to eight weeks apart.
• Longevity: expect 12 to 24 months, depending on age, sun exposure, smoking, and skincare. A maintenance session every 12 to 18 months extends it. Because the collagen is the patient’s own, the result fades more gradually than filler.
• Documentation: photograph at baseline, two weeks, six weeks, and 12 weeks in the same light and the same position. Store the set in the patient’s secure digital record. Get a signed photo consent form before any of it goes near marketing.

What to include in the consent form

The download above includes a consent section covering patient identification, indication, contraindication acknowledgment, risk disclosure, and signature. Treat it as a starting point rather than a finished document. UK practices usually add CQC language, and US practices often add state-specific liability notices. Have your own counsel read it once before it goes anywhere near a patient.

A workable consent form covers six things, and the last two are the ones practices leave out.

• Patient identification and a medical history review.
• A plain statement of the treatment and how it works.
• The known risks: redness, swelling, crusting, hyperpigmentation on Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin, infection, and scarring.
• Confirmation that the patient asked questions and understands the downtime and the result curve.
• The alternatives you did not recommend, such as filler, laser resurfacing, or surgery.
• Patient and practitioner signatures, both dated.

Disclosing the alternatives matters more than it looks on the page. A patient who was never offered a choice can argue they were never informed. Purpose-built skin clinic software lets you send the branded form by secure link before the patient arrives. Check-in becomes a signature rather than a clipboard.

What to put on the aftercare card

The same download carries a patient-facing aftercare card that condenses the seven-day protocol onto something wallet-sized. It follows the layout of the CO2 laser aftercare card, so a practice running both devices keeps one format. Print it, laminate it, and hand it over at checkout. A card propped against a bathroom mirror gets read five times. An email gets read once, on the way home.

Five things belong on the card.

• A day-by-day checklist for the first week.
• The dos: gentle cleanser, ointment, head elevation, SPF 30 or higher, and attending the review.
• The don’ts: no makeup, swimming, sweating, picking, sun, or retinoids for two weeks.
• An emergency number that someone answers.
• A booking link for the two-week review.

A QR code on the card, pointing at the automated aftercare sequence, saves the front desk a round of phone calls. It also tells you who is reading the instructions and who is not.

Turning the treatment into a signature service

Whether this becomes a signature service comes down to scheduling and pricing rather than clinical skill. The clinical part is settled by the protocol above. What patients say yes or no to is the five to seven days of visible crusting, and how you price and package around it.

• Block 60 to 90 minutes, not 30: numbing takes 20 to 30 minutes before the handpiece comes out. A pair of upper lids then takes another 20 to work through carefully. Practices running energy devices set that padding once in their laser clinic software.
• Price by zone, sell by package: mild laxity resolves in one session and moderate laxity does not. A two-session or three-session package priced below the sum of singles is honest, and it protects your calendar.
• Consult on a separate day: Fitzpatrick IV to VI patients need a test spot and a lower-power plan. A rushed same-day consult is where pigment complaints begin. Give each one its own slot on your practice schedule.
• Check the delegation rules before you train the team: this is an electrosurgery device. Who may operate it depends on your state and on your medical director agreement.
• Ask what is in the patient’s diary: nobody should be treated within three weeks of a wedding, a holiday, or any photographed event.
• Track the single-use tip against the treatment note: consumables per patient set your cost floor. They belong in the same record as the settings.
• Put a week-two check-in in the workflow: at week two the crusts have gone and the tightening has not arrived. That is the moment patients privately decide the treatment did not work.

That last point is the one that pays. Nothing in the protocol changes a patient’s mind at week two, but a two-minute call showing them the healing photo you took does. Practices that book the second session do it at that call, not at week 12.

How software keeps consent, charting, and aftercare in one record

Most practices run this treatment across four disconnected places. The consent PDF is printed, signed, scanned, and uploaded. The device settings go into a paper note or a Word file. The photos sit on somebody’s phone. The aftercare email is retyped after every appointment.

Practice management software like Pabau puts all four in the same client record. You build the Plasma IQ consent form once, then send it by secure link before the patient arrives. Power settings, passes, and tissue response go straight into the treatment note attached to that appointment.

Photos are captured against the same record at baseline, two weeks, six weeks, and 12 weeks. That makes the 12-week comparison two clicks away during the review appointment. The day-1, day-3, and day-7 aftercare messages fire from the treatment tag, so your team stops retyping instructions.

The outcome for the practitioner is one screen mid-appointment showing consent, settings, photos, and message history together. There is nothing to hunt for, and nothing to reconcile at the end of the day. One London skin practice now runs booking, registration, and payments from the same place, as its case study explains.

Keep consent, charting, and aftercare in one record

Pabau’s digital forms capture Plasma IQ consent by e-signature and attach device settings to the treatment note. Automated messages then send the day-1, day-3, and day-7 aftercare prompts for you.

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Conclusion

Plasma IQ is a straightforward treatment with an awkward week attached to it. The practices that do well with it set the downtime expectation before the patient books. They also show up again at week two, when the patient is quietly deciding the treatment failed.

So download the consent form and the aftercare card, put your practice name on them, and have your counsel read them once. Then answer the two operational questions: what a zone costs, and how long you block for it. Those two answers are what turn a device in a drawer into a service on your menu.

Book a demo to see how Pabau keeps the consent form, the device settings, and the aftercare sequence in one patient record.

Continue your research

Need to standardize skin assessment before you treat? Skin assessment tools sets out how to grade skin type, damage patterns, and treatment candidacy consistently.

Adding a lower-downtime body treatment alongside it? Pressotherapy template carries the consent, protocol, and aftercare paperwork for that treatment.

Want to cut the reassurance calls during recovery? Clinic automations for revenue growth walks through the email and SMS triggers that answer patients before they phone.

Storing before-and-after photos properly? Med spa before and after photos explains consistent capture, secure storage, and the image release you need before marketing.

Still running consent on paper? Benefits of going paperless covers what changes at the front desk when forms are signed before arrival.

Frequently asked questions