Short answer: for most facial surgery, plan to be in Barcelona for about 10 days. Arrive at least two days before surgery and stay until your stitches are removed, usually 8 days after the operation. Some procedures need a shorter stay. Most of the preparation happens remotely, before you travel, and most of the follow-up continues by video once you are home.
What happens before you travel?
You do not need to fly to Barcelona to start. The first steps happen from home:
- Video consultation. I review your goals, photos and medical history. The first one is free.
- Surgical plan and quote. I explain which procedures I recommend, and why. You receive the quote in writing.
- Booking your date. A deposit of 20% of the quote reserves your surgery date and fixes the price for six months.
- Pre-operative paperwork and tests. You complete these where you live, and send them to your coordinator.
From the moment you book, a patient coordinator from my team is your single point of contact. They help you with dates, documents and travel logistics.
Which tests and documents do I need, and when?
| What | Where you do it | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Health questionnaire | Online, at home | At least 2 weeks before surgery |
| Blood tests | Any laboratory near you, with our request form | Results at least 2 weeks before surgery |
| ECG and chest X-ray | Near you, only if I request them for your case | At least 2 weeks before surgery |
| Facial CT scan | In Barcelona, the day before surgery. Or near you, with our request: this can shorten your stay | The day before surgery, or sent to us in advance |
| Signed consent forms and contract | Sent back scanned | At least 2 weeks before surgery |
Tell me about every medication and supplement you take. Some, like blood thinners or vitamin complexes, may need to be paused. Avoid nicotine in any form for at least 3 weeks before and after surgery.
Bring with you: your usual medication and inhalers, glasses if you wear contact lenses, a phone charger and loose, comfortable clothes.
How long should I stay in Barcelona after facial surgery?
Surgery takes place at IM Clinic Gournay, an accredited surgical centre in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona. The length of your stay depends on the procedures in your plan. When several procedures are combined, the one with the longest recovery sets the timeline.
| Procedure | Nights in hospital | Stitches | Usual time before flying home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forehead feminisation | 1 night | Removed on day 8 | Day 8 |
| Jaw and chin contouring | Outpatient or 1 night | Dissolvable, inside the mouth | After 2 nights in Barcelona and a check-up |
| Rhinoplasty (Dr Ramón Tarragona) | 1 night | Removed on day 7 | Day 7 |
| Adam's apple reduction | Outpatient | Removed at home, with video guidance | The day after surgery, after a check-up |
| Lip lift | Outpatient, under local anaesthesia or sedation | Removed at home between days 5 and 7, with video guidance | The same day |
The times in the table apply when the procedure is done on its own. The stitches of the Adam's apple reduction and the lip lift are simple to remove, and my team guides you by video. If you live a short trip from Barcelona, forehead surgery allows another option: go home on day 3 or 4 and come back for the stitch removal on day 8.
A typical stay, step by step
- At least 2 days before surgery: arrival in Barcelona.
- The day before surgery: CT scan, facial records and pre-operative consultation. My team takes the CT scan (unless you did it at home), photos and a 3D facial scan. In the consultation, I explain the operation step by step and answer your questions.
- Surgery day: under general anaesthesia, except the lip lift, which is done under local anaesthesia or sedation. You arrive early in the morning, fasting.
- Hospital stay: one night for forehead surgery and rhinoplasty. Jaw and chin surgery can be outpatient or need one night. Adam's apple reduction and lip lift are outpatient. The nursing team explains your care before discharge.
- Recovery days at your accommodation: swelling peaks between days 2 and 4. This is normal and temporary.
- Day 8: stitch removal and check-up. After forehead surgery, this is the visit that usually clears you to travel.
If your surgery includes the jaw or chin, I need at least 48 hours between your pre-operative consultation and surgery. That time is used to design and 3D-print your custom cutting guides. If the CT scan is taken in Barcelona, plan to arrive at least 3 days before surgery. If you can do it in your home city and send it in advance, 2 days are usually enough.
I strongly recommend that someone stays with you during the hospital nights and the first two or three days afterwards. Your coordinator can help with accommodation close to the clinic, in hotels and apartments at negotiated rates, with no obligation to stay at any particular place. They can also arrange airport transfers and optional services such as home nursing visits. The guide to accommodation and optional services explains each one.
When can I fly home after FFS?
In most cases, I clear you to fly 8 days after surgery, once your stitches are out and I have examined you. There are exceptions. Smaller, single procedures, such as an Adam's apple reduction, or surgeries closed with stitches that are dissolvable or easy to remove, may allow you to fly earlier. The table above gives the usual timing for each procedure.
My advice is to book a flexible return ticket, or one you can change at low cost. If your recovery needs a couple more days, you will not be under pressure to leave.
On the flight, keep your head elevated when you can, stay hydrated and carry your medication in your hand luggage.
What happens after I fly home?
Your recovery continues after you leave Barcelona, and so does my follow-up:
- First weeks: you stay in direct contact with your coordinator. Questions, photos of your progress or anything that worries you go straight to my team.
- Scheduled check-ups: at 7 days, 3 months and 1 year, by video call if you are not in Barcelona.
- Final result: the inflammatory phase lasts weeks, but soft tissues take many months to fully adapt to the new bone structure. Your follow-up covers that whole period. The guide to swelling after facial surgery explains how fast each area settles.
Before choosing where to have surgery, these are also the questions to ask any clinic. The guide on how to choose an FFS surgeon lists twelve more.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have my consultation and follow-up in English?
Yes. My whole team works in English: the video consultation, the documents, the coordination and the follow-up.
How do I pay, and in which currency?
Prices are in euros and include the surgical centre and anaesthesia. A deposit of 20% reserves your date. Your coordinator explains the payment methods and dates when you book.
Does my EHIC or GHIC cover surgery in Spain?
No. The European Health Insurance Card and the UK Global Health Insurance Card cover medically necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay. They do not cover private treatment, or treatment you travel abroad to receive.
Do I need travel insurance?
Standard travel insurance often excludes planned surgery and its complications. Read your policy before you travel, or look for cover designed for medical travel.
Can I travel alone?
You can, but I strongly recommend that someone stays with you during the hospital nights and the first two or three days afterwards. Your coordinator can help you plan those days.
What if I need to change or cancel my surgery date?
A date change with at least 60 days' notice keeps your deposit, with an administrative fee of €350. A cancellation with less than 60 days' notice loses the deposit. A cancellation for medical reasons, with documentation, is refunded in full. The full terms are in the contract you sign when you book.
What if I have a problem after I get home?
Contact your coordinator straight away, with photos if you can. I review your case and decide the next step: a video call or a visit to a doctor near you. I send a report for your doctor. If you need to come back, my team tells you and helps you organise the whole trip.
When will I see the final result?
Most swelling goes down in the first weeks. Soft tissues keep adapting for many months. The nose is the slowest area, with changes for up to 18 to 24 months.
Before you decide
Travelling for surgery is a big decision, and it should feel organised, not improvised. The key is to know the timeline before you book flights: remote preparation, about 10 days in Barcelona, and follow-up from home.
If you would like me to look at your case, the first video consultation is free.
As we always say, this article is for general information and doesn't replace an individual medical assessment. If you want to know how your own stay would look, book a consultation with my team.
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