For patients traveling to Louisville
Surgery with Dr. O’Daniel, wherever you live
Patients fly to Louisville from across the country, and from overseas, to see Dr. O’Daniel. About 98% of his practice is facial surgery, so the face and neck aren’t a sideline here. They’re the work. We’ve done this enough times to know what a traveling patient needs: a clear plan before you book a flight, a comfortable place to recover, and people who know you by name the whole time you’re here.
Your trip, step by step
How it works
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Virtual consultation
From home
You’ll meet Dr. O’Daniel over video before you book a flight. Send photos of yourself from your youth to today, and he’ll use them to see how your face has changed and plan a result that looks like you, just rested. You can upload them from your phone through our contact form.
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Plan your trip
Once your date is set
Our team helps you line up a hotel or private cottage, black car service and concierge nursing. You’ll find the places our patients use most further down this page.
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Pre-op visit
2–3 days before surgery
Meet Dr. O’Daniel in person at O’Daniel Studios in St. Matthews. He walks you through the procedure and answers anything still on your mind. Bring your caregiver if you can.
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Surgery day
Louisville Surgery Center
Your surgery takes place at Louisville Surgery Center, accredited by the AAAHC. Dr. O’Daniel’s nurses and CRNAs have a combined 120 years of experience.
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Recovery in Louisville
Minimum of 10 days
Regular check-ins with Dr. O’Daniel, surgical netting and suture removal, and a post-procedure facial with one of our Clinical Aestheticians. Dr. O’Daniel may recommend a longer stay depending on your procedure.
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Back home
Days, weeks and years after
Care doesn’t end when you fly home. We stay in touch through HIPAA-compliant messaging, so questions never have to wait for another trip.
About your surgeon
Meet Dr. T. Gerald O’Daniel, MD, FACS
Triple board-certified facial plastic surgeon
- Board certified in facial plastic surgery
- Board certified in plastic surgery
- Board certified in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery
- Has trained thousands of plastic surgeons worldwide in his face and neck lifting techniques
From across the country and overseas
Why patients travel to see Dr. O’Daniel
The procedures he teaches
Most of our traveling patients come for the facelift and neck lift, including submandibular gland reduction. These are the procedures Dr. O’Daniel is known for teaching to other plastic surgeons around the world.
Fellowship trained
Beyond his three board certifications, in facial plastic surgery, plastic surgery and otolaryngology, he completed fellowship training in facial nerve and craniofacial surgery.
After surgery elsewhere
Some patients come after an earlier surgery elsewhere didn’t turn out the way they hoped. Others simply want the surgeon other surgeons learn from.
Dr. O’Daniel talks through why people make the trip in his conversation with Catherine Maley: Why Patients Fly to Kentucky for a Facelift.
Consultations
In-person and virtual surgery consultations are available
Recommended accommodations
Where to stay
The downtown hotels suit patients who want full service and room dining. The Residence Inn and the cottages suit longer stays and anyone who’d rather have a kitchen.
Hotel Bourré Bonne
133 West Market Street
Louisville, KY 40202
- Louisville’s newest luxury hotel
- Black car service and valet parking
- In-room dining and on-site restaurants
21c Museum Hotel
700 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202
+1-502-217-6300
- In-room dining and on-site restaurants
- Laundry service
- Art museum open to guests 24/7
Residence Inn East/Oxmoor
401 Bullitt Lane
Louisville, KY 40222
+1-502-409-8071
- Rooms with a full kitchen available
- On-site restaurant
Concierge nursing
Help for the first days of recovery
The first few days after facial surgery are when good help matters most, especially when you’re recovering away from home. Our concierge nurses specialize in face and neck surgery recovery.
Ask our Patient Care Coordinator about availability when you book your surgery date, or call 502.584.1109.
- Transport from the surgery center to your hotel or cottage
- Medications, pain control and nutrition
- Help with bathing, dressing, meals and getting around safely
- Watching your healing and flagging anything Dr. O’Daniel should know about
Planning your trip
Questions from traveling patients
Do I need to come to Louisville for my consultation?
No. Dr. O’Daniel offers virtual consultations for traveling patients. You’ll meet him over video, talk through your goals, and review photos of yourself from your youth to today. Your first in-person visit is the pre-op appointment a few days before surgery.
What should I send before my virtual consultation?
Photos of yourself across the years, from your youth to the present. Dr. O’Daniel uses them to see how your face has changed over time, which guides your surgical plan. You can upload them from your phone through our contact form.
How long do I need to stay in Louisville after surgery?
Plan on a minimum of 10 days after surgery. That covers your check-ins with Dr. O’Daniel, netting and suture removal, and a post-procedure facial. Dr. O’Daniel may recommend a longer stay depending on the procedures you’re having.
When should I arrive before surgery?
At least 2 to 3 days before your surgery date. Your pre-op appointment with Dr. O’Daniel happens in person during that window, and it gives you time to ask any last questions.
Where is surgery performed?
At Louisville Surgery Center, which is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Your pre-op and follow-up visits are at O’Daniel Studios, 132 Chenoweth Lane, in the St. Matthews area of Louisville.
Which airport should I fly into?
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF).
Where should I stay while I recover?
Our patients most often choose Hotel Bourré Bonne (we have a partner rate), 21c Museum Hotel, the Residence Inn Louisville East/Oxmoor, or one of two private cottages on VRBO. Our team can help you choose and book once your surgery date is set.
Should I bring someone with me?
Yes, if you can. We encourage you to bring your caregiver to the pre-op appointment. If no one can travel with you, ask about our concierge nurses, who specialize in face and neck surgery recovery.
Can a nurse stay with me after surgery?
Yes. Concierge nurses can take you from the surgery center to your hotel and help with medications, pain control, meals, bathing and getting around. Our Patient Care Coordinator can set this up when you book.
When can I fly home?
Most patients fly home at the end of their recovery stay, once Dr. O’Daniel has seen them for follow-up and removed sutures. He’ll confirm when you’re ready to travel.
What happens once I'm home?
You’re still our patient. We keep in touch through HIPAA-compliant messaging for days, weeks and years after surgery, so questions don’t have to wait for another trip.
Is financing available?
Yes. Financing options are available. See our financing page for details.
The first step
Start with a virtual consultation
Send a few photos, meet Dr. O’Daniel over video, and leave with a clear plan before you book anything.
While you’re here
Welcome to Louisville
If you’ve never been here, Louisville tends to surprise people. It’s a metro area of about 1.3 million on the Ohio River, with a serious food and bourbon scene, a strong arts community, and a lot more going on than horse racing and baseball bats.
You won’t be out much during the first days of recovery. But by the end of your stay, most patients are ready for a slow walk and a good dinner, and the city makes that easy.
Verified Real Patient Reviews
Where Expertise Meets Artistic Vision
Dr. O’Daniel exceeded all my expectations during our consultation. He took far more time with me than I anticipated, explaining everything in detail and with total clarity. His experience was evident from the start. Before our meeting, his office asked me to send photos from my youth to the present. I was so impressed to see that he had built a personalized slideshow showing exactly how gravity and life had changed my face over time. Using those images, he walked me through his plan in real time—demonstrating how he would rejuvenate my features, not “fix” or “redo” anything. That language made a big difference to me. His confidence put me completely at ease, and I loved the way he spoke like a skilled technician in one breath and a true artist in the next. He has a vision unlike any other surgeon I’ve spoken with. Finding out that he trains many of the Insta-famous surgeons I follow? That was the cherry on top. I’ll report back after my procedure!
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advanced Skin Spa Studio
A World Class Facility Located In Louisville, KY
The O’Daniel Method extends to all of our med spa services. The skincare experts at O’Daniel Studios in Louisville, KY are completely trained and dedicated to excellence in all our services. Escape to our beautiful resort setting for BOTOX, Restylane, laser skin care and a host of other services to keep you looking and feeling your best.
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