Plastic Surgery Consultation in Colombia: What to Ask and How to Compare Quotes

Quick answer: before the consultation, check three things: that the surgeon appears in ReTHUS, that their specialty is listed there, and that the clinic where you would have surgery is licensed in REPS. At the consultation, bring your questions in writing. When you leave, ask for a written, line-by-line quote. Two quotes can only be compared when you know what each one includes and what is paid separately.

This guide is useful if you are going to your first consultation for a rhinoplasty, liposuction, breast augmentation or other cosmetic surgery and are comparing two or three surgeons. It is general information, not medical advice: the decision about a procedure is yours and that of a qualified surgeon who has examined you.

Before the consultation: the three checks

• ReTHUS. This is the Ministry of Health's registry of health human resources. According to the Ministry, being registered there is what authorizes a person to practice a health profession in Colombia (Ley 1164 de 2007).
• Specialty. Appearing as a doctor does not confirm the specialty. The Colombian Society of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery (SCCP) tells patients that the surgeon must be a licensed physician with an officially approved specialization in plastic surgery.
• REPS. ReTHUS registers people and REPS registers places. The site where you will be operated on must be licensed by the health authority of the territory. A consulting room is fine for the consultation, but it is not an operating room.

The step-by-step for each search is in our guide How to verify a plastic surgeon in Colombia before booking.

What to ask at the consultation

Bring your questions in writing and note the answers. Ask the surgeon who will operate on you, not only a sales advisor.

1. What is your type and number of identification document, so I can look you up in ReTHUS?
2. What is your specialty and at which university did you do it?
3. In which clinic will you operate on me, and under what name does it appear in REPS?
4. Who administers the anesthesia and what is their specialty?
5. What does the quote include and what is paid separately?
6. What materials or implants will you use, and do they have INVIMA registration?
7. What happens if there is a complication: who looks after me, where, and who pays?
8. How many follow-up visits after surgery are included, and until when?
9. How many days must I wait before traveling by plane?
10. Will you give me a copy of my medical record at the end?

Also ask about your own case: what risks the procedure has for you, what alternatives exist, and what result is reasonable to expect. Only a surgeon who has examined you can answer those.

The same list is in the free tool Verify your surgeon, with a button to send it by WhatsApp before the appointment and a checklist that links each official registry.

How to read a quote line by line

Ask for the quote in writing. Each of these nine lines should state whether it is included or paid separately, and how much.

• Surgeon's fee. Confirm it corresponds to the surgeon you verified.
• Anesthesiologist. Ask for their name: you can also look them up in ReTHUS.
• Clinic and operating room. Ask for the name and address of the facility, and compare them with REPS.
• Pre-surgery tests. Ask whether you pay for them separately.
• Implants and materials. Ask what brand they are and whether they have INVIMA registration.
• Medications. Ask whether the post-surgery medications are included.
• Recovery garments and supplies. Ask which ones you will need and whether they are in the price.
• Follow-up visits. Ask how many are included and until when.
• Complication coverage. Ask who pays for care if there is a complication. If they mention an insurance policy, ask for the document and read it.

A line without an answer is a cost you do not yet know.

How to compare two or three quotes

About prices: we have not found a public, current and independent source of surgery prices in Colombia that we trust. For that reason, this guide does not give figures or ranges.

1. Put the same nine lines in every quote. Mark each one as included, separate, or no answer.
2. Add up what is paid separately. Compare the total of each option, not the large number in the header.
3. Request in writing whatever is missing. Compare only when all three quotes answer the same things.
4. Make sure you are comparing the same thing: the same procedure, the surgeon who assessed you, and a clinic licensed in REPS.

To do it faster, use the surgery budget. You enter the value of your own quote and mark each line. The tool adds up what is paid separately and shows you the questions your quote leaves unanswered. It does not include reference prices. If you are traveling, also add flights and lodging.

Warning signs

• They won't give you the document to look up in ReTHUS, or the registry does not show the specialty.
• The surgery would take place at a site that does not appear as licensed in REPS, or they won't tell you in writing where you will be operated on.
• You only speak with a sales advisor. There is no consultation with the surgeon before setting the date.
• A lump-sum price without detail, with pressure to decide today or to deposit an advance into a personal account.
• Promises such as "guaranteed result" or "no risk". The Ley 2316 de 2023 assigns the Superintendencia de Salud, the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio and the territorial entities the task of monitoring misleading advertising in this field.
• They offer you biopolymers or filler substances that are not permitted. Injecting them is a crime since Ley 2316 de 2023. The INVIMA publishes the list of permitted ones.
• The patient is under 18 years old. The Ley 1799 de 2016 prohibits cosmetic procedures on minors, with specific exceptions.

If you are traveling for surgery

Buy the return ticket only after asking how many days you must wait before flying. For reference, the US CDC recommends a visit with your doctor at least 4 to 6 weeks before the trip and insurance that covers medical evacuation. They also say that flying after surgery can increase the risk of clots, and that waiting 10 to 14 days after major surgery, especially on the chest, reduces risks from pressure changes. The number of days for your case is set by your surgeon.

Where to find surgeons to request your consultations

In Plastic Surgery in Colombia Move surgeons appear only after we search for their registration in ReTHUS. You can go in by procedure, such as rhinoplasty, liposuction o breast augmentation, or use the surgeon directory, which filters by procedure, type of surgeon, city, language and online schedule. With surgeons who publish their availability, you can book the consultation online.

The "Verified Surgeon" badge confirms the registration. It does not rate the surgeon's skill or results, and it does not cover the clinic. We do not allow before-and-after photos of patients.

Frequently asked questions

How much does plastic surgery cost in Colombia?

There is no reliable figure we can give you: as of November 2026 we did not find a public, independent source of surgery prices in Colombia. Request two or three detailed quotes and compare them line by line.

What should a plastic surgery quote include?

It should state, line by line, what is included and what is paid separately. The lines are: surgeon's fee, anesthesiologist, clinic and operating room, tests, implants or materials, medications, recovery garments, follow-up visits, and who pays if there is a complication. It is the same list used by our surgery budget, valid as of November 2026.

Where do I verify the surgeon before the consultation?

In ReTHUS, the Ministry of Health's public registry, using the surgeon's type and number of identification document (checked in November 2026). The clinic is looked up in REPS, the registry of licensed providers.

How do I know if a very cheap quote is a scam?

The price alone won't tell you; what protects you is verifying the surgeon in ReTHUS and the clinic in REPS, two public registries as of 2026. Be wary if they don't give you a detailed quote, if they pressure you to pay today, or if they ask for the advance into a personal account.

Can I book the consultation online?

Yes, with Colombia Move surgeons who publish their consultation schedules, a feature available since November 2026. In the directory, the "Online schedule" filter shows who offers it.

What does the "Verified Surgeon" badge mean?

It means we checked the surgeon's ReTHUS registration and the specialty they declared before publishing their listing, usually in less than 24 hours (rule in effect since November 2026). It does not rate their skill or results and does not cover the clinic. You should check the site in REPS yourself.