Choosing where to have an aesthetic medicine treatment should not come down to a special offer or a nice photo. There are facts anyone can check in a few minutes, before booking, and they say more about a clinic than its advertising. These are the ones worth looking at.
In a minute: check that the centre has a health registration including the aesthetic medicine unit (U.48), that whoever treats you is a registered doctor, that there is an assessment before anything is suggested, that risks and alternatives are explained with written consent, that you know which product is used and that there is a review afterwards. And be wary of promised results and of being rushed.
1. The centre is licensed as a healthcare centre
In Spain, any place where aesthetic medicine is practised has to be licensed by its regional government as a healthcare centre, with the unit U.48 Aesthetic medicine in its services, as defined in Royal Decree 1277/2003. That licence has a health registration number that the centre must display on its website, in its advertising and at the clinic.
What to check: that the number is shown, that it matches the address where you will be seen and that it includes aesthetic medicine. Harmony by Agas consults inside Clínicas FAMED, in the centres registered as CS6461 (Coslada) and CS11413 (Torrelodones).
2. The person treating you is a doctor, and you can check it
Prescribing an injectable or device-based treatment is a medical act. Aesthetic medicine is not an official specialty in Spain, but whoever practises it must be a doctor registered with a medical association. You can check this by name or registration number in the public register of doctors of the General Council of Medical Associations.
At Harmony by Agas, the medical director is Dr Ava Guila Ardila Soto, registration no. 282857315 with the Madrid Medical Association.
3. There is an assessment before any talk of treatments
A good consultation starts with questions: your health, the medication you take, allergies, previous treatments, what concerns you and what you expect. Then comes the examination. Only then does it make sense to suggest something, and sometimes the conclusion is that nothing is needed, or that something else is indicated.
Be wary if you are offered a set treatment before being seen, or if the price depends on deciding that same day.
4. Risks and alternatives are explained, and consent is given in writing
Spain's Patient Autonomy Act (Law 41/2002) requires information on the procedure, its risks and its alternatives, and written consent for invasive procedures. Informed consent is not a formality: it is the moment to ask questions, and you can take it home to read it calmly.
5. You know which product or device will be used
Ask for the name of the product or device and whether it is a CE-marked medical device. With injectables, the batch is usually recorded in your clinical record so that it can be traced. Asking for it is normal.
6. The advertising does not promise results
In medicine nobody can guarantee a result. Phrases such as "guaranteed results", "risk-free" or "the best treatment", or before-and-after photos without context, are a warning sign, not a sign of quality. A serious clinic talks about indications, limits and what is reasonable to expect in your case.
7. There is follow-up
Ask whether there is a review after the treatment, who looks after you if a problem arises and how to get in touch. Aesthetic medicine also has complications, even if they are uncommon, and what makes the difference is that someone answers.
Warning signs
- Offers with an expiry date or discounts for deciding today.
- Injectable treatments outside a healthcare centre, at home or at an event.
- Products with no name or batch number, or that they will not tell you about.
- Not being asked about your health before being treated.
- Before-and-after photos without context, or promises such as "risk-free" or "guaranteed results".
And how you feel in the consultation
If you leave in a hurry, under pressure to decide or without having understood what was suggested, it is reasonable to ask for a second opinion. A good assessment leaves you with more clarity, not more doubts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if an aesthetic medicine clinic is licensed?
Look for its health registration number on the website or at the clinic, and check that it matches that address and includes the aesthetic medicine unit (U.48). If in doubt, you can ask your regional health department.
Who can carry out an injectable treatment?
The indication is medical, and the treatment must be carried out in a licensed healthcare centre by qualified healthcare professionals, under medical responsibility.
Is it normal not to get a price without an assessment?
Yes. For many treatments the price depends on the area, the product and the amount, and that is only known after an examination. What is not normal is being asked to decide on the spot.
Is it normal for a beauty salon to offer me injectables?
No. Injectables are indicated and administered in a licensed healthcare centre, not in a beauty salon without a healthcare licence.
Where is Harmony by Agas?
We see patients in Coslada (C/ de los Almendros, 3) and Torrelodones (C. Juan Van-Halen, 9), inside Clínicas FAMED. Details for each clinic are on aesthetic medicine in Coslada and aesthetic medicine in Torrelodones, and you can write to us through the contact form.
This article is for general information. It does not replace an individual medical assessment.
