- Normal: a 10 to 30 percent deposit after the surgeon consult, refundable if the surgeon declines your case.
- Not normal: a deposit before any surgeon has seen you, a price that expires in 48 hours, or "two slots left."
- Price matching on a quote with hidden lines is matching the headline, not the surgery.
- Get the deposit terms in writing, in Spanish and English, before sending anything.
Colombian clinics are businesses, and businesses take deposits. That is normal and reasonable; a surgeon who blocks an OR for you has a real cost if you do not show. The problem is not deposits. The problem is deposits used as pressure, and four other tactics that travel with them.
What normal looks like
If a quote's deposit terms fit inside that table, you are dealing with a normal clinic. Now the five tactics.
1. Deposit before consult
"Send $500 to reserve your consultation." No. A consult is where the surgeon decides whether to operate on you at all. Paying to be evaluated by someone who has not yet agreed to treat you inverts the whole relationship. Reputable Colombian surgeons either offer a free or low-cost video consult ($30 to $80 typical, sometimes credited to surgery) or ask for nothing until they have said yes.
2. The price that expires
"This price is valid for 48 hours." Colombian clinics bill in pesos and the USD figure moves with the exchange rate, so honest quotes do carry a date. But a 48-hour expiry on a surgical quote is not about the peso. It is about not giving you time to compare. Real quotes are typically valid 30 to 60 days, with the peso conversion updated at payment. See how the exchange rate actually affects your price.
3. Two slots left
Good surgeons are booked out. That is true. It is also true that "we only have two dates left this month" is a sentence that can be typed to every person who inquires. If a clinic is full, it says "the next available date is." If a clinic is selling, it says "hurry." You will hear the difference.
4. Price match
"Send us the other quote and we will match it." This one sounds like a win and usually is not. A quote is a list of lines. When a clinic matches a cheaper headline number, it matches by removing lines: the hospital night becomes an ambulatory clinic, the second garment disappears, the anesthesiologist becomes "our anesthesia team." You end up with the cheap surgery at the cheap price, from a clinic that just told you it would rather cut the case than lose the sale.
The reasonable version of this conversation is: "Here is the other quote. Can you walk me through why yours is higher?" A good surgeon will point at the lines. A seller will drop the price.
5. The all-inclusive bundle
Surgery, recovery house, driver, massages, garments, and a coffee tour for one number. Bundles are convenient and some are honestly priced. The problem is that a bundle hides the surgical quote inside a travel package, and you cannot tell whether the surgeon's fee is $2,000 or $4,000. Ask for the surgical quote as its own document, with the surgeon and facility named, and the travel components as a second document. Any operator who cannot separate them is not going to be able to explain either.
Getting it in writing
Before you send a deposit, get a single document that states: surgeon name and ReTHUS registration, facility name, procedure with technique, itemized price in COP and USD with the exchange date, deposit amount, refund windows, reschedule policy, and what happens if the surgeon cancels. In Spanish and English if possible; the Spanish version is what a Colombian consumer authority reads. This is not legal advice. It is what Andy asks for on every case before a patient sends a peso.
Paying the deposit
Once the terms are right, pay in a way that leaves a record. A bank wire works but costs $35 to $50 plus the bank's exchange spread. Wise moves USD to a Colombian account at the mid-market rate with a small fixed fee, and the transfer history is your receipt. Cash deposits on arrival are common for small holds but get a signed receipt with the clinic's NIT on it. The full payment guide is at how to pay a Colombian clinic.
For the broader vetting framework, including facility licensing and surgeon verification, start at Colombia Medical. For procedure-specific guidance, the Colombia Cosmetic Surgery guide covers what to expect from a legitimate consult.
Want a real quote for this?
Message Andy with your photos, history, and dates. You get a named surgeon, a named facility, and an itemized USD price you can verify. Typical ranges here are ranges until a surgeon prices your case.
Questions people ask
How much deposit is normal for surgery in Colombia?
Ten to thirty percent of the surgical fee, or a flat $300 to $1,000 to hold a date, paid after the surgeon consult. It should be refundable if the surgeon declines your case.
Should I pay a deposit before the surgeon consult?
No. A consult is where the surgeon decides whether to treat you. Paying before that is a sign the money matters more than the case.
Is a 48-hour quote expiry a red flag?
Yes. Honest quotes carry a date because the peso moves, but they are typically valid 30 to 60 days. A 48-hour expiry exists to stop you comparing.
Is price matching a good deal?
Usually not. Matching a cheaper headline means removing lines: hospital night, garments, named anesthesiologist. Ask the higher clinic to explain the difference instead.
What should the deposit agreement include?
Surgeon name and ReTHUS registration, facility, procedure and technique, itemized price in COP and USD with date, deposit amount, refund windows, reschedule policy, and what happens if the surgeon cancels.
What is the safest way to send a deposit to Colombia?
A traceable transfer with a receipt. Mid-market transfer services avoid the bank wire spread. Cash on arrival is fine for small holds with a signed receipt showing the clinic NIT.