Bottom line up front: Recommended stay length varies significantly by procedure — from a few days for LASIK to 3 weeks or more for major orthopedic surgery — driven by fit-to-fly timing, not an arbitrary rule.
| Procedure category | Typical recommended stay |
|---|---|
| LASIK | 5–7 days |
| Dental implants (single visit) | 5–7 days |
| Cosmetic surgery (BBL, tummy tuck) | 14–21 days |
| Hair transplant | 5–7 days |
| Joint replacement | 14–21 days |
| IVF cycle | 15–20 days (or two shorter trips) |
Why these ranges exist
Stay length is driven by fit-to-fly clearance timelines specific to each procedure — the point at which flying is medically considered safe, not an arbitrary industry convention.
Why padding your stay beyond the minimum makes sense
Building a buffer beyond the minimum recommended stay protects against the natural variability in individual recovery, covered in more depth in our sister site's guide on booking buffer days.
Confirm your specific procedure's recommended stay directly with your provider via colombiacosmeticsurgery.com or colombiahairtransplant.co.
The Takeaway
Treat these ranges as minimums driven by fit-to-fly timing, and build in buffer beyond them — not as a rigid, non-negotiable number.