Also try: body fat, cosmetic plastic surgery, Liposuction, Saline breast implants, Silicone breast implants, Tummy tuck
i want to get a tummy tuck and while at it a breast lift or breast implants (silicone ones now that they r safer). also may need a small bit of liposcution.
a plastic surgeon near my home told me the price tag for all this work would be more than 20k. Wowza. So that made me start reseacrhing and looking for alts like going abroad for surgery.
Costa rica sounds most appealing for a recovery. but is costa rica safe for cosmetic surgery? bad infections more likely? hard to communicate with your doctor? etc. thnks v. much
junos
Submitted by junos on March 23, 2008 - 10:10pm. Viewed 2072 times
3/26/08
you should be able to have that surgery by a board certified plastic surgeon for around 15000 or less.
I have operated in Central America and the sterility and safety standards are not adequate.
I wouldn't do it. If you really want to travel south africa would be the only country if would even go near.
4/3/08
There are a lot of Plastic Surgery Travel sites and Travel centers offering everything and anything for 30-50% less.
In my practice I have seen good and bad results from abroad. However, what if something does not heal well? Are you going to fly back for complications? Most Plastic surgeons will be reluctants to take on someone else complications or it will cost quite a bit more.
If you live in a very expensive area, check with your local airlines for direct flights within US to less costly areas.
I am confident you will be able to find a qualified Plastic surgeon to do it for quite a bit less.
Boris Volshteyn MD MS
Sierra Plastic Surgery
Reno NV
4/15/08
I wouldn't do it, I have seen news shows showing women that went and had emergency hospital complications after they flew home and had to get reconstruction surgery and even then never looked the same. America has all the board certified rules of conduct and a government to answer to. I wouldn't do it if you paid me to. Do it right, check out three places or more first, check to see if they are part of the plastic surgeon's board certification program. Good luck!
4/27/08
hello,
yes Costa Rica is safe for plastic surgery,but as with anywhere,you must research well.
i had facial surgery in CR ,i looked good for about 3 months....now i look no different than before.!
i thought i had chosen wisely but i dont believe many doctors are good at faces and bodies.?
my doctor seems very good with body precedures.!
it was very very busy while i was there,and to my mind it was a conveyor belt.!
5/7/08
Dr. Volshteyn, How much is the cost of a consultation? I'm interested in neck surgery, but need an evaluation. I'm wary of a lot of work, but willing to do what is wise to get a good result. I am light/thin-skinned and late 40s. Thank you.
5/9/08
I just got back from Costa Rica. I had Liposuction on my stomach, chin, and waist. Also had upper eyelid surgery for about 3,800 total.
I couldn't be happier with the results!!!
Dr. Rosenstock
p.s. I saved thousands.
5/10/08
i am delighted you are happy with your results Char,but its a tad to early to be sure of your results if you have only just returned home.?
good luck anyway.!
5/10/08
Hi
I am married to a plastic surgeon and host a beauty podcast called beauty now.. I did a show on getting surgery done in foreign countries.. it can be very scary.. you dont know if you will get an infection...and complications and be in a foreign country without help.
If money is an issue.. try going to teaching hospitals such as Stanford..the surgeries are overseen by teaching credentialed
certified surgeons..or ask the dr..what is his slow time..
It is usually July.. people dont like to heal in summer..ask if you can get a discount for cash and say this is all you have.. can he work with you..there are many really good board certified.. drs who are slow.. find a good one here..
5/13/08
Hello Char,
I am considering liposuction with Dr Rosenstock and Cohen and read your post on a forum. I just wanted to ask you if it was true that they are the ones that remove the biggest quantity of fat in Costa Rica? I have read good and bad things about them but it seems they are good as far as lipo is concerned.
You said you were happy with the results; do you remember how many liters of fat they removed?
Thank you so much for your help.
Nina
5/21/08
I had my nose done in costa rica for less than a third of the price that it would normally cost, and they were so nice at the hospital, took care of everything and the results were amazing! Even if money wasn't an issue i would choose costa rica over any other place for surgery, and I recommend this to everyone!
5/26/08
We are all concerned about saving money, of course. However, a point to consider is that if there are complications, the legalities involved could make it impractical. Trying to sue an M.D. in a foreign country would be a nightmare at best, impossible at worst. The expense involved, were it even a possibility, would make it impractical.
I see stories about what a great idea doing this would be because of the opportunity to have a vacation. I would be so nervous about the upcoming surgery that I would want to get it over with as soon as arriving. I felt like living hell after my surgeries. I could not have enjoyed anything for a month or more, and the idea of having to fly afterwards sounds like a true nightmare.
5/26/08
i agree totally Patricia.
one point to consider if going to Costa Rica: its legally impossible to sue a Costarican doctor as they are protected by law.!
i believe CR doctors must be laughing all the way to the bank,because the possibility of us returning for revisions is very low,given that most of us live thousands of miles away.?
travel and accomodation costs ,for most of us,makes it untenable.!
9 months on and scars above my eyes are very visable,(vertical instead of horozontal) and my vision is still quite impaired,when i look sharply,left or right,i get double vision.!
the doctor in question says to go back !
do i want to go back for more of the same.?
6/30/08
I have a face lift in 2003 and a abdominoplasty in 2004 in Costa Rica by {edited}. Very..very good. If i need i will go again. The best Dr. the best operatin facility and wonderfull peoples. Dont worry and enjoy Nadia
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7/1/08
nadia, can you give me the name of the surgeon you used in costa rica? i will be going in sept. but want to have 2 consultations before chosing a dr. where did you recover?
i need face,neck, tummy tuck ,,,
thanks for your help
judkt
7/2/08
Hi Judkt....the Dr name is {edited}. I send you is home page. I have no words to compliment his work...He give me a new life and any time i will go back to Him if i need a touch-up...soon... Hi speack very good english and you can call afther 5 pm. i went to the recovery clinic/B.B Las Cumbras. I am in Atlanta and if you want to talk with me give me a call {contact information edited}. take care Nadia
http://www.a-plastic-surgeon.com/
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7/2/08
thanks nadia
8/7/08
The surgery is probably safe. The recovery may NOT be.
I had a patient come in for me to remove sutures following a facelift she had performed in Costa Rica. Her lesions were severely infected and had horrible tissue necrosis.
It will be a long healing process. She'll probably be fine but will definitely have a very nice scar to show for it.
Her family enjoyed a great vacation, she saved a few bucks (in the short run), but the final results and complications may not be worth it.
8/9/08
The Dr is right.
I am the host of Beauty Now on I tunes.
If you dont understand the word necrosis that means
dead tissue, meaning the tissue dies.. and forms
scabs and deep scars.
I did a show on going to foreign countries
for surgery. I am married to a plastic surgeon and
understand horror stories from patients that go out of town. We all understand that patients can have the best of results and be happy and advise others to go out of the country. Some people are lucky and it works..but for
those of us that dont?
The problem is the follow up care when there are complications. Can you afford to stay there?
Can you afford to go back and redo it?
There are too many bad stories out there to take a chance
on your face.. your face is your face for life and if you save 3 thousand dollars and are disfigured it is not worth it. We are usually very vain about ourselves
and to save money on surgery that causes huge scars
which may or may not have been avoided..
conversely, do your homework on American doctors too.
Dont go to a dentist for a breast aug, or a gyno.
Go to a plastic and reconstructive surgeon for body work and face.. ENTs do not do body work but
do noses. .. Derms are great with lasers, injections
and skin cancer. Check credentials regardless anywhere. Be Safe..
8/11/08
i absolutely agree with nbtt,i went to Costa Rica and had a dreadful eye infection which the doctor did,nt seem at all bothered about,now 11 months on ,i have really bad scarring and my vision is still impaired,and yet i went to one of the better known doctors who supposidly is wonderful.!!! ? not true.?
i,m now looking to find a facial surgeon who can make me look better.! (cry)
9/27/08
I had a breast augmentation July 2, 3008 at {doctor information edited}. BEWARE!!! That SOB used nylon stitches internally. Almost immediately I developed a seroma in my right breast and he said it was from smoking and driving on an unpaved road from Dominical to Uvita. I have continued to hear that excuse as the reason for the seroma and capsular contracture. The two weeks ago, with my breast extremely hard and still oozing, I developed an implant extrusion and constant drainage (last one was 1200cc!!) and had to have a Houston, TX plastic surgeon remove the implant under only a local. (My husband is back in Iraq and I was unable to have anyone drive me to and from my emergency outpatient surgery.)
While removing the implant, the new doctor found 5 nylon stitches that were at the center of the infection. Now, I have a gaping hole in my breast crease and greenish yellow fluid still draining from a seriously infected breast.
This is all because {edited} said since his mother developed a reaction to the dissolvable stitches in a surgery he performed on her, he wasn't using them with his own patients anymore. GREAT!!! So, now to fix his MALPRACTICE and INCOMPETENCY here in the US, its costing me an additional $4000!!!
NEVER AGAIN will I have any surgery outside the USA and by anyone other than a board certified AMERICAN surgeon!
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10/18/08
Who was your doctor?
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10/20/08
Sorry for a daley in responding, Just got the note in my Email box. The consultations with our consultant are free, with me $50.00 for cosmetic issues.
Please feel free to call us at 775-284-0911 to schedule yours.
10/20/08
This site will not disclose this doctor's name...
Email me at {contact information edited} if anyway wants to know who to STAY AWAY FROM!!!
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10/20/08
Thank you but I already have a board certifed surgeon in The Woodlands, Texas.
Thanks!!
11/12/08
I am a medical tourism facilitator who also worked in US hospital patient safety for 16 years. Essentially "medical tourists" are the people going abroad for surgery, and I act much like a travel agent. However, my primary role is educating medical travelers about safety and ensuring they get connected with reputable and qualified hospitals and doctors. There are a lot of things you need to know before considering travel for surgery, and the fact that you can save up to 75% is not the only one!
First and foremost, make sure you are going to a hospital that has been accredited by an agency such as Joint Commission International. This credential is a stamp of approval for hospital quality. Second, by working with an accredited hospital that caters to medical tourists, you will get access to the best and brightest of their medical team as well as extra services to make sure your trip goes smoothly. Third, consider working with a travel facilitator who has visited each hospital and is experienced with the process. A reputable facilitator will not charge you for their services. Rather, they get a referral commission from the hospital or doctor. Essentially, we do the marketing and travel planning for them so they can focus on taking care of their patients.
Keep in mind that Costa Rica is NOT a third world country. In my experience, their Ministry of Health is as dedicated to quality care as the regulatory bodies in the US... if not more so!
Finally, consider other destinations... El Salvador has a wonderful plastic surgeon who trained in the US and maintained a practice in Miami before returning home to his family in El Salvador. And the larger cities in Mexico have fantastic teaching hospitals that rival most of those in the US.
Medical travel can be a safe and affordable option for plastic surgery, just be sure you work with pros and plan well!
11/13/08
I also work in the health care industry and worked for and directly with surgeons in a hospital with JCAHO. I DID all my research and still this reputable surgeon who is co-chairman of THE largest private hospital in San Jose, Costa Rica STILL BOTCHED MY SURGERY COMPLETELY!!
BEWARE travelers...once all my revisions are done here in the US, it will end up costing me over $10K combined for a simple augmentation.
IN ADDITION...the implants may have warranties, but they are not applicable here in the US because the are not FDA approved!
11/13/08
Gina: How can I contact you? I tried clicking on your name, but it doesn't take me to a place where I can em you to ask you to which doctor you are referring. I leave for CR in a couple of weeks and would appreciate the info, just in case . . . Thanks so much
11/14/08
email me {contact information removed}
I really wish you would reconsider going to CR. I have to have BOTH breasts redone in the US now. It will cost me $4750 here. And on top of the $500 for emergency removal and $3500 for the original surgery in Costa, my implants will end up costing almost $10K.
Oh and beware, the warranty that covers the implants are USELESS in the USA. SO any problems, you will have to fly back to Costa AGAIN to the same quack!
AND YOU CANNOT SUE SURGEONS FOR MALPRACTICE IN COSTA RICA. They are protected by the government!
If this site deletes my email address, you can send me an email thru Facebook! I'm in Houston, Texas!
Hope we can connect before you go!
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11/15/08
Hi
I did a show on going out of town.
with a dr who specializes in repairing
out of country surgeries.
Hear it on I tunes podcast Beauty Now..
Please dont skimp on your body
and your life.. especially your face
because people see your face everyday.
It is not an area to save money.
Gina, that was a perfect testimony
to the what the show was saying.
I am glad you are ok.
Teri Struck Host of Beauty Now
and married to a board certified
plastic surgeon.
11/15/08
Gina is also right about the
warranty. There are some great board
certified plastic surgeons in
Texas. Make sure they are certified
in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
There are payment plans..
I think doctorssayyes is one..
Dont skimp..
There are great surgeons on this site.
check it out..
11/15/08
HI
I talked to my husband,
a board certified plastic and
reconstructive..stanford trained surgeon... he would be willing
to do your surgery for a very good
deal in the spirit of saving you from
making a huge mistake.
You can e mail me direct..we are in
California and you can stay in our guest house for 2 days.
e mail me direct and if that
doesnt work he has board certified friends we can talk to but dont know
one in Texas but I have friends there to ask..
11/16/08
Thank you so much for your generous offer. But thankfully I have already found a Booard Certified plastic surgeon here, that is very competent and never sugar coated anything. It has been easier to deal with the situation because of honesty, instead of the quack down in Costa that basically was going to a D&C of my breast, and stitch it back up...thats his response to a implant extrusion. Can you believe it?
But let me say once again, I am very impressed and grateful for your offer all the same.
Gina