Print this list, or save it as a PDF, and ask every clinic the same questions before you pay a deposit. Ask for the answers in writing, so you can compare clinics side by side.
The questions follow the advice of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). A good clinic answers all of them without pressure. If a clinic will not answer one in writing, treat that as an answer.
Last updated: October 19, 2026
The surgeon and their credentials
Why it matters: CDC advises checking “the qualifications of the clinician who will be doing the procedure” (CDC). ASPS warns that it may be difficult to assess the training and credentials of surgeons outside the U.S. (ASPS).
- ☐ 1. What is the full name of the surgeon who will operate on me, and will that surgeon do the whole operation, not only the consultation?
- ☐ 2. What is the surgeon's medical license number? In Mexico this is the cédula profesional; ask for it and look it up yourself (see how to check a doctor in Mexico).
- ☐ 3. Which specialty board certifies the surgeon for this exact procedure, and where can I check that the certification is current?
The facility and its accreditation
Why it matters: The clinic's office and the operating room are not always in the same building. CDC names Joint Commission International (JCI) among the accrediting groups, and adds that accreditation “does not guarantee a positive outcome” (CDC). You can look a hospital up in the JCI directory of accredited organizations.
- ☐ 4. What is the name and address of the hospital or surgical center where the operation will happen?
- ☐ 5. Which authority licenses that facility, which accreditations does it hold, and can I check them on the accreditor's own website?
- ☐ 6. If something goes wrong during or after surgery, is there an intensive care unit on site, or which hospital would I be transferred to?
Anesthesia
Why it matters: ASPS lists “the proper administration of anesthesia” among the basics of safe surgery and notes that in some destinations it is hard to check the credentials of anesthesiologists (ASPS).
- ☐ 7. Who will give my anesthesia? Please send the anesthesiologist's name and license number.
- ☐ 8. What type of anesthesia will I have, who monitors me while I wake up, and for how long?
The price and what it includes
Why it matters: ASPS warns that bargain surgery can cost more in the end: complications and revisions can add up to more than the operation would have cost in the U.S. (ASPS). A written, itemized quote is the only way to compare clinics fairly.
- ☐ 9. What exactly does the written quote include: surgeon, anesthesia, operating room, hospital nights, medicines, tests, compression garments, hotel and transfers?
- ☐ 10. What is not included, and what could make the final price higher than the quote?
- ☐ 11. If implants or other devices are used, what brand are they, and are they approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?
Deposit and refunds
Why it matters: Money paid abroad is hard to recover. Before you send anything, know when the deposit is refundable and who you are actually paying. See how paying for treatment abroad works.
- ☐ 12. How much is the deposit, when is it refundable, and what happens if I cancel or the surgeon decides on the day that I am not a good candidate?
- ☐ 13. Who do I pay, in what currency and how? Is the contract with the clinic itself, and will I get a receipt for every payment?
Complications and revisions
Why it matters: ASPS notes that infections are the most common complication after cosmetic surgery abroad, and that patients who come home with a problem may find it hard to get a qualified surgeon to treat it or to do a revision (ASPS). See also what to do if something goes wrong.
- ☐ 14. If I have a complication while I am still there, what does the clinic cover, and who pays for extra treatment or extra hospital nights?
- ☐ 15. What is your revision policy in writing: when is a revision free, what is excluded, and do I have to travel back for it?
- ☐ 16. Will I get my operative report and all my medical records, in English, before I fly home?
Aftercare and follow-up back in the U.S.
Why it matters: CDC advises arranging follow-up care before you travel and warns that care for complications can be expensive and might not be covered by your health insurance (CDC). ASPS adds that cosmetic surgery packages give limited follow-up care, if any, once you are back in the U.S. (ASPS).
- ☐ 17. Who is my contact after I fly home, how do I reach them, and how fast do they reply?
- ☐ 18. Will the surgeon share my records with my doctor in the U.S. and speak with them if needed?
Travel and recovery time
Why it matters: Long flights and surgery each raise the risk of blood clots, and together the risk is higher. ASPS suggests waiting 5–7 days before flying after body procedures and 7–10 days after facial procedures (ASPS); CDC says delaying air travel for 10–14 days after major surgery minimizes risks (CDC). ISAPS recommends making a full plan before you book (ISAPS).
- ☐ 19. How many days must I stay before the surgeon clears me to fly, and how many trips does the whole treatment need?
- ☐ 20. Which activities must I avoid while I recover, such as sun, swimming, alcohol or long tours, and who checks me before I leave?
Before you send the list
- Ask every clinic the same 20 questions, and keep the written answers.
- Check names and license numbers yourself with the official sources in our guide to checking a clinic abroad, not only from certificate images sent by the clinic.
- See your own doctor 4–6 weeks before the trip, as CDC recommends, and get travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation to the U.S. (CDC).
xcuro can send these questions to our partner clinics for you and pass on their written answers. We do not perform medical audits or inspections; see our methodology and medical disclaimer.
Sources
All sources accessed October 19, 2026.
- CDC Travelers' Health – Medical Tourism: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/medical-tourism
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons – Briefing Paper: Cosmetic Surgery Tourism: plasticsurgery.org
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery – Considering Your Procedure Abroad: isaps.org
- Joint Commission International – accredited organizations search: jointcommissioninternational.org