If you live abroad, follow-up should be part of the PRP decision before treatment, not an arrangement left until you return home. Agree who will review you, how progress will be assessed and what to do if a problem needs an examination. A message channel alone does not establish a complete aftercare pathway. [1,2]
Enquire with The London PRP Clinic. Say where you normally live and how long you will be in London. Confirm what assessment and follow-up can realistically be arranged, together with the complete fees, before committing to treatment or travel.
Separate the planned review from urgent care
A scheduled progress review and a new complication are different situations. A routine video appointment may help discuss symptoms or photographs, but it cannot perform a physical examination or provide immediate treatment where you are staying. Ask which concerns can be handled remotely and which need a local clinician. [1,2]
Know the contact route, expected response arrangements and the alternative if the clinic is closed or cannot assess the problem remotely. Do not rely on a non-urgent message when symptoms need prompt attention. The CDC advises travellers receiving medical care to plan for complications and not delay seeking care when a complication is suspected. [1]
What records should you leave with?
Ask for the diagnosis, procedure date and site, treatment details and aftercare instructions in a form another clinician can use. Include the medicines and anaesthetic given where relevant, any restrictions and the planned review. Keep the treating service's contact details with the summary. If you need a translation, arrange it clearly and retain the original. [1]
This is especially useful if care is shared with a dermatologist, physiotherapist or another doctor at home. A short label saying only "PRP treatment" may not explain what was done or why. Ask what information your usual clinician would need to understand the plan before deciding how records should be transferred.
Agree how progress will be measured
The follow-up question should fit the condition. For a joint or tendon concern, ask which symptoms, activities and rehabilitation goals will be reviewed. For a hair concern, ask how the clinician will compare the starting point with later findings. Do not assume that every PRP indication uses the same schedule or that repeated injections are necessary regardless of response. [2,3]
Research on PRP for alopecia includes different protocols and outcomes. A systematic review can inform a discussion, but it does not establish a single guaranteed course for an individual. Ask what would count as useful progress, when uncertainty should be revisited and what would lead the clinician to stop or change the plan. [3]
Who owns each next step?
Before leaving, make the handover explicit. Who will arrange a review? Who will request any further investigation? Who will explain the result? Who should your local clinician contact if they need clarification? A recommendation that someone "follow up locally" is more useful when the purpose and expected information are clear. [1,2]
Your usual doctor does not automatically take over a private treatment plan, prescribe a recommended medicine or provide a procedure. Discuss the proposed handover with them and obtain appropriate consent for sharing information. Do not assume that clinicians in different countries have access to one medical record or that a London prescription is usable overseas. [2,4]
Remote follow-up has boundaries
Tell the clinician your physical location at the time of a remote consultation. Professional registration, indemnity, local rules and access to an examination can affect what the clinician can safely provide. These are reasons to agree the route in advance, not to promise unrestricted worldwide follow-up. [4]
If the clinic cannot provide the required review remotely, ask what alternative would be appropriate before treatment. That may change whether a short visit is the right time to proceed. It is better to make that decision with a complete plan than to return home carrying an unresolved clinical responsibility.
What should the quote explain?
Ask whether planned reviews are included, whether further assessments are charged separately and what happens if additional treatment is not advised. Confirm the costs of any local care with the relevant provider or insurer. No overseas partner, refund arrangement, review inclusion or cross-border service is promised by this guide. [1]
Contact the clinic to discuss a realistic pathway. Bring your travel dates, diagnosis if known, existing reports and the follow-up you can attend. A clear assessment may lead to treatment, a different plan or advice to postpone. The aim is an appropriate decision and a handover you understand, not a guaranteed PRP outcome.