Medical Tourism Questions And Answers

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contact_supportGeneral Questions

Generally, people travel abroad for medical tourism due to three main reasons:

  • The treatment is not available in the home country.
  • The treatment is available but not done as frequently or skillfully as it is done somewhere else. So there’s a higher chance of success doing it someplace else with more experts in the field.
  • The treatment has higher costs in the home country.

In many cases, patients take a medical trip for both quality and cost. For example many people concerned with their nose shape who considers a nose job prefer to take a trip to Iran where rhinoplasty is a very common procedure and has the highest rate of nose surgery with experienced surgeons but considerably lower costs.

The short answer is quality service at a low cost.

Iranian surgeons are well known for their outstanding performance and the variety of procedures they carry out, among which plastic surgeries come out on top. Considering the vast number of cosmetic surgeries performed in Iran, Iranian doctors have the chance to go beyond theoretical knowledge, gain a great deal of hands-on experience, and even come up with innovations in cosmetic surgeries.

While many top surgeons with high proficiency levels could be found in other countries like the US, the procedure and the travel costs also matter when someone wants to receive medical service in another country. This is why benefiting from a world-class surgeon based in Iran would be the best choice for many people. Iran’s fame for plastic surgeries has risen to the point of being called the nose job capital of the world.

Risk is an inherent part of any medical procedure. However, we’ll do our best to minimize such risks by collaborating with high-quality accredited hospitals, experienced board-certified surgeons, and professional medical teams. Our experts at AyrianaMedTour will have a thorough consultation with you before booking your appointment to assess your condition and let you know about the necessary tests you may need to take, possible results, and potential risks.

Here you can find a list of popular procedures. However, if you can’t find the treatment you’re looking for on this page, just contact us and our consultants make sure to get back to you soon.

Before diving into medical tourism safety, you should keep in mind that risk is an inherent part of any medical procedure, be it in a clinic on your doorstep or in a hospital thousands of miles away from your hometown. However, parties active in the medical tourism industry, from hospitals and treatment providers to facilitators, definitely do their best to deliver their clients the safest service and take all the precautions to stay away from risking patients’ health. Pre-surgery consultation and visits are important steps for minimizing the risks and undergoing a successful procedure. We’re a registered medical tourism company In Iran and only collaborate with quality accredited hospitals, skillful board-certified doctors, and professional staff to assure quality medical care and service.

Iran is an educated country that offers advanced medical education and service. Therefore, the low cost doesn’t mean low quality at all. It is due to the low cost of labor, insurance, and living in Iran. Generally, Iran is considered a cheap destination to travel to.

Some of the Doctors and Medical staff (about 70%) can speak English and some may not be fluent. But it shouldn’t be a concern as a professional interpreter fluent in English and also familiar with the medical procedures will accompany you during your visits as the company agent to make sure everything will go well and you won’t be confused if the staff doesn’t speak fluent English.

 

 It’s safe and possible in terms of medical considerations, you can have several procedures in one stay, some of which could be even done in one surgical session.

If you can’t find your procedure on the website, make sure you contact us and our consultants will let you know if we offer the treatment you seek. The procedures listed on the website represent the most common ones, frequently requested by our patients.

Start by getting a free consultation from our experts. You can fill out a form or simply send us a message on Whatsapp. Let us know about your concern and help you with possible solutions.

placeIn Iran

No, Iranians are not Arab and do not speak Arabic. The official language of Iran is Persian (Farsi).

Yes, you need to pay your costs including your surgery and other costs in Iran in cash.

The amount of money you need could vary from one person to another. But besides the procedure cost and other basic costs such as accommodation, you’ll need about $500 for one week. Of course, if you want to go shopping, buy souvenirs, and visit different places, you’ll need more.

Not knowing Persian by no means damages your medical trip experience. You can comfortably enjoy a smooth medical journey since our interpreters will accompany you throughout your trip unless you want otherwise.

Sure, we’ll assign a professional interpreter to accompany you during your medical visits and office meetings. The main languages our company offers are English, Arabic, and Russian. Therefore, the cost of the interpretation service is included in the packages and you won’t have to pay an extra fee unless you request for an interpreter to also accompany you to other places such as shopping, sightseeing, etc. as a guide. If you want an interpreter in languages other than English, Russian, or Arabic, make sure you let us know and we’ll arrange it for you for an extra fee.

Yes. You definitely wouldn’t want to miss sightseeing around the city. You can register for a tour and go sightseeing accompanied by a professional interpreter/tour leader both before your surgery and also a while after it.

You can visit other cities as long as your doctor makes sure that it’s ok for you to go away and you let our company know about your travel plan in advance so that we can inform the ministry of foreign affairs and get the legal approvals.

It may vary depending on your procedure. However, you’re usually recommended to stay for about a week. Because you usually need 5-7 days before you can fly back to your country after having a surgical procedure to make sure it’s safe for your health. However, people undergoing some minor procedures such as dental procedures or Botox injections may be fit to fly even on the same day of the procedure.

It depends on the procedure. Generally, the longest time you can stay in Iran on a T-visa is 25-30 days. Yet, the visa will be issued considering the length of time you’ll need to recover from your medical procedure. Therefore, minor procedures and most facial surgeries need shorter time compared to complicated surgeries of the body or those needing frequent follow-ups.

No, the items included in your package are precisely mentioned . If you’re interested in having a tour around the city accompanied by AyrianaMedTour tour leaders (interpreter), you’ll need to pay extra.

In case you purchase a package, the necessary transportation (airport pick-up, trips heading to the hospital, doctor’s office, and AyrianaMedTour company) is included in the package and you won’t need to pay for them each time. To get to other destinations you’ll need to pay for the taxi and the interpreter accompanying you.

Certain apps can always help you as you travel to different locations such as GPS navigations, translators, etc. However, it is highly recommended that you also have some VPNs installed on your smartphone as some social media and websites are banned in Iran so you’ll need a VPN to connect. While you won’t be left alone to require using the subway or a taxi on your own, some smart transportation apps similar to Uber and a visual subway guide could be also helpful. Our team at AyrianaMedTour helps you with the necessary apps and the support you’ll need during your trip. So don’t worry.

Unlike what the media may try to convey, Iran is a safe country with amiable and hospitable people. Our patients are usually very surprised by how everything goes smoothly and safely during their trip and particularly they enjoy being warmly welcomed to Iran.

Yes, it is totally safe to travel alone. Moreover, our team supports you throughout your medical journey to Iran so you don’t need to worry.

Iran is perfectly safe for both men and women, being particularly renowned for its people’s hospitality and kindness toward travelers and strangers as a highly regarded ethical value.  Having to wear a scarf as a woman and some outfit limitations (such as not being able to wear tops and shorts) are probably the only discomfort you’ll feel if you’re so used to wearing such clothes. However, travelers usually enjoy experiencing new stuff. So if you look at it as a cultural experience, you’re going to enjoy all the mysteries and exotic experiences of your trip to the middle east.

You’ll have your procedure done as soon as possible which may vary depending on different factors such as pre-op visits and tests but most patients have their surgery on the first or second day of their arrival.

No, you won’t be left alone and will be accompanied by an AyrianaMedTour interpreter who is also the representative agent of the company helping you throughout your medical journey.

While some procedures may require specific pre-op tests and examinations, generally, you’ll have at least one medical visit before having your surgery and have to do a blood test, the results of which define if you need to go through more tests and examinations. For example, people above 40, will have to visit a cardiologist besides their general visit before the surgery, while younger healthy individuals with no background disease or special problem may not need further examinations. You’ll also have one visit after the surgery. Depending on the procedure you may need more. In case, an emergency comes up, we’ll make sure to arrange an urgent visit ASAP.

No, unfortunately, you can’t use your credit card to pay or withdraw money in Iran.

Only if your medical procedure requires a longer stay and your doctor confirms it, we can then apply for extending your visa.

We can only apply for extending your visa if your medical procedure requires a longer stay and your doctor confirms it.

As long as you stay enough that you’re safe to fly, it’s fine to stay shorter than you’ve previously booked and you’ll get your money back. But you’ll need to pay the cancelation fee for the hotels or other services if booked in advance.

Regular pre-surgery medical visits and tests (a general blood analysis) are included in the package price. Further examinations and tests (if required) will be done for an extra fee.

You’ll have at least one post-surgery visit which will be taken care of. Depending on the procedure you may require more than one post-op doctor visit.

If something goes wrong and you feel dissatisfied with part of the service or have a complaint, we’ll arrange a meeting with the AyrianaMedTour manager so that you can discuss your dissatisfaction and it’ll be dealt with. In case you can’t settle down the issue at this meeting, you can refer to your embassy/consulate in Iran and ask for legal help.

We’ll be at your service 24/7. You can call and ask for help and we’ll try our best to help you with everything you need.

You can bring your medications with you in their original bottles or packages provided that you have the doctor’s prescription with you. Having small amounts of over-the-counter medications could be fine. You can also take your medications from pharmacies in Iran if you have your doctor’s prescription with you.

Yes, you’re welcome to come with your girlfriend or boyfriend.

Yes, it is safe for women to go out alone.

Considering the fact that you are going to be in Iran for a medical procedure and drinking alcohol is forbidden a while before and after any surgery, our surgeons advise you to stay away from alcohol during your trip.

Yes, there are a number of vegetarian restaurants. Moreover, regular restaurants usually offer a vegetarian menu too.

flightFlight

You can simply book your flight after being granted the visa. However, you can ask our team for help if you need assistance regarding booking a flight.

You can reschedule but the cost of some services such as hotel reservations will be deducted from your deposit and the rest will remain valid for your new appointment.

Yes, you’ll need to present a fit-to-fly certificate issued by your surgeon/hospital in Iran to show that you can safely fly.

Dress code in Iran

When choosing the clothes to wear in Iran, you’ll need to consider the season. Depending on the time, you may experience a nice temperate spring, a hot dry summer, a cool fall, or a very cold winter. So you’ll need to choose your clothes accordingly. However, have it in mind that Iran is a four-season country. Therefore, even when people are dealing with a cold December in Isfahan, people in Kish are enjoying the warmth of the sun, lying on the beach, and drinking lemonade. So if you plan to visit other places, make sure you check it beforehand. Besides the weather, you’ll also need to consider the dress code in Iran. Both men and women must stay away from shorts and sleeveless tops and women need to wear long and loose clothes as well as a scarf to cover their bodies and heads.

Yes, as a woman you’ll need to consider some general rules while packing your clothes. You can wear different combinations of clothes in different colors and styles as long as they cover your body including your arms, legs, and hair. So, shorts and sleeveless tops won’t be an option. Usually, loose-fitting tunics coupled with a pair of pants would be great. You’ll also need to wear a scarf or hat to cover your hair.

As a foreigner, it is understandable that you may not know the rule or find it difficult to follow. So you’ll be reminded to conform to the dress code at the very beginning and it is expected that you keep wearing a hijab after being instructed as it is considered a rule in Iran.

Hijab generally refers to wearing decent clothes to cover the body and hair. But more specifically, it refers to the scarf Muslim women wear around their heads to cover their hair.

Yes, as a woman you’ll need to wear a hijab which means wearing not-revealing clothes that cover your hair using a scarf or a hat.

No, wearing a hijab doesn’t mean wearing a veil. You can choose among a variety of styles and colors as long as they’re not revealing and too tight.

As a woman, you can’t wear revealing and tight clothes that do not fully cover your body such as sleeveless tops and shorts. Men are also advised not to wear shorts in public (it’ll be fine for men to be topless and wear shorts on the beach though)

As a foreigner, you won’t be punished if not wearing a hijab but you’ll be advised to do so. If you keep going out without wearing a hijab you may be banned to enter some places. Therefore, as a tourist, it’s just easier to conform to the dress code so that you won’t lose time dealing with hijab-related constrictions.

As a tourist, you won’t be arrested if you get caught not wearing a hijab. But you’ll be instructed to follow the hijab rule and it is expected that you conform to the dress code after being told. Insisting on not wearing a hijab after such warnings may be considered a violation of the rules.

flight_landArrival

You must have your passport and your visa (delivered on a separate sheet) with you.

Besides the necessary documents (Passport, a copy of your passport, and your visa) you may need to have enough cash in euros or US dollars to cover your expenses while in Iran as you can not use a credit card. Also, don’t forget to bring proper clothes with you considering the dress code and the weather condition of the destination. You may also need an adaptor for your portable electronic devices (smartphone, tablet, or laptop).

Yes, you’ll be picked up by AyrianaMedTour agents at the airport.

You don’t need to worry about hiring an interpreter. You will be accompanied by an experienced interpreter (English, Arabic, or Russian) who is both good at language knowledge and medical terms and procedures. If you need an interpreter of a language other than English, Arabic, and Russian, you can still ask for one and we’ll take care of it. However, other languages will cost an extra fee.

Not knowing English or Persian will not be a concern. We’ll provide you with Interpreters who are also the representative agent of AyrianaMedTour, accompanying you on your medical visits. Make sure you let us know about your language preferences. While the three main languages are English, Russian, and Arabic, we can provide you with interpreters of other languages for an extra cost.

All necessary transportation including the airport pick-up and those heading to the hospital or the AyrianaMedTour company will be managed by us and is covered in our packages. Transportation to other places could also be taken care of by AyrianaMedTour for an extra fee.

While US dollars are the preferred option, you can also bring cash in euros.

There is no limitation. However, each person can carry $10,000 without having to undergo any regulations. Therefore, you and your companion can bring $20,000, each carrying $10,000. If you bring more than this amount with you, you need to announce it due to anti-laundry regulations but your money won’t be frozen. In case your medical procedure and trip cost more than that, you’ll be asked to pay a part of the cost online in advance to avoid headaches from carrying too much cash.

It depends on the country and the flight type. You should ask the airport and the airline about this so that the company provides you with a treatment letter to present.

airplane_ticketVisa

Traveling to Iran for medical procedures requires a treatment visa, also known as a T-visa.

You’ll be asked to fill in a form and send us a copy of your passport and a personal photo. We will then apply for your T-visa and you do not need to go through the application process. However, we’ll provide you with the visa authorization code you’ll need when collecting the visa at the embassy in your country.

It is highly recommended that you bring someone with you. While you’re not required to have a companion with you for many procedures, mainly facial surgeries, you must have someone with you to help you after some major procedures of the body such as tummy tuck, gastric sleeve, etc. However, if you can’t have a family member or a friend to accompany you, you can request a caregiver and we’ll arrange it for you.

Sure, your T-visa lets you have one companion during your medical trip.

Yes, they will need to fill in a different application as a companion for your medical trip. We’ll help you and your companion with the visa application and the authorization code.

Depending on your medical procedure, you’ll be granted a visa letting you stay from 7 to 25 days. However, if your doctor decides that you need to stay longer, we’ll help apply for extending your visa.

While there is no specific timing for visa approval, most cases receive their T-visa within 3 to 7 days. However, it is possible to take up to 45 days. Candidates with US, Canadian, or British passports should expect a period of 30 to 45 business days for visa approval.

If the visa rejection is not due to critical security and political issues, you can simply reapply for the visa. However, the bureaucratic procedure may take a bit longer than the first application. You can expect a week to a month for the final result.

It depends on the country where you live. If there’s an embassy or consulate of Iran in your country, you can simply receive your visa at the embassy in your home country. However, if there’s not an Iranian embassy in your country, you can choose a third country at your convenience to pick up your visa before coming to Iran. You can check out the list of Iranian embassies and consulates in other countries here.

  • Copy of passport 
  • Personal photo
  • Visa Application Form
  • Receipt of paying the visa service cost
  • Vaccination card (optional)
  • Resume (For citizens of the US, UK, and Canada only)

You’d better contact the relevant consulate to learn about their working hours and days and choose a day for visa pick up in person. Once your visa is approved we provide you with a code you’ll need to present at the embassy or the consulate along with your passport to get your visa. However, some consulates offer visa delivery if you ask for it.

Your visa is valid for 3 months after it is issued.

You can reschedule and your deposit will remain valid. However, the cost of the service will be deducted and you may need to pay extra money for a visa, hotel, etc. if they’re booked already.

No, it won’t affect your second visa application. But you need to wait for 3 months before you apply again.

You can enter Iran only one time as the T-visa is single-entry. In case you need to refer more than one time for your medical or cosmetic procedures, you need to apply for the T-visa each time.

T-visa allows for a single entry. So if you need to leave Iran and want to come back again you’ll have to apply for the visa for the second time , no matter how shortly you’re going to return.

Yes, you’ll need to apply for a visa again.

If you’re not a citizen of the above mentioned countries, you’ll go through the regular process which usually doesn’t take more than 7 business days.

Yes, you can travel to other cities after your medical visits. However, you’ll need to submit your travel plan and let us know about your destinations beforehand so that we can provide you with the required legal approvals.

Doctors & Hospitals

It is feasible to choose a doctor but remember that limiting your options to specific doctors means that you agree to their conditions which could be a higher price or specific timing.

Sure, but just like choosing a specific doctor, it means narrowing your options.

It depends on the procedure. Some will not require hospitalization and some others may come with 1-2 days of post-op hospitalization.

No, hospital expenses are usually included in the procedure price. In special cases, there may be an extra fee for the hospital, but you’ll be informed beforehand.

Yes, we collaborate with many experienced female doctors. It is also possible to book surgery with a whole-female medical team if that’s your concern.

Yes, it is feasible to book your procedure with a female doctor but you need to remember that limiting your options to specific doctors means you agree with their conditions which may be a higher price or fewer available appointments.

Hotels

Sure, our team usually provides you with a list of the nearest hotels to the hospital/clinic where you’re going to have your medical procedure and you’re free to choose among the options. However, we can book your stay in hotels in other locations if that’s what you want.

Yes, but it’s worth mentioning that if you book your hotel on your own, we can’t help you with services like cancellation, refunding, or changing the reservation dates.

Hotels charge different prices based on many factors including:

  • General quality(whether it’s a small hotel apartment, a 3-star, 4-star, or 5-star hotel)
  • Location(the city and the region where the hotel is located influence the price. Hotels placed in Tehran (the capital city) are usually more expensive than those in other towns. In the same city, hotels located uptown or in the center usually cost more since they’re closer to other facilities)
  • Date(You should expect to pay more in high season)
  • Other facilities(such as gym, swimming pool, etc.)

All of our hotels offer breakfast, and it is included in the hotel room price. Other meals could be served at the hotel, but the price will be added up to the base price. You could pay the extra price for lunch and dinner and ask AyrianaMedTour to arrange it for you before you arrive or order it upon your arrival.

Usually, the check-in time is 14:00 and the check-out time is noon (12:00). But this may vary a bit in different hotels. Also, have in mind that some hotels don’t offer day use, in such cases checking in before 14:00 and checking out after 12:00 may count for an extra night. As an example, you’ll be charged for 3 nights (and not one night) if you want to stay in a hotel from Aug 1, 6:00 AM to Aug 2, 9:00 PM.

That is possible to arrange an early check-in or a late check-out in some cases.

Yes, it is possible. Our team can arrange your transportation and hotel to match your travel plan.

Having pets on a medical trip is not recommended. In some cases, you may even need someone to take care of you as you have the surgery and you won’t be able to take care of your pets. Moreover, you should stay away from pressure on your surgical site as much as possible. Hugging pets or unwanted contacts in surgical areas would threaten your health. In addition, not all hotels allow pets inside and you’ll have limited options.

Yes, while you may have heard about some rules about Iranian hotels not letting unmarried couples stay together, this is untrue for foreign travelers. You can choose to stay with whomever you wish, be it your girlfriend/boyfriend, spouse, family member, or friend.

Your partner can stay with you in the same hotel room if that’s what you want.

You can change your hotel before the booking is done. Depending on the season, it may be possible up to a week before your arrival but you usually need to let us know earlier. After your hotel is booked, you can still change your hotel but you should know that the cancellation fee, which is the cost of one night staying at the hotel, will be deducted from your deposit. If you want to change your hotel after checking in, you need to pay the cancellation fee as well as the fee for the time you stay at the hotel and some other costs such as transportation to the new hotel.

Online Consultation

Within 24 hours after you send your inquiry, our experts will contact you for the medical consultation relevant to the procedure you need. You’ll be asked questions to assess your physical health and medical history to see if you can have the requested surgery. You will also be asked to send your photos for the medical analysis and price estimation and your medical records if available.

You need to send your photos for two important reasons:

First: This is an online consultation and sending photos is the least you can do to help the doctor analyze the areas subject to the surgery and predict the surgery method and price. Without sending your photos and only by self-description, you cannot expect to get an exact price. Our consultants can only give you a rough estimation or a range of possible costs. So, to be transparent about the price, you need to send your photos. But if you only looking for a rough price inquiry, our packages show the possible ranges for frequently performed procedures in Iran. You can check the package page to get an idea about the prices. However, a specific price matching your case, can not be defined without a consultation and seeing the photos.

Second: Sometimes your photos are required so that the surgeon can decide if you can do the requested surgery in the first place. There are many patients who think they’ll need a specific surgery but are not sure what the procedure is and do not know which cosmetic surgery better matches their goals. In other cases, a person is not eligible or will not get good results from a surgery they think they must have and the doctor recognizes this after seeing your photos.

Your photos are safe with us. They’re only used for medical analysis and won’t be displayed and shared in any other places for any other purposes. We respect your privacy.

First of all, we assure you that your photos are only used for medical analysis and no other purposes. You can make sure that they won’t be seen by non-professionals. It’s just like an in-person visit with a doctor in which you need to let the doctor examine the areas related to the treatment.

Second, we do care about your privacy and respect your beliefs. Iran is a country with a Muslim population as the majority and we’re totally aware of your preferences. We can put you in contact with our female consultants if that makes you feel better.

And third, You know if the eyes are covered in a photo, a person’s identity can not be defined. You can cover the eyes by adding small circles or emojis on the area and send your photos. But remember if you’re consulting about a surgery related to the eyes or eyelids, this coverage should not blur the area to be assessed. For other procedures, it’s fine to cover the eyes. You can also cover very private areas in consultation regarding body procedures if those areas themselves are not the surgery’s subject.