What to expect at each stage of care

1. 1. Consultation & Candidacy Review

   Most patients start with a virtual consultation. You'll share medical history, weight-loss history (including any bariatric surgery or GLP-1 medication use), recent photos, and the changes you're hoping to address. The surgical team determines whether you're a candidate, which procedures may be appropriate, and what staging makes sense.

   • Submit medical history and current medications
   • Virtual consultation with the surgical team
   • Written treatment plan and itemized quote

2. 2. Travel Planning

   Once you confirm your surgery date, the coordination team helps you plan flights into San Diego, ground transportation across the border, and accommodations near the hospital. You'll receive a pre-operative checklist covering medications to pause, lab work, smoking cessation, and nutritional optimization.

   • Flight and accommodation guidance
   • Chaperoned transportation from San Diego airport
   • Pre-op checklist and required lab work

3. 3. Pre-Op Day & Surgery Day

   The day before surgery, you'll meet your surgeon and anesthesiologist in person, complete final lab work and clearance, and review the surgical plan and consent forms. On surgery day, you're admitted to Hospital Cyntar where the procedure is performed and you stay overnight under medical monitoring.

   • In-person consultation with surgeon and anesthesiology
   • Final medical clearance and pre-op labs
   • Surgery performed in a full hospital environment

4. 4. Hospital Recovery & Local Stay

   After surgery you'll spend one or more nights in the hospital, depending on the procedure. Once discharged, you continue recovery at a nearby recovery house or hotel with daily check-ins from the medical team. Drains, dressings, and compression garments are managed by the surgical team during this period.

   • 24/7 nursing care during hospital stay
   • Daily follow-up visits during local recovery
   • Drain, dressing, and garment management

5. 5. Clearance to Travel & Returning Home

   You're cleared for return travel only after the surgical team confirms you're medically stable, drains are appropriately managed, and risk factors (such as blood clots and swelling) have been reviewed. Virtual follow-up continues for several weeks, and you should also coordinate with a local primary care provider for in-person follow-up at home.

   • Written travel clearance from the surgical team
   • Virtual follow-up over the following weeks
   • Coordination notes for your home-country provider

Results vary. Individual consultation with a qualified surgeon is required. The information provided is for general education only and does not constitute medical advice.