Questions

Questions answered

Plain-language answers to common questions about treatment, cost, recovery, hospitals and visa for international patients in China.

Knee replacement

How much does total knee replacement cost in China?

Which hospitals do TKA for international patients?

What implants are used?

How long do I need to stay in China?

What's the recovery timeline?

Are bilateral simultaneous TKAs possible?

Hip replacement

How much does hip replacement cost in China?

Which approach is best — anterior, posterior, or lateral?

Ceramic-on-ceramic vs ceramic-on-polyethylene?

How long do I need to stay in China?

CABG

How much does CABG cost in China?

Why Fuwai Hospital?

Off-pump vs on-pump CABG?

How long do I need to stay in China?

What about cardiac rehabilitation?

IVF + ICSI

How much does IVF + ICSI cost in China?

What centres serve international patients?

How long does a cycle take?

What about egg / embryo donation for international patients?

Are PGT-A and PGT-M available?

Can I freeze embryos for future cycles?

LASIK / SMILE / ICL

How much does LASIK / SMILE cost in China?

Which centre should I choose?

Am I a candidate?

LASIK vs SMILE vs ICL?

How long do I need to stay?

Hair transplant

How much does FUE hair transplant cost in China?

Why hospital-based and not a chain clinic?

Am I a candidate?

How long does it take?

Is medical therapy still needed after transplant?

Bariatric (sleeve)

How much does sleeve gastrectomy cost in China?

Sleeve, RYGB, or SADI?

Am I a candidate?

How long do I need to stay?

What's the long-term follow-up?

All-on-4 implants

How much does All-on-4 cost in China?

Two-visit workflow?

Which centres are best for international patients?

Implant brands?

What about zygomatic implants for severe atrophy?

Cataract surgery

How much does cataract surgery cost in China?

Which IOL should I choose?

Can both eyes be done in one trip?

Proton / heavy-ion therapy

When is proton or heavy-ion therapy appropriate?

Why SPHIC?

How long does treatment take?

How does the cost compare to the US?

Microdiscectomy

When is surgery indicated for a herniated disc?

Microdiscectomy vs endoscopic?

How long do I need to stay?

Hepatitis B

Should I get tested for hepatitis B?

How much does HBV testing and workup cost in China?

Why is tenofovir so much cheaper in China?

Can I get long-term refills shipped after my initial visit?

What's the difference between TAF and TDF?

Obesity

Am I a candidate for GLP-1 medication?

When is bariatric surgery preferred over medication?

What's the all-in cost of medical weight loss in China?

Can I just buy GLP-1 online without a workup?

Type 2 diabetes

What's my 10-year risk of developing diabetes?

What does T2DM workup cost in China?

Are modern insulins cheaper in China?

What about diabetes remission with bariatric surgery?

Coronary disease

What's my 10-year cardiovascular risk?

Should I get a coronary calcium score?

When is CABG vs PCI appropriate?

Why Fuwai for cardiac surgery?

Knee OA

How disabled am I — is surgery indicated?

Should I try BMAC or stem cell before surgery?

Are international-brand implants used?

Sleep apnoea

Should I get tested?

What does PSG cost in China vs the US?

Can sleep apnoea be treated without CPAP?

Depression

How severe is my depression?

Are mental health treatments confidential in China?

What if I'm in crisis right now?

Adult ADHD

Do I have ADHD?

Are ADHD medications available in China?

How long does evaluation take?

Infertility

When should I see a fertility specialist?

Is donor-egg / surrogacy available?

What does IVF cost in China for international patients?

Low back pain

How disabled am I — should I consider surgery?

What about red-flag symptoms?

Microdiscectomy vs endoscopic discectomy?