Having surgery in Spain: how it actually works

Step 1 — Video consultation, before you travel

You talk to Dr. Yagües herself, in English, from home. She tells you whether you are a candidate, what technique applies to your case and what result is realistic. If you are not a good candidate, she says so. The fee is deducted in full from your surgery.

Step 2 — In-person assessment and pre-op tests

In Spain, surgery under general anaesthetic requires a pre-operative work-up: blood tests, ECG and an anaesthetist consultation. This is not paperwork, it is the safety check. It is usually scheduled the day before surgery so you only travel once.

Step 3 — Surgery at a hospital, not a day clinic

Dr. Yagües operates at Hospital Quirónsalud Málaga: a private hospital with an intensive care unit, a full anaesthetics department and overnight admission when the case needs it. That matters most for long cases such as lipoedema surgery.

Step 4 — Recovery and when you can fly

As a general rule you do not fly home immediately. The usual recommendation is 7 to 10 days in the area for major body surgery, with a review before you leave. Flying too early raises the risk of clots and no responsible surgeon will encourage it.

What a serious quote includes

• Surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist and operating theatre
• Hospital stay if required
• Compression garments and dressings
• All follow-up reviews

If a quote is far below everyone else, something on that list is missing. Ask which one.

Why patients choose Málaga

Direct flights from most of Europe, mild winters that make recovery easier, and prices typically well below the UK or Ireland for the same hospital standard. And, for many patients, the fact that the surgeon is a woman.

Keep reading: Lipoedema surgery in Spain · Pre-operative assessment · Video consultation