Out‑of‑Town Patient Guide

Traveling for bariatric or metabolic surgery is extremely common — and our team has designed a streamlined process to make your experience safe, predictable, and stress‑free. This guide walks you through every step, from planning your trip to returning home after surgery.

SECTION 1 — Travel Planning

Traveling to Miami for surgery requires a bit of preparation, but our team makes the process simple.

What to do first:

• Contact our office to schedule your virtual consultation.
• Complete your medical history and pre‑operative questionnaire.
• Send prior operative reports (if applicable).
• Arrange medical clearance with your primary care physician.

Airports:

• Miami International Airport (MIA) — 15 minutes from our surgical center.
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL) — 35–45 minutes away.

Ground transportation:

• Uber / Lyft
• Taxi
• Rental car (optional)

SECTION 2 — Pre‑Operative Requirements

Before traveling, you must complete:

• Full medical clearance
• Laboratory testing
• EKG
• Chest X‑ray (if required)
• Sleep apnea evaluation (if applicable)
• Pre‑operative nutrition class

• Pre‑operative anesthesia review
• Medication review and optimization

Virtual appointments available:

• Surgical consultation
• Nutrition consultation
• Psychology evaluation (if required)
• Pre‑operative education session

SECTION 3 — Hotel & Lodging Recommendations

Stay within 10–15 minutes of our surgical center.

Recommended areas:

• Brickell
• Coral Gables
• Coconut Grove
• Downtown Miami

Recommended hotels:

• Hampton Inn & Suites Miami/Brickell
• TownePlace Suites Miami Airport
• Marriott Courtyard Coconut Grove
• Hyatt Regency Coral Gables

Tip: Choose a hotel with:

• Elevator access
• 24‑hour front desk
• Nearby pharmacy
• Quiet environment
• Refrigerator (for post‑op liquids)

SECTION 4 — Your Surgical Timeline

Day 1 — Arrival

• Check into hotel
• Pre‑operative visit
• Meet anesthesia team
• Final labs (if needed)

Day 2 — Surgery Day

• Arrive 2 hours before surgery
• Procedure performed
• Recovery in PACU
• Discharge same day or next morning (depending on procedure)

Day 3 — First Post‑Op Visit

• Hydration check
• Pain control review
• Incision check
• Nutrition progression instructions

Day 4–6 — Recovery in Miami

• Walking every hour
• Hydration goals
• Medication schedule
• Virtual check‑ins as needed

Day 7 — Return Home

• Safe to fly
• Safe to travel
• Continue hydration and nutrition plan

SECTION 5 — Virtual Care & Follow‑Up

We provide full virtual follow‑up:

• 1‑week post‑op
• 1‑month
• 3‑month
• 6‑month
• 12‑month
• Annual follow‑ups

You will receive:

• Nutrition guidance
• Medication adjustments
• Weight‑loss monitoring
• Lab review
• Long‑term success coaching

SECTION 6 — Emergency Instructions

If you experience:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Persistent vomiting
• Fever > 101°F
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Inability to tolerate liquids

Contact our office immediately.

If you are out of state:

• Go to the nearest ER
• Ask the ER to contact our team
• We will coordinate your care remotely

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