The Surgery Abroad Glossary for Patients

Every term this site uses, defined plainly.

Bottom line up front: This glossary covers the recurring terms across this site — bookmark it as a quick reference while researching.
Board Certification
Formal credentialing by a recognized medical specialty board (SCCP for plastic surgery in Colombia).
JCI Accreditation
Joint Commission International's Gold Seal certification for hospital patient-safety standards.
Fit-to-Fly
The medically cleared timeline before flying is considered safe after a specific procedure.
Informed Consent
A patient's right to understand a procedure, risks, and alternatives before agreeing to it.
Anesthesiologist
The physician specialist responsible for administering and monitoring anesthesia during surgery.
Staged Surgery
Splitting related procedures across separate trips or sessions rather than combining them at once.
Revision Surgery
A follow-up surgical procedure correcting or improving the result of a prior surgery.
Recovery House
Post-surgical lodging offering nursing care, meals, and monitoring outside the hospital setting.
Complication Insurance
Specialized coverage addressing unexpected costs if a surgical complication occurs.
Total Anesthesia Time
The cumulative time under anesthesia across combined procedures, subject to safe limits.
Continuity of Care
The degree to which international surgical care coordinates with a patient's domestic physician.
Habilitación
A mandatory baseline facility operating license used in Colombia's healthcare system.

For procedure-specific terminology, see colombiacosmeticsurgery.com, colombiabbl.co, and colombiahairtransplant.co.

Most Worth Knowing

Of these, board certification, JCI accreditation, and fit-to-fly are the three terms worth understanding most thoroughly — they underpin the core verification and planning steps covered across this site.