Costa Rica cosmetic surgery didn't last

By secrets on 27 Apr 2008

i consider i have wasted thousands of $$$ by going to a doctor in Costa Rica for facelift. i have no wrinkles but wanted a slimmer lower face/tight jawline.! i was advised to have my eyes done,against my better judgement ,and frankly they are a mess. for 3 months i looked pretty good,7 months on and i look no different,although if anything my face looks much broader,due to being just pulled behind my ears

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secrets (58 posts) 28 Apr 2008

PS.....i should have said that the REFRESHED look does,nt last,instead of the DONE look. sorry

Charlenex3 (23 posts) 2 Dec 2008

HI! I was wondering who you used in Costa Rica? I had great luck with Rosenstock-Lieberman Clinic and it's state of the art facility. However, I don't know if they're skilled in some of the other plastic surgery options. I'm going to start a new CR blog re surgery and places to stay there to keep a more up to date thing going. Charlene

Charlenex3 (23 posts) 16 Dec 2008

I"m still fairly happy re my surgery in Costa Rica, but as mentioned on the other blog relating specifically to surgeries done there -- there are some incredibly unhappy people who have come back to the US with serious problems. I'd like to know if there are any doctors out there who would be sympathetic to their problems (specifically re their breast implants and lipro)?

Adam David Lowenstein, MD (169 posts) 12 Jan 2009

I would be very careful about traveling outside of the US for surgery. While I'm sure I get a tainted view of these procedures because I only see the problems, I have seen a LOT of patients who have gone to Central and South America, and have problems or are unhappy once they come home. Remember that surgeons outside of the US are not as accountable for procedure, ethics, and even supplies as a properly licensed surgeon will be in the US. That is not to say that there are not some excellent plastic surgeons in South and Central America, but you often get what you pay for. Many of them do not plan to see you in followup, and so may be less accountable for their actions. While I myself have patient from all over the world come to see me here in California, I always council them that followup for concerns of theirs may require a return trip to see me, and if this is not part of the pre-operative understanding, surgery closer to home may be a better bet. Personally, I've seen too many patients patients from Central America with excess skin, contour irregularities, infections, open wounds, and even breast implants exposed and needing to urgently be removed- that I need to then fix. I cannot recommend surgery South of the Border unless you are planning to stay there or returning there for an extended period of time (3-6 months) for proper followup.

View answers from Adam David Lowenstein, MD

tank17 (1 post) 18 Apr 2011

hello Dr. Lowenstein, i live in fairfax, va. i am 36 yrs old, will travel wherever for the best and safest surgery. I'm looking to get a tummy tuck after 2 children and breast implants like one size up! Could u give me some info on what i need to do or where i should go? I am getting a physical April 29th and having my heart checked fully because i do not want to end up like Kanye West's mother who died from cosmetic surgery! Thank you
signed, Tee

boomerdog (14 posts) 4 Mar 2009

I too am considering the Rosenstock Center in C.R. can I get any more info from folks who have had any face work done there. Thank You. Terry

secrets (58 posts) 4 Mar 2009

Terry, i would seriously think again about going to Rashi Rosenstock.! 2 weeks ago i saw another surgeon to see if i could have revisions to improve the mess that was made,especially with my eyes. i was told my results were very poor and certainly not the work of a skilled surgeon,and the scars in upper and lower eyelids are very obvious,and there is an associated ectropia........the jowls and neckline are not good,with very bad obvious scars....the incisions were made in totally the wrong places,and the muscle under the chin was not actually cut,but they went through the motions.!i have now been told that most doctors would loath to proceed with any revisions as they are afraid of what they may find cobbled under the skin.! frankly i am extremely upset at what has been done to me,and i just dont know what to do now,it has become my worst nightmare.i have gone from being a very confident and outgoing person ,to one who wants to hide away.Rosenstock Clinic was like a conveyor belt,and i dont believe for one minute that Rashi Rosenstock did all my precedures as he claims.! IF he did he should be publicly shamed as i have to live with this ,and he does,nt.

boomerdog (14 posts) 5 Mar 2009

OMG!!! This is exaclty the nightmare I want to avoid,you poor soul, I thank you so much for that information, I really hope it works out for you. I'm so sorry. TJ

Charlenex3 (23 posts) 6 Mar 2009

Hi Terry: I had a face, eye and neck lift done at Rosenstock 5.5 months ago and am fairly happy with it. Dr. Cohen was the surgeon. I had asked specifically that he do a very gentle lift, I wasn't trying to look 20 again but wanted about 10 yrs off of this face. I'm pretty content with the results although I think now that I wish I had requested that he be a bit more aggressive with the face lift. The end result is that my eyes are much more open which is great, I can read properly again, and my nasal labial folds are a little less predominant. And the neck looks a bit better too. I don't see the changes as much when looking in the mirror as I do when I compare my before and after pics which my husband took. I'm still confident about Rosenstock clinic - although I have to agree, the after visits tend to feel quite rushed, although I did have 4 app'ts after my surgery. I would never have any implants done there as there were 4 people with problems at the recovery place (none were done by Rosenstock I should add). There's one CR surgeon who is notorious for having to give blood transfusions after surgery - which ends up costing you more and is not safe at all! I also would try to find a better place to recover than where I stayed, maybe pay a little more and have more attentive care for the first few days after surgery. Charlenex3

boomerdog (14 posts) 7 Mar 2009

Thank you for that info Charlene can you tell me where you stayed at? Terry

Billi (1 post) 25 Mar 2009

I had a face lift and arm lift, also eyelid surgery. I am pleased with the results. The problem I think is that the recovery is so much longer than the 2 wks spent there afterwards. You can't go to see the doctor easily and ask questions. Dr.Rosenstock will answer emails and will make any revisions but it costs you the travel and $400 for anesthesia to have them. I saw many patients he did tummy tucks, breast lifts and tummy tucks. They were happy. Some had lipo and lip. They were happy.

dke46 (9 posts) 5 Apr 2009

I am still recovering from surgery just had there. I am scared to death as american doctors warned me they would not help me. i have lumps of fat under my chin as if it were left in face lift?lipo/my lips are are even which is easy for me to see so least of problems. My eyelids are so tight because they stil have sugtures in them as I was told this would give an upward flare. the stiches have not dissolved. I do ot have the money for repairs. I am really scared. I do not want to look worse. No one has see me yet. I wish I could have affored usa doctor.

Anka in FL (3 posts) 14 May 2009

Would you be willing to tell me who you went to? Right now I've been conferring with a doctor in San Jose, Costa Rica, and I'm afraid because I don't have any referrals and I was going to get a facelift, along with some other work. Thanks

boomerdog (14 posts) 15 May 2009

Hello dke46, Yes I too would very much appreciate the dr's name, I am going in a couple weeks and still not comfortable with me decision yet.

dke46 (9 posts) 16 May 2009

I saw Dr rashi rostenstock at the rosenstock clinic. Both him and dr cohen are very good, nora workks for them plans things she helped me get my money back from paraise inn after they defrauded my dredit card. Please donot stay hhere. very dangerous. There is lus cumbres inn. Just rember that after care is pretty much on your own because you areback in the states. My neck is not perfect but the improvements are still great, I know the desperation of wanting this.

Anka in FL (3 posts) 16 May 2009

Hello DKE46, Do you know who Dr. Arguello is? Its possible he works along with Dr. Cohen. I'm nervous to pay a lot of money for a facelift and then be disappointed or have medical problems after getting back in U.S. I also had contact with Las Cumbres Inn, where they said they have nurses that give you aftercare, and they also give you 3 meals a day. Their daily fee is a little over a $100 per day for a room. Any further info you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Jimbo (1 post) 19 May 2009

Im thinking of going to rosenstock for hair folicle transplant has anyone done sthis?

Columbus4335 (4 posts) 29 Sep 2011

Don't go there. Try Christian Rivera. There have been some problems with Rosenstock

Markk (2 posts) 30 Nov 2011

Did you end up going there and having your surgery? I'm planning on going as well and would to know how it was...

Markk (2 posts) 30 Nov 2011

Any specif problems or with specific doctors?

Columbus4335 (4 posts) 30 Nov 2011

Dr Christian Rivera exceeded my expectations! Heard great things about Dr Cruz. Recovered at Chi Tica-great place. Would stay clear of Rosenstock clinic; heard good things but also horror stories. We used a medical tourism Co that was free to us and very helpful-Vicki Morales at Costa Rican Medical Care in Wisconsin. They coordinate everything and are paid by the doc I think. Well worth doing this in CR. Good luck. You'll be fine.

boomerdog (14 posts) 15 May 2009

Hello secrets,please tell me the dr. who did this I am going in a couple weeks to CR and still struggling to get enough information to be confidant in my decision. I would really appreciate. I'm very sorry you had to have all these issues. I'm not sure the $ saving is worth the risk anymore.

richlandboobs (unregistered guest) 9 Jun 2009

I have heard of a company in Florida that sends a US rep with you to CR. Has anybody heard of them.

Travlr (36 posts) 30 Nov 2011

No, but what would be the purpose of having a representative go with you? What would they do? By the time you pay for the representative, how much would you be saving over what it would cost in the States? The recovery retreats take good care of you, provide transportation to and from the doctor's office, meals, etc Some of the surgeons go to the retreats for follow-up. My surgeon had a 4 room clinic where international patients stayed and we were well taken care of. If this representative works for a medical tourism company, be VERY careful and do your own research to make sure you have confidence in the surgeon, his credentials, safety and skills. A LOT has already been said about the perils of medical tourism companies, so I won't repeat it all again.

Columbus4335 (4 posts) 3 Feb 2011

Could someone please tell me if they have any experience with Dr Christian Riveria or Dr Zafrani or the Hospital Clinica Biblica in San Jose or the Che Riveria Ranch. I am less concerned about the latter, more concerned about the skill of the surgeons, as I am contemplating a face and neck lift and lipo. Also my son is scheduling a hemmorroidectomy and wonder if anyone knows about doing that in CR. It is difficult to evaluate cosmetic surgeons in the states ; even more so in CR. Any info would be appreciated!

Shelley

Costa Rica cosmetic surgery didn't last

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