Clinical care aside, what often makes or breaks a cosmetic surgery trip is the logistics. Here's our practical, month-by-month checklist for getting it right.
6–8 weeks before surgery
Confirm your surgeon & date. Sign the written quote and pay your deposit (typically 20%). Request your written pre-op instructions and anaesthesia form.
Stop certain medications. Your surgeon will give you a personalised list, but typically:
- 2 weeks before: stop aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, fish oil, ginkgo, ginseng
- 4 weeks before: ideally stop nicotine entirely (smoking triples wound-healing complications)
- Hormonal contraception: your surgeon may ask you to pause it if the procedure has thrombosis risk
Book flights. Tirana International (TIA) is served direct from London (Stansted/Luton/Gatwick), Rome, Milan (MXP/BGY), Berlin, Vienna, Munich, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich and most EU hubs. Flight time from London is ~3 hours; from Rome ~1 hour.
Fly mid-week if you can — flights are cheaper and airports are quieter.
2 weeks before
Get your pre-op bloods. Most clinics include these on arrival, but if you can get them done at home (FBC, coag, HbA1c, group & save, covid/hep panel) it saves you a day in Albania.
Arrange travel insurance. Most standard policies exclude elective cosmetic surgery but cover flight cancellation, lost luggage, accidental injury and unrelated medical emergencies. Look at AXA or MSH International for surgery-inclusive policies.
Confirm your return date. You'll need fitness-to-fly clearance from your surgeon — typically day 3 for hair transplants, day 5–7 for face, day 7–10 for body. Don't book your return flight tighter than your medical team advises.
1 week before
Prep your recovery kit. We provide a welcome bag, but if you're picky, bring:
- Soft button-front tops (essential for breast/chest surgery — you can't lift clothes overhead)
- Loose, comfortable trousers with an elastic waist (for abdominal work)
- Slip-on shoes — no bending to tie laces post-op
- A small travel cushion for your lap / chest during the flight home
- Lip balm and a water bottle — anaesthesia is very dehydrating
- Your regular prescriptions plus a printed list with generic names
Set up your home. Stock the fridge with easy meals. Prep your bed with extra pillows (many procedures require sleeping slightly elevated for 1–2 weeks). Arrange any help you'll need for the first 3–4 days back.
Arrival day
A driver meets you at TIA in Arrivals, holding a sign. Transfer to your hotel takes ~25 minutes. You'll get a welcome call from your coordinator within an hour of check-in.
Most patients have their consultation and pre-op bloods the same afternoon. Surgery is usually the following morning.
During your stay
Your hotel. We work with three 4★ hotels in central Tirana, all within a 10-minute drive of our partner clinics. They're used to post-op patients — soft beds, quiet rooms, 24h room service, concierge used to our timelines.
Eating. Tirana food is excellent and affordable. Your coordinator will steer you to restaurants that deliver to the hotel in the first 2–3 days when you won't want to go out.
Things to do between check-ups. After your first 48h, gentle walking is actively encouraged. The pedestrianised city centre around Skanderbeg Square, the Grand Park of Tirana and the cable car up Mount Dajti are all gentle, low-effort options.
What to combine a trip with
If you have extra days and your procedure allows it, Albania's coast is spectacular and underrated. Two easy add-ons after your fitness-to-fly clearance:
- The Albanian Riviera (Sarandë, Dhërmi, Himarë) — 3–4 hour drive south, Mediterranean beach towns. Perfect gentle recovery.
- Berat — 2 hours from Tirana. A UNESCO-listed Ottoman-era town, all gentle strolling and excellent food.
Avoid anything involving sun (for 4–6 weeks post-op on any scarred skin) and avoid activities that raise blood pressure (no gym, sauna, hammam for 2–4 weeks).
Getting home
Your coordinator takes you back to TIA. Priority boarding is worth paying for if you've had abdominal, chest or facial surgery — avoiding the standing queue is a small but meaningful upgrade.
On the plane:
- Walk every 90 minutes or flex your calves — crucial if you've had abdominal or body surgery (DVT risk)
- Drink water — 500ml per 2-hour flight minimum
- Sleep if you can — anaesthesia effects can linger for a week
After you land
Your surgeon's video follow-ups are already booked. Your coordinator remains on WhatsApp. If anything feels off — even a minor worry — message. Small questions caught early save big problems.
Want a personalised travel plan as part of your quote? We include one with every package. Start your consultation →