Key takeaways
- Valoración is your consultation and consentimiento informado is your informed consent — make sure both are explained in a language you fully understand.
- Colombian clinics often say lipoescultura for contouring lipo and lipotransferencia glútea for a BBL.
- Drenaje can mean a surgical drain or lymphatic drainage massage, so ask which one if it's unclear.
- Pharmacies are usually called droguerías; bring your written fórmula médica instead of describing what you need.
- Colombia's national emergency number is 123 — save it with your surgeon's 24-hour line before surgery.
On this page
You don't need to be fluent in Spanish to have surgery in Colombia, but knowing the core terms makes everything smoother: reading your quote, understanding your recovery-house staff, and buying the right items at the pharmacy. This glossary covers the words cosmetic surgery patients actually hear, grouped by stage of the trip.
Use it alongside an English-speaking coordinator, not instead of one. For anything about your health — consent, medications, warning signs — insist on a clear explanation in a language you fully understand. Our guide to English-speaking surgeons in Colombia explains how to check language support before you book.
Consultation and booking terms
These come up from your first message with a clinic through the day before surgery. Two are especially important: valoración and consentimiento informado. The first is where your plan is set; the second is the legal record of what you agreed to.
| Spanish | English | When you'll hear it |
|---|---|---|
| valoración | consultation / evaluation | The pre-surgery appointment where the surgeon examines you and plans the procedure |
| cirujano plástico / cirujana plástica | plastic surgeon (male / female) | On credentials, websites and appointment confirmations |
| historia clínica | medical record / medical history | The file the clinic keeps on you; ask for a copy before you leave |
| consentimiento informado | informed consent | The document you sign that explains risks and the plan |
| exámenes / laboratorios | tests / lab work | Pre-op bloodwork and other tests |
| cotización | quote | The written price breakdown for your surgery |
| anticipo / abono | deposit / partial payment | What you pay to reserve your date |
| cita | appointment | Any scheduled visit |
| control | follow-up visit | Post-op check-ins with the surgeon or team |
Ask for your historia clínica and operative notes before you fly home. Your doctor at home will need them if anything comes up, and getting records later from abroad can be slow. Our guide to keeping your surgical records explains what to request.
Procedure names in Spanish
Colombian clinics often use more formal or regional names than you'd see in US marketing. Matching the Spanish term to the procedure you want avoids confusion when you compare quotes.
| Spanish | English | When you'll hear it |
|---|---|---|
| lipoescultura / liposucción | liposculpture / liposuction | Colombian clinics often say lipoescultura for contouring lipo |
| lipotransferencia glútea / transferencia de grasa a glúteos | BBL / fat transfer to the buttocks | The Spanish names for a Brazilian butt lift |
| abdominoplastia | tummy tuck | Abdomen skin and muscle tightening |
| mamoplastia de aumento | breast augmentation | With implants (implantes mamarios / prótesis) |
| mastopexia | breast lift | Often combined with implants |
| mamoplastia de reducción | breast reduction | Reduction surgery |
| rinoplastia | rhinoplasty / nose job | Nose surgery |
| blefaroplastia | eyelid surgery | Upper and/or lower lids |
| ritidoplastia / lifting facial | facelift | Facial rejuvenation surgery |
| cicatriz | scar | Every procedure; you'll discuss scar placement and care |
If a quote lists something you don't recognize, ask what it is before you pay. Combination plans can include several procedures under one line. Our package vs à la carte guide explains how to read the breakdown.
Clinic and surgery-day terms
On the day itself, you'll hear these from nurses, the anesthesiologist and front-desk staff. Ayuno instructions matter most — get the exact time you need to stop eating and drinking in writing.
| Spanish | English | When you'll hear it |
|---|---|---|
| quirófano | operating room | Where surgery happens |
| anestesiólogo / anestesióloga | anesthesiologist | The doctor who manages your anesthesia |
| anestesia general | general anesthesia | Fully asleep |
| sedación | sedation | Lighter anesthesia, used for some procedures |
| ayuno | fasting | "Ayuno de 8 horas" means nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours |
| alta | discharge | "Le damos de alta" means you're being discharged |
| hospitalización | inpatient stay / admission | If you stay overnight at the clinic |
| enfermera / enfermero | nurse | Clinic and recovery-house staff |
Your anesthesia conversation and consent should never be rushed or guessed at. If no one on staff speaks English well enough, ask the clinic to arrange an interpreter, or bring a trusted bilingual companion.
Recovery house, fajas and drains
This is the vocabulary you'll use most. Recovery-house staff and massage therapists in Medellín and Cali often speak some English, but these words will come up constantly.
| Spanish | English | When you'll hear it |
|---|---|---|
| casa de recuperación / casa de reposo | recovery house | Where many patients stay after surgery |
| faja | compression garment | Worn after body contouring |
| primera etapa / segunda etapa | stage 1 / stage 2 | Which faja you're wearing |
| espumas | foam pads | Placed under the faja |
| tabla abdominal / tabla lumbar | abdominal board / back board | Flat boards under the faja |
| drenaje | drain | Tube that removes fluid after surgery; also used for lymphatic drainage |
| drenaje linfático / masaje linfático | lymphatic drainage massage | Post-op massage sessions |
| puntos | stitches | "Quitar los puntos" means removing stitches |
| curación | wound care / dressing change | When staff clean and redress incisions |
| hinchazón / inflamación | swelling | Both words are used for post-op swelling |
| moretón / morado | bruise | Expected after many procedures |
| seroma | seroma | A pocket of fluid that may need draining |
Note that drenaje can mean either a surgical drain or lymphatic drainage massage, depending on context. If it's unclear, ask: "¿El drenaje o el masaje?" For more on garments, see our Colombian fajas guide.
At the pharmacy (droguería)
Colombian droguerías (pharmacies) are everywhere, from big chains to tiny corner shops. Bring your fórmula médica (prescription) and show it instead of describing what you need. Pharmacists can be helpful, but only take medication your surgeon has prescribed or approved.
| Spanish | English | When you'll hear it |
|---|---|---|
| droguería / farmacia | pharmacy | In Colombia, droguería is very common |
| fórmula médica / receta | prescription | What the surgeon gives you to fill |
| analgésico | painkiller | General term for pain medication |
| antibiótico | antibiotic | If prescribed after surgery |
| anticoagulante | blood thinner | Used in some protocols for clot prevention |
| cada ocho horas | every eight hours | How dosing times are written |
| en ayunas | on an empty stomach | Instructions on how to take a medicine |
| gasas | gauze | Dressing supplies |
| alcohol / suero fisiológico | rubbing alcohol / saline solution | Wound care supplies |
A note on dosing instructions
Prescriptions are usually written in Spanish with times like cada ocho horas (every eight hours) or después de las comidas (after meals). Ask your coordinator or nurse to go through each one with you, and write the English next to it. Don't rely on a translation app for medication instructions alone.
Describing symptoms and getting help
These phrases help you tell staff what's going on. Some are emergency symptoms — if you have them, call your surgeon's emergency line or go to the nearest emergency room (urgencias) without waiting.
| Spanish | English | When you'll hear it |
|---|---|---|
| me duele aquí | it hurts here | Point to the spot |
| tengo fiebre | I have a fever | Report immediately |
| me falta el aire | I'm short of breath | Emergency symptom |
| me duele el pecho | my chest hurts | Emergency symptom |
| tengo la pierna hinchada | my leg is swollen | Possible clot sign; report right away |
| estoy mareado / mareada | I'm dizzy (male / female) | Common after surgery, but tell staff |
| tengo náuseas | I feel nauseous | Common after anesthesia |
| está saliendo líquido | fluid is coming out | Drainage from an incision or drain |
| está rojo y caliente | it's red and hot | Possible infection sign |
Save your surgeon's 24-hour number and your recovery house's number in your phone before surgery. Colombia's national emergency number is 123. Know the name and address of the clinic where you had surgery so you can tell a driver or responder.
Useful phrases for daily recovery
- ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? — Can you speak more slowly, please?
- No entiendo. ¿Me lo puede escribir? — I don't understand. Can you write it down for me?
- ¿Cuándo es mi próximo control? — When is my next follow-up?
- ¿Puedo bañarme? — Can I shower?
- ¿A qué hora es el masaje? — What time is the massage?
- La faja me aprieta mucho aquí. — The garment is very tight here.
- Necesito ayuda para levantarme. — I need help getting up.
- ¿Me puede dar una factura? — Can you give me an invoice? (useful for your records)
How to use this glossary on your trip
- Save it offline. Screenshot the tables or print them. Wi-Fi in recovery houses isn't always reliable.
- Share it with your companion. They'll do much of the talking in week one. Our guide to bringing a companion covers their role.
- Get key documents in both languages. Ask for your consent, discharge instructions and prescriptions to be explained in English, and keep the Spanish originals.
- Practice the emergency phrases. You probably won't need them, but if you do, you won't want to be scrolling.
If you're still choosing a surgeon and language support is a priority, let us know and we'll help you compare options with English-speaking teams.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak Spanish to have surgery in Colombia?
No. Many surgeons and coordinators who work with international patients speak English. Knowing basic terms still helps with recovery-house staff, drivers and pharmacies.
What is a valoración?
It's the consultation or evaluation where the surgeon examines you, reviews your history and plans your procedure. It may happen virtually first and in person before surgery.
What does lipoescultura mean?
Lipoescultura (liposculpture) is the term many Colombian clinics use for contouring liposuction. Ask your surgeon exactly which areas are included in your quote.
What's the difference between a droguería and a farmacia?
In Colombia, both mean pharmacy. Droguería is the word you'll see most on storefronts.
Should I rely on a translation app with my surgeon?
For small talk, apps are fine. For consent, anesthesia questions, medications and warning signs, ask for an interpreter or a bilingual staff member so nothing is lost in translation.
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Get a free quote →This article is general education, not medical advice. Every case is different — talk to a licensed physician who has reviewed your history and imaging before making treatment decisions.