Medical Tourism in Ecuador: Procedures, Costs, and How to Plan Your Trip

Ecuador has quietly become one of Latin America's best-kept secrets for medical tourism. If you're already living here, you've probably figured this out — your $200 crown or $40 specialist visit felt almost suspiciously cheap. But if you're flying in specifically for a procedure, or you're weighing whether to get something done here versus back in the States, this guide gives you the real numbers, the best facilities, and the step-by-step process.

No sugarcoating. Just what you need to know.

Why Ecuador for Medical Procedures

Five things make Ecuador stand out from the crowd of medical tourism destinations.

The prices are genuinely 60-80% lower than the US. Not because the quality is worse — because the cost structure is different. Doctors don't carry $300,000 in malpractice insurance. Hospitals don't have the same administrative bloat. Labor costs are lower. The savings are real and structural.

Doctors are well-trained. Many Ecuadorian surgeons and specialists did residencies or fellowships in the US, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, or Colombia. They speak at international conferences. They publish papers. The idea that "cheap = bad" doesn't hold up when you look at actual credentials.

Modern facilities exist. Hospital Metropolitano in Quito holds JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation — the same standard that accredits top US hospitals. Several other hospitals in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca have modern operating theaters, ICUs, and equipment that would look familiar in any American city.

It's dollarized. Ecuador uses the US dollar. No currency risk, no conversion math, no wondering if your quote will change by the time you arrive. The price you're quoted is the price you pay.

Recovery is pleasant. Post-surgery recovery in Cuenca's eternal spring (60-75°F year-round) or along Ecuador's coast beats recovering in a cold apartment in Chicago. Many medical tourists extend their stay to enjoy the country while healing.

Procedure Costs: Ecuador vs. United States

Here's what you'll actually pay. These are 2025-2026 prices from private hospitals and clinics. Prices vary by surgeon reputation, hospital, and city — Quito and Guayaquil tend to be slightly higher than Cuenca.

Orthopedic Surgery

Procedure	Ecuador	United States	You Save
Knee replacement	$6,000–$12,000	$35,000–$60,000	70-83%
Hip replacement	$7,000–$15,000	$40,000–$65,000	75-81%
Rotator cuff repair	$3,000–$6,000	$10,000–$25,000	70-76%
ACL reconstruction	$4,000–$8,000	$20,000–$50,000	80-84%

Eye Surgery

Procedure	Ecuador	United States	You Save
Cataract surgery (per eye)	$1,500–$3,000	$3,500–$7,000	57-71%
LASIK (per eye)	$800–$1,500	$2,000–$4,000	60-63%

Bariatric Surgery

Procedure	Ecuador	United States	You Save
Gastric sleeve	$5,000–$8,000	$15,000–$25,000	67-68%
Gastric bypass	$7,000–$12,000	$20,000–$35,000	65-66%

Cosmetic / Plastic Surgery

Procedure	Ecuador	United States	You Save
Breast augmentation	$2,500–$4,500	$6,000–$12,000	58-63%
Rhinoplasty	$2,000–$4,000	$5,000–$15,000	60-73%
Facelift	$3,000–$6,000	$8,000–$20,000	63-70%
Tummy tuck	$3,000–$5,500	$6,000–$12,000	50-54%
Liposuction	$1,500–$3,500	$3,000–$10,000	50-65%
Blepharoplasty (eyelid)	$1,200–$2,500	$3,000–$7,000	60-64%
Brazilian butt lift	$3,500–$6,000	$8,000–$18,000	56-67%

Dental

Dental is a whole category of its own — we cover it in depth in our dental care guide. Quick numbers: crowns run $200-400, implants $800-1,500, full-mouth restoration $4,000-8,000.

Top Hospitals by City

Quito

Hospital Metropolitano is the gold standard. JCI-accredited, full-service, with departments covering every specialty. Located in the northern part of the city on Av. Mariana de Jesús. If you're flying in for something serious — cardiac, orthopedic, neurosurgery — this is where you go. Expect prices at the higher end of the Ecuador range, but you're paying for internationally verified standards.

Hospital de los Valles in Cumbayá (the eastern Quito valley) is another top-tier facility. Modern campus, strong surgical departments, popular with the expat community living in that area.

Clínica Pasteur on Av. España is smaller but well-regarded for specific specialties. Good option for outpatient procedures.

Cuenca

Hospital del Río on Av. 24 de Mayo is Cuenca's most modern private hospital. Clean, well-equipped, with a solid surgical team. This is where most expats in Cuenca end up for anything beyond routine care.

Monte Sinaí on Av. Miguel Cordero is another strong option — good ICU, well-staffed, handles complex cases.

Hospital Santa Inés on Av. Daniel Córdova Toral and Clínica Santa Ana on Av. Manuel J. Calle are both established Cuenca institutions. Santa Inés tends to handle more surgical volume; Santa Ana has a loyal patient base and experienced physicians.

Guayaquil

Clínica Kennedy (multiple locations — Kennedy Samborondón is the newest) is Guayaquil's premier private hospital system. Full range of specialties, high surgical volume, modern equipment.

Clínica Alcívar on Coronel 2301 and Cañar is another top Guayaquil facility, particularly strong in cardiovascular and general surgery.

Plastic Surgery: What You Need to Know

Quito and Guayaquil are Ecuador's plastic surgery hubs. Many of the best surgeons trained in Brazil or Colombia — two countries with arguably the most advanced cosmetic surgery traditions in the world.

That said, this is the area where you need to do the most homework. Plastic surgery is elective, and the range in quality is wider than for standard medical procedures.

Do this before booking:

• Verify the surgeon is registered with the Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Cirugía Plástica (SECPRE). This confirms board certification in plastic surgery specifically — not just general surgery.
• Ask for before-and-after photos of actual patients. Lots of them. For the specific procedure you want.
• Read Google Maps reviews. In Ecuador, Google reviews are surprisingly informative and honest. Look for surgeons with 50+ reviews and 4.5+ stars.
• Ask which hospital or clinic the procedure is performed in. It should have an ICU and blood bank on-site. Never agree to surgery in an office-based setting for anything beyond minor procedures.
• Do a video consultation first. Any reputable surgeon will offer this via WhatsApp video or Zoom.

Red flag: a surgeon who does every cosmetic procedure under the sun at rock-bottom prices. The best plastic surgeons specialize — rhinoplasty experts, breast surgery specialists, body contouring surgeons. A jack-of-all-trades at the cheapest price point is not who you want holding a scalpel.

How to Plan a Medical Tourism Trip

Step 1: Research (2-4 weeks before)

Identify your procedure and 2-3 potential doctors. Check credentials, read reviews, look at hospital affiliations. Join the Facebook group "Ecuador Expats" or "Cuenca Expats" and search for threads about your procedure — people are remarkably candid about their experiences.

Step 2: Initial Consultation (1-2 weeks before)

Contact clinics via WhatsApp (this is how Ecuador communicates — get comfortable with it). Most doctors or their assistants will respond within 24 hours. Request a video consultation. Get a written quote that includes: surgeon's fee, hospital/facility fee, anesthesia, pre-op testing, and follow-up visits.

Step 3: Book Flights and Accommodation

Round-trip flights from major US cities to Quito or Guayaquil run $400-600. Cuenca requires a domestic connection (about $80-120 extra each way via LATAM or Avianca) or a scenic 3.5-hour drive from Guayaquil.

For recovery accommodation, look for Airbnbs near your hospital. In Cuenca, apartments in El Centro or El Vergel run $30-50/night. In Quito's González Suárez or La Carolina neighborhoods, $40-70/night. You want somewhere quiet, accessible, and close to your follow-up appointments.

Step 4: Arrive and Pre-Op Testing (Day 1-2)

Your first day or two involves pre-operative bloodwork, imaging, EKG (if needed), and a final in-person consultation with your surgeon. Most hospitals have in-house labs that process results same-day. Total pre-op testing costs: $100-300 depending on procedure complexity.

Step 5: Procedure Day

You'll typically arrive early morning, be prepped, go into surgery, and wake up in recovery. Hospital stays vary: outpatient for minor procedures, 1-2 nights for joint replacements, 1 night for most cosmetic procedures.

Step 6: Recovery (1-2 weeks minimum)

Plan for at least 7-14 days of recovery in Ecuador before flying home. This gives time for initial healing, drain removal (if applicable), suture removal, and a follow-up with your surgeon. Don't rush this. Flying too soon after surgery increases complication risk.

Step 7: Follow-Up Before Departure

Get a final check from your surgeon. Request all medical records, imaging, and surgical notes in both Spanish and English. You'll want these for your doctor back home.

The Full Cost Math

People always ask: "Is it really cheaper when you add flights and hotels?" Yes. Dramatically.

Example: Knee replacement

Cost Item	Ecuador Trip	United States
Procedure	$8,000	$45,000
Round-trip flight	$500	—
14 nights accommodation	$600	—
Meals (14 days)	$300	—
Pre-op testing	$200	Included
Local transport	$100	—
Total	$9,700	$45,000

You save roughly $35,000. Even on the high end — $15,000 total trip cost versus $60,000 in the US — you're saving $45,000.

For cosmetic procedures, the savings are smaller in absolute terms but the percentages are similar. A rhinoplasty trip might run $4,000-6,000 all-in versus $8,000-15,000 in the US.

Important Caveats and Risks

Lower cost does not mean lower quality — but it also doesn't guarantee equal quality. You must do your due diligence. The best Ecuadorian surgeons are excellent. The worst ones can cause real harm. This is true everywhere, but the stakes are higher when you're far from home.

Verify hospital capabilities for your procedure. For anything beyond minor outpatient surgery, the hospital should have: a functioning ICU, a blood bank, 24/7 anesthesiology coverage, and the ability to handle complications. Ask directly.

Don't chase the cheapest price. If one surgeon quotes $4,000 and everyone else quotes $8,000-12,000 for the same procedure, that's not a bargain — that's a warning sign.

Bring all your medical records. Previous imaging, bloodwork, medication lists, allergy information. Bring digital copies on your phone and physical copies in your bag. If records are in English, that's fine for most doctors in major cities.

Language matters. If your Spanish isn't conversational, find a bilingual doctor or bring a translator for all medical consultations. You need to fully understand what's being done to your body, the risks, and the post-operative instructions. This is not the time for hand gestures and Google Translate.

Insurance usually doesn't cover elective procedures. Medical tourism is almost always self-pay. Some international health insurance plans cover medically necessary procedures performed abroad, but elective and cosmetic surgery is on you. Get the full cost in writing before the procedure.

Have a plan for complications. Know what happens if something goes wrong after you fly home. Get your surgeon's WhatsApp number. Have a follow-up care plan with a doctor in your home country. Consider purchasing medical evacuation insurance if you're coming from abroad.

If You Already Live in Ecuador

You're already a medical tourist — you just don't call it that. Every time you get a procedure done here instead of flying back to the States, you're benefiting from the same cost differential.

The advantage you have over fly-in medical tourists: you already know the system, you have time for multiple consultations, you can get referrals from friends, and you don't have to compress everything into a two-week trip.

Use that advantage. Take your time finding the right doctor. Get second opinions. There's no rush when you live here.

For ongoing healthcare coverage, see our guides on Ecuador's healthcare system and expat health insurance.