HealthPark Patient Policies & Terms

HealthPark Medical Aesthetics is a physician-led medical practice. These policies explain how we book, charge for and deliver care, in line with the standards of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS).

About our clinic

HealthPark Medical Aesthetics is a medical clinic led by Dr. Karthik Puppala, MBBS, family physician and Medical Director, licensed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. Every medical treatment we offer is provided by or under the direction of a physician, after an assessment of whether it is appropriate for you.

The people we care for are patients, whether they come to us for a medical or a cosmetic concern, and are treated to the same professional standard.

45 Weatherbee Rd, Suite 404A, Sydney, NS B1M 0A1 · 902-578-8680 · drpuppala@healthparkbotox.com

Booking, arrival and cancellations

• Booking. Popular times fill quickly, so we suggest booking 2–4 weeks ahead.
• Arrival. Please arrive 20 minutes early. This allows time to complete or update your intake and consent forms and, for treatments such as lip filler, PDO threads or laser, to apply topical numbing.
• New patients. Your first visit includes a medical history and a consultation. No treatment is provided until you have given informed consent.
• Cancellations. Please give at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule, so the time can be offered to another patient. If we charge a missed-appointment or late-cancellation fee, the amount is listed on our fee schedule and told to you when you book.

Fees and payment

• Aesthetic treatments are not covered by MSI. Cosmetic services are uninsured, and you pay for them directly.
• You will know the full cost before treatment. At your consultation we explain every fee for the treatment, including product, follow-up visits and any tests, as part of your informed consent. The price we quote is the price you pay for that treatment plan.
• Insured alternatives. If an MSI-insured option exists for your concern (for example, a medical condition that can be treated through the public system), we will tell you before you choose a private service.
• Price changes. Our published prices may change. A change never applies to a treatment plan you have already agreed to or to services you have already paid for.
• Payment methods. We accept cash, debit, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and cheques. Photo ID may be requested for card or cheque payments.
• Returned payments. A $30 fee, plus any bank charges we incur, applies to a returned cheque or reversed payment.

Your health and preparing for treatment

Please tell us about any health condition, allergy, injury, medication or supplement when you book and at every visit, and keep your intake form up to date. Conditions that may change which treatments are safe for you include:

• autoimmune, neurological, collagen or connective-tissue disorders
• diabetes
• photosensitive disorders or photosensitizing medications
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• a history of cold sores

We give you written preparation instructions for your specific treatment. General guidance:

• Blood thinners and anti-inflammatories. Do not stop a prescribed blood thinner (such as warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, clopidogrel or daily ASA) on your own. Talk to us and to the prescriber first. Where it is safe, we may ask you to avoid over-the-counter NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen), fish oil and similar supplements for up to 2 weeks before injections or other invasive procedures.
• Alcohol. Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your appointment.
• Laser hair removal. Avoid waxing, plucking and electrolysis for 4 weeks before treatment. Shaving is fine.
• Laser skin treatments. Tell us if you have taken isotretinoin (Accutane) in the past 6 months. Stop retinol, AHA/BHA products and peels before treatment as we direct.

If anything about your health changes before your appointment, call us. We may reschedule to keep you safe.

Consent, suitability and patients under 18

• Informed consent. Before any treatment, your provider explains what it involves, its expected benefits, risks, alternatives (including no treatment) and its full cost. You may ask questions, take time to decide, and withdraw consent at any point, including after paying.
• Results vary. Every person responds differently. We cannot guarantee a particular result, and we will tell you if we think your goals are unlikely to be met.
• Suitability. Treatment is provided only when the physician judges it appropriate for you. If a treatment is not suitable, we will explain why and, where useful, suggest another option or referral.
• Patients under 18. A parent or legal guardian must attend. Cosmetic treatment for anyone under 18 is provided only after a physician assessment, and only where appropriate for the patient’s age and needs.

Packages, memberships and refunds

Packages and memberships are optional. Every service is also available one visit at a time at our listed price, and buying a package or membership never gives faster or preferential access to medical care.

Treatment packages

• Before you buy, you receive in writing what the package includes, its price and the single-visit price of each service.
• You may stop a package at any time. We refund the unused balance: the amount paid, less the single-visit price of each service already received.
• If the physician decides a treatment is no longer medically appropriate for you, we refund every unused session at the package rate, with no recalculation.
• Packages are for the named patient only and cannot be transferred.

Memberships

• Memberships have a 3-month minimum term, waived if you must stop for a medical reason.
• After that, you may cancel at any time. Notice before the next billing date (about the 1st or 15th of the month) stops the next charge.
• Unused services roll over month to month. If you cancel, services you have already paid for stay available to you for 90 days after your final billing date.
• Memberships are personal and cannot be shared or transferred.

Products

• Products may be exchanged within 30 days with the original receipt.
• A product that is defective, or that you react to, can be returned for a refund. Please contact us so the physician can also review the reaction.

Gift certificates

• Gift certificates do not expire and are not exchangeable for cash.
• Any treatment bought with a certificate still requires a consultation and the recipient’s informed consent. If the physician finds the recipient is not a suitable candidate, the value can be used for another service or product, or refunded to the purchaser.
• Please bring ID when redeeming. We cannot replace lost or stolen certificates unless we can verify the original purchase.

Products and shipping

• Our financial interest. HealthPark sells skin-care and related products and earns a profit on those sales. We recommend a product only when we believe it is evidence-based and suits you. You are never required to buy a product to receive treatment, and you are free to buy elsewhere.
• Shipping. We ship within Canada only. Shipping fees depend on size, weight and method. Most items ship within 1–2 business days; we process and ship Tuesday to Friday, excluding holidays.

Privacy of your health information

HealthPark is a custodian of personal health information under Nova Scotia’s Personal Health Information Act (PHIA). We collect, use and share your information only to provide and manage your care, or as PHIA permits or the law requires (for example, a court order or a mandatory report). We never sell, rent or trade your information.

• Photographs. Clinical photos are part of your medical record. We will not use them in marketing or on social media without your separate written consent, which you can withdraw.
• Marketing messages. We send promotional email or text only with your consent, and every message lets you unsubscribe.
• Your rights. You may ask to see or get a copy of your record and ask us to correct it. Records are kept securely for the period required by the CPSNS.
• Questions or concerns about privacy go to Dr. Puppala at drpuppala@healthparkbotox.com. You may also contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for Nova Scotia.

Clinic conduct and declining care

• A calm, private space. We care for medical and cosmetic patients side by side. Please silence your phone and keep conversations quiet. For everyone’s privacy, do not photograph or record other patients or staff.
• Belongings. We are not responsible for personal items lost or damaged at the clinic. Please keep valuables with you.
• When we may decline or stop a treatment. The physician may decline or stop a treatment if it is not medically appropriate, if a safe outcome is unlikely, or if behaviour toward staff or other patients is abusive or unsafe. We will explain our reasons and, where appropriate, help you find care elsewhere.
• We never refuse care on discriminatory grounds, including race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age or any other ground protected by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act.
• Cleanliness. Instruments and equipment are cleaned, disinfected or sterilized after every patient, following infection-prevention standards.

Questions, concerns and changes to these terms

• Concerns. If you are unhappy with any part of your care or billing, please tell us first: 902-578-8680 or drpuppala@healthparkbotox.com. We will respond and try to resolve it. You also have the right to contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia at 902-421-2201 or cpsns.ns.ca.
• Changes. We may update these policies. The version posted on this site applies from the date shown, but a change never alters the terms of a treatment plan, package or membership you have already bought.
• Website. Information on this site is general and is not medical advice for your situation. Decisions about your care are made with your physician at a consultation.