What to Ask Before You Book Any Procedure Abroad

How to ask so the answers are useful

The way you ask matters almost as much as what you ask. A few habits make the answers easier to compare and harder to walk back later:

• Number your questions and ask the clinic to answer by number.
• Ask in writing, by email or a message you can save, even if you also talk by phone.
• Send the same questions to every provider you are considering.
• Ask for answers from the clinician on clinical questions, not only from a coordinator.
• If you need a translation, ask for the answer in both languages.

The NHS (reviewed 2023) lists warning signs worth watching for while you ask. These include a hard sell, missing information, pressure to decide quickly, no discussion of complications and no mention of aftercare.

1. Who will treat me?

• What is the full legal name of the clinician who will perform my procedure?
• What is their specialty, and how often do they perform this procedure?
• Who else will be involved, such as the anaesthesia provider, assistants and nurses, and what will each person do?
• Is the clinician I speak with at consultation the one who will treat me?
• What happens if that clinician becomes unavailable?

The General Dental Council (accessed 2026) puts "who will treat you, and what are their qualifications?" near the top of its own list for patients going abroad. In Colombia, you can check a named professional in the ReTHUS register (Ministry of Health, accessed 2026), which shows whether a health worker is authorised to practise and records disciplinary sanctions. Our verification chain guide walks through each check.

2. Where will it happen?

• What is the legal name and street address of the facility where the procedure takes place?
• Is that the same place as the consultation, or somewhere else?
• Where will pre-op tests, imaging and follow-up visits happen?
• If I need a higher level of care, which hospital would I be moved to?

The CDC Yellow Book (2026 edition) names international accreditation bodies such as Joint Commission International. It also cautions that accreditation does not guarantee a good outcome, so treat it as one signal among several.

3. What is the plan based on?

• Has the treating clinician personally reviewed my records and images?
• Is the recommendation final, or provisional until an in-person exam?
• What could you find at the exam that would change the plan or the price?
• Are there other treatment options for my situation, and why are you recommending this one?
• Is there anything in my history that makes this procedure riskier for me?

4. What does the price include?

• Can I have an itemised quote listing what is included and excluded?
• Are tests, anaesthesia, facility fees, implants, medications and garments included?
• Are follow-up visits included, both in the country and remotely after I return?
• How long is this quote valid, and in which currency?

The CDC Yellow Book notes that some overseas providers charge substantial fees for follow-up care. Make sure the follow-up line is explicit. For a fuller approach to quotes, see how to get a quote from an overseas hospital.

5. How do payment and cancellation work?

• How much is the deposit, who receives it, and what does it reserve?
• Which parts are refundable, and under what conditions?
• What happens to my money if the clinician decides at the exam that I am not a candidate?
• How must the balance be paid, and when?
• Will I receive a receipt in the name of the facility or clinician?

Ask about payment method early. According to the U.S. State Department (2025), Colombian hospitals and doctors may want payment up front, and cards are not always an option. Our checklist of cancellation and rescheduling policies covers the fine print.

6. What if something goes wrong?

• What are the most common complications of this procedure, and how do you manage them?
• Is treatment for complications included in the price?
• If I need corrective work, who pays for the extra flights, lodging and treatment?
• Is the work guaranteed, and for how long, in writing?
• Is there a formal complaints process, and can I see it?

These mirror questions the GDC suggests for dental patients, and they apply equally to surgery. A provider that has thought about complications will usually answer them more readily than one that has not.

7. How long will I need to stay, and when can I fly?

• How many days do you need me in the country, counting from my arrival?
• When is my last in-person check before I can leave?
• When will it be safe for me to fly home, and what would delay that?
• Do you recommend any precautions for the flight home?

For context, the CDC Yellow Book suggests waiting 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery before flying. It cites the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for waiting 7 to 10 days after cosmetic procedures or laser treatment to the face, eyelids or nose. Your clinician's advice for your case comes first, but an answer far shorter than these deserves a follow-up question.

8. What happens after I go home?

• Who do I contact with questions after I return, and how quickly do you respond?
• What records will I receive: operative report, discharge instructions, implant details, medication list?
• Will records be available in English?
• What follow-up will I need at home, and what should I tell my doctor?

The CDC Yellow Book advises getting copies of your records, ideally in English, and planning for complications with both your home and overseas providers.

9. Who else is part of this booking?

• Are you the clinic itself, or a facilitator or agency working with it?
• If you are an intermediary, are you paid by the clinic, by me, or both?
• Who at the facility can confirm my appointment directly if I ask them?
• If I have a problem with the booking, do I contact you or the clinic first?

Many patients deal with a facilitator, a package seller or a coordinator before they ever speak with the clinic. That can work well, but you should know who is who. The answers tell you whose policies govern your deposit, whose name should be on your receipt, and who has the authority to change your appointment. If the intermediary cannot or will not say how it is paid, weigh that alongside everything else on this list.

Reading the answers