The verdict in three sentences
For a plastic and aesthetic surgery practice in Montreux, choosing between a local agency and a remote studio depends mostly on three realities: a multilingual international patient base, tightly regulated before and after photos and a long consultation journey from first contact to surgery. A Riviera or Lausanne agency is the right call if you want in-person support and turnkey photography; a remote studio is enough if you drive the content and secure ownership of the domain, code and copy in the contract. The build budget then moves from roughly CHF 12,000 to 40,000 with an agency to a fixed grid of CHF 2,700 to 8,200.
What really weighs in the decision?
A surgery practice does not sell a quick treatment: it supports a decision that matures over several weeks. The site has to reassure, inform and filter inquiries. Here is a scoring grid out of 5 that we suggest filling in with your partner or practice manager for each provider you meet.
| Criterion (weight) | Riviera or Lausanne agency | Remote studio (Kolonell type) |
|---|---|---|
| In-person workshops (15%) | 5/5 | 2/5, video by default |
| Time-zone overlap (10%) | 5/5 | 4/5, project manager reachable in CET hours |
| Native FR and EN copy (20%) | 4/5 in French, English variable | 5/5 in French and English |
| Arabic or Russian version (10%) | Outsourced, on quote | Outsourced, on quote |
| Build price (20%) | CHF 12,000 to 40,000 | CHF 2,700 / 4,500 / 8,200 |
| Ownership of domain, code, copy (15%) | To negotiate in the contract | To negotiate in the contract |
| Photo and video shoot (10%) | Often included | Local photographer to book, CHF 1,200 to 2,800 per day |
Price ranges are 2026 ballpark figures based on typical agency quotes and public rate pages around Lake Geneva. A regional freelancer usually charges CHF 5,000 to 14,000, with a higher availability risk.
What should a Montreux aesthetic surgery website include?
- Detailed procedure pages: eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, facelift, breast surgery, liposuction. For each: indications, steps, anaesthesia, length of stay, recovery, risks and follow-up. Prices can appear as an indicative range, or only after consultation.
- Consultation journey: a two-step form (concern, language, availability, then secure photo upload if you use it) and a link to your booking tool. Integration with a specific software is on quote.
- International patients: Montreux attracts patients from the Gulf, the UK and the rest of Europe. Plan a stay page (recovery accommodation, time before the flight home, remote follow-up) written without any promise of results.
- Medical advertising: in Switzerland, the Medical Professions Act requires advertising to be objective and not misleading, and advertising prescription-only medicines such as botulinum toxin to the public is prohibited. No guaranteed results, no brand promotion.
- Before and after: written, specific consent, unretouched photos, identical framing and a note that every result is individual.
- Health data: the nLPD, in force since September 2023, treats health data as sensitive data. Photos and medical forms should land in an encrypted space, with a record of processing activities and a clear privacy notice.
- Accessibility: target WCAG 2.1 AA, useful for an often older patient base and for screen reader users.
This is not legal advice. Have your procedure pages checked by your lawyer or your medical specialty society.
When is the local agency the better option?
Clearly so if you want to meet your contact every month in Montreux or Vevey, if no one can review and approve the copy, if you want a practice film shot and edited by the same team, or if your site has to talk to the information system of a partner clinic. It is also the better fit for a group with several sites that wants a long support contract.
A remote studio makes sense for a practice of one to three surgeons, a scope of 12 to 25 pages, one person able to approve within 48 hours and a local photographer you brief yourself. The packages are detailed on the international offer page.
What does each option cost over three years?
| Cost line over 3 years | Local agency | Remote studio (Kolonell Premium) |
|---|---|---|
| Build (FR, EN, 20 pages) | CHF 18,000 to 40,000 | CHF 8,200 |
| Arabic version (translation and RTL layout) | CHF 2,500 to 6,000 | On quote |
| Practice and team shoot | CHF 2,000 to 5,000 | CHF 1,500 to 4,000 booked directly |
| Secure hosting and domain | CHF 900 to 2,400 | Same |
| Maintenance | CHF 7,200 to 21,600 | 3 months included, then on quote |
| Indicative total excluding studio maintenance | CHF 30,600 to 75,000 | CHF 10,600 to 14,600 plus maintenance |
Questions to ask each provider: have you built an aesthetic surgery site in Switzerland, who checks the compliance of the copy, how are patient photos stored, who holds the domain, how many revision rounds are planned and what handover procedure applies at the end of the contract.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example. Dr. Julien Favre, a plastic surgeon based in Montreux, performs around 15 procedures a month, a third of them for non-resident patients. A Lausanne agency quotes CHF 32,000 for the build and CHF 450 per month for support, so CHF 48,200 over three years. A remote studio's Premium tier costs CHF 8,200; he adds CHF 3,000 for a photographer, CHF 4,000 for an Arabic version on quote and budgets CHF 7,000 for maintenance over three years: CHF 22,200. If the new consultation journey brings just two extra procedures a year, the CHF 26,000 gap is easily justified, whichever option he picks.
FAQ
Does a Montreux practice need an Arabic version?
If at least 15 to 20% of your inquiries come from the Gulf, an Arabic version with right-to-left layout is a real plus. Budget CHF 2,500 to 6,000 depending on page count.
Can we display procedure prices?
Yes, as an indicative range, for example a from price with a note that a consultation comes first. Many practices only show the consultation fee, often between CHF 150 and 300.
Can a remote studio handle before and after photos?
It builds and protects the gallery, but consent, photography and selection remain your responsibility. Use a signed consent form for each set.
How long until the site goes live?
Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. An agency around Lake Geneva often plans 10 to 16 weeks.
Who should hold the domain name?
The practice, always. Get it in writing in the contract, together with transfer of code and copy on final payment, even for a CHF 2,700 project.
Let's scope your project. Send us your procedures, languages and launch date and we will price a fixed scope in CHF with a 3 to 4 week plan. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.