You’ve been looking at that designer sweater for months now. You check out other brands, search wholesalers, shop around, and weigh the pros and cons of spending all that money.

After finishing your research, you buy the sweater. It’s warm, fits great, and of course everyone notices your fancy new purchase. You’re glad you took the time to make the right choice.

If you’re willing to do that much work over a sweater, shouldn’t you be doing the same when it comes to your body?

Most people spend more time choosing a sweater than choosing a surgeon. That’s backwards.

It doesn’t matter if you’re in New York City or New Delhi, any time you’re considering a procedure, especially for elective care, you need to think carefully, do your research, and know what you’re signing up for.

Word-of-mouth and online advice from strangers can offer some direction, but haphazard searching isn’t enough for these decisions.

This is exactly why I built the WELL Vetted Protocol, a simple framework I use to evaluate procedural care. What follows is a preview of how I think about it.

Start by understanding the procedure itself. You don’t need to know how to perform it, but you should have a working grasp of what you’re committing to.

At a minimum, you should understand:

You should also know whether this procedure is your only option. In many cases, there are alternative or less invasive ways to achieve the same goal, for example, IUI versus IVF, or Botox versus a surgical facelift.

Risks and complications matter too. Go beyond a checklist of what could go wrong and focus on how often complications occur, how they’re typically managed, and what happens if things don’t go as planned (revision procedures, medications, follow-up care).

Finally, understand the recovery: restrictions, follow-up needs, and time off work. These details often matter more than the procedure itself when it comes to day-to-day life.

You’ll eventually confirm all of this with your doctor, but doing your own homework first gets you a strong head start.

Helpful starting points include:

Once you understand objective details, step back and clarify why you’re pursuing the procedure in the first place. Whether you’ve exhausted other options, want to improve confidence, or are trying to relieve long-standing pain, having a clear goal helps you make better decisions moving forward.

Elective procedures introduce risk by definition. Your job isn’t to eliminate that risk, it’s to decide whether it’s acceptable for you. That depends on your health profile, your goals, and your tolerance for uncertainty.

If you can’t tolerate the possibility of a complication or imperfect outcome, even a well-indicated procedure may not be the right choice.

Start by being honest about your personal risk factors. Things like smoking, obesity, diabetes, or certain medications can have a big impact on outcomes. Some of these you can modify and address ahead of time to improve your chances of a smooth recovery.

Risk also varies by procedure, which is why a proper pre-procedure evaluation matters. Your doctor should be assessing you before you travel, but you’re still responsible for making sure nothing is overlooked. Know your medical history, medications, substance use, and allergies.

Finally consider your personal risk tolerance. Some people are okay with accepting uncertainty; others are not. There’s no right answer, but ignoring that reality can lead to regret. Talk it through with people you trust or your physician before moving forward.

This is the part most people focus on because it feels concrete: the website, the accreditation badge, the glowing reviews.

The problem is those are also the easiest things to market.

Instead, think like a hiring manager. You’re interviewing candidates for a high-stakes job, your body, and you need to verify the basics before you get lured in by presentation.

Start with objective checks:

Then move to the real test: how the team operates when you interact with them. These three signals matter more than a polished website:

Communication: Do you get timely, clear answers and direct access when needed or are you stuck on hold with a coordinator.

Transparency: Do they explain the plan, pricing, risks, and contingencies clearly? Are they willing to coordinate with your physicians back home?

Organization: Is there a clear, documented plan for pre-op evaluation, day-of logistics, post-op follow-up, and what happens if something goes wrong?

No doctor or clinic is perfect. But you should feel confident across these categories. Great credentials don’t help you if you can’t reach the team when it matters.

Elective procedural care is a major decision, and doing it well often takes time. The goal isn’t to rush, it’s to be deliberate.

Instead of fumbling with online reviews and shaky recommendations, use a clear vetting process:

Having a plan of attack simplifies the research and leads to better decisions.

If you want a straightforward way to apply this process, sign up to get The WELL Vetted Protocol, my framework for evaluating procedural care abroad.

Thanks for reading,
Kyle

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