Medical Tourism Glossary: 50 Terms You Need to Know

Medical tourism has its own language — a mix of clinical terminology, industry jargon, and country-specific vocabulary that can leave first-time patients feeling lost. This glossary covers every term you'll encounter during your research, consultations, and trip.

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Accreditation & Credentials

JCI (Joint Commission International) — The global gold standard for hospital accreditation. JCI evaluates hospitals against over 1,000 measurable safety elements covering patient safety, infection control, medication management, and facility standards. Colombia has 6 JCI-accredited hospitals. Equivalent to The Joint Commission accreditation in the United States.

SCCP (Sociedad Colombiana de Cirugía Plástica) — Colombia's board of plastic surgery. SCCP certification requires a medical degree, 5-year surgical residency, 3-year plastic surgery fellowship, and rigorous examination. Verifiable at sccp.org.co. The Colombian equivalent of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Board certification — Verification that a physician has completed the required training, passed specialty examinations, and meets ongoing competency standards in their field. Always verify — "board-eligible" is not the same as "board-certified."

Accredited facility — A hospital or clinic that has been evaluated and certified by a recognized accrediting body. For medical tourism, JCI is the relevant standard. Not all hospitals in Colombia are JCI-accredited; the designation is meaningful.

Pre-Operative Terms

Virtual consultation — A pre-operative video call (typically via WhatsApp, Zoom, or clinic portal) where the surgeon evaluates your candidacy, discusses your goals, reviews your medical history, and provides a preliminary plan and quote.

Medical clearance — Written confirmation from a physician (usually your PCP or a specialist) that you're healthy enough for surgery. May include blood work, EKG, cardiac evaluation, and other procedure-specific tests.

Pre-operative labs — Blood tests performed before surgery to assess your baseline health: CBC (complete blood count), BMP (basic metabolic panel), coagulation studies (PT/INR), and sometimes thyroid function or HIV screening depending on the procedure and hospital protocol.

DICOM — Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. The universal format for medical imaging (X-rays, CT, MRI). When transferring imaging to your Colombian surgeon, always request DICOM files — not PDF printouts or photographs of films.

NPO (nil per os) — Latin for "nothing by mouth." Your surgeon will instruct you to be NPO for 8–12 hours before surgery under general anesthesia. This means no food, no water, no gum, no candy.

Informed consent — The legal and ethical document you sign before surgery confirming that your surgeon has explained the procedure, risks, alternatives, and expected outcomes, and that you understand and agree to proceed.

Surgical & Clinical Terms

General anesthesia — A state of medically induced unconsciousness. You're completely asleep, breathing via an endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask. Administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist.

Sedation (IV sedation / twilight anesthesia) — A lighter form of anesthesia where you're deeply relaxed and unlikely to remember the procedure, but technically not fully unconscious. Common for dental work, minor cosmetic procedures, and endoscopy.

Local anesthesia — Numbing medication injected directly into the surgical area. You're fully awake. Used for minor procedures, biopsies, and dental work.

Operative report — The detailed written description of your surgery: what was done, what technique was used, what implants were placed (with serial numbers), what was found during surgery, and estimated blood loss. Critical for post-operative care and any future procedures.

DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) — A blood clot forming in a deep vein, typically in the legs. A serious risk after surgery and long flights. Prevented with compression stockings, movement, hydration, and sometimes blood thinners (Clexane/Lovenox).

PE (Pulmonary Embolism) — A blood clot that travels to the lungs. A life-threatening complication of untreated DVT. Symptoms: sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat. Requires immediate emergency care.

Seroma — A collection of clear fluid that can accumulate under the skin after surgery, especially after tummy tucks and liposuction. Usually resolves on its own or is drained by your surgeon with a needle aspiration.

Hematoma — A collection of blood under the skin at the surgical site. Larger hematomas may require surgical drainage.

Dehiscence — Wound opening — when surgical incisions partially or fully separate. Can be caused by infection, tension, or premature physical activity. Requires immediate medical attention.

Capsular contracture — Hardening of scar tissue around a breast implant. Graded on the Baker scale (I–IV). May require revision surgery in moderate to severe cases.

Post-Operative Terms

Compression garment — A tight-fitting garment worn after cosmetic surgery (tummy tuck, liposuction, BBL) to reduce swelling, support healing tissues, and improve final results. Worn 24/7 for 4–8 weeks per surgeon protocol.

Lymphatic drainage massage (MLD) — A gentle massage technique that stimulates the lymphatic system to reduce post-surgical swelling. Standard after cosmetic procedures in Colombia. Typically 5–10 sessions during your recovery stay.

Drain — A thin tube placed during surgery to remove excess fluid from the surgical site. Drains are typically removed 3–7 days post-surgery. You'll be taught to measure and record drain output.

Suture removal — Removal of non-absorbable stitches, typically 7–14 days post-surgery. May be done by your Colombian surgeon before departure, or by a US physician or urgent care after you return home.

Discharge summary — The document you receive when leaving the hospital or recovery house. Contains your diagnosis, procedure performed, medications, activity restrictions, follow-up instructions, and warning signs to watch for.

Financial & Insurance Terms

Medical tourism insurance — Specialty insurance that covers complications from elective surgical procedures performed abroad. Standard travel insurance does not cover this. Typical cost: $150–500.

Medical evacuation coverage — Insurance that pays for emergency transport (air ambulance) to a higher-level facility or back to your home country. Critical for medical tourism — air ambulance from Colombia to the US can cost $25,000–100,000+.

All-inclusive package — A bundled price covering surgeon fee, hospital/clinic fee, anesthesia, pre-op labs, post-op medications, recovery accommodation, and often airport transfers. Always ask for an itemized breakdown of what's included.

Facility fee — The charge for using the operating room, surgical equipment, sterile supplies, and OR nursing staff. Separate from the surgeon's professional fee.

IRS Publication 502 — The IRS document that defines deductible medical expenses. Under certain conditions, medical tourism costs (including flights, lodging, and procedure costs) may be deductible if the procedure qualifies as a medical expense and total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.

Colombian & Cultural Terms

Droguería — A Colombian pharmacy. Found on virtually every block in urban areas. Many medications that require a prescription in the US are available over the counter at dramatically lower prices.

EPS (Entidad Promotora de Salud) — Colombia's public health insurance system. As a medical tourist, you won't interact with EPS — you'll be treated as a private-pay patient at private facilities.

Recovery house (casa de recuperación) — A dedicated post-surgical recovery facility with nursing staff, meals, medication management, and often lymphatic drainage services. Distinct from a hotel or Airbnb — a recovery house provides medical-grade aftercare.

Rappi — Colombia's dominant delivery app (equivalent to DoorDash/Uber Eats). Delivers food, pharmacy items, groceries, and virtually anything else to your door. Essential during recovery.

El Poblado — Medellín's upscale neighborhood and the primary hub for medical tourism. Clinics, recovery houses, restaurants, and international patient services are concentrated here.

Laureles — Medellín's trendy, walkable neighborhood. Increasingly popular for medical tourism, with a more local feel than El Poblado. Excellent café culture and flat terrain for recovery walks.

Fajas — The Colombian term for compression garments. Colombian faja brands (MariaE, MYD, Salome) are renowned globally. Available locally at $30–80 compared to $100–200 in the US.

WHO ranking — The World Health Organization's assessment of national healthcare systems. Colombia ranks #1 in the Western Hemisphere and #22 globally (2000 report — the most recent comprehensive ranking). This reflects the overall efficiency and quality of the healthcare system.

Travel & Logistics Terms

Facilitator (patient coordinator / medical concierge) — An intermediary who coordinates medical tourism logistics: surgeon matching, appointment scheduling, accommodation, translation, and transportation. Quality varies widely. Verify credentials and ask for references.

Ground transportation — Airport transfers and transportation to/from medical appointments. Usually arranged by your coordinator or included in your package.

eSIM — An electronic SIM card that gives you Colombian cellular data without a physical SIM swap. Available from providers like Airalo and Holafly. Alternatively, buy a Claro or Movistar prepaid SIM at the airport for $10–15.

Wise (formerly TransferWise) — An online money transfer service that uses mid-market exchange rates with low, transparent fees. The preferred payment method for international medical expenses.