If your plans have been waiting on a date, these pages put published surgery and specialty wait figures in one place. Each number is an average or survey result from a linked public source, not a promise for any one person. Read them, then ask us for a written quote and a timeline you can compare.
Median: half of patients waited this long or less; half waited longer.
Canadian patients seeking surgery in Tijuana, Mexico
For you: if a published median near half a year does not fit your timeline, ask for a written schedule you can compare to these figures.
In Canada in 2025, the Fraser Institute reports a median wait of 28.6 weeks from family-doctor referral to treatment (half of patients waited this long or less; half waited longer; Fraser Institute, 2025; Fraser Institute PDF, 2025). Several surgical specialties run longer in the same survey. These are national survey medians, not a promise for one person.
GP means family doctor. Referral to treatment is the time from that referral until treatment starts.
Median weeks from GP referral to treatment by specialty, Canada, 2025. Source: Fraser Institute, Waiting Your Turn 2025, Table 2 (CAN column).Plastic surgery wait split: GP to specialist (Table 3) plus specialist to treatment (Table 4), Canada, 2025. Source: Fraser Institute, Waiting Your Turn 2025.
U.S. patients planning medical care in Tijuana, Mexico
For you: denials and prior authorization can add weeks even with insurance; a written quote clarifies covered vs self-pay before you plan travel.
In the United States in 2025, AMN Healthcare’s survey found an average 31-day wait to schedule a new-patient physician appointment across six specialties in 15 large metros (AMN Healthcare, 2025). KFF reports HealthCare.gov plans denied 19% of in-network claims in 2024 (KFF, 2024). Figures are averages and plan data, not one person’s timeline.
Prior authorization: insurer approval required before some care can proceed. AMA (American Medical Association) 2024 survey: about 43 prior authorizations per physician per week; 94% say it delays necessary care.
U.S. specialty timing questions
How long is the wait for an Orthopedic Surgery appointment in the U.S.?
AMN Healthcare’s 2025 survey reports an average 12-day wait for a new-patient Orthopedic Surgery appointment across six specialties’ survey design in 15 large metros (AMN Healthcare, 2025). That is appointment access, not a published national surgery-queue time. The same survey’s overall average across those six specialties in 15 large metros is 31 days.
How long is the wait for a Cardiology appointment in the U.S.?
AMN Healthcare’s 2025 survey reports an average 33-day wait for a new-patient Cardiology appointment in 15 large metros (full table 32.7 days; AMN Healthcare, 2025). The same survey’s overall average across six specialties in those metros is 31 days. That is appointment access, not a procedure date.
How long is the wait for an Obstetrics/Gynecology appointment in the U.S.?
AMN Healthcare’s 2025 survey reports an average 42-day wait for a new-patient Obstetrics/Gynecology appointment in 15 large metros (full table 41.8 days; AMN Healthcare, 2025). The same survey’s overall average across six specialties in those metros is 31 days. That is appointment access, not a procedure date.
How does U.S. coverage affect timing for weight-loss surgery?
Bariatric surgery coverage as an essential health benefit varies by state (ASMBS, 2023). Claim denials and prior authorization can also affect when planned care happens. We do not publish an invented national wait-days figure for bariatric surgery.
Is cosmetic plastic surgery on a U.S. public wait list?
Cosmetic surgery for appearance alone is generally outside public coverage. Timing then follows private scheduling and your written quote, not a national public wait-list median.
How long is the wait for a dental appointment in the U.S.?
ADA Health Policy Institute (State of the U.S. Dental Economy, Q4 2025) reports an average new-patient initial dental appointment wait of 13.4 business days among dentists accepting new patients (excluding emergencies; ADA HPI Q4 2025 PDF). Separately, CareQuest Institute (SOHEA 2025) reports about 26% of U.S. adults (about 69 million) have no dental insurance (CareQuest SOHEA 2025 PDF).
FAQPage JSON-LD mirrors these visible Q&As exactly. No fear language; no criticism of doctors or systems.
Juggling appointment calls, approvals and open dates can wear anyone down. Here, one San Diego team plans your care in Tijuana, Mexico with you, step by step, so you know what comes next.
Patients in England considering surgery in Mexico
For you: if your pathway is already measured in months, a dated second-opinion plan helps you compare waiting with traveling.
In England at the end of August 2026, NHS England reported about 7.4 million incomplete referral-to-treatment pathways, with 65.2% waiting up to 18 weeks against a 92% standard (NHS England RTT, Aug 2026). These are pathway statistics for England’s public system, not a personal forecast.
RTT means referral to treatment. Incomplete pathways are people still waiting.
Incomplete referral-to-treatment pathways, England, end of August 2026. Source: NHS England, RTT Statistical Press Notice, August 2026.
Australian patients looking for treatment in Tijuana, Mexico
For you: if a public median near a month and a long 90th percentile do not fit your plans, ask for a dated quote you can compare.
In Australia in 2024-25, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports a public elective surgery median wait of 45 days, a 90th percentile of 329 days (nine in ten treated by then), and 6.0% waiting more than 365 days (AIHW, 2024-25). These are national hospital figures, not one person’s date.
Public hospital elective surgery waiting times, Australia, 2024-25. Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
New Zealanders exploring treatment options in Mexico
For you: when published performance sits below the four-month target, ask for a dated pathway before you decide to wait it out.
In New Zealand, DPMC’s December 2025 targets factsheet reports 65.9% of patients waiting less than four months for elective treatment (performance labelled September 2025; DPMC factsheet, Dec 2025), against a 95% national target. These are national target figures; use them to ask for a dated pathway that fits your timeline.
DPMC means New Zealand Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The factsheet is dated December 2025; the 65.9% figure is September 2025 performance, not a December result.
Example flight times from major North American cities
Approximate · schedule-dependent
Example scheduled times from Google Flights (fastest nonstop, or fastest itinerary when there is no nonstop, rounded to about the nearest hour, checked 2026-11-02) are approximate and change by season. Overseas hubs from Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto often run about 9 to 20 hours; San Diego is about 1 hour from Los Angeles and about 6 hours from New York or Toronto. Our coordinators remain with you after pickup in San Diego and all through recovery.
Times change with airline schedules. Use them only as a rough contrast, then check live fares for your dates.
Example flight times from Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto to selected medical-travel hubs, with San Diego as our arrival point. Each figure is the Google Flights fastest nonstop or fastest connected itinerary, checked 2026-11-02 and rounded. Sources are linked in the table notes.
Example flight times from major North American cities (scheduled, about)
