Are you considering a hair transplant in Spain? You are far from being an isolated case: due to its proximity, the country is one of the popular medical tourism destinations for French people looking to treat their baldness. However, since July 1, 2026, the rules have changed on the other side of the Pyrenees... and a hair clinic should not be chosen based solely on a before/after video. To help you gain clarity, we have listed 7 checks to make before committing.
Since July 1, 2026, a royal decree requires Spanish health centers to ensure that care is continuously provided by professionals holding the appropriate official qualifications. Facilities have until January 1, 2027 to update the records of each of their caregivers, including diplomas and specialties.
The text does not mention hair transplants or cosmetic surgery. However, the Spanish Ministry of Health has presented it as a way to better delineate who can perform these procedures, after identifying risks associated with unqualified personnel.
The stakes are high: in 62.5% of the most serious incidents reported to the Spanish Ministry in 2024, a factor related to professionals (training, skills...) played a role.
For an overview of the Spanish healthcare framework, you can consult the file from SpainHairIndex on the safety of hair transplants.
Note: this decree strengthens the obligations of clinics, but it does not guarantee the outcome of a transplant or follow-up once back in France.
Before comparing clinics, have your scalp examined by a doctor in France, ideally a dermatologist. Only they can identify the cause of hair loss and determine if a hair transplant makes sense in your case.
The most common cause in men remains androgenetic alopecia, hereditary and hormonal baldness. It affects about 30% of men over 30, half of them by age 50, and up to 80% after 70 (these figures vary by ethnicity).
However, hair loss can also be related to an illness, pregnancy, or treatment, as some medications cause hair loss. In this case, a transplant will not solve anything.
Another point not to overlook is age. Among hair transplant specialists, 95% of patients undergoing their first procedure in 2024 were between 20 and 35 years old, an age where baldness can still progress... and reveal thinning areas around the transplanted hair.
In Spain, the qualifications of a healthcare professional can be verified online in the REPS, the national registry of healthcare professionals managed by the Ministry of Health. You will find their name, official titles, and the public or private centers where they practice.
The search can be done by name, center, or province. It's simple... but not infallible! The registry is still being updated, and not all practicing healthcare professionals are listed.
An absent name is therefore not necessarily suspicious. It rather invites you to check the doctor's registration with their professional order, information that the REPS does not make public.
Some regions go further: in Castile-La Mancha, a decree from March 2026 requires the technical director of an aesthetic medicine center performing hair transplants to hold a dedicated university degree (at least 15 ECTS credits).
To practice medicine in Spain, registration with the Colegio de Médicos of one's province (the equivalent of our medical board) is mandatory. This can be verified online in the public register of registered physicians, which covers the entire country.
This register indicates, among other things, the practitioner's full name, their colegiado number, their specialty, their province of practice, and the status of their registration.
Good to know: the national number consists of 9 digits. The first two designate the current Colegio, the next two indicate the first registration, and the last five form an order number. If this number does not appear on the clinic's website, ask for it. A regularly registered physician has no reason to hide it.
In Spain, no clinic, public or private, can open or operate without the administrative authorization of its autonomous community. To verify this, the Ministry of Health publishes the REGCESS, a register of authorized health centers that is accessible to everyone.
Another reflex: a center that advertises its services must, in principle, display the registration number assigned by the health authority of its region. No visible number? Ask for it, then verify it.
Without falling into naivety, keep in mind that a well-maintained decor or enthusiastic reviews do not replace official authorization. On the internet, the offerings sometimes resemble a real jumble, and only the register is authoritative.
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure, and surgical actions are the responsibility of the physician, starting with the harvesting of grafts and the opening of implantation sites. Therefore, clearly ask who will do what on the day of the procedure, and how many patients will be operated on at the same time. It may seem obvious... but it's better to get the answer in writing.
The question is not trivial. In an international survey published in 2025, 59% of the specialist doctors surveyed reported "black market" clinics in their city, compared to 51% in 2021. The principle of these structures? To operate on patients without the genuine involvement of a physician.
In Spain, performing medical acts without the required diploma is considered a crime of intrusion. Be wary of vague answers about the team as well.
A serious quote is written, detailed, and personalized. As for the reflection period, take it even if no one imposes it on you, as the French rule of a minimum of 15 days between the quote and the intervention does not apply to a clinic located in Spain.
Remember that a good quote mentions at least:
the name of the doctor who will perform the procedurethe technique used (FUE, DHI...) and the number of grafts plannedwhat is included (anesthesia, post-operative care, follow-up consultations) and what is notthe clinic's professional liability insurancethe cancellation conditions and the fate of any deposit
In Spain, consent for a surgical procedure is also given in writing, with sufficient information about its risks.
Finally, avoid giving in to a time-limited promotion or a deposit requested before any consultation. In France, no amount can be demanded during the reflection period, except for consultation fees. A good guideline, even abroad!
Before leaving the clinic, request a written operative report and a copy of your medical record. In Spain, patients have the right to access their clinical file and obtain a copy, and these documents will allow a doctor in France to ensure your follow-up care.
Also, schedule some follow-up appointments upon your return. And be patient: the results of a transplant typically stabilize only between 12 and 18 months after the procedure.
A hair transplant for purely aesthetic purposes is not covered by Health Insurance, and the directly related care is also not reimbursed. In case of a dispute with a Spanish clinic, the European Consumer Centre France can advise you for free.
Only genuine medical complications can change the reimbursement situation, so consult your CPAM before leaving. For any potential recourse, keep quotes, invoices, written exchanges, and dated photos.
You understand: a hair transplant in Spain requires preparation like any surgical procedure, with time and checks. No decree will carry out these checks for you!
Colegio de Médicos: the Spanish Medical Association, organized by province. Registration is mandatory to practice.REPS: the Spanish national registry of healthcare professionals, which gradually lists their degrees and places of practice.REGCESS: the general registry of authorized health centers, services, and establishments in Spain.FUE and DHI: two hair transplant techniques. FUE extracts follicular units one by one from the donor area, while DHI reimplants them using an implantation pen.
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