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How to Choose a Board-Certified Specialist in Colombia

Plastic Surgery, Dental, Hair Transplant & Rehabilitation

Colombia has become one of the most attractive destinations in the world for medical tourism. Patients travel from the US, Canada, Europe and the Middle East seeking high-quality treatments in plastic surgery, dentistry, hair transplantation and rehabilitation often at a fraction of the cost they would pay at home.

But while Colombia has excellent, highly trained doctors, not every clinic or practitioner meets the same standards. Your results and your safety depend largely on one decision:

Choosing a truly Board-certified Specialist and having a proper consultation before booking anything.

This guide walks you through how to do that step by step.

Why board certification matters so much

A “doctor who does cosmetic procedures” is not the same as a board-certified specialist.

In Colombia, board-certified specialists typically:

Equivalent national societies in dentistry, maxillofacial surgery, rehabilitation, and dermatology or hair-restoration specialties.

Internationally, organizations like ISAPS and ASPS also highlight that Board Certified Plastic Surgeons have many extra years of focused surgical training, a demonstrated record of safety, and ongoing education.

What this means for you:

  • Better training → better decisions in the operating room or dental chair.
  • Ethical standards → honest recommendations, not just selling procedures.
  • Safer anesthesia, fewer complications and more predictable results.

How to verify if a Colombian doctor is truly certified

Whether you’re booking plastic surgery, dental work, rehab or hair transplant, use the same verification structure:

a) Check official registration (ReTHUS)

  • Ask for the doctor’s full name and professional registration number.
  • Verify that they appear in ReTHUS, which confirms they’re legally allowed to practice in Colombia and that their training is recognized.

b) Confirm specialist training and societies

  • For plastic surgery: look for membership in SCCP (Sociedad Colombiana de Cirugía Plástica Estética y Reconstructiva) or equivalent facial/plastic societies with official directories of members.
  • For dentistry: verify they are a dentist (DDS) and, if applicable, a specialist (prosthodontist, periodontist, oral surgeon, etc.), and check their training and memberships. Guides on dental tourism in Colombia emphasize confirming both degree and specialty.
  • For rehabilitation or physiatry: ask about their specialization in physical medicine & rehabilitation and confirm their recognition as a specialist.
  • For hair transplant: ask if the procedure is done by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, their fellowship/extra training, and how many cases they perform per year.

c) Evaluate the clinic, not just the doctor

  • Serious providers insist on working in registered, accredited facilities, not improvised offices or apartments. 
  • Registration with the Colombian Ministry of Health.
  • Quality certifications (e.g. ISO 9001) and, for some hospitals, international accreditations like JCI.
  • Clear infection-control policies and modern equipment.
  • Written pre- and post-operative protocols.
  • If a clinic refuses to show its registration or accreditations, that’s a red flag.

Why a consultation is non-negotiable before paying a deposit

Many reputable clinics and agencies in Colombia now recommend (and often require) a virtual consultation or detailed remote evaluation before you travel.

This consultation is where you:

Confirm you are a good candidate

  • Plastic surgery: health history, BMI, smoking, past surgeries, realistic expectations.
  • Dentistry: X-rays, photos, bone quality for implants, bite analysis, existing restorations.
  • Hair transplant: donor area density, pattern of hair loss, medical causes.
  • Rehabilitation: diagnosis, imaging, previous therapies, current limitations.

Receive a personalized treatment plan

  • Exact or estimated number of implants, veneers, grafts, sessions, etc.
  • Expected surgery or treatment time.
  • Proposed techniques and materials (e.g. zirconia crowns vs. porcelain veneers, FUE vs. FUT for hair).

Discuss risks, recovery and logistics

  • Potential complications and how they’re handled.
  • How long you need to stay in Colombia after surgery/procedure.
  • Follow-up plan when you return home.

Clarify financial details before booking

  • What’s included in the price: surgery, anesthesia, hotel, transfers, garments, medications, revisions.
  • What isn’t included: extra nights, complications, extra implants/grafts, companion costs.
  • Deposit amount, refund policy, and rescheduling conditions.

Never send a deposit or confirm a date if you still have unanswered questions about your treatment, your doctor, or what’s included.

Reputable providers will welcome your questions. If someone pressures you to pay “now” and avoids details, choose another clinic.

Key questions to ask your specialist in Colombia

Here’s a checklist you can literally copy-paste into your notes before your video call or in-person consultation:

About the doctor

  • Are you board-certified in your specialty? By which institution?
  • How many years have you been practicing as a specialist?
  • How many cases like mine do you perform per month/year?
  • Do you work with international patients regularly?

About safety

  • In which clinic or hospital will the procedure be done? Is it registered and/or accredited?
  • What type of anesthesia will be used? Who provides it (anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist)?
  • What is your protocol if a complication occurs?

About results

  • Can I see before-and-after photos of cases similar to mine?
  • What realistic result can I expect, and what are the limitations in my case?

About recovery & follow-up

  • How many days should I stay in Colombia after the procedure?
  • What restrictions will I have (work, gym, sun exposure, diet)?
  • How do you handle follow-up once I’m back in my country?

About costs

  • What exactly does the quoted price include?
  • Is there any scenario where the price might increase (extra teeth, extra grafts, additional procedures)?
  • What is your policy for deposits, cancellations and changes of dates?

Most serious medical tourism providers and clinics in Colombia explicitly encourage this type of questioning, because informed patients are safer and more satisfied.

Red flags: when to walk away

No matter how tempting the price or how beautiful the Instagram is, be cautious if you see:

  • A doctor who cannot or will not prove board certification or ReTHUS registration.
  • A clinic that refuses to share its full legal name and address.
  • No consultation offered—just a quote by WhatsApp and pressure to “lock in” the offer.
  • Vague answers to questions about anesthesia, complications or recovery.
  • Prices far below the general market range without a clear explanation (introductory offer, off-season, etc.).
  • Someone who changes your assigned surgeon at the last minute, without your approval.

Safe guides to Medical Tourism in Colombia insist that patients should research, ask questions and avoid offers that look too good to be true.

Your health is not a souvenir

Colombia can offer world class Plastic Surgery, Dentistry, Hair Restoration and Rehabilitation with excellent value but only if you combine:

  • Board-certified specialists
  • Accredited clinics
  • A thorough consultation to solve your doubts before you book

When you invest time in verifying credentials and having a real conversation with your specialist, you protect your health, your money and your long-term results.

We hope this comprehensive resource has provided you with valuable insights and answered all your questions about Choose a Board Certified Specialist in Colombia. Don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with our experts in Medical Tourism and  free Consultation to start your journey . We look forward to helping you achieve your dreams!

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