Taula de Continguts
- The seven questions at a glance
- Questions 1 and 2: an authorised centre and a doctor on the medical register
- Questions 3 and 4: prior assessment and written information
- Question 5: product traceability and prices that are too low
- Questions 6 and 7: follow-up afterwards and an honest no
- How we work at Santé Madrid
- How to use this list before booking
- Frequently asked questions
To choose an aesthetic medicine clinic in Madrid, check seven things before booking: that the centre is authorised as an aesthetic medicine unit, that you are treated by a registered doctor, that there is a prior assessment, that you receive information and consent in writing, that the product is traceable, that there is follow-up and that the team is able to tell you no. These are simple questions that any serious clinic can answer without hesitation, and in this article we explain what you should hear for each one, which answers are a warning sign and how to check some of them yourself.
Key points
- In Spain, aesthetic medicine is a healthcare activity: Royal Decree 1277/2003 defines the U.48 unit as one in which a doctor is responsible for the treatments.
- You can check whether a professional is registered in the CGCOM Public Register of Doctors, as SEME recommends.
- A good clinic assesses before treating, opens a medical record and explains risks and alternatives before you sign anything.
- Ask to see the brand, batch number and expiry date of the injectable product, and be wary of very low prices.
- A team that tells you no when a treatment does not suit you is a good sign, not bad news.
The seven questions at a glance
Most people choose a clinic because it is nearby, because someone recommended it or because of what they see on social media. These are understandable criteria, but they tell you nothing about what really matters in a medical procedure: who treats you, under what conditions and with what information. The Spanish Society of Aesthetic Medicine (SEME) sums up those requirements in its Patient Decalogue: Safe Aesthetic Medicine, and in the same press release it reports a survey carried out with Sigma Dos among 2,469 people, according to which 44% of patients do not know that these treatments must be performed exclusively by registered doctors. We have arranged those requirements into seven questions you can ask by phone, in writing or at the first visit:
| Question | What you should hear | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Is the centre authorised as an aesthetic medicine clinic? | Yes, with a visible healthcare authorisation for the U.48 unit | Evasive answers, or the treatment being done in a hair salon, a beauty salon or a private home |
| 2. Who will treat me, and are they a registered doctor? | The doctor's name and confirmation that they are registered | Not knowing who will treat you until the last moment |
| 3. Will I be assessed before anything is proposed? | Yes, with a medical record and a review of your history and medication | A treatment decided before anyone has seen you |
| 4. Will risks and alternatives be explained to me in writing? | Yes, with an informed consent form you can read calmly | Signing in a hurry or without understanding what you sign |
| 5. Will I be able to see the product that will be used? | Yes: brand, batch number and expiry date, with the package opened in front of you | Vague answers about where the product comes from |
| 6. What follow-up is there afterwards? | Clear aftercare instructions and who to contact if a question comes up | Nobody available after the session |
| 7. Will they tell me no if it does not suit me? | Yes, and they will explain why | A yes to everything you ask for |
Questions 1 and 2: an authorised centre and a doctor on the medical register
The first check is the most basic and, according to SEME, one of the least known. Royal Decree 1277/2003, which regulates the authorisation of healthcare centres, defines the U.48 aesthetic medicine unit as a "care unit in which a doctor is responsible for performing non-surgical treatments aimed at improving the appearance of the body or face". In other words, aesthetic medicine is practised in an authorised healthcare centre and under a doctor's responsibility.
SEME asks that the centre display the healthcare authorisation that accredits it as an aesthetic medicine clinic, and points out that private homes, hair salons and beauty salons cannot perform these techniques. If you ask about the authorisation and the answer is confusing, you already have useful information.
The second question is about the person. According to the decalogue, every aesthetic medicine treatment is a medical act and may only be performed by a doctor who is qualified and registered. You can check any professional's registration in the Public Register of Doctors of the General Council of Official Colleges of Physicians (CGCOM), and SEME also offers its own directory of aesthetic doctors.
Questions 3 and 4: prior assessment and written information
A serious clinic does not sell you a treatment over the phone. SEME considers a personalised assessment and the opening of a medical record mandatory before any procedure. In that assessment, the doctor should ask about your medical history, your medication, your allergies, previous treatments and what you hope to achieve, and should look at your skin before giving an opinion.
The fourth question has legal backing. Law 41/2002 on patient autonomy establishes in its article 4 that you have the right to know the purpose and nature of each intervention, its risks and its consequences. Its article 8 states that consent is given in writing for invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and article 10 sets out the basic information the doctor must give you beforehand: the relevant consequences, the risks related to your personal circumstances, the probable risks and the contraindications.
In practice, this means you should be able to read the consent form calmly, ask questions and leave without signing if you need to think about it. The same law points out that you can revoke your consent in writing at any time. If at a clinic you feel the document is a formality to be dealt with in a hurry, it is worth stopping and asking.
Question 5: product traceability and prices that are too low
When it comes to injectables, the product matters as much as the technique. SEME's decalogue asks that all injectable material, such as hyaluronic acid, be opened in the patient's presence, and that you be given the sticker with the batch number, brand and expiry date for your own records. That label lets you know exactly what was applied and pass on that information if another doctor ever needs it.
You can ask about it naturally before booking: "Will you show me the product and give me the batch label?". A clinic used to working this way will say yes without hesitating. If the answer is that it is not necessary or that the product "is the usual one", ask for more details.
SEME also warns against low-cost offers: according to the decalogue, excessively low prices often hide counterfeit products, vials bought illegally online or the lack of a doctor with the proper qualifications. Comparing prices is reasonable, but price should not be the first criterion. Before comparing them, make sure you are comparing like with like: the same type of centre, the same level of assessment and an identified product.
Questions 6 and 7: follow-up afterwards and an honest no
What happens after the treatment says a lot about a clinic. SEME asks that the doctor and the centre give you clear aftercare instructions and be available for any question or complication. Before booking, ask what care you will need to follow, whether there will be a review and how you can get in touch if you notice something you did not expect. A specific answer, with a channel and a contact person, is a better sign than a generic "call us if anything happens".
The seventh question is the one asked least often and perhaps the most revealing. The decalogue sums it up in one sentence: "A good aesthetic doctor is one who tells you no". A good professional aims for naturalness and harmony and puts your health ahead of disproportionate requests. If at the consultation you are told that a treatment is not indicated for you, that it is better to wait or that your goal needs a different route, you are not wasting your time: you are seeing how that clinic works when it has nothing to gain from selling you something.
Finally, remember that you have the right to ask for the official complaints form if something has not gone as it should. It is another point of SEME's decalogue and part of your rights as a patient.
How we work at Santé Madrid
Santé is a non-surgical aesthetic medicine clinic, and the Madrid clinic 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 can write to us at santemadrid@santeclinics.com. If you would like to get to know the centre before reading on, we describe it in our article about Santé's opening in Madrid.
We are happy for you to ask us these seven questions, just as you would ask any other clinic. There are two ways to start:
- The aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach, which is free and helps you get your bearings, talk about your goals and decide whether you need a medical assessment.
- The medical consultation, which costs €50, for a facial, body or hair assessment by the Santé Madrid medical team.
If diet is part of your goal, there is also a nutrition consultation for €50. In every case, medical treatments are only indicated after an assessment by the medical team, and results vary with each skin, age and each person's response. You can leave the consultation without any treatment, and if a treatment is not indicated for you, we will explain it clearly.
How to use this list before booking
The questions are more useful if you ask them before paying anything. A simple method is to write them down on your phone and take them to each clinic you are considering. Some you can settle even before calling: the professional's registration in the CGCOM public register and, on the website or at the centre's reception, whether it states its healthcare authorisation.
The rest are best asked out loud, by phone, by WhatsApp or at the first consultation. Write the answers down as they are given to you. When comparing two or three clinics, pay less attention to what they promise and more to how they answer: whether they give specific names, whether they explain the risks without you having to insist and whether they encourage you to think it over calmly.
The conversation does not need to be uncomfortable. A serious clinic is used to these questions and welcomes them, because an informed patient makes better decisions and tends to have more realistic expectations. And if at the end you are still unsure who will treat you, with what product and what will happen afterwards, the prudent thing is not to book yet and to keep comparing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if an aesthetic medicine clinic is authorised?
Ask about its healthcare authorisation as an aesthetic medicine unit (U.48), which according to SEME must be displayed at the centre. Royal Decree 1277/2003 defines this unit as one in which a doctor is responsible for the treatments.
How do I check that a doctor is registered?
You can look them up in the Public Register of Doctors of the General Council of Official Colleges of Physicians (CGCOM). SEME recommends doing so and also offers its own directory of aesthetic doctors.
Is it normal to be assessed before any treatment?
Yes. SEME considers a personalised assessment and a medical record mandatory before treatment. Be wary if you are offered a fixed treatment before anyone has seen you.
Do I have to sign an informed consent form?
For invasive procedures, Law 41/2002 states that consent is given in writing, after receiving information about the consequences, the risks and the contraindications. You can read it calmly and revoke it in writing at any time.
Can I ask to see the product that will be injected?
Yes. SEME's decalogue asks that injectable material be opened in front of you and that you be given the sticker with the brand, batch number and expiry date for your personal records.
Does a lower price mean the clinic is worse?
Not necessarily, but SEME warns that excessively low prices often hide counterfeit products, vials of illegal origin or the lack of a doctor with the proper qualifications. Always compare the same type of centre, assessment and product.
How much does it cost to start at Santé Madrid?
The aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach is free. The medical consultation costs €50 and the nutrition consultation €50. We do not publish treatment prices because they depend on the assessment.
Choosing a clinic should not depend on luck or on an offer. With these seven questions you can compare with sound judgement and decide calmly, and if you would like to start with us, we look forward to seeing you in Chamberí to answer them all.
