Medically reviewed content from Don R. Revis, Jr., MD, FACS, double board-certified plastic surgeon

This practice has treated patients from more than 60 countries — Canada alone accounts for over 650 of them — plus the United Kingdom, Australia, and destinations across Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. If you’re considering traveling internationally for breast augmentation or revision surgery, here’s what the process actually looks like, from your first email to flying home.

Why Patients Travel Internationally for This Procedure

Patients travel for a range of reasons — access to a specific technique like the Internal Bra procedure for revision, a surgeon’s specific volume and experience with a particular complication, or simply combining recovery with a trip to South Florida. Whatever the reason, traveling for surgery works best with some advance planning.

Getting Started Before You Book Travel

Most of the early groundwork can be handled remotely. Photos and a description of your goals or concerns can be emailed to consult@drrevis.com for an initial review — this is typically how candidacy gets confirmed and a cost estimate gets built, before any flights are booked.

Because this process is email-based rather than requiring a live call, it works reasonably well across time zones — you’re not trying to coordinate a video call at 3 a.m. local time.

What a Typical Visit Looks Like

• Day 1: Consultation and pre-operative appointment
• Day 2: Surgery
• Day 3–5: Follow-up appointment before flying home

That’s as short as 3 days for the core medical portion of the trip. International patients on long-haul routes generally benefit from padding a bit of extra time around that window for travel fatigue and time-zone adjustment, on top of the surgical schedule itself.

Documents and Preparation Checklist

• A valid passport, and visa or ESTA authorization if required for your country of citizenship
• A current medication list, including vitamins and supplements
• Any relevant prior medical records or imaging, particularly if you’re traveling for a revision of previous surgery
• Travel or medical insurance documentation, if purchased — and it’s worth confirming in advance whether your policy covers complications from an elective procedure, since standard travel insurance doesn’t always include this

Is It Safe to Fly After Surgery?

Generally, yes — flying within 24 to 48 hours after surgery is considered safe, though you’ll want help with luggage handling since heavy lifting should be avoided in the immediate post-operative period. For long-haul international flights specifically, standard precautions for extended travel are worth adding on top of normal post-op guidance: staying hydrated, moving periodically during the flight, and considering compression stockings.

Where to Stay

Fort Lauderdale has no shortage of hotel options within a short drive of the office, ranging from beachfront resorts to more budget-conscious choices further inland. Recommendations are typically shared during the planning process based on your preferences and length of stay.

Follow-Up Care After You Return Home

International and out-of-town patients are generally asked to send photos weekly for the first three weeks, then monthly for three months, so healing can be monitored remotely. This is also the point to clarify directly with your surgeon’s office: what the plan would be if a concern comes up after you’ve returned home, and how that gets triaged between your travel-based surgical team and a local physician if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special visa for elective cosmetic surgery in the U.S.?

Most visitors travel under a standard B-2 visitor visa, or the Visa Waiver Program/ESTA if their country is eligible, since elective surgery is generally treated the same as other tourism purposes for entry. Requirements vary by country and can change, so confirm current rules with your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate before booking — this is general information, not immigration advice for your specific situation.

Can a companion travel with me?

Yes, and it’s generally encouraged — having someone to help with luggage and support during the initial recovery days before flying home is genuinely useful.

How far in advance should I start planning?

There’s no fixed rule, but since scheduling, travel logistics, and the consultation-to-surgery window all need to line up, starting the email consultation process well before you book flights tends to go more smoothly than booking travel first.

What happens if I have a concern after I’ve already flown home?

This is worth clarifying directly during your consultation — ask specifically how remote follow-up is handled versus what would call for returning to the U.S. or seeking local care.

Ready to get started? Email photos and your goals to consult@drrevis.com or reach out here to begin the process.