What is a licensed health facility?
It is a facility authorised or licensed to provide health services under Ministry of Health regulations. There are different types, such as private practices, polyclinics, medical centres and hospitals.
In Türkiye, facilities that provide health services are subject to different rules depending on their type. The type of licence can affect which services may be offered, which staff and equipment must be in place and how the facility is inspected. These rules can change over time and their details are set by regulation. This page does not cite specific regulation articles and is not a substitute for legal advice.
What matters for you as a patient is that the place where you are treated is licensed as a health facility and that your treatment falls within its scope. Beauty salons, spas and similar businesses are generally subject to different rules and are not regarded as suitable settings for medical injections. If you are unsure, you can ask the facility directly and check the current official sources of the Turkish Ministry of Health.
How does a licensed setting contribute to safety?
Having rules on hygiene, sterilisation, clinical waste, record-keeping, product storage and emergency preparedness helps make risk more predictable and manageable.
Injections should be given under sterile conditions, with single-use equipment, and clinical waste should be separated properly. Some products, such as botulinum toxin, need to be stored at specific temperatures. In a licensed health facility these processes follow set standards and can be inspected. Keeping patient records also means it is possible to trace later which product, from which batch and in what quantity, was used for you.
In rare but serious complications, time matters. If a blocked blood vessel is suspected after filler, the doctor needs immediate access to the necessary medicines and supplies; in an allergic reaction, emergency equipment needs to be ready. A licensed facility is expected to have such preparations in place. This does not mean complications will never happen, but it helps ensure that if they do, they can be managed quickly and appropriately.
How can you ask about a clinic's licence?
You can ask what type of health facility the clinic is licensed as, whether your treatment will take place there and who the responsible doctor is. These are normal and reasonable questions.
Many health facilities display their licence or permit in a visible place. Asking for the facility's name, type and responsible doctor is sensible, especially if it is your first visit or you are booking from abroad. If you cannot get clear answers, or you are told the treatment will take place at a different address, it is reasonable to ask for an explanation. In areas with many options, such as Şişli and Nişantaşı, asking early can make your decision easier.
There may be official ways to check a facility's licence status. Because these can change over time, current information should be obtained from the official channels of the Turkish Ministry of Health and the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate. These sources are mainly in Turkish, so international patients may prefer to ask the clinic to provide its details in writing. If you notice any inconsistency, postponing and asking for a written explanation are reasonable steps.
What are the risks of treatment outside a health facility?
At home, in a hotel or in a beauty salon, sterile conditions, product origin, record-keeping and access to emergency care may be uncertain. This can increase the risk of infection and of complications being recognised late.
Injections at home visits or group events may seem convenient, but it is difficult to maintain proper hygiene and sterilisation in these settings. Where the product came from, how it was stored and which batch it belongs to are often unknown. If a complication occurs, the necessary medicines and equipment may not be immediately available, and reaching the person who carried out the treatment afterwards, or arranging follow-up, can also be harder.
If you have a problem after treatment outside a health facility, do not hesitate to see a doctor. Explaining where, when and with which product the treatment was done, as far as you know, will help the assessment. With symptoms such as a change in vision, severe pain or a change in skin colour, go to the nearest emergency department. In that situation, getting treatment comes before anything else, wherever you are.
What else can you look for in a licensed clinic?
You can look at the time given to the consultation, how thoroughly your health history is taken, the consent process, whether product details are shared and how you can reach the clinic afterwards.
A licence is an important condition for safe treatment, but it is not the only one. Equally important is how the facility handles patient safety in day-to-day practice. A detailed health history, a clear explanation of risks and alternatives, time to read the consent form and the product name and batch number being recorded in your notes are among the practical signs of this approach that you can observe for yourself.
How your personal data and photographs are stored and for what purposes they may be used are also fair questions. Clear information on whom to contact after treatment, when your review will be and what to do in an emergency, including once you are back in your home country, is part of a trusting relationship. These details show that a facility treats safety as an ongoing process rather than simply a certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Can Botox be done in a private doctor's practice?
Which procedures may be carried out in which type of health facility is set by regulation and can change over time. For current information, refer to the official sources of the Turkish Ministry of Health.
Is it safe to have filler in a beauty salon?
Filler is a medical treatment and is expected to be carried out by an authorised doctor in a licensed health facility. Outside a health facility, sterile conditions and access to emergency care may be uncertain.
Is it safe to have Botox at home or in a hotel?
Hygiene, product storage, record-keeping and emergency care may not be assured in these settings. For this reason, medical aesthetic treatments are recommended to take place in a licensed health facility.
Is it appropriate to ask to see a clinic's licence?
Yes. Asking about the type of facility, its licence and the responsible doctor is a normal question, and you should receive a clear answer.
Where can I raise a concern?
A sensible first step is to speak to the facility and your doctor. Official routes also exist; to find out which authority is responsible, check the current sources of the Turkish Ministry of Health and the provincial health directorate.
How can I tell whether a clinic follows hygiene rules?
You can observe some hygiene signs yourself: needle and cannula packs opened in front of you, gloves being worn, the skin cleaned with an antiseptic solution before treatment and used needles placed in a sharps container. A clean, orderly treatment room is also a sign. Not every sterilisation step is visible, so if you think one has been skipped, it is normal to ask.
Can the clinic use my photos for other purposes?
Photos taken for consultation and follow-up are health data and should only be used for the purposes clearly explained to you. Using your photos for promotion, teaching or social media requires your separate explicit consent; you do not have to give it, and declining should not affect your treatment. You can also ask how your photos are stored and who can access them.
I am travelling to Istanbul for treatment. How can I check the clinic before I book?
Before booking from abroad, ask in writing for the facility's full name, type and address and the name of the doctor who will treat you, then check these through the Ministry of Health's official sources. Facilities serving international patients may also need additional authorisation. Ask in advance how treatment and review will fit a short trip and whom to contact once you are home.
What records can I ask the clinic for after treatment?
After treatment you can ask for the product name, batch number, treatment date and area, ideally the amount used, and a written summary of the aftercare instructions. A copy of the consent form you signed and details of your review appointment can be added. These records help plan your next treatment correctly and allow another doctor to assess a possible side effect.
Sources (4)
- T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı: Ayakta Teşhis ve Tedavi Yapılan Özel Sağlık Kuruluşları Hakkında Yönetmelik (Resmî Gazete 19.04.2025, sayı 32875) (2025)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Choose a Plastic Surgeon You Can Trust
- NHS (UK): Choosing who will do your cosmetic procedure
- MHRA: MHRA crackdown on illegal 'Botox' after victims left seriously ill (2025)
This content is for general information and does not replace a personal medical assessment.