Taula de Continguts
- Why start with a diagnosis and not with a technology
- Fat, laxity, cellulite or fluid: four problems that look alike
- What the doctor assesses in the body consultation
- Cryolipolysis, body HIFU or INDIBA: what may make sense in each case
- Contraindications and when it is better to wait
- How we work at Santé Madrid
- Realistic expectations and follow-up
- Frequently asked questions
A body medical consultation is there to find out what is really happening in the area that worries you before you choose a treatment: whether it is localised fat, skin laxity, cellulite or fluid retention. In Madrid, at Santé, this consultation is carried out by the medical team, costs €50 and ends with a diagnosis and a plan, or with the advice not to treat yet. In this guide we explain why the diagnosis comes first, what is assessed, how cryolipolysis, body HIFU and INDIBA radiofrequency fit in, and in which cases it is wiser to wait.
Key points
- Localised fat, laxity, cellulite and fluid retention can look alike at first glance, but they do not respond to the same treatments.
- In the body medical consultation, your medical history, your medication, changes in your weight and the specific area are reviewed before anything is proposed.
- Cryolipolysis, body HIFU and INDIBA radiofrequency act on different tissues; choosing one without a diagnosis is choosing blind.
- There are contraindications and situations in which it is better to wait or to refer you to another specialty.
- The body medical consultation at Santé Madrid costs €50. Results vary from person to person.
Why start with a diagnosis and not with a technology
It is common to arrive at a clinic with the name of a treatment already decided: "I want cryolipolysis for my abdomen" or "I want something for the cellulite on my thighs". The problem is that the treatment is chosen according to what lies beneath the skin, not according to the area or what the technique is called.
An abdomen that "sticks out" may be fat you can pinch, skin that has lost firmness after a pregnancy or weight loss, or a combination of both. Thighs with irregularities may have cellulite, fat, swelling that changes over the day or a pattern that deserves a broader medical assessment. Each of these situations calls for a different approach.
That is why the body medical consultation is not a formality before the machine. It is the step in which the doctor decides whether there is something to treat, with what and with what expectations. Sometimes the conclusion is that the treatment you had in mind does fit; other times, that another one fits better; and other times, that the prudent choice is not to treat yet or to start with another specialty. All three answers are useful, because they spare you sessions that will not give you what you are looking for.
Fat, laxity, cellulite or fluid: four problems that look alike
These are the four situations most often confused in a body consultation. The table summarises how they are usually told apart and what kind of approach may be considered; the final decision always depends on the examination.
| What you see | What may lie behind it | What usually guides the diagnosis | Approach that may be considered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume you can pinch in a specific area | Localised fat | A soft, well-defined fold that does not change much over the day | Localised fat-reduction techniques, such as cryolipolysis |
| Skin that droops or wrinkles when you move | Skin laxity | Little fat underneath, thin skin or skin that has lost firmness, often after weight changes | Techniques that act on skin firmness, such as body HIFU or radiofrequency |
| "Orange peel" dimples | Cellulite | Surface irregularity that shows more when pressed or when standing | Approaches to skin texture and quality; the response is variable |
| Swelling that increases during the day, heavy legs | Fluid retention or another medical cause | Changes over the day, symmetry, involvement of feet and ankles, discomfort | Medical assessment first; may require referral |
Cellulite deserves a separate note. A review of its pathophysiology explains that its origin is not fully clear and that treatments aimed only at fat or at the dermis have given inconsistent results, while the fibrous septae that pull on the skin appear to play a central role (Bass and Kaminer, 2020). In other words: cellulite is not simply "fat", and that is why reducing fat does not always improve it.
What the doctor assesses in the body consultation
The consultation has two parts: a conversation and an examination. In the conversation, the doctor will ask about your medical history, the medication you take, allergies, previous surgery or treatments in the area, pregnancies and breastfeeding, and whether you have any implant or electronic device. Also about how your weight has changed: an area that stays the same while your weight is stable is not the same as a recent or rapid change.
What you expect also matters. Some people want their clothes to fit differently, some want to firm the skin on their arms and some are thinking about losing weight. That last goal is different: the body techniques we describe here are not weight-loss treatments, and if what you want is to lose weight it may make more sense to start with the nutrition consultation.
In the examination, the doctor looks at the area while you stand and, if needed, while you lie down; they assess whether the volume can be pinched, the quality and thickness of the skin, symmetry, whether there are varicose veins, skin lesions or scars, and whether there is swelling in the legs, ankles or feet. With all of this they work out which component predominates, which is often two at once, for example some localised fat with skin that has lost firmness.
This part also helps detect what should not be treated in an aesthetic clinic. For example, lipedema is described as a symmetrical, disproportionate increase in fat on the limbs that spares the hands and feet, with a feeling of heaviness, pain on pressure and a tendency to bruise, and the medical history is key to suspecting it (Kruppa et al., 2020). If the doctor sees signs like these, the right step is to guide you to the appropriate specialty.
Cryolipolysis, body HIFU or INDIBA: what may make sense in each case
At Santé Madrid we work with three body technologies that act on different tissues. None is better than another in the abstract; each one fits a specific diagnosis.
Cryolipolysis. It is a non-surgical technique for reducing localised fat using cold. A review of studies describes it as a procedure with mild, short-lived side effects, such as redness, swelling and pain, and reports the suggestion that those who benefit most are people with small or moderate amounts of localised fat (Ingargiola et al., 2015). The same review records a rare adverse effect, paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, in which the treated area grows in volume instead of shrinking. It is also worth knowing that the evidence is not uniform: a randomised trial in healthy women found no differences compared with the control group after a single session on the lower abdomen (Falster et al., 2020).
Body HIFU. Focused ultrasound concentrates energy on millimetre-sized points and acts on tissues through thermal and mechanical effects (Izadifar et al., 2020). At Santé Madrid we use Ultraformer MPT, which according to its manufacturer has body cartridges with depths of 6.0, 9.0 and 13 mm and aims at skin firmness by stimulating collagen (Classys, Ultraformer MPT). On the body we consider it for the abdomen, arms and knees, above all when lack of firmness predominates.
INDIBA radiofrequency. The manufacturer explains that it works at a frequency of 448 kHz that progressively raises the temperature of the treated tissue, and that in aesthetics it can improve the appearance of cellulite and the firmness of the skin after a series of sessions (INDIBA, frequently asked questions; INDIBA, body contouring). A study in healthy volunteers measured a significant increase in thigh skin temperature compared with placebo using radiofrequency at 448 kHz (Fousekis et al., 2020).
Sometimes the plan combines techniques, always by decision of the medical team after the assessment. Results vary from person to person.
Contraindications and when it is better to wait
An important part of the consultation is confirming that the treatment is safe for you. Some contraindications are described for each technique. For cryolipolysis, the review cited lists as contraindications cold-induced conditions such as cryoglobulinemia, cold urticaria and paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, and advises against treating areas with severe varicose veins, dermatitis or other skin lesions (Ingargiola et al., 2015). For INDIBA, the manufacturer cites as the main contraindications pacemakers or other electronic implants, pregnancy and thrombophlebitis (INDIBA, frequently asked questions).
In any of these cases, the medical team will decide whether it is better to wait, adapt the plan, choose another option or refer you to another specialty. Treating is not always the answer, and a consultation that ends in "not now" is also a good outcome.
How we work at Santé Madrid
Santé Clinics Madrid is at C. de Amador de los Ríos, 1, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid, close to Almagro and Colón. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 21:00 and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00; the clinic is closed on Sundays.
The body medical consultation is carried out by the Santé Madrid medical team and costs €50. We start with your medical history and your goals, continue with the examination of the area and finish by explaining which component predominates and which options make sense in your case. If it fits, we propose a plan with the indicated technique or combination: cryolipolysis for localised fat, body HIFU or body INDIBA radiofrequency when lack of firmness or texture predominates.
If what you want is to lose weight, the clinic also offers a nutrition consultation, which costs €50. And if you prefer to start with something more general, the aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach is free and can point you towards the medical consultation when needed.
We do not make promises about centimetres or dress sizes. Results vary from person to person, and we prefer to explain calmly what you can expect before you start.
Realistic expectations and follow-up
Non-surgical body treatments usually produce gradual changes, and not everyone responds the same way. The diagnosis, the area, the quality of the skin, the stability of your weight and your habits all play a part. That is why, in the consultation, we talk about what change is reasonable to aim for in your case and how long it may take to notice, rather than promising a figure.
Follow-up is part of the plan. Reassessing the area makes it possible to check how it has responded, adjust the number of sessions or change approach if the main component was not the one it seemed. Comparing photographs taken under the same conditions is usually more objective than relying on the mirror.
Lifestyle still counts. Keeping a stable weight, moving regularly and caring for your skin, including protecting it from the sun in the hotter months in Madrid if you are treating exposed areas, helps the skin be in good condition for any treatment. No technology replaces those habits; at most, it accompanies them.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the body medical consultation at Santé Madrid cost?
The body medical consultation costs €50. It is carried out by the medical team and includes the conversation about your medical history, the examination of the area and the explanation of the plan, if indicated.
Do I need a medical consultation if I already know which treatment I want?
It is advisable. Localised fat, laxity, cellulite and fluid retention can look alike, and each one calls for a different approach. The consultation confirms whether the treatment you have in mind fits and whether it is safe for you.
Does cryolipolysis help you lose weight?
No. It is a localised fat-reduction technique, not a weight-loss treatment. If your main goal is to lose weight, it may make more sense to start with the nutrition consultation.
What is the difference between cellulite and localised fat?
Localised fat is a volume you can pinch. Cellulite is an irregularity of the skin surface in which the fibrous septae appear to play a central role, which is why reducing fat does not always improve it.
What contraindications do body treatments have?
It depends on the technique. For cryolipolysis, cold-induced conditions and severe lesions or varicose veins in the area are described; for INDIBA, the manufacturer cites pacemakers or other electronic implants, pregnancy and thrombophlebitis. The doctor reviews this with you in the consultation.
What should I bring to the consultation?
It is useful to bring the list of medication you take, reports of previous treatments or surgery in the area and any recent lab work or diagnosis you have. That way the doctor can assess your case with more information.
What if the doctor thinks it is not an aesthetic problem?
If the examination shows signs that point to another cause, such as swelling that affects the feet and ankles or a pattern compatible with lipedema, we will explain it to you and guide you to the appropriate specialty.
If there is an area of your body that worries you and you are not sure what is going on, a body medical consultation at Santé Madrid will help you understand it before you decide anything. We will calmly explain what we see, which options make sense and when it is better to wait.
