Anyone thinking about having an aesthetic procedure for the first time faces a problem: almost every clinic website sounds the same. Experienced, empathetic, state-of-the-art technology, natural results. How are you supposed to make a distinction based on that?

This post is not a recommendation list and does not mention any names. It describes which criteria are actually reliable – and which signals give reason to look elsewhere. Even if you end up choosing a different clinic in the end.

The most important point: The specialist title

The professional title "cosmetic surgeon" (Schönheitschirurg) is not protected in Germany. On its own, it says nothing about training or qualification. Specialist titles are protected – and these are tied to several years of further training followed by a specialist examination.

Look out for:

Specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery. The complete further training in the specialty, six years after medical school.

Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – also a relevant qualification for procedures in the facial area.

Specialist in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (ENT) with the additional designation Plastic Operations – particularly relevant for nose surgeries.

Phrasings such as "specialist in aesthetic medicine", "certified user" or "expert in aesthetics" do not replace a specialist title. They may apply and yet say nothing about surgical training.

How to check it yourself: The Medical Association of North Rhine maintains a public register of doctors. The specialist title must be mentioned on the clinic website – if there is only a first name and "your specialist for...", that is already a piece of information in itself.

How to recognize the clinic, not just the doctor

Is it a licensed clinic or a practice? Inpatient procedures require a license according to § 30 of the Trade Regulations (Gewerbeordnung). This is relevant if you are staying overnight after the operation.

Who administers the anesthesia? For procedures under general anesthesia, a specialist in anesthesiology should be present – not the surgeon themselves, not an assistant.

How is post-operative care organized? Fixed follow-up appointments, a reachable number in case something happens at night, and a clear statement of who is responsible in the event of complications. This sounds trivial, but it is the point where clinics differ most clearly.

Is the operating surgeon named beforehand? You should know who is operating before the procedure – and you should have seen this person during the consultation.

The consultation is the actual test

The initial consultation reveals more than any website. Pay attention to five things.

1. Are you advised against it? Good advice sometimes ends with the conclusion that a procedure is not sensible – or not yet. Anyone who advises you to do everything you want has not taken the findings seriously.

2. Are risks discussed before you ask? Informing you about complications is a duty, not a courtesy. It should come naturally and not be treated as a formality.

3. Do you receive a written breakdown of costs? With all items: surgery, anesthesia, materials, post-operative care, and overnight stay if applicable. Costs appearing after the fact are a bad sign.

4. Is there time to think? There must be sufficient time between the consultation and the procedure. Anyone offering you a surgery date for next week during the initial consultation is shortening a period that exists for your protection.

5. How is the result discussed? Reputable statements are cautious and name limits. Anyone who guarantees you a specific outcome is promising something that no one can guarantee medically.

Warning signs

• Time pressure and discounts. "This week only", "summer special", "early bird price". A surgical procedure is not a promotional deal.

• Price as the main argument. Conspicuously cheap packages usually cut corners on anesthesia, post-operative care, or the stay.

• No personal preliminary consultation. Advice exclusively by phone or form, assessment of findings only on the day of surgery.

• Down payment before the consultation.

• No specialist title on the website.

• Advertising with before-and-after pictures. For surgical plastic-surgery procedures, this is prohibited in Germany under § 11 of the Therapeutic Products Advertising Act (Heilmittelwerbegesetz). Anyone advertising with them is operating in a gray area at the very least.

• Lack of clarity about who is operating.

Regarding offers abroad

Procedures abroad are often significantly cheaper, and many go smoothly. Nevertheless, you should consider two points.

Post-operative care. The procedure is the shorter part of the treatment. Check-ups, removing stitches, wound care, and the question of who can be reached if something is wrong after ten days – none of this takes place where the surgery was performed.

The event of complications. If a revision becomes necessary, it is more complex and expensive than the original procedure. Typically, no one bears these costs except you.

This is not an argument against treatments abroad. It is an argument for comparing the total costs and not just the price of the surgery.

What reviews say – and what they don't

Review portals are a starting point, but a weak one. Satisfied patients rarely write reviews, unsatisfied ones do so more often, and a portion of reviews do not occur naturally.

More meaningful than the number of stars is the content of the texts. Pay attention to whether specific processes are described – consultation, information, post-operative care, accessibility. And read the critical reviews in particular: how a clinic responds to criticism often says more than twenty positive entries. You can find our own collected patient reviews on our website.

What you should bring with you

A good consultation is not a one-way street. Prepare:

• What exactly is bothering you? Not the method you want, but the problem. The method will follow from that.

• Your medications, especially blood thinners, and known pre-existing conditions.

• Previous operations in the affected area.

• Your realistic downtime. Some procedures do not fit into every phase of life.

• Your questions, written down. You forget half of them during the conversation.

And give yourself permission to go home after the consultation and decide nothing. A clinic that is not happy with this has already given you its answer.

The FORUM Clinic in Cologne

We are a specialist clinic for plastic and aesthetic surgery in Cologne's MediaPark. If you would like to find your bearings: a consultation with us is exactly that – a conversation. We look at the findings, tell you what is possible and what is not, and then you go home and think about it in peace.

Even if you decide on another clinic in the end. You can find out more about our team and our qualifications here.

FORUM Klinik

Im MediaPark 4d, 50670 Köln

0221 - 49 29 19-10

You can arrange a personal consultation at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is "cosmetic surgeon" a protected professional title?

No. Any licensed doctor is allowed to call themselves this. Only specialist titles such as "Specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery" are protected.

How do I recognize if a doctor is truly a specialist?

The title must be stated on the website. In addition, the responsible medical association maintains a public register. If in doubt, ask directly during the consultation – a clear answer to this is a matter of course.

How much should a consultation cost?

Many clinics charge a fee, which is offset against a subsequent procedure. This is common and not a warning sign. You should pay attention if a down payment for the surgery itself is demanded before the consultation.

How long should I wait between the consultation and the surgery?

There is no rigid timeframe, but there must be sufficient time to think between the consultation and the procedure. A few days are not enough. Use the time – also for a second opinion elsewhere.

Is a second opinion worth it?

For major procedures, almost always. Two independent assessments will show you which statements are factually justified and which are sales pitches. You should view a clinic that advises you against this with particular skepticism.