Flying In for Spine Surgery: A Guide for Out-of-State Patients

A meaningful number of the patients we treat don’t live anywhere near Beverly Hills. They fly in — sometimes across the country, sometimes from abroad — often after being told at home that a big fusion was their only option. If you’re considering traveling for care, here’s how the process actually works, so it feels organized instead of overwhelming.

It starts before you book a flight

The single most important step happens from your couch: a review of your imaging. Before you spend money on travel, you should know whether a minimally invasive option is realistic for your case at all.

So the first move is simply to send your MRI or CT. It gets reviewed personally — not by a coordinator — and you get an honest read on whether the trip is even worth making. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you.

Step by step

Once your imaging suggests you’re a candidate, the path is straightforward:

• 1. Telehealth consultation. You meet by video to go through your scans, your options, and a plan. Most of the real decision-making happens here, before travel.
• 2. One focused trip. We coordinate timing so your visit, procedure, and initial recovery happen efficiently — not spread across repeated cross-country flights.
• 3. Recovery at home. Follow-up scans and check-ins are handled remotely, working with your local providers where needed.

The goal is to compress everything that can be done remotely into telehealth, so your time on the ground is spent on the parts that genuinely require being here.

Most of the process is designed to happen before you ever get on a plane.

Practical questions people ask

How long will I need to stay? It depends on the procedure, but because many minimally invasive cases are same-day outpatient, the on-site stay is often shorter than patients expect. Your plan will spell this out before you travel.

What about insurance? We work with many major insurance plans and also see out-of-network and self-pay patients. Benefits are verified up front so there are no surprises after you’ve flown in.

Can someone come with me? Yes, and it’s a good idea. A travel companion makes the logistics and the first day or two of recovery far easier.

A note on second opinions

Many out-of-state patients come specifically for a second opinion — and some learn they can avoid a larger surgery entirely. Traveling for a review does not commit you to anything. A clear, honest answer is the whole point.

Ready to see if it’s worth the trip?

Start with your imaging. Send your MRI or CT for a personal review, and you’ll know whether flying in makes sense for your situation — before you plan a single thing.