How to Choose an Aesthetic Medicine Clinic in Lisbon: A Patient Guide

The most common question we receive before a first appointment is not about treatments — it is about trust. "How do I know the clinic is good?" There is no single answer, but there are six questions any serious aesthetic medicine clinic answers without hesitation. This guide covers all of them.

Aesthetic medicine in Lisbon has grown rapidly over the past five years. That growth brought clinics of genuine quality alongside clinics operating in regulatory grey areas. The difference is not always visible in the decor or the price — it shows in what happens before, during, and after the treatment. For background on what the treatments themselves involve, see our English-speaking clinic page or our guide to Botox treatments.

Criterion 1: Who performs the treatment — and what their legal qualification is

In Portugal, the injection of botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid fillers are medical acts. Only a doctor with an active registration at the Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos) is legally qualified to prescribe and administer them. Nurses, beauticians, aesthetic technicians, and "aesthetic specialists" without a medical degree do not have legal authorisation, regardless of the training or certificates they may present.

Before booking any consultation, ask directly:

• Will the treatment be performed by a doctor?
• What is the doctor's specialty and how many years have they been practising aesthetic medicine?
• What is the medical registration number? (verifiable at ordemdosmedicos.pt)

A serious clinic answers these questions before you book. One that refuses, deflects, or minimises them is telling you something worth knowing.

A note for expats: why English-speaking doctors matter

For international patients living in or visiting Lisbon, an English-speaking doctor is more than a convenience. The medical consultation requires discussing your health history, current medications, allergies, previous treatments (including at other clinics), expectations, and concerns in precise terms. Imprecise communication during a medical assessment introduces avoidable risk. Misunderstood contraindications, unclear expectations, and ambiguous consent are not minor administrative issues.

At Cosmo Clinic, consultations are available in English and Portuguese. Our team treats a significant number of expat patients — British, American, French, German — and the clinical conversation is conducted in the patient's preferred language.

Criterion 2: Regulatory registration — ERS and INFARMED

Any establishment providing healthcare in Portugal is required to register with the ERS (Entidade Reguladora da Saúde — Health Regulatory Authority). You can verify at ers.pt whether any clinic is registered. The absence of registration is not an administrative omission — it means the clinic does not meet the minimum legal requirements to operate.

In parallel, the products used — botulinum toxins, hyaluronic acid for fillers, biostimulators — must carry INFARMED authorisation or notification. The product must be traceable: brand, lot number, expiry date. A clinic using product without traceability, imported through unofficial channels, is exposing the patient to real clinical risk: inconsistent potency, contamination, or counterfeit product.

Ask, in writing:

• Is the clinic registered with ERS? (Ask for the registration number)
• Which brand of product is used and what is its sourcing chain?
• Does the product carry INFARMED authorisation? Can I see the lot number and expiry?

Criterion 3: The initial consultation — what must happen before any treatment

A medical initial consultation is not a formality. It is the moment when the doctor assesses the facial anatomy, reviews the medical history, identifies contraindications, understands expectations, and constructs an appropriate plan. A quality consultation includes:

• Complete medical history: general health, current medications, allergies, previous treatments (including at other clinics), and expectations.
• Anatomical assessment: facial structure, muscle tone, soft tissue volume, existing asymmetries.
• Standardised clinical photography: a pre-treatment record that serves as the reference point for assessing outcome.
• Written treatment plan: what will be done, with what product, at approximately what dose, and the closed price.
• Informed consent: a document that explains the procedure, the risks, and the alternatives.

If a clinic does not require a prior medical consultation, or if the consultation lasts less than ten minutes and ends in an immediate purchase offer, those are relevant signals about what to expect from the treatment itself.

Criterion 4: Price transparency — what is included

The price of an aesthetic treatment in Lisbon varies considerably between clinics. Part of that variation is legitimate (product brand, doctor experience, location). Part of it reflects differences in what the quoted price actually includes.

Before comparing two prices, establish what each one covers:

• Is the initial consultation included, or charged separately?
• Is the 14–15-day touch-up included, or billed additionally?
• Is a follow-up assessment part of the price?
• Is billing per area, per unit, or a mixed model?

A price of €150 covering only the injection and a price of €220 covering consultation, certified product, application, and touch-up are not comparable. The total cost of the second may be lower than the first once everything is calculated.

Criterion 5: What happens if something goes wrong

No serious clinic avoids this conversation. Complications in aesthetic medicine are rare when procedures are performed by experienced doctors using certified product, but they exist. The relevant question is not whether something can go wrong — it is what the clinic does when it does.

Ask:

• What is the protocol in case of asymmetry or insufficient outcome?
• Is the doctor available after the treatment to address questions?
• Does the clinic have an emergency protocol and appropriate equipment?
• In the event of an adverse reaction, who takes responsibility and how is it managed?

A clinic that answers these questions clearly and without defensiveness is demonstrating clinical maturity. One that deflects or minimises is demonstrating the opposite.

Criterion 6: Post-treatment follow-up

The relationship with the clinic does not end when you leave the treatment room. A properly conducted treatment includes:

• Written post-treatment care instructions (what to avoid in the first hours and days).
• A contact available for questions in the first 48–72 hours.
• A 14–15-day review: checking the outcome, assessing for asymmetries, and performing a touch-up if needed.
• A realistic maintenance plan: how often to repeat, what changes over time.

A clinic that disappears after the treatment is not offering medicine — it is offering a procedure. The difference matters, particularly if a question or an unexpected result emerges.

Red flags — what to avoid

Regardless of what a clinic claims about itself, these are concrete signals that something is not right:

• Pressure to decide on the day of the consultation. A serious medical consultation does not include a purchase deadline.
• Promotions on coupon sites or private social media groups. The acquisition cost of certified product does not allow margins sufficient for discounts of this size without sacrificing quality or quantity.
• No pre-treatment photography. Without a record, there is no reference for outcome assessment.
• Refusal to identify the treating doctor. The doctor who will perform the procedure must be identified by name and specialty before booking.
• Guaranteed result promises. In medicine, no outcome is guaranteed. A clinic that promises specific results is not being honest about individual variability.
• Premises without adequate clinical facilities. Hair salons, gyms, private homes. The infection risk and the absence of an emergency protocol are real.

What a good consultation actually looks like

A quality first consultation in aesthetic medicine typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. The doctor asks questions before making proposals. Assesses the face with care and attention. Explains the reasoning behind the plan. Presents the closed price in writing before any booking. Does not pressure you to treat on the same day. Accepts that you may want to think, compare, and return.

If at the end of a consultation you feel informed, unpressured, and clear on the plan — that is a good sign. If you feel sold to, rushed, or confused — that is another.

At Cosmo Clinic, in Lisbon, the initial consultation is free and without commitment. The objective is to assess whether a treatment is appropriate for you, not to sell the treatment. If the assessment indicates that a different approach would serve you better, we say so. Book your consultation here.