International patients: urologic surgery in São Paulo, Brazil

In short

I operate on patients who come from other countries, including the United States, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Canada and the United Kingdom. The first consultation can be online, in English. Surgery takes place at Hospital Moriah in São Paulo, next to Congonhas Airport. After you return home, follow-up visits are by online consultation.

Procedures and time in São Paulo

In my practice, the length of the hospital stay and the day you can travel depend on the procedure. After robotic surgery, you travel 10 days after the operation, the interval the UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends after abdominal surgery.⁵ These times can change with each person's recovery.

Procedure	Hospital stay	When you can travel
Robotic radical prostatectomy	1 to 2 days	10 days after surgery (the catheter comes out before that, between day 7 and day 10)
HoLEP	Less than 24 hours	At least 2 days after surgery; usually the day after discharge
GreenLight	Less than 24 hours	The day after discharge
Rezum	No hospital stay; catheter for 5 to 7 days	I recommend staying until the catheter comes out. You can also travel with the catheter and have it removed at home
Robotic partial nephrectomy	Less than 24 hours	10 days after surgery

Each procedure's guide covers the technique, recovery and risks.

How it works

First contactYou write on WhatsApp or by email. My team replies in English, always within 24 hours.
Online consultationBy video on Google Meet, paid in advance. You send the tests you already have beforehand, and we talk about your case and the treatment options.
QuoteIf surgery is recommended, you receive the official quote within 24 hours after the consultation. It is valid for 30 days.
Tests before surgeryThey can be done in the country where you live, along with the cardiologist’s clearance for surgery. On the day of surgery, the anesthesiologist also assesses you.
Surgery in São PauloWe set the date together. You do not need to come earlier for an in-person visit. A companion is required for discharge.
Going homeYou travel within the time in the table. Follow-up visits are by online consultation, and the first 60 days of follow-up are included in the team’s fee.

I don't issue prescriptions or test orders for use outside Brazil, so the tests before surgery are ordered by your doctor where you live. At discharge, you receive a report to give to your doctor. The online consultation page explains how to book.

Where the surgery takes place

I operate on international patients at Hospital Moriah, Avenida Miruna, 755, in the Moema neighborhood of São Paulo. The hospital is next to Congonhas Airport: 3.1 km (about 2 miles), around 7 minutes by car in light traffic.¹ From São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport it is about 34 km (21 miles), around 40 minutes in light traffic; at rush hour it can take much longer.²

The da Vinci Xi robot console in the operating room — Robotic surgeries are performed with the da Vinci Xi robot.

Costs and payment

The fee for surgery is agreed after the consultation, in an individual quote. Under Brazilian medical advertising rules, procedure prices do not appear on this site.

The team's fee includes

Surgeon, assistant surgeon, scrub nurse and anesthesiologist.
An in-person or online follow-up visit and catheter removal.
Follow-up for 60 days after surgery.

The hospital bill is separate, and its estimate comes in the same quote.

Not included

Flights, accommodation, meals and local transport, for you and your companion.
The tests before surgery and the cardiologist's assessment, done in your country.
Extra hospital costs if there is a complication.

If there is a complication

Complications are rare, but they can happen, and in that case hospital costs can increase. For patients without Brazilian health insurance, the amount can be high. There are travel insurance policies that cover complications of surgery done abroad. I don't recommend any particular one: before you buy, read carefully what is covered.

Payment

In Brazilian reais or US dollars. There is no deposit to book the date. The quote is valid for 30 days, at the exchange rate on the day of payment.

Visa

Whether you need a visa depends on the country of your passport. The rules are in the official table of Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Portuguese),³ and the Brazilian consulate in your country can tell you which visa applies. The visa is the patient's responsibility: my office does not issue documents for visa applications.

Risks and travel precautions

Every surgery has risks, and results vary from person to person. The guides to HoLEP, GreenLight, Rezum and robotic partial nephrectomy list the complications with figures from the medical literature. After prostatectomy, the main issues are continence and erections.

Some complications show up after you are already home. Before you travel, agree with your local doctor on who will see you if needed, and keep my contact details for the online follow-up visits.

Long flights increase the risk of blood clots in the legs, and recent surgery is one of the factors that add to that risk. For travelers at higher risk, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mentions below-knee compression stockings; getting up, walking and moving your legs during the flight also helps.⁴ In the consultation, we talk about precautions for your trip.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to come to São Paulo for a consultation before surgery?

No. The consultation before surgery can be online only.

Can I have the tests before surgery done in my country?

Yes. The tests and the cardiologist’s clearance for surgery can be done where you live. On the day of surgery, the anesthesiologist also assesses you.

Do I need a companion?

Yes. A companion is required for discharge from the hospital.

How long do I need to stay in São Paulo?

It depends on the surgery. After robotic surgery (radical prostatectomy and partial nephrectomy), 10 days after surgery. After HoLEP, at least 2 days. After GreenLight, until the day after discharge. After Rezum, I recommend staying until the catheter comes out, 5 to 7 days.

How much does the surgery cost?

The fee is agreed after the consultation, in an individual quote that you receive within 24 hours and that is valid for 30 days. Under Brazilian medical advertising rules, procedure prices do not appear on this site.

What happens if I have a complication?

Complications are rare, but they can happen. In that case, hospital costs can increase, and for patients without Brazilian health insurance the amount can be high. There are travel insurance policies that cover complications of surgery done abroad.

Do I need a visa?

It depends on the country of your passport. You can check the official table of Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or ask the Brazilian consulate in your country. The visa is the patient’s responsibility.

Is the consultation in English?

Yes. The online consultation, the messages with my team and the follow-up visits can all be in English.

References

Google Maps. Driving route from Congonhas Airport to Avenida Miruna, 755, São Paulo. Accessed 12/11/2026. Google Maps
Google Maps. Driving route from São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport to Avenida Miruna, 755, São Paulo. Accessed 12/11/2026. Google Maps
Ministério das Relações Exteriores. Quadro geral de regime de vistos para a entrada de estrangeiros no Brasil. gov.br
Reyes NL, Abe K. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. CDC Yellow Book 2026: Health Information for International Travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025. CDC
UK Civil Aviation Authority. Guidance for health professionals: surgical conditions. CAA