Your 30-Day Countdown Before Cosmetic Surgery in Colombia

The month before cosmetic surgery abroad is when most of the avoidable problems get solved — or created. A good 30-day plan covers four things: medical clearance (labs and a medication review with your surgeon), lifestyle prep (nicotine, alcohol, sleep), travel logistics (documents, flights, a recovery house and a companion), and getting your home ready for when you come back.

Below is a week-by-week checklist. It assumes you've already chosen a surgeon and paid a deposit. If you haven't, start with our guide on verifying a plastic surgeon in Colombia before you set a date.

Week 4 (30-22 days out): medical clearance

This week is about making sure nothing in your health history surprises anyone on surgery day.

• Get the clinic's lab list in writing. Ask exactly which tests they want, whether they'll accept results done at home, and how recent they need to be. Our pre-op labs guide covers what's commonly requested.
• Book labs at home or plan to do them in Colombia. Some clinics prefer to run their own labs on arrival; others want results before you fly so they can catch problems early.
• Send a full medication and supplement list to your surgeon — prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbal products and anything you take "sometimes."
• Disclose your full history: past surgeries, anesthesia reactions, clotting problems in you or your family, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, heart or lung issues.
• Talk to your primary care doctor about the surgery and whether any of your conditions need clearance.

Medications and supplements to review — not stop on your own

Some medications and supplements can affect bleeding, clotting, anesthesia or healing. Common categories surgeons ask about include blood thinners, aspirin and other anti-inflammatories, hormonal birth control and hormone therapy, GLP-1 medications, and supplements like fish oil, vitamin E and some herbal products. Never stop a prescribed medication without talking to the doctor who prescribed it. Your surgeon and your prescribing doctor need to agree on a plan.

See our guides on birth control, hormones and clot risk and anemia and iron before surgery for two of the most common issues.

Week 3 (21-15 days out): travel and logistics

With medical clearance underway, lock down the trip itself.

1. Check your passport. It must be valid when you enter Colombia, and Colombian immigration recommends at least six months of validity beyond your planned departure date. Renew now if you're close.
2. Confirm entry requirements for your nationality. Many visitors, including US citizens, don't need a visa for short tourist stays, but rules change — check your government's travel advice and Migración Colombia before you book.
3. Book flights with surgeon-approved dates. Your return date should come from your surgeon's recommendation for your procedure, not the cheapest fare. Our guide to how long to stay after surgery explains why.
4. Book your recovery house or accommodation. Confirm what's included: nursing, meals, transport to follow-ups, lymphatic massage.
5. Look into travel and complication insurance. Standard travel insurance often excludes elective surgery. Read our medical tourism insurance guide.
6. Confirm your companion. Someone needs to be with you, at least for the first days. Sort out their flights and lodging too.

Week 2 (14-8 days out): body and money

This is when the details start to matter. Labs should be back, and your surgeon should have reviewed them.

• Follow up on lab results. If anything is flagged — low hemoglobin, high blood sugar, abnormal clotting — your surgeon may delay surgery. Better to know now than after you've flown.
• Follow any medication changes your surgeon and prescribing doctor agreed on, on the dates they gave you.
• Stop alcohol or cut back as your surgeon advises. Alcohol can affect bleeding and healing.
• Eat well and hydrate. Protein matters for healing. Don't start a crash diet right before surgery; ask your surgeon if you have a weight target. Our nutrition and healing guide has more.
• Prepare your payments. Know how you'll pay the balance — card, wire, cash — and notify your bank of travel and large transactions. Get every payment receipted.
• Fill or arrange prescriptions you'll need during recovery, if your surgeon wants you to bring them.

What to request in writing before you fly

Week 1 (7-1 days out): home prep and packing

Most patients focus on Colombia and forget about coming home sore. Set up your home now so it's ready when you return.

Home prep

• Clean the house, change the sheets and do laundry before you leave.
• Stock easy meals, protein, water and electrolyte drinks.
• Move everyday items to waist height so you aren't bending or reaching overhead.
• Arrange help at home: childcare, pet care, rides and someone to check on you.
• Set up a recovery spot with pillows, chargers and a clear path to the bathroom.
• Find a local doctor or urgent care willing to see you if needed after you're back. Our guide on managing complications after you return home explains why this matters.

Packing

Pack loose, front-opening clothes, slip-on shoes, a long phone charger, toiletries, copies of your documents and any prescribed medications in original containers. Our full packing list covers the rest.

The last 48 hours

1. Confirm your pickup at the airport and your clinic arrival time.
2. Follow fasting instructions exactly. If unsure, ask — don't guess.
3. Remove nail polish, jewelry and piercings if your clinic asks.
4. Shower as instructed, sometimes with a specific antiseptic soap.
5. Tell your surgeon about any new illness, fever, cough or cold. Surgery may need to be postponed, and that's the safe call.
6. Share your itinerary and the clinic's address with someone at home.

Mental prep and expectations

The checklist above is mostly logistics, but the month before surgery is also when nerves, second thoughts and big expectations show up. That's normal. A bit of preparation here makes the first two weeks after surgery much easier to handle.

• Revisit your goals. Look again at what your surgeon said is realistic for your body. Our guide to realistic expectations by procedure is a good reality check.
• Expect to look worse before you look better. Swelling, bruising and garments make early results hard to judge. Final results take months.
• Plan for low days. Many patients feel flat, teary or regretful in the first week or two. Our piece on emotional adjustment after surgery explains why and what helps.
• Decide who you'll tell. Pick a small circle who will be supportive, and decide in advance how much you want to share with everyone else.
• Write down your questions as they come up this month, so you can bring a full list to your in-person consultation.

If you notice your doubts are about the surgeon or clinic rather than surgery itself — slow answers, pressure to add procedures, vague pricing — take that seriously. Our list of clinic red flags can help you sort nerves from warning signs.

When to slow down or postpone

A countdown can create pressure to keep going no matter what. Some situations are worth a pause: abnormal labs your surgeon hasn't addressed, a new illness, a surgeon who can't answer basic questions about your plan, or a gut feeling something isn't right. Losing a deposit is frustrating; going ahead with an unresolved problem can cost far more. If you're unsure, a second opinion is worth it.

If you're still planning and want help comparing surgeons, recovery options and what to confirm in writing, reach out and we'll help.

Frequently asked questions

When should I get pre-op labs for surgery in Colombia?

Ask your clinic. Some want results from home a few weeks before so they can spot problems early; others run labs when you arrive. Get the exact test list and timing in writing.

Should I stop taking supplements before surgery?

Some supplements may affect bleeding or anesthesia, so send your surgeon a complete list. Stop or adjust only what they tell you to, and don't stop any prescribed medication without talking to the doctor who prescribed it.

Do I need a visa to have surgery in Colombia?

Many visitors, including US citizens, can enter without a visa for short tourist stays, but rules depend on nationality and can change. Check your government's travel advice and Migración Colombia before booking.

What is Check-MIG?

It's Colombia's online pre-arrival migration form. UK government advice says it can be submitted between 72 hours and one hour before travel and isn't mandatory, but may speed up entry. Confirm the current rules before you fly.

What if I get sick the week before surgery?

Tell your surgeon right away. A cold, fever or infection can raise anesthesia and healing risks, and postponing is often the safest choice.