Produced in partnership with Melton Aesthetics Clinic Kenya. The safety checklist is Nchiwise's own and applies to any clinic. How we label sponsored content
Skin and beauty treatments in Nairobi: how to choose a safe clinic, with Melton Aesthetics Clinic
More Kenyans are booking peels, laser and anti-ageing treatments. Here is the difference between dermatology and aesthetics, the checks every patient should make before a procedure, and a look inside Melton Aesthetics Clinic in Nairobi.
- New partner explainer: how to choose a safe skin and aesthetics clinic, with Melton Aesthetics Clinic.
Skin care has become big business in Kenya. Clinics offering acne treatment, chemical peels, laser hair removal and anti-ageing procedures have opened across Nairobi, and social media is full of before-and-after videos. Melton Aesthetics Clinic Kenya, on Ngong Road, is one of the doctor-led clinics in this space.
Whichever clinic you choose, a few checks can protect your skin, your money and your health.
Dermatology or aesthetics: what is the difference?
| Dermatology | Aesthetics | |
|---|---|---|
| Main aim | Diagnose and treat skin, hair and nail conditions | Improve how skin looks |
| Typical concerns | Acne, eczema, fungal infections, hair loss, suspicious moles | Dark spots, uneven tone, fine lines, scars, unwanted hair |
| Typical treatments | Prescription creams and medicines, minor procedures | Chemical peels, microneedling, laser, facials, injectables |
| Who should lead | A registered doctor, ideally a dermatologist | Trained, registered staff, with a doctor overseeing medical procedures |
Many clinics, including aesthetics clinics, offer both. The key question is not the name on the door but who does the procedure and whether the facility is licensed for it.
Why safety checks matter
In November 2024, after a patient died following a cosmetic procedure at a Nairobi clinic, the Ministry of Health ordered the closure of unregistered aesthetic clinics and beauty spas and directed the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to act. Inspectors visited 26 aesthetic clinics and 102 beauty spas in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Eldoret.
Beauty spas were also told they may not offer or advertise invasive medical procedures unless they are registered, inspected and licensed.
Seven checks before any treatment
- Is the facility licensed? Ask to see its current licence. Medical facilities and doctors are registered with the KMPDC, which publishes its registers on its website, kmpdc.go.ke.
- Who will treat you? Get the name and qualifications of the person doing the procedure, and check that a doctor oversees anything that breaks the skin or uses prescription products.
- Is there a proper consultation first? A good clinic assesses your skin type and medical history, and tells you when a treatment is not right for you.
- Are risks explained in writing? You should sign a consent form that lists side effects, recovery time and the total cost.
- Is the room clean and equipped? Single-use needles, sterile tools and an emergency kit should be standard.
- What products are used? Ask what is going on your skin and whether it is approved for sale in Kenya.
- What is the aftercare plan? Know who to call if something goes wrong, and when your follow-up visit is.
A warning on skin-lightening products
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has banned many skin-lightening creams, lotions and soaps containing mercury, hydroquinone, steroids or hormones outside medical use, warning that they can cause skin disease and other harm. Medicines containing these substances must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and used under medical advice. If a seller promises dramatic lightening from an unlabelled jar, walk away.
Inside Melton Aesthetics Clinic
Melton Dermatology & Aesthetics Clinic Kenya describes itself as a doctor-led, Level 2 medical facility on Ngong Road, Nairobi, where every treatment is done under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor. It says it has been operating for more than five years.
| Item | Detail (as stated by the clinic) |
|---|---|
| Location | Marsabit Plaza, Ngong Road, Nairobi |
| Skin and dermatology care | Acne management, melasma (dark patches) correction, scar revision, skin resurfacing, chemical peels |
| Aesthetic treatments | Medical facials, hydration therapy, non-invasive anti-ageing, dermal fillers, PRP therapies, microneedling, non-invasive body contouring |
| Hair | Hair restoration |
| Reviews | Rated 5.0 from 43 Google reviews, as shown on its website on 5 November 2026 |
| Contact | Phone and WhatsApp +254 729 736 719 · info@meltonaestheticsclinic.com · meltonaestheticsclinic.com · Instagram @meltonclinickenya |
The clinic says every plan starts with a consultation, which is the first thing to ask for anywhere. Watch four of its short videos below. Before any procedure, at Melton or elsewhere, run through the seven checks above.
Related: what SHA covers · another health explainer: chicken and food safety.
Watch the videos
Sources
- Melton Aesthetics Clinic Kenya: home and about pages (accessed 5 Nov 2026)
- Ministry orders closure of unregistered aesthetic clinics after uproar, The Standard
- Kenya review finds mixed compliance in aesthetic clinics, Healthcare MEA
- KEBS cautions Kenyans against using banned skin-lightening products, KNA
