Arrianna's Assisted Journeys

Arrianna's Assisted Journeys: support in medical tourism from New Zealand

Arrianna's Assisted Journeys (AAJ) is a medical tourism company based in New Zealand that organises assisted journeys for patients undergoing weight-loss surgery, plastic surgery, hair transplants or dental treatments at partner clinics abroad. The company presents itself as providing end-to-end support, from organising the trip through to treatment and aftercare.

Its offering is built around three pillars that the company itself highlights: partner clinics with international accreditation and certification, end-to-end support —travel, treatment and aftercare— and a worldwide patient community.

Treatments it manages

AAJ's service catalogue is organised into four treatment areas:

• Weight-loss surgery (including gastric sleeve, according to the website's product catalogue)
• Plastic surgery
• Hair transplant
• Dental surgery

The website also includes a product called "Recovery & Support", focused on aftercare support.

Team and travel managers

The company identifies four support managers, each with their own tour schedule and a direct contact email:

• Arrianna Mathieson, with tour dates in 2026 (14-23 September and 9-18 November) and 2027 (11-18 January, 22-29 March, 24-31 May, 13-20 July, 13-20 September and 8-15 November).
• Wayne Hill, with dates in 2026 (14-23 September and 9-18 November) and 2027 (18-25 January, 5-12 April, 14-21 June, 23-30 August and 25 October to 1 November).
• Shannon Hall, with dates in 2026 (26 October to 2 November) and 2027 (18-25 January, 5-12 April, 14-21 June, 23-30 August and 25 October to 1 November).
• Bheilee Okesene, with dates in 2027 (22-29 March, 13-20 July and 8-15 November).

Patients can book with a specific manager and contact them by email.

Finance for patients from Australia and New Zealand

AAJ offers finance options through different partners depending on the country of residence. For residents in Australia, the company refers to an Australian finance partner that allows the cost of treatment, travel and other associated expenses to be spread across flexible payment plans. The stated requirements are being over 18 years of age and a resident of Australia, with possible credit checks depending on the amount. The company notes that a medical loan can cover up to $65,000.

For residents in New Zealand, finance is arranged through Hugo Finance: the interested party completes an enquiry form, selects their AAJ travel manager and the manager puts them in touch with the finance provider. Approval is subject to the lender's assessment and the initial enquiry does not imply any obligation to take out finance.

Patient experiences

The website includes testimonials from participants in its tour groups. Miriam Ualesi, from Auckland, describes her experience in December 2023 as a seamless process in which AAJ took care of the organisation and accommodation and arranged tours. Arby, also from Auckland, highlights the handling of last-minute accommodation and communication with her family during the stay, and mentions that by the second day she was already exploring Istanbul. Dawn G, from Cambridge (New Zealand), took part in the June 2024 tour to Turkey for a gastric sleeve and notes that AAJ took care of flights and medical care, and that after the procedure she lost weight and no longer needed blood pressure medication.

The company refers to Trustpilot for independent client reviews.

Process and frequently asked questions

The website structures information into sections for services, team, frequently asked questions, process, testimonials, tour schedule, gallery, contact and blog. The frequently asked questions include those about how finance works, eligibility requirements, possible interest and fees, and the possibility of financing treatment and travel together.