Taula de Continguts
- Two consultations with different purposes
- Comparison: aesthetic and medical consultation at a glance
- When to start with the aesthetic consultation
- When to book the medical consultation directly
- Prescription medicines: why they always go through the medical consultation
- Common situations: which consultation to book in each case
- How we work at Santé Madrid
- Frequently asked questions
If you are not sure which consultation to book at Santé Madrid, the general rule is simple: the aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach, which is free, is there to guide you when you are not yet clear about what you need; the medical consultation, which costs €50, is the step to take when there is already a specific concern that a doctor needs to assess or when the treatment you are interested in is a medical procedure. Here we compare the two side by side, with common situations and the consultation that usually fits each one.
Key points
- The aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach is free and is designed as initial guidance: your goals, your routine and the options available.
- The medical consultation costs €50 and is a clinical assessment for face, body, hair or weight management with GLP-1.
- Medical treatments are recommended and performed by the medical team, always after an assessment.
- If you take medication, have a chronic condition, are pregnant or are looking for an injectable, laser or medicine-based treatment, it makes sense to start with the medical consultation.
- Having a consultation does not oblige you to have a treatment: the decision is yours, and results vary from person to person.
Two consultations with different purposes
Although both are called consultations, they do not answer the same question. The aesthetic consultation answers "what options do I have and where do I start?". The medical consultation answers "is this treatment indicated in my case, given my health and my history?". The first helps you put your ideas in order; the second is a clinical assessment.
The difference is more than a name. In Spain, the regulations on healthcare centres define aesthetic medicine as a care unit in which a doctor is responsible for carrying out non-surgical treatments aimed at improving the appearance of the body or face (Royal Decree 1277/2003, BOE). The Spanish Society of Aesthetic Medicine (SEME) points out that these techniques must be performed by qualified medical professionals.
That is why, when a treatment involves an injection, a medicine or medical technology, a doctor makes the final decision. The aesthetic consultation does not replace that assessment: it prepares for it. And the medical consultation is not a formality: it is the moment when it is decided whether a treatment makes sense for you or whether it is better not to do it.
Comparison: aesthetic and medical consultation at a glance
This table summarises the practical differences between the two consultations as they work at Santé Madrid. Use it as a starting point; if you are torn between the two, you will find concrete examples further down.
| Aspect | Aesthetic consultation | Medical consultation |
|---|---|---|
| Who sees you | A Beauty Coach | The Santé Madrid medical team |
| What it is for | Initial guidance: talking about your goals, your skin and your routine, and understanding what options exist | Clinical assessment: history, medication, contraindications and whether a treatment is indicated |
| Areas | General questions about skin, face, body or home care | Face, body, hair or weight management with GLP-1 |
| When it usually fits | First visit, no specific problem or not knowing which treatment to look for | A specific concern, a medical treatment in mind or a health condition to assess |
| What you leave with | A clearer idea of the options and of whether you need a medical assessment | A medical recommendation, an alternative or the advice not to treat |
| Consultation price at Santé Madrid | Free | €50 |
An important nuance: the aesthetic consultation is not a reduced version of the medical one, and the medical one is not an expensive version of the aesthetic one. They are different steps. Some people only need the first, some go straight to the second and some do both. If, after the aesthetic consultation, the treatment that suits you is a medical one, the medical team will make the recommendation after assessing you.
When to start with the aesthetic consultation
The aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach makes sense when you are still at the stage of understanding. It usually fits well in situations like these:
- It is your first time in aesthetic medicine and you do not know the difference between an in-clinic facial, a laser or an injectable.
- Your skin feels dull, tight or uneven in texture, but you do not have a lesion or a specific symptom that worries you.
- You want to review your home routine and understand the role of cleansing, hydration and sun protection before thinking about treatments.
- You have several ideas at once and need to put them in order of priority.
- You want to know what options exist before deciding whether a medical assessment is worth it.
In Madrid, skin can feel the effects of dry air, winter heating, sun and the urban environment, and many consultations start right there: a feeling of tightness or a lack of radiance with no diagnosis behind it. For that starting point, a guidance conversation is usually enough to take the first step calmly.
What the aesthetic consultation does not do is replace a diagnosis. If something comes up during the conversation that needs medical judgement, such as a spot that has changed or an injectable treatment, the right thing is to move on to the medical consultation. If you want to arrive with clear ideas, there is a guide on how to prepare for an aesthetic consultation.
When to book the medical consultation directly
There are situations in which starting with guidance only makes the path longer, because the underlying question is medical from the start. In these cases it is usually more practical to book the medical consultation directly:
- You are interested in a treatment that is a medical procedure: neuromodulators, hyaluronic acid, biostimulators, PRP, mesotherapy, laser or HIFU. SEME points out that any injection or medical technology is a medical act.
- You have a specific skin concern, such as dark spots, melasma, persistent redness or acne, that needs an assessment before choosing a treatment.
- You are worried about hair loss: at Santé Madrid the hair assessment takes place within the medical consultation.
- You want to assess body treatments, such as cryolipolysis, body HIFU or INDIBA radiofrequency, and find out whether your case is suitable.
- You are considering weight management with GLP-1, which at Santé is only assessed after a medical consultation.
- You take medication regularly, have a chronic or autoimmune condition or a clotting disorder, or have had a reaction to a previous treatment.
In its Patient Decalogue: Safe Aesthetic Medicine, SEME asks that the doctor carry out a personalised assessment and open a medical record before treatment, and that the patient receive and sign an informed consent covering the procedure, the benefits and the risks. Spain's patient autonomy law states that consent must be given in writing for invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and for those that involve risks (Law 41/2002, BOE). That work is part of the medical consultation.
Prescription medicines: why they always go through the medical consultation
In the Santé Madrid catalogue, neuromodulators with botulinum toxin and weight management with GLP-1 use prescription medicines. In both cases the approach is the same: they are considered only after a medical assessment and only if indicated, never on the basis of a guidance consultation.
Botulinum toxin. The MedlinePlus patient information sheet lists possible side effects such as pain or bruising at the injection site, headache or drooping of the eyelid or brow, and warns of less frequent but serious effects, such as difficulty swallowing or breathing if the effect spreads. It also states that it is not injected into an infected area and that you should tell your doctor about pregnancy, breastfeeding or conditions that affect muscles or nerves (MedlinePlus, botulinum toxin).
GLP-1. For semaglutide, one of these medicines, MedlinePlus describes digestive side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain or constipation, and asks you to tell your doctor about any history of pancreatitis or severe stomach problems. If you or a family member have had medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 syndrome, the doctor will usually advise against its use, and pregnancy and breastfeeding must be discussed beforehand (MedlinePlus, semaglutide).
These lists are not exhaustive. The doctor reviews your specific case with you; regimens and doses are not part of this guide because they are an individual medical decision.
Common situations: which consultation to book in each case
These examples are not fixed rules, but they reflect the most common questions. If your case falls between two options, starting with the aesthetic consultation costs nothing, and if a medical assessment is needed we will tell you clearly.
- "I want to take better care of my skin, but I do not know what I need." Aesthetic consultation. It is a starting point with no medical question behind it.
- "I want to soften the expression lines on my forehead." Medical consultation, because neuromodulators are prescription medicines.
- "I have dark spots that have appeared over the last few years." Medical consultation: before choosing a laser or a peel, it is worth knowing what type of spot it is.
- "I am worried that I am losing more hair." Medical consultation, which includes the hair assessment.
- "I want to lose weight and I have read about GLP-1." Medical consultation. If your goal also involves diet, there is also the nutrition consultation, priced at €50.
- "I had a treatment at another clinic and I want a touch-up." Medical consultation, to assess whether it is possible and appropriate, with all the information you have about the product and the date.
How we work at Santé Madrid
Santé Clinics Madrid is at C. de Amador de los Ríos, 1, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid, near Almagro, Salamanca 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.
You have three entry points. The aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach is free and is there to guide you. The medical consultation costs €50 and covers face, body, hair and GLP-1 weight-management assessments. The nutrition consultation is also priced at €50 and fits when diet is part of your goal.
Whichever entry point you choose, the approach is the same: medical treatments are recommended and performed by the Santé Madrid medical team after assessing you, and if a treatment is not indicated for you, we will explain why. Neither consultation obliges you to have a treatment. Results vary with each skin and each person, so we prefer to explain what is reasonable to expect in your case before suggesting anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is the aesthetic consultation really free?
Yes. At Santé Madrid the aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach is free, and having it does not oblige you to have any treatment.
How much does the medical consultation cost at Santé Madrid?
The medical consultation costs €50 and covers face, body, hair and GLP-1 weight-management assessments. The nutrition consultation is also priced at €50.
Can I start with the aesthetic consultation and move on to the medical one later?
Yes, it is a common path. If a medical treatment or something that needs clinical judgement comes up in the aesthetic consultation, the next step is the medical consultation, where the medical team decides whether it is indicated.
Do I need a medical consultation for a botulinum toxin treatment?
Yes. It is a prescription medicine and is only considered after a medical assessment and only if indicated. The doctor reviews contraindications with you, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding or some neuromuscular conditions, and possible side effects, such as bruising or a drooping eyelid.
Which consultation should I book if I am losing hair?
The medical consultation. At Santé Madrid the hair assessment is part of the medical consultation, because the cause needs to be understood before choosing a treatment.
What if I want to assess GLP-1 for weight management?
Always the medical consultation. GLP-1 medicines are prescription medicines and are only considered after a medical assessment and only if indicated; the doctor reviews contraindications and possible side effects with you, such as digestive discomfort.
What should I bring to the medical consultation?
It helps to bring a list of the medication you take, your allergies, your health history and information about previous aesthetic treatments, with the product and the date if you know them.
If you are still unsure between the two consultations, think about the question you want to answer: if it is "what options do I have", start with the aesthetic consultation; if it is "is this indicated for me", book the medical consultation. At Santé Madrid we support you on either path, calmly and with no commitment.
