A typical full-arch surgical trip to Lima runs 7–9 nights. Here is what each day actually looks like, and what we tell every Meridian patient to plan for.
01Before you fly
Three weeks out
- Confirm itinerary, hotel, and airport pickup in writing with the clinic.
- Update prescription list and pack a 10-day buffer of any maintenance medication.
- Notify your home dentist that you are pursuing treatment abroad.
- Buy travel insurance with medical coverage.
02Days 1–2: arrival and pre-surgical workup
You land in Lima, settle in Miraflores or San Isidro, and visit the clinic for in-person CBCT imaging, photographs, and a final treatment plan review with the lead surgeon. The clinic confirms the surgical plan or proposes adjustments based on what the imaging shows.
03Day 3: surgery
Full-arch implant placement typically takes 3–4 hours under IV sedation. You return to your hotel the same day with a provisional prosthesis already fitted, written post-op instructions, and a clinic number you can reach 24/7.
Same day, smiling
You leave the surgical chair with a working set of teeth. The final prosthesis comes on the second trip — but you do not go home toothless.
04Days 4–7: recovery and follow-ups
Two clinic visits in this window: a 48-hour check, and a 5-day check before you fly home. Most patients are walking around the neighborhood on day 4 and eating soft foods normally by day 6. Pain is managed with non-narcotic medication in most cases.
05The second trip
Four to six months after surgery, once the implants have integrated, you return for a shorter 4–5 night trip to fit and bond the final zirconia prosthesis. This is the trip that completes the case.
Don't book the flight home too early
We recommend leaving 48 hours of buffer after your last clinic appointment. Most patients never need it. The ones who do are grateful.