“Doctor, I think they ruined my face.”
Andrea arrived at ALMO Clinic on a Tuesday afternoon with a visibly asymmetric face. Three weeks earlier she had gotten fillers at an “aesthetic clinic” in the zona rosa that offered prices 60% cheaper than average.
The result: one of her cheekbones was noticeably higher than the other, she had palpable lumps on both cheeks, and the skin around the injection site showed signs of chronic inflammation.
“I saw their Instagram photos and it seemed like a serious place. They had thousands of followers,” she explained while pointing to the irregularities on her face.
I see this story monthly. In my 15 years correcting aesthetic medicine complications, I’ve identified that 8 out of 10 serious cases come from centers that appear to be medical clinics but operate as beauty salons.
I’ll explain exactly how to distinguish a serious clinic from one that can permanently ruin your face.
Evaluating aesthetic clinics in Bogotá? Find out why we’re different →
The reality of aesthetic medicine in Bogotá
In our city, more than 300 centers operate offering “aesthetic treatments.” But only approximately 40 are certified as real medical institutions with specialists specifically trained in aesthetic medicine.
The rest are adaptations of beauty salons, general medicine offices, or commercial spaces that hire doctors by the hour to apply products without specialized supervision.
The difference isn’t just quality. It’s basic safety.
During my Fellowship in aesthetic medicine in Europe, I learned biosafety standards that many centers here don’t even know about. When I returned to Colombia and began seeing complications from other places, I understood why in developed countries aesthetic medicine has a completely different reputation.
Want treatment with European standards in Bogotá? Schedule specialized consultation →
The signs that never fail to identify a serious clinic
Specialists with specific university training
This is the most critical difference and the easiest to verify.
A real aesthetic medicine specialist has at least two years of specific postgraduate training after finishing general medicine. In Colombia, this means specialization in Aesthetic Medicine, residency in Dermatology, or specialization in Plastic Surgery with additional training.
When I asked Andrea about the training of the doctor who treated her, she told me: “He said he was an aesthetic medicine specialist, but when I asked where he had studied, he was vague in his response.”
It turned out he was a general practitioner who had taken a weekend course on filler application.
The specific question you should always ask: “Where did you complete your university specialization in aesthetic medicine and how many years did it last?”
If they avoid the answer, change the subject, or mention “certifications” from short courses, leave immediately.
Facilities that meet hospital standards
Aesthetic medicine, even when outpatient, requires biosafety standards similar to those of an operating room.
This includes autoclave for instrument sterilization, documented disinfection protocols, biological waste disposal systems, and current certification with the Health Department.
Andrea told me the place where she was treated “looked more like a spa than a medical clinic.” She didn’t see sterilization equipment, staff wore beauty salon uniforms, and they never asked for her medical history.
At ALMO Clinic, our operating rooms are certified with HEPA systems and international protocols. Every patient can see our medical certifications at reception.
The difference isn’t cosmetic. It’s the difference between a controlled medical procedure and a commercial application without supervision.
Original products with documented traceability
Counterfeit or questionable fillers and toxins are a silent epidemic in Bogotá.
An original Juvéderm vial costs approximately $800,000 to the authorized supplier. If a clinic offers you the complete treatment for $600,000, mathematically it’s impossible they’re using original product.
Andrea’s case was exactly this. She paid $900,000 for “premium fillers” that turned out to be generic product of unknown origin. The correction of complications later cost her $3,200,000 and six months of treatment.
At ALMO Clinic we show the original vial to the patient before opening it, with security holograms and verifiable lot numbers. We also document the cold chain from supplier to application.
The three mistakes patients make when choosing
Mistake #1: Deciding solely on price
The lowest price almost always hides compromises in safety, staff training, product quality, or follow-up protocols.
A properly performed Botox application includes: 45-minute prior medical consultation, certified original product, personalized application technique according to facial anatomy, 30-day post-treatment follow-up, and immediate availability for any complications.
A cheap commercial application generally includes only: product application in 15 minutes without prior evaluation.
The cost difference reflects the difference in real medical service.
Mistake #2: Trusting flashy digital presence
Instagram and TikTok have become the main marketing tools for unregulated aesthetic centers.
Before/after photos (frequently edited), emotional testimonials, seemingly luxurious facilities, and thousands of followers can generate false confidence in places that don’t meet basic medical standards.
Andrea was a victim of exactly this. The Instagram account of the place had 50,000 followers and posted successful cases daily. What they didn’t show were the complications that arrived at my office every month.
The real digital presence of a serious clinic includes: detailed information about specialist training, visible medical certifications, documented cases with patient authorization, and transparency about possible risks and complications.
Mistake #3: Not verifying post-treatment follow-up
Aesthetic medicine doesn’t end when the patient leaves the consultation. The first 30 days are critical to identify any irregularities, adverse effects, or need for adjustments.
A serious clinic includes structured medical follow-up: 2-week control, immediate phone availability, clear protocol for complication management, and touch-up at no additional cost if necessary.
Commercial centers generally disappear after the procedure. Andrea tried to contact the place where she was treated when complications began, but they told her that “irregularities were normal” and that “they would correct themselves over time.”
Six months later, the irregularities worsened and required specialized medical intervention.
My protocol for evaluating a clinic before treatment
During years helping patients correct complications, I developed a specific protocol that anyone can apply before deciding where to get treated.
First visit: evaluation only
Never get any procedure done on the first consultation, regardless of offers or pressure you receive.
A serious clinic will always require prior medical evaluation, complete medical history, contraindication analysis, and personalized treatment plan. This process takes at least 45 minutes if done correctly.
During this consultation, observe: Do they take medical history? Do they explain specific risks? Do they show medical certifications? Do they let you see the product before applying? Do they include follow-up in the price?
Credential verification
Request to see directly: specialization diploma, certification with the Ministry of Health, membership in scientific societies (SCME, ASOCOLDERMA), and clinic certification with the Health Department.
If they refuse to show any of these documents, leave immediately.
Facility evaluation
Observe if the facilities look like a medical office or an adapted beauty salon. Is there a visible autoclave? Does staff wear appropriate medical uniforms? Is there a documented disinfection protocol?
At ALMO Clinic, patients can tour our facilities during the first consultation to verify our biosafety standards.
The specific questions you should always ask
These three questions never fail to identify unregulated centers:
“Where can I verify your specific medical specialization?”
The answer should include specific university, years of program duration, and registration number with the Ministry of Health. Any vague or evasive answer is a warning sign.
“Can I see the original product before you open it?”
They should show you the original vial with security holograms, lot number, expiration date, and INVIMA certification. If they refuse or say it’s “already prepared,” it’s questionable product.
“What exactly does post-treatment follow-up include?”
The answer should specify: included controls, follow-up time, emergency availability, complication protocol, and touch-up policy.
Why we chose a different approach at ALMO Clinic
After correcting hundreds of complications from other centers, we decided that our main differentiator would be real medical safety, not attractive marketing.
Our specialists have verifiable specific university training. My Plastic Surgery specialization from Universidad Nacional plus European Fellowship in aesthetic medicine establishes standards that few centers in Bogotá can match.
Our facilities meet hospital protocols. Certified operating rooms, HEPA systems, international biosafety protocols, and waste disposal according to medical standards.
We only use certified original products. Each vial is shown to the patient before opening, with complete traceability from the authorized supplier to application.
We include real medical follow-up. 30 days of follow-up with immediate WhatsApp availability, included in-person controls, and structured protocol for any irregularities.
What I learned correcting complications
80% of the complications I see could have been avoided if patients had chosen centers with real medical certification from the beginning.
The correction cost is generally 3 to 5 times greater than a well-done treatment from the start. More importantly, some complications can generate permanent sequelae that no subsequent treatment can completely correct.
Andrea finally achieved satisfactory correction, but the process took six months, multiple procedures, and a total investment that exceeded $4,000,000. Her face regained symmetry, but retains some minor irregularities that didn’t exist before the initial treatment.
“I wish I had researched better from the beginning,” she told me at her last follow-up consultation. “The initial savings wasn’t worth everything I went through afterward.”
Your smartest decision
It’s not about choosing the most expensive clinic. It’s about choosing a clinic with real medical standards that prioritizes your safety over their commercial margins.
In aesthetic medicine, as in any medical procedure, the technical competence of the specialist and the quality of facilities completely determine the difference between a successful result and a complication that can affect your life.
Are you considering an aesthetic treatment in Bogotá? I invite you to apply this evaluation protocol at any center you consider, including ALMO Clinic.
An honest medical evaluation will give you complete clarity about what you really need, what options you have, and what’s the safest way to proceed.
Dr. Oscar Barón - Plastic Surgery Specialist
European Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine
ALMO Clinic - More than 8,000 procedures without serious complications
