Nine standard steps that keep a case from falling apart
Quick answer
A standard workflow has nine stages: intake and screening, preliminary hospital assessment, plan and price confirmation, travel planning, pre-op preparation, consultation and surgery day, recovery care, departure, and long-term follow-up. Every stage needs documentation and written confirmation.
Stage one is screening, not selling. Ask the real goal, previous surgeries, medical history and current medications, how many days off they truly have, and total budget including travel and accommodation. If the goal is unrealistic or health limits exist, say so now rather than letting it surface in the consultation room.
Stage two is preliminary assessment: send standardised photos (front, 45-degree, profile, close-ups) plus health information for hospital review. Get more than one opinion when several approaches exist, and always explain that a photo assessment is not a final conclusion.
Stages three to five confirm plan, price and preparation: an itemised quotation naming the operating surgeon and listing exclusions, then flights, accommodation near the hospital and a recovery schedule, plus written pre-op instructions covering medications to stop, fasting and items to pack.
Stage six is consultation and surgery day. Arrive early, re-brief the client, interpret fully without adding optimism, record what the surgeon confirms, and check that the consent form matches the discussion. If the plan changes on site, stop and let the client decide without time pressure.
Stages seven to nine are where agency quality is actually measured: recovery care (diet, medication, dressing appointments, compresses, red flags requiring an immediate return), a safe journey home, and long-term follow-up with defined checkpoints — week one, month one, and months three to six.
The single practice that prevents cases from unravelling is one case, one record: every key message, document and appointment in one place, with written summaries sent to the client for confirmation at each milestone. Nothing else reduces disputes as effectively.
Be present before the client enters theatre and after they come out, to confirm the plan, communicate with the team and ensure a safe transfer back to accommodation.
It depends on the procedure and the treating surgeon's instructions; anything needing suture removal or swelling review requires longer. Always build in buffer days, as schedules shift.
Respect the decision and handle cancellation terms per hospital policy. Never pressure them to proceed — the damage from an unwilling case far exceeds the revenue.
At minimum until swelling subsides and results stabilise, which varies by procedure. Strong agencies follow up to months three to six and use the data to improve.
3 points • reviewed 2026-09-02
Reviewed and last updated: 2026-09-02
2 sources • every claim is traceable
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Last updated: 2026-09-02 · This content is for information only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified doctor before making treatment decisions.
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