Toronto patients
are waiting two years.
You don’t have to.

For the majority of Ontario patients who contact this practice having been recommended fusion, the telemedicine evaluation finds one of three things: (1) the patient is a candidate for disc replacement or TOPS instead, with substantially better long-term outcomes than fusion for their anatomy; (2) fusion is genuinely the right answer, but a minimally invasive anterior or lateral approach would be more appropriate than what was proposed; or (3) the patient’s presenting symptoms do not yet meet the threshold for surgery and conservative management should continue. The call takes approximately 45 minutes and covers your imaging in full detail. It does not commit you to anything.

Once the surgical plan is confirmed, you receive an itemised quote in writing that includes the surgical fee, facility fee, and anaesthesia. This is the price you pay. There are no add-ons at billing, no facility surcharges discovered at discharge, and no unbundled fees. The quote is provided before you make any commitment — you decide whether to proceed with full cost information in hand. The practice does not accept Ontario health insurance; this is a cash-pay arrangement and the pricing reflects that structure.

For most minimally invasive procedures at this practice — disc replacement, laminectomy, discectomy, TOPS — flying home within a few days to 2 weeks is routinely done without complications. The specific clearance depends on your procedure and your recovery — Dr. Katsevman provides individual air travel clearance at discharge. For the ~2.5 hour YYZ flight, most patients tolerate this well after minimally invasive procedures. DVT prophylaxis (compression stockings, hydration, movement) is included in discharge instructions for all post-surgical flights. For fusion procedures requiring longer recovery, the return flight is planned accordingly.

A full operative report, discharge summary, and post-operative protocol are provided at discharge and sent to your Ontario GP and any relevant specialists. Your GP has everything needed to manage routine follow-up: the procedure performed, the implants used with device identifiers, post-operative restrictions, the physiotherapy protocol, and signs of complications. Follow-up visits with Dr. Katsevman are conducted by telemedicine — no return trip to Florida required for routine care.

This is the scenario where the distinction between a neutral wait and a harmful one is clearest. Cervical myelopathy from cord compression is a progressive condition — spinal cord injury accumulates during a long wait and may not fully reverse after a technically successful decompression. If your neurologist believes surgery is indicated now and you are on an 18-month surgical list, a telemedicine second opinion to determine whether your imaging and clinical picture support an earlier surgical timeline is worth having promptly, not in six months. Upload your MRI and contact the practice for an expedited evaluation.

The direct Air Canada flight from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Southwest Florida International (RSW, Fort Myers) is approximately 2.5 hours. RSW is 30 minutes from the Fort Myers office and 35–45 minutes from the Naples office. From Mississauga or Brampton, you can be at the surgeon’s desk within 4–5 hours door to door — comparable in total travel time to flying to Vancouver or Calgary. Most patients describe the logistics as significantly easier than they anticipated. Porter Airlines also operates seasonal direct service during the October–April snowbird season, with fares that are often competitive.