Plastic Surgery | Out-of-town Patient Consultation

1. First Step

If you do not live in the Los Angeles area, and are interested in having surgery with Dr. Diaz, you will need to complete an online consultation. Instructions are available by clicking on the “Online Consultations” tab located on our website. Once the online consultation is complete, and you are determined to be a good candidate for surgery, our office will contact you to make arrangements. Please refer to the following list to help guide you through the process.

2.  Prior To Arrival

If you are planning to have your surgery with Dr. Diaz and your consultation has been completed, there are several things that must be taken care of before you arrive in Los Angeles.

1. We will need to order several routine blood tests before you can have surgery. You should plan on seeing your regular doctor for this, or know of one that could take care of all necessary tests. The tests must be done at least 10-14 days before the day of your surgery so that there is sufficient time to obtain and review the results. The exact tests that must be ordered will be determined by your age, general health and planned procedures.
2. If you are considering breast surgery, and you are over the age of 35, you should plan on having a mammogram. This must be arranged in advance. If you have had a mammogram, it must have been done within the previous 12 months to be valid. Also, you will need to send us the report.
3. If you have had previous surgery, we will need a report of the surgery from your doctor. This must be arranged for in advance. Dr. Diaz cannot perform surgery on you if this report is not available.
4. If you have any medical problems, or if you are over the age of 40, we will need medical clearance from your doctor. If you do not have a regular doctor, you should arrange for an appointment with one.
5. You will need prescription medications after your surgery. These medications should be filled out at least one day before surgery. You can choose to obtain them in Los Angeles after your arrival. This should be arranged in advance.
6. When making your travel plans, you will need to arrive at least one full day prior to your procedure. In general, you will need to stay at least a week in Los Angeles before you can return home. The exact amount of time depends on your procedure and how far you are traveling.
7. You will need to have an adult with you throughout your stay. If you do not have someone that could accompany you, we will need to arrange for a nurse to take care of you after your surgery.

3.  Accommodations

There are numerous options for where to stay while you are in Los Angeles. We can help you make reservations. Our recommendations will depend in part on what procedures you will be undergoing. Patients who will be undergoing extensive surgery will likely need to stay in an overnight recovery facility that provides nursing care. Some patients may even need to stay overnight in the hospital. We also prefer that you stay in a location that is close to our office. You can refer to the following list as a guide. The hotels are listed in increasing order of price.

4.  Transportation Services

LAX Airport http://www.lawa.org/welcomeLAX.cfm

We recommend that you rent a car during your stay. It is difficult to get around the Los Angeles area without transportation. Most of the major car rental companies have stations in both the Burbank and LAX airports.