Hand Surgery in Mexico City for International Patients
Specialized hand and wrist care for patients considering treatment in Mexico
If you have been diagnosed with a hand or wrist condition, have been advised to undergo surgery, or are facing high treatment costs in the United States or another country, receiving specialized care in Mexico City may be an option worth considering.
I am Dr. Alfonso Galán Jáuregui, an Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon with advanced training in Hand Surgery, Wrist Surgery and Microsurgery in Mexico City.
I provide care for international patients seeking evaluation and treatment of hand and wrist conditions, with consultations available in English and Spanish.
Before making travel arrangements, your case can first be reviewed online.
This allows us to better understand:
your diagnosis;
the treatment that has already been recommended;
your imaging studies;
whether surgery appears necessary;
what treatment alternatives may exist;
whether traveling to Mexico City makes sense;
and what approximate medical and hospital costs may be expected.
Why consider hand surgery in Mexico?
For patients paying out of pocket, dealing with a high insurance deductible, receiving limited insurance coverage, or facing substantial surgical costs in the United States, treatment in Mexico may offer a significantly different cost structure.
However, lower cost should not mean lower standards of medical care.
The decision to travel for surgery should be based first on:
the correct diagnosis;
appropriate surgical indication;
specialist training;
hospital setting;
surgical technique;
safety;
postoperative planning;
and continuity of care.
Cost is important, but it should be considered after determining what treatment is medically appropriate.
For this reason, I prefer to review each international patient's case individually before discussing surgery or providing an estimated treatment cost.
Can hand surgery in Mexico cost less than in the United States?
In many situations, yes.
The overall structure of private medical and hospital costs in Mexico can be different from that of the United States, particularly for:
self-pay patients;
patients with high deductibles;
patients with high coinsurance;
patients whose surgeon or hospital would be out-of-network;
or patients who simply want to compare the total cost of treatment before making a decision.
The actual cost of hand surgery depends on several factors, including:
the diagnosis;
complexity of the procedure;
hospital or operating room fees;
implants or surgical materials;
anesthesia requirements;
surgeon and surgical team fees;
and any additional studies or medical evaluations that may be necessary.
For that reason, I do not believe in advertising a single generic price for “hand surgery.”
The appropriate procedure must be identified first.
Can I receive an estimated cost before traveling to Mexico?
In many cases, yes.
One of the main advantages of reviewing your case online is that we may be able to identify the most likely treatment options before you purchase a flight or reserve a hotel.
After reviewing your medical history and available imaging, we may often be able to provide guidance regarding:
the likely procedure;
whether special implants or materials may be required;
potential hospital costs;
professional medical fees;
and the expected logistics of treatment in Mexico City.
Any estimate provided before an in-person examination should be considered preliminary.
The final treatment plan can only be confirmed after an appropriate medical evaluation.
Online hand surgery consultation before you travel
International patients do not need to travel to Mexico City simply to find out whether treatment here would be appropriate.
Your first step can be an online consultation and case review.
This is particularly useful if:
another surgeon has already recommended surgery;
you already have X-rays, MRI or CT scans;
you want another specialist opinion;
your symptoms have not improved with treatment;
you want to compare treatment options;
or cost is an important factor in deciding where to receive care.
The objective of the online consultation is not to promise surgery.
It is to determine whether there is a reasonable medical reason for you to travel to Mexico City.
What can be reviewed before your consultation?
Whenever available, you may send:
Imaging
X-rays;
MRI scans;
CT scans;
ultrasound studies.
Whenever possible, I prefer to review the actual images, rather than relying only on the written radiology report.
Nerve studies
For conditions involving numbness, tingling, weakness or suspected nerve injury:
electromyography;
nerve conduction studies.
Medical documentation
You may also provide:
previous consultation notes;
emergency department reports;
operative reports;
previous treatment recommendations;
rehabilitation reports;
surgical proposals;
postoperative evaluations.
Photographs and videos
In certain cases, photographs or videos may help demonstrate:
finger motion;
wrist motion;
swelling;
deformity;
finger locking;
scars;
or functional limitations.
Hand and wrist conditions treated
International patients may seek evaluation for a wide range of hand and wrist problems, including:
carpal tunnel syndrome;
De Quervain tenosynovitis;
wrist ganglion cysts;
distal radius and wrist fractures;
metacarpal and finger fractures;
flexor and extensor tendon injuries;
peripheral nerve injuries;
wrist ligament injuries;
persistent hand or wrist pain;
post-traumatic conditions;
hardware-related problems;
and selected problems following previous surgery.
Not every condition requires surgery.
Whenever conservative treatment remains a reasonable option, it should also be considered.
WALANT hand surgery in Mexico City
For selected procedures, I perform hand surgery using WALANT — Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet.
WALANT allows certain hand procedures to be performed using local anesthesia without a tourniquet.
Depending on the procedure and the individual patient, this may simplify some aspects of anesthesia and perioperative logistics.
Examples of procedures that may sometimes be performed using WALANT include selected cases of:
trigger finger release
carpal tunnel surgery
De Quervain surgery
ganglion cyst surgery
tendon procedures
and other selected hand operations
Not every surgery and not every patient is a candidate for WALANT.
The appropriate anesthetic and surgical technique should always be selected according to the individual case.
How the process works for international patients
1. Contact us and tell us about your case
Let us know:
your diagnosis, if known;
what symptoms you are experiencing;
what country and city you are contacting us from;
whether surgery has already been recommended;
and what imaging or medical studies you have available.
2. Send your medical information
Relevant medical records and imaging can be reviewed before the consultation.
This makes the video consultation more productive and allows us to focus on the important decisions.
3. Online consultation with Dr. Alfonso Galán
During the consultation we will discuss:
your medical history;
symptoms;
imaging;
previous treatments;
current diagnosis;
proposed surgery;
possible alternatives;
and your questions regarding treatment in Mexico.
Consultations can be performed in English or Spanish.
4. Determine whether traveling to Mexico City makes sense
After reviewing the case, there are several possible outcomes.
You may be advised to:
Continue treatment in your home country
Not every patient benefits from traveling.
Obtain an additional study before making a decision
This may prevent an unnecessary trip.
Schedule an in-person specialist evaluation in Mexico City
When a direct physical examination is necessary.
Consider surgical treatment in Mexico City
When the diagnosis, available studies and overall situation make this a reasonable possibility.
5. Receive preliminary treatment and cost information
When enough information is available, we may be able to provide an initial estimate of:
the expected procedure;
professional fees;
hospital costs;
materials or implants;
and other anticipated medical expenses.
Final costs depend on confirmation of the diagnosis and treatment plan.
If I decide to travel to Mexico City
When an international patient ultimately requires an in-person evaluation, the previous online review can make the visit considerably more efficient.
Ideally, you will arrive with:
relevant imaging already reviewed;
your medical history understood;
additional studies identified in advance;
your main questions already discussed;
and a preliminary understanding of the treatment options.
This can reduce uncertainty before traveling.
If surgery is eventually recommended, the necessary in-person medical evaluation and preoperative requirements will be completed before proceeding.
Where is surgery performed?
When surgery is required, procedures are performed in leading private hospitals and high-technology surgical centers in Mexico City and the metropolitan area, selected according to the procedure and each patient’s individual medical needs.
Depending on the case, surgery may be performed at facilities such as Hospital Ángeles Universidad, Hospital Ángeles Santa Mónica, Hospital Ángeles Interlomas, or other carefully selected high-technology surgical centers with the infrastructure required for modern hand, wrist, and microsurgical procedures.
The surgical setting is chosen according to factors such as the complexity of the procedure, anesthesia requirements, specialized equipment, implants or materials, and the level of perioperative support that may be needed.
For international patients, this means that treatment is planned within a formal surgical environment with appropriate operating-room standards, trained medical personnel, anesthesia support when required, and access to hospital resources should they become necessary.
Some selected hand procedures may be performed using WALANT local anesthesia, but this does not mean compromising the surgical environment or safety standards. The location and anesthesia plan are always selected according to what is medically appropriate for the individual patient.
Patient safety, surgical quality, and access to appropriate hospital infrastructure remain central to every treatment plan.
How long should I stay in Mexico City?
There is no single answer.
The appropriate length of stay depends on:
the surgical procedure;
the complexity of the condition;
wound care requirements;
postoperative imaging;
the need for early follow-up;
and the patient's overall medical situation.
Some relatively minor hand procedures may require a shorter stay, while fractures, tendon repairs, nerve procedures or more complex wrist surgery may require a different plan.
Whenever possible, these logistics can be discussed before international travel is booked.
What happens after I return home?
Postoperative care is an important part of any international surgical plan.
Before returning home, we will discuss:
wound care;
permitted hand and wrist motion;
activity restrictions;
medications;
rehabilitation when necessary;
follow-up imaging;
warning signs;
and expected recovery milestones.
Depending on the procedure, some follow-up may be possible online.
However, patients may also need appropriate local medical care in their home country.
International surgery should always include a realistic plan for continuity of care after returning home.
Why choose a hand surgeon rather than general orthopedic care?
The hand and wrist contain a complex combination of:
bones;
joints;
ligaments;
tendons;
nerves;
blood vessels;
and highly specialized soft tissues.
Treatment decisions can directly affect:
motion;
strength;
sensation;
dexterity;
and the ability to work or perform daily activities.
For this reason, complex hand and wrist problems benefit from assessment by a physician with specific training in hand surgery and microsurgery.
When an online consultation is not appropriate
An online consultation should not replace urgent in-person medical care.
Seek immediate local medical attention if you have:
an open fracture;
a severe recent injury;
significant deformity;
uncontrolled bleeding;
sudden loss of circulation;
sudden inability to move a finger or hand after trauma;
severe loss of sensation;
rapidly worsening swelling or pain;
or signs of infection.
International travel should never delay appropriate emergency treatment.
Specialized hand surgery should be accessible without compromising medical judgment
High healthcare costs can influence where a patient chooses to receive treatment.
They should not determine what treatment the patient receives.
My approach with international patients is therefore simple:
First, understand the diagnosis.
Then determine the appropriate treatment.
Then evaluate whether receiving that treatment in Mexico City makes medical and financial sense.
Before making an international trip, we can begin by reviewing your case online.
Will my U.S. insurance cover treatment in Mexico?
During the consultation, I will determine:
Insurance policies vary significantly.
Some plans may offer limited international benefits or reimbursement, while others may not cover elective treatment performed outside the United States.
Patients should verify this directly with their insurance company before treatment.
For patients using self-pay, an individualized estimate can be discussed after the case has been reviewed.
Request an Online Case Review
Dr. Alfonso Galán Jáuregui
Board-Certified Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon
Advanced Training in Hand Surgery · Wrist Surgery · Microsurgery
Mexico City, Mexico
Consultations in English & Spanish
+52 56 38 15 80 88
contacto@dr-alfonsogalan.com
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