The decision to seek medical treatment abroad is made by weighing clinical quality, cost, and confidence in the process. For most European patients considering India, the clinical and financial case is clear once they have done the research. What often remains uncertain is the practical side: the visa, the flights, the accommodation, the day-to-day experience of being a patient in a foreign country.
This guide addresses all of it. Whether you are planning a hair transplant, an aesthetic treatment package, or a regenerative medicine consultation, the logistics of a Delhi medical trip follow a predictable, manageable structure. Incostra handles most of these steps on your behalf - but understanding the process yourself gives you confidence and control throughout.
Below is a step-by-step walkthrough of every stage, from your first enquiry to the last remote follow-up after you return home.
Before any logistics begin, the most important step is confirming what treatment you need and whether you are a good candidate for it. Incostra offers a free virtual consultation - typically 30 to 45 minutes via video call - with a patient coordinator and, where relevant, the treating surgeon.
In this consultation, you will:
There is no obligation at this stage. The purpose is to give you complete, honest information so that you can make a considered decision.
Citizens of all EU member states and the UK are eligible for the Indian e-Medical Visa - an online application process that does not require a visit to an embassy or consulate.
Incostra provides a complete visa application checklist and a template hospital letter with every confirmed booking.
Delhi is served by Indira Gandhi International Airport (IATA: DEL), one of Asia's busiest and best-connected airports. Direct services from major European hubs include:
Incostra recommends arriving at least one day before your first clinic appointment to allow for acclimatisation and to avoid any risk from flight delays. For procedures requiring general anaesthesia, a two-day pre-operative rest period is standard.
Incostra's partner clinics are primarily located in Gurugram (also known as Gurgaon), a modern business district approximately 25 minutes from Delhi's international airport. Gurugram offers an excellent range of accommodation within a short distance of the clinics:
Incostra partners with a selection of 4-star and 5-star properties that offer medical tourism rates, early check-in/late check-out flexibility, and room service options suitable for post-procedure dietary requirements. Options are shared at the booking confirmation stage.
Incostra provides airport pickup as standard for all confirmed patients. Your dedicated coordinator will be available by phone and WhatsApp from the moment you land, and will accompany you or guide you remotely to your clinic check-in.
On arrival at the clinic, you will meet with your treating doctor or surgeon, complete any pre-operative assessments or blood work required, and receive a full briefing on what to expect during your procedure and recovery.
The structure of your treatment days will vary depending on the procedure. For hair transplant patients, Day 1 is typically the pre-operative assessment, and Day 2 is the procedure itself (6 to 8 hours for a 2,000-3,000 graft FUE). For aesthetic treatment packages, sessions may be spread across 2 to 3 consecutive days.
What you can consistently expect at Incostra partner clinics:
Most patients stay in Delhi for 5 to 7 days post-procedure, depending on treatment type. This recovery window is genuinely valuable, and Incostra encourages patients to treat it as such rather than trying to rush home.
Delhi and the surrounding region offer excellent options for gentle recovery activities:
Your coordinator will advise on which activities are appropriate given your specific procedure and recovery stage.
Fitness to fly is assessed by your treating surgeon before departure. Most patients travelling for hair transplants can fly 5 to 7 days post-procedure without clinical concern. Patients who have had procedures involving general anaesthesia may require a slightly longer recovery window.
Incostra provides a travel declaration letter from the treating clinic - useful for airline questions and travel insurance purposes - as standard for all patients before departure.
Recovery continues for weeks or months after you return home, and Incostra's post-treatment support is designed to match this reality:
The goal is to ensure that the quality of ongoing care you receive after returning home is indistinguishable from what you would receive if you had been treated at a premium London clinic.
A medical trip to Delhi is not a complex undertaking when it is properly planned and supported. The e-visa process takes minutes. The flights are direct and under nine hours. The clinics are modern, internationally accredited, and experienced in caring for European patients. And the cost savings are genuine.
The role of a facilitator like Incostra is to ensure that none of these moving parts becomes a source of stress. Our job is to have solved every logistical challenge before you even encounter it - so that your experience from first enquiry to final follow-up is seamless, confident, and focused on the result you came for.