Most plastic surgeons in Miami ask for the same clearance packet: a physician exam documenting fitness for anesthesia, a complete blood count, a comprehensive metabolic panel, PT/INR, a blood pregnancy test, a urinalysis, and an EKG, with a signed letter sent to their office. TrufaMED runs that entire packet for $650 flat, self-pay, in one visit of about 60 to 90 minutes. A chest X-ray is added when the surgeon orders it, priced at $320 for up to two views with the interpretation included. Details are on our pre-op clearance testing page.
Cosmetic surgery patients call us with a specific problem. The procedure is already paid for or deposited on, the date is on the calendar, and the surgical coordinator has sent a list of tests with a deadline attached. This article covers what is on that list, why each item is there, how it works for the common procedure families, and what it costs.
Why cosmetic surgery clearance runs on its own clock
Clearance for an elective cosmetic procedure has a different shape than clearance for a hospital operation. The surgery is scheduled around your life and your travel, the surgical center holds a date that other patients want, and the deposit is usually non-refundable past a cutoff. A clearance that comes back late does not just delay paperwork. It moves a date that took months to get.
The medical standard does not soften because the procedure is elective. Ambulatory surgical centers in Miami-Dade apply the same anesthesia safety requirements a hospital does, and the anesthesiologist reading your chart on the morning of surgery wants the same information either way. A clearance letter that is vague, incomplete, or missing a signature gets sent back, and the surgery moves.
So the useful goal is a packet that arrives complete on the first pass. That means running the exact panel on the order sheet, having the physician sign the surgical center’s own form when they require their template, and sending the finished documentation straight to the coordinator.
What is in the standard clearance packet
The $650 package at TrufaMED matches what cosmetic surgery coordinators in Miami request most often.
| Component | Why the surgical team wants it |
|---|---|
| Physician clearance visit | Documents your history, exam findings, and fitness for anesthesia, and produces the signed letter |
| Complete blood count | Baseline red cell count and platelets before a procedure with expected blood loss |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | Kidney and liver function, electrolytes, and glucose, all of which affect how anesthesia drugs are handled |
| PT/INR | How quickly your blood clots, which matters for bleeding during and after surgery |
| Blood beta-hCG | Pregnancy detection before general anesthesia |
| Urinalysis | Screens for a urinary infection, which is a common reason an elective case gets postponed |
| EKG | Heart rhythm and conduction before anesthesia |
A chest X-ray is separate at $320 for up to two views, captured on our on-site digital X-ray and interpreted by a physician the same visit. Any additional panel your surgeon writes on the order is quoted before it is drawn. What each test looks for in plain language is covered in our article on pre-op labs and the EKG.
What tends to matter by procedure type
The order sheet comes from your surgeon and we run what it says. Patients still ask why a friend’s list looked different, and the answer is that the emphasis shifts with the operation.
Body contouring and buttock augmentation
Larger-volume body procedures involve longer anesthesia time and more expected blood loss than a short case. That puts the complete blood count and the clotting study near the top of the list, and it is why surgeons in this category rarely accept a clearance that skips them. Anything in your history that affects circulation or clotting gets attention during the exam.
Abdominoplasty
A tummy tuck is a long operation with a large wound and a recovery that keeps patients less mobile than usual for a stretch. Baseline blood counts, metabolic function, and clotting are the standard set. The medication review carries extra weight here, because so many patients arrive on supplements or anti-inflammatory products they did not think to mention.
Breast augmentation, reduction, and lift
These cases are usually shorter than full body contouring, and the packet is typically the standard set with the EKG included. Age and personal history drive whether the surgeon adds cardiac items on top. Pregnancy testing is standard before general anesthesia.
Liposuction
Volume drives the requirements. A small-area case and an extensive multi-area case are different operations from an anesthesia standpoint, and the order sheet reflects that. Fluid balance and kidney function are part of why the metabolic panel is on the list.
Facial procedures
Facelift, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, and similar work is often performed under sedation rather than full general anesthesia, and the clearance packet can be lighter. Some surgeons still want the full set. Follow the order sheet you were given rather than what a forum said.
The pregnancy test requirement
A blood beta-hCG is included in the package. Surgical centers require pregnancy testing before general anesthesia for patients of childbearing potential, and many will not proceed without a result documented close to the date. Because it is a blood test run in our own laboratory, the result is available the same day rather than pending overnight.
Medication and supplement review
This is the part of the visit patients underestimate. The physician reviews every prescription, over-the-counter product, vitamin, and herbal supplement you take and documents anything the surgical team should know about, including blood thinners and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Bring the actual list. Photographs of your bottles work well. Two categories get left off most often: supplements bought without a prescription, and medications for weight management. Both belong on the list. Any decision to pause a medication before surgery is made by your prescriber and your surgeon, and our role is to document what you take so that conversation happens with complete information.
Patients traveling to Miami for surgery
A meaningful share of cosmetic surgery in Miami is performed on patients who fly in. That creates a timing question, since the clearance has to be recent enough to satisfy the surgeon and complete before you arrive at the surgical center.
Two workable approaches. Some patients complete the clearance at home and send it ahead, which works when the surgeon accepts outside documentation and the panel matches. Others arrive a few days early and complete the clearance here, which removes the risk of a rejected packet from an unfamiliar office. Our Surfside clinic is open seven days a week, so a Saturday or Sunday arrival is workable. Confirm the acceptable window with your surgical coordinator before you book flights, because a clearance completed too far in advance can be rejected as stale.
When a result comes back outside the expected range
It happens, and it is the reason clearance exists. A value outside the expected range does not automatically cancel an operation. The physician reviews it, decides whether it calls for a repeat test, additional imaging, or a specialist opinion, and where appropriate speaks with your surgeon about whether the date holds.
Build in the time for that conversation. A clearance completed a week or more before the date leaves room to resolve a question. A clearance completed the day before does not, and a surgical center will cancel rather than proceed on an open question.
Cost and payment
Pre-op clearance is a self-pay service at TrufaMED. We do not bill it to insurance, including Medicare. The package is $650 flat. Priced individually, the physician clearance visit is $200 and an EKG is $110, and a chest X-ray is $320 for up to two views. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
For patients paying cash for the procedure itself, this structure is the familiar one: a quoted price, paid at the visit, with no claim, no deductible, and no bill arriving later. Our reasoning on that is set out in the article on whether insurance covers pre-op clearance, and the wider price list is on our self-pay pricing page.
Where we are and how to book
TrufaMED is at 9445 Harding Ave, Surfside, FL 33154, close to Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, Bay Harbor Islands, Sunny Isles Beach, and Aventura. Call (305) 537-6396 or book at health.trufamed.com/book. Hours are Monday through Friday 9AM to 9PM, Saturday 11AM to 11PM, and Sunday 12PM to 8PM.
Care here is physician-led. The clearance program is directed by Dr. Uri Gedalia, a board-certified general surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, with Medical Director Dr. Shane D. Naidoo, board-certified in emergency medicine. TrufaMED is Florida’s only Joint Commission-accredited urgent care, with laboratory, digital X-ray, and ultrasound on site. Our full diagnostic list is on the testing services page.
Frequently asked questions
What clearance does a plastic surgeon in Miami require?
Most ask for a physician exam documenting fitness for anesthesia plus a complete blood count, a comprehensive metabolic panel, PT/INR, a blood pregnancy test, a urinalysis, and an EKG, with a signed clearance letter sent to their office. A chest X-ray is added when the surgeon orders it. Always follow the order sheet your surgeon’s coordinator gave you, since some surgical centers add items or require their own form.
How much does medical clearance for plastic surgery cost?
At TrufaMED it is $650 flat, self-pay, for the full package: physician clearance visit, complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, PT/INR, blood beta-hCG, urinalysis, and EKG. A chest X-ray is $320 for up to two views with the physician interpretation included. Individually, the physician visit is $200 and an EKG is $110.
How long does the clearance appointment take?
About 60 to 90 minutes for a standard clearance. The exam, the blood draw, the EKG, and a chest X-ray if one was ordered all happen in the same visit because the lab and imaging are inside the clinic.
How soon before surgery should I do my clearance?
Check the window on your surgeon’s order sheet. Most require clearance within 30 days of the procedure and some want it inside 7 to 14 days. Within that window, aim for at least a week before the date so there is room to repeat a test or get a specialist opinion if something needs a closer look.
Will you complete my surgeon’s specific clearance form?
Yes. Bring the form with you. Some surgical centers accept only their own template, so having it at the visit means the physician completes and signs the document your coordinator is expecting rather than a generic letter that gets sent back.
Do I need a chest X-ray for cosmetic surgery clearance?
Only when your surgeon orders one. It sits outside the $650 package for that reason. When it is required, we capture it on our on-site digital X-ray during the same visit at $320 for up to two views, with the physician interpretation included, so it does not add a day to your timeline.
Is a pregnancy test part of the clearance?
Yes. A qualitative blood beta-hCG is included in the package. Surgical centers require pregnancy testing before general anesthesia for patients of childbearing potential, and because it runs in our own laboratory the result is available the same day.
I am flying to Miami for surgery. Can I get cleared here after I land?
Yes. The clinic is open seven days a week, and the standard clearance finishes in one visit. Confirm the acceptable window with your surgical coordinator before booking flights, since a clearance completed too far ahead of the date can be rejected as stale. Arriving a few days early gives room to resolve anything that needs a second look.
What happens if something on my labs is abnormal?
The physician reviews the finding with you and decides what it needs, which may be a repeat test, additional imaging, or a specialist opinion, and coordinates with your surgeon where appropriate. An out-of-range value does not automatically cancel an operation, though a surgical center will postpone rather than proceed on an unresolved question.
Do you send the clearance to my surgeon’s office?
Yes. Once every ordered result is final, the clearance documentation goes directly to your surgeon’s office by fax or electronically and you receive a copy. The letter records your exam findings, lab and EKG results, medication review, and the physician’s assessment of fitness for anesthesia.