Karachi has never had more aesthetic clinics, and choosing one has never been harder. Lists of the best clinics in the city are easy to find, but most are compiled by the clinics themselves or by whoever paid to be included. A better approach is to know what separates a safe, skilled clinic from a busy one, and to ask the right questions before you book anything.
These are the questions a dermatologist would ask on your behalf.
1. Who will actually perform the treatment?
Ask for a name and a role. Injectables such as botox and fillers, deeper peels and most laser settings should be decided and, for injectables, performed by a qualified doctor. A beautiful reception area tells you nothing about who holds the syringe.
2. Is the doctor registered with the PM&DC?
Every practising doctor in Pakistan should be registered with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. You can check a doctor’s registration yourself on the council’s website. For skin treatments, a qualification in dermatology matters more than a certificate from a weekend course.
3. Is the device genuine?
Laser and energy devices are expensive, and imitations are common. Genuine systems such as Candela, Fotona, BTL and HydraFacial have serial numbers, and several manufacturers list approved clinics in online provider finders. Ask which device will be used, then check that the clinic appears on the manufacturer’s website.
4. Are the injectables and products registered?
Botulinum toxin, fillers and injectable products should be registered with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and bought through authorised distributors. A clinic should be comfortable showing you the box and batch number before treatment.
5. Will I have a proper consultation first?
A good clinic diagnoses before it treats. That means examining your skin, asking about medications, pregnancy and past treatments, and explaining why a particular treatment suits you. Be wary of anywhere that books you straight into a package.
6. Do they have experience with brown skin?
Pakistani skin tans easily and is prone to pigmentation after heat or injury. The wrong laser wavelength or an aggressive peel can leave dark patches that take months to fade. Ask how settings are adjusted for your skin type and what the clinic does to prevent pigmentation.
7. Are the before and after photos real?
Look for photos taken in the same lighting and position, with consent, and ideally credited as the clinic’s own patients or the device manufacturer’s clinical images. Heavily filtered photos, or pictures that appear on several different clinics’ pages, are a warning sign.
8. What happens if something goes wrong?
Complications are uncommon but real: allergic reactions, burns, infection or a filler blocking a blood vessel. Ask whether a doctor is on site, whether emergency medication such as hyaluronidase and adrenaline is kept in the clinic, and who you call after hours.
9. Will they tell you when not to have a treatment?
The most trustworthy clinics turn patients away or recommend something smaller than the patient asked for. If every answer is yes, and every problem needs the most expensive package, the advice is commercial rather than medical.
10. Is the pricing clear before you start?
You should know the full cost of a course, not only the first session, before treatment begins, including follow-ups and any products you will need at home. Unusually low prices usually mean a cheaper product, a less qualified operator or a device that is not what it claims to be.
A short checklist to take with you
- Name and qualifications of the person treating you
- PM&DC registration, checked online
- Device brand, and the clinic listed on the manufacturer’s site
- Product box and batch number for injectables
- A consultation before any treatment
- Emergency plan and medication on site
- Written aftercare and a named contact for follow-up
How Dr. Fehmida Arif’s clinic answers these questions
Dr. Fehmida Arif is a consultant dermatologist, MBBS and MCPS, with more than thirty-five years in dermatology, five of them in Zurich, and a clinic in Clifton since 1999. Every treatment starts with her diagnosis, injectables are given by a doctor, and the clinic’s devices are genuine systems from manufacturers including Candela, Fotona, BTL and HydraFacial, chosen for how they perform on brown skin. The clinic will tell you when a treatment is not right for you.
To start with a consultation, message the clinic on WhatsApp or visit D200, Block 5, Clifton.
Consultant Dermatologist and Laser Skin Specialist, MBBS, MCPS. Over 35 years in dermatology, five of them in Zurich, practising in Clifton, Karachi since 1999.
About Dr. Fehmida →
