Patient Edition Nov 2024 Doc 003 · Ed. 10

§ 003 · Free patient resource

The same-day journey guide.

Everything that happens on your Celva treatment day, from private pickup in San Diego, across the border to Hospital Angeles, and back to your hotel by evening.

§ What's inside

01Travel & preparation, flights, hotels, what to bring
02Pickup, border crossing, and arrival logistics
03Clinical check-in and the day's sequence
04The treatment: what happens and how long
05Aftercare, the first 48 hours, and follow-up
06What comes next, consultation and checklist

§ 00 · Orientation

Read first · 2 min

About this guide

How to use this guide.

This guide is for patients who are seriously considering treatment at Celva, or who are preparing for a consultation and want to understand the logistics before they decide anything.

It is not a sales document. It is a practical walkthrough of the same-day treatment experience, written to answer the questions patients ask most during first calls and consultations.

How most patients use it

01 Before the intake call. Read it once so you arrive with better questions and a sense of the sequence. 10 min read
02 During the call. Keep it open. Our coordinators will refer back to specific sections as questions come up. On hand
03 Share it. Hand it to the spouse, sibling, or adult child who will help you plan the trip. Pass it on

§ From the clinic

"If a sentence in this guide ever feels vague, it's because the honest answer varies by patient. Those sentences get finalized during physician case review, not here."

Medical disclaimer

This guide is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. All treatment decisions are made by Celva's physician team at Hospital Angeles, Tijuana, following independent case review.

Section one

01

§ The night before

§ 01 · Arrival & prep

Travel & preparation.

Most patients fly into San Diego (SAN) the day before. A night of sleep, a decent meal, a morning pickup, rather than an early flight and a waiting room.

Recommended arrival timing

A Fly in the evening before. Rest, eat a proper meal, be ready for a morning pickup. Same-day arrivals are possible but not preferred. Preferred
B Stay near the waterfront or downtown. Gaslamp, Little Italy, or Mission Valley. Proximity to the I-5 south corridor helps with timing. Any SD hotel
C Plan for an all-day commitment. Most treatment days run pickup-to-return. Do not schedule work calls, flights, or commitments for that afternoon. 8 – 10 hours

What to bring

§ Pack the day before

Passport. Required for the border crossing, both ways. Pack it first.
Government-issued photo ID, as backup.
Insurance card. Hospital Angeles may record it even though treatment is private-pay.
List of current medications.
Any relevant imaging (MRI, X-ray, CT reports).
Comfortable clothing, easy IV access. No tight sleeves.
Snack and water.
Phone charger.
Reading material or headphones, the infusion itself takes about 45 min.

Beforehand, do / don't

§ 24 – 48 hours prior

Eat normally. A regular dinner, a light breakfast. Do not arrive fasted unless your physician directed it.
Hydrate. Increase water intake in the 24–48 h before treatment.
Pause medications as directed. Reviewed during physician case review; if unsure, ask your coordinator.
No alcohol for at least 24 h before treatment.
No strenuous activity the day before or the day after.

Section two

02

§ San Diego → Hospital

§ 02 · Concierge & crossing

Pickup, border, arrival.

The pickup is the first moment the concierge experience becomes real, and the first thing that resets most patients' expectations about what this process looks like.

Concierge pickup

01

Confirmation the evening before

A message with your pickup time, driver name, and contact number arrives the evening before treatment.
02

Private Escalade pickup

The driver meets you at your hotel entrance or lobby. No rideshare apps. No figuring out directions. A private black Escalade, recognizable and comfortable.
03

The drive to the border

Depending on your hotel, the drive to San Ysidro is typically 20–30 minutes. Your driver has done this route many times and will brief you on what to expect.

The border crossing

§ San Ysidro · Medical lane

San Ysidro is the busiest land border crossing in the world. Northbound, public lane waits can run 3 to 4 hours. Celva's Escalade uses the CBP medical lane on the return trip, typical wait 15 to 30 minutes. Southbound has no medical lane; there isn't one. It's typically non-stop most days regardless.

§ What the crossing actually looks like

You stay in the Escalade both directions. Your driver and the Celva team member handle the logistics. Passport ready. Officers may ask routine questions, answer honestly: you are returning from a medical appointment in Mexico. Northbound medical-lane crossing typically 15 to 30 minutes from lane entry to cleared.

Do not photograph border infrastructure, officials, or screening equipment.
Do not bring prohibited items across the border. Standard crossing rules apply.
Remain calm and cooperative. This crossing is routine for the Celva team.

Section three

03

§ 5 steps · ~45 min

§ 03 · Hospital Angeles intake

Clinical check-in.

The intake at Hospital Angeles is structured, not rushed. Every patient goes through the same five steps regardless of protocol.

01

Registration

Identity, contact, check-in at the Hospital Angeles desk. A member of the Celva team accompanies you.
02

Vitals

BP, heart rate, temperature, oxygen saturation. Standard pre-procedure protocol. Anything outside range is reviewed by the physician before proceeding.
03

Medical history review

Physician or nurse reviews history, current medications, and any imaging you've brought. Not a repeat of the physician team's earlier case review, a confirmation that nothing has changed.
04

Informed consent

You review and sign consent documentation. Read it. Ask questions. The process is designed so you fully understand what is happening before it does.
05

Day briefing

Dr. Amescua or Dr. Ambrosio Nuño walks you through the day's sequence, what happens, in what order, how long each step takes. The right moment to ask remaining questions.

Section four

04

§ IV · Joint · Combined

§ 04 · What happens

The treatment, step by step.

Treatment takes place in a clinical treatment room inside Hospital Angeles. Clean, professionally equipped, and monitored throughout.

IV infusion protocol

§ IV MSC therapy

a IV line placed, typically forearm or hand. Standard IV access, not surgical. 5 min
b MSC infusion administered slowly. Rate controlled and monitored throughout. ~45 min
c Seated or reclined. Most patients read, listen, or rest. Comfort chair
d Vitals checked periodically. Clinical team present throughout. Continuous
e Monitored rest until the attending physician authorizes discharge. Physician-set

Joint injection protocol

§ Targeted injection

a Physician reviews imaging, confirms target and approach. Before start
b Injection site prepared. Local anesthetic applied if appropriate. Per protocol
c MSC injection delivered under physician supervision. Imaging guidance as needed. Supervised
d Procedure itself. Post-procedure monitoring follows. 15 – 30 min
e Combined protocols (IV + joint injection) completed in the same visit, sequentially. Same visit

§ What to tell the team during treatment

If you feel unusual discomfort, significant nausea, tightness in your chest, or anything that concerns you, tell the clinical team immediately. Do not wait to see if it resolves. The team is trained to respond and is with you throughout.

Section five

05

§ Discharge → 48 h

§ 05 · Return & first 48 h

Aftercare & return.

Discharge involves a brief status review, written aftercare instructions, and a scheduled follow-up. You do not leave without a plan for what comes next.

Before you leave Hospital Angeles

01 Physician or nurse reviews how you are feeling, confirms you are clear for discharge. Sign-off
02 Written aftercare instructions provided. Read them before you leave. Take home
03 Follow-up check-in scheduled before you depart. Scheduled
04 Concierge coordinates return transport. You do not navigate this alone. Included

The return crossing

The northbound U.S. crossing can be longer than the southbound medical crossing, particularly in the afternoon. Your driver times the return to minimize wait.

Have your passport ready for the U.S. officer. You'll be asked about citizenship and what you did in Mexico. A medical appointment at a hospital is a complete and accurate answer.
Most patients are back at their San Diego hotel in the early-to-mid afternoon.

The first 48 hours

§ What's normal

Expected · & brief.

Mild fatigue, the most common post-infusion experience.
Transient mild headache, usually resolves with hydration and rest.
Low-grade flu-like sensation, brief, resolves on its own.

§ What to do

Hydrate · rest · follow the written plan.

Hydrate well for 48 hours after treatment.
Rest. If you feel tired, that's a signal, not something to push through.
No strenuous exercise for 48–72 hours.
Written aftercare takes precedence over general guidance.

Call us

Contact the clinical team if you experience fever above 38.5 °C / 101.3 °F, chest pain or shortness of breath, significant swelling or redness at the IV or injection site, or any symptom that feels disproportionate or concerning.

§ 06 · What comes next

After you've read the guide.

The guide answers the logistics questions. What it cannot answer is whether Celva is the right next step for your specific health situation, that requires a physician conversation.

If the process makes sense to you, the next step is starting your intake. The first call is with a Celva patient coordinator, complimentary, and it does not commit you to anything.

01 · Evaluate

Read the checklist.

Download the Celva Clinic Evaluation Checklist to evaluate any clinic, including ours, before committing.

celva.com/checklist/ →

02 · Decide

See if you're a candidate.

Your first call is with a Celva patient coordinator who collects your information and passes it to Celva's medical team for independent review.

celva.com/book/ →

03 · Ask

Ask every question.

No pressure. The intake call exists so you can ask the questions that matter, not so we can close a sale.

celva.com →

celva.com Book: celva.com/book/ Checklist: celva.com/checklist/

Celva · Hospital Angeles, Tijuana · Physician-Led Regenerative Medicine

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendation. Individual results may vary. These therapies are not FDA-approved. All treatment is performed in Mexico by licensed physicians at Hospital Angeles, Tijuana, regulated by COFEPRIS. © 2026 Celva.