Is surgery in Mexico safe? No government answers yes or no, and none rates Mexican hospitals. The CDC says Mexico is one of the places US residents travel to most for medical care, and that the risk depends on the destination, the facility and your own health. Canada's advice says Canadians have had serious complications after cosmetic and other elective surgery abroad, and lists Mexican states to avoid because of crime. Below is what both governments say, the published prices that draw people across the border, and how to check a surgeon and hospital before you go.
Short answer
Surgery in Mexico can be done safely, but the safety depends on the surgeon, the hospital and the trip, not the country. The CDC lists infection, drug-resistant germs, lower licensing standards in some countries and blood clots from flying as the main risks of medical tourism. The Government of Canada tells travellers to choose providers authorized by the Mexican health authorities, see their credentials and get a written agreement, and to avoid non-essential travel to several states, including Tamaulipas and most of Sonora, because of violence.
- CDC
- Mexico and Canada are where US medical tourists go most; delay flying 10–14 days after major surgery
- Government of Canada
- Exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico; avoid non-essential travel to some states
- Check
- The surgeon’s cédula profesional, the hospital’s authorization, and a written agreement
- Hip replacement in Tijuana
- $13,995, all-inclusive package
- Knee replacement in Tijuana
- $12,995, all-inclusive package
What the CDC says about surgery in Mexico
The CDC's medical tourism page says millions of US residents travel abroad for medical care each year, most often to Mexico and Canada, for lower cost, a clinician who shares their culture and language, or treatment not available or approved at home. Dental care and cosmetic surgery are among the most common procedures (CDC).
It does not single out Mexico as unsafe. It says the risk of complications depends on the destination, the facility and whether you are in good health for the procedure, and lists what raises it:
- Infection. Wound and bloodstream infections, and diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Highly drug-resistant bacteria and fungi have caused outbreaks among medical tourists.
- Quality of care. Licensing, credentialing and accreditation requirements in some countries may be lower than in the US, and counterfeit medicines or lower-quality devices may be used.
- Language. Being treated where you do not speak the language well can lead to misunderstandings about your care.
- Flying. Flying after surgery raises the risk of blood clots; the CDC says delaying air travel for 10 to 14 days after major surgery, especially chest surgery, reduces the risk.
- Care at home. Follow-up care for complications can be expensive, prolonged, and not covered by your insurance.
Its Mexico page adds one line for anyone having treatment: if you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized (CDC, Mexico). We could not read the US State Department's Mexico advisory, which blocked our reader, so it is not quoted here.
What the Government of Canada says
Canada's travel advice for Mexico, last updated on 19 October 2026, tells Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico because of high levels of criminal activity and kidnapping (Government of Canada). Its medical tourism section says Canadian citizens have had serious complications after cosmetic or other elective surgery abroad, and tells you to:
- Research the risksThe health and financial risks, the facility, language barriers and your travel insurance.
- Talk to your own doctor firstIt says most provincial and territorial health plans are extremely limited in what they cover abroad.
- Use authorized providersMake sure the providers are authorized by the Mexican health authorities, and ask to see their credentials.
- Get it in writingA written agreement detailing the proposed treatment or procedure.
It also says good care is available in private hospitals in major cities, that private care is generally expensive and usually has to be paid in advance by card or bank transfer, and that most healthcare providers do not speak English or French.
Where you go matters. Canada advises against non-essential travel to parts of several states, including these border states:
- Tamaulipas, except Tampico if you arrive by air or sea
- Sonora, except Hermosillo, Guaymas/San Carlos and Puerto Peñasco
- Chihuahua, except Chihuahua City
- Nuevo León, except Monterrey
Baja California, where Tijuana and Los Algodones are, and Quintana Roo, where Cancún is, were not on that list when we read it. The list changes, so check it again before you book.
Why people still go: surgery prices in Mexico
The draw is price. These are the lowest prices Mexican hospitals and clinics publish on their own pages for operations we track, next to the US hospital cash price we hold for the same operation. Our prices come from 3 Mexican cities, mostly the border towns.
US figures are median hospital cash prices from a JAMA Network Open study of 2021 data and may leave out physician fees; they are not a quote. Mexican prices are what each provider publishes and can change after the surgeon sees you.
A package such as Mexico Orthopedic Center (at Hospital Azar)'s $13,995 hip or $12,995 knee bundles the hospital nights, a hotel night or two and transport from San Diego airport. That makes the trip easy to buy, which is why the official advice above matters: the low price does not tell you who the surgeon is or what happens if something goes wrong after you are home. Dental work is covered in getting dental work done in Mexico.
How to check a surgeon and hospital in Mexico
- The surgeon's licence. Ask for the surgeon's full name and cédula profesional number. Mexico's Directorate General of Professions runs the professional licence look-up on gob.mx.
- The hospital's authorization. Canada says to make sure providers are authorized by the Mexican health authorities. Ask the hospital which authority licenses it and for the licence.
- Accreditation. The CDC names Joint Commission International, DNV and the International Society for Quality in Health Care as groups whose standards hospitals can be accredited against, and says accreditation does not guarantee a good outcome.
- Tourism seals are not licences. Mexico's tourism ministry awards a Sello Turismo de Salud to businesses working with health tourists, covering communication, facilities, transparency and education (Secretaría de Turismo, in Spanish). It recognises how a business treats visitors, not the surgeon's qualifications.
Before you book surgery in Mexico
- See your own doctorThe CDC says 4 to 6 weeks before the trip, to talk about your health, the procedure and the travel.
- Plan the stayAsk how many nights the surgeon wants you nearby, and allow for the CDC's 10 to 14 days before flying after major surgery.
- Arrange care at homeFind who will see you if there are complications, and bring back copies of all your records.
- Check insuranceGet travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation, and ask your own insurer in writing what it pays for.
More on the general risks, wherever you go, is in is medical tourism safe?, and every country we compare for hip replacements is on hip replacement abroad. Closest for readers in the US and western Canada: Tijuana and Los Algodones are a walk or a short drive from the US border.