Medical Tourism

Do you think Costa Rica is safe for cosmetic surgery?

Posted 23 Mar 2008

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

Comments (254)

Post a Comment
Sort:
Pramit Malhotra, MD (65 posts) 26 Mar 2008
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.
View answers from Pramit Malhotra, MD
montserrat silver (unregistered guest) 10 May 2009
I don't know where in Central America you have been but, Costa Rica is known in Central america for having one of the best health care centers in Central America. An example of this is Cima hospital in San Jose, Costa Rica. Cima meets the requirements for patient care and safe surgical procedures,and offer the best facilities, infrastructure, technology and internationally trained personnel in all Central America. These quality services are combined in a truly state-of-art facility, dedicated to guarantee the patient safety, security and comfort. Regarding plastic surgery same as here in America you paid for what you get. You can get plastic surgery in C.R by a certified plastic surgeon for much less than U.S. In C.R many surgeons have been trained abroad some here in U.S.A and many in Europe. There are another options in Costa Rica as Clinica Biblica and Clinica Catolica. I invite you to visit Costa Rica and have the opportunity to know the health care standards.
MaSue (3 posts) 2 Oct 2010
I just finished with my face lift and really don't know after 8 days how it has turned out. I can tell you that out of 6 women at a recovery center - 5 are back because of problems and need for correction. I wish I had know this before my operation!
Maggie Share (12 posts) 20 May 2011
While Cima Hospital and Clinica Biblica are Internationally Accredited and for sure much safer then private clinics, I wonder why those hospitals let Araya to perform surgeries in there. Last year he lost all privileges at Cima for having too many post-op complications and killing patient on operating table. This year he is back at Cima and even operates at Biblica. I don't know if it’s true but I received private email stating that Araya’s second patient died and two more were at ICU. Makes me wonder… Just to add that Araya is certified plastic surgeon in CR!
Foolish American (23 posts) 11 Nov 2011
The stands in Costa Rica are nothing like the standards in America. Of chorse you are going to say that Costa Rica has many great medical professionals. I'm quite that sure you make money when you bring patients to your country by the doctors and dentists that you recommend. There is plenty of Botched dentistry and medical treatments going on in your country and Americans can do nothing when it happens to them.
PJ (unregistered guest) 14 Apr 2008
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!
secrets (58 posts) 26 Apr 2008
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.!
boomerdog (14 posts) 4 Mar 2009
can you tell me which Dr. and center you went to in Costa Rica. Terry
Mauiartist (12 posts) 4 Mar 2009
Hi, I just posted some info on the doc and hospital I used this past December in Costa Rica. Hope it is helpful.
Char (1 post) 9 May 2008
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.
Nina78 (1 post) 12 May 2008
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
boomerdog (14 posts) 4 Mar 2009
I'm really considering the Rosenstock Center, face lift, could you tell me where you stayed and any other info would be helpfull. Terry
dke46 (9 posts) 7 Apr 2009
i Just came from Rosenstock. had a full face. forehead, eyes. they were really good. it is inportant in the beginning to stay at recovery center if you are alone. do not go to paradise. they defrauded my credit card charged me 700 for a night. they went through my luggage and stole. gets worse. go to lus cumbres.
dke46 (9 posts) 6 Sep 2009
How are you now?
sheianke (1 post) 13 Mar 2010
Hi, As its two years now since your costa rica - could you tell me if you are still happy with the results as I am considering it. Thanks - and I've taken note of the name Dr Rosenstock.
howelf (33 posts) 21 May 2011
I too stayed at the Paradise Inn and it should be called Hell Inn. I stayed there 9 nights and was left all along at night. Not one worker was there. They said they had a guard but I found out one night when I was scared to death that the only guard they had was two big dogs. I had no working telephone in my room and it just goes on and on of how horrible it was and money stolen out of my room when I was getting the surgery done. The TV was in spanish and even the coffee maker didn't work in my room. There were a couple of nice people that worked there. Rosa that drove the van and the young boy forgot his name and Raul the owner's girlfriend who said she was a nurse. She was very nice but I do not believe she was a nurse for a minute or the other lady Rosa that said she too was a nurse. Not the same Rosa that drove the van. It was way up in the mountains not anywhere close to where I had to go for the surgery to Pino. Took about 45 minutes on the little narrow road that had cows and horses dead in the road from getting hit by cars. God help if you needed to call 911 that is if you could have had a phone but they would never find you in time. I sure hope I have posted this enough to keep anyone from staying there if they choose to go to CR for surgery unless they have other family or friends with them. I was along and prepaid a month before I went because Raul was so nice on the phone that I trusted him. What another mistake I made. I would suggest to anyone going there even after reading all the back horry stories if you still go then stay in the city at a well know all over the world Hotel. Don't go along. Pay extra money to stay where you feel safe even if you take others with you and it wouldn't hurt to have someone to speak spanish with you. I have a good friend that speaks spanish from a job I use to have and she would have went with me. But I was stupid and went and went along.
shapol (3 posts) 29 Dec 2011
Hi, I'm planing to go to costa rica in Feb to have my rhinoplasty and my upper eyelids done, but it's a very hard decision to make. As i see by your comment you have done your upper eyelids done and i wanna know if you are 100% satisfied ,and if it does make any changes on your face !!!!
secrets (58 posts) 9 May 2008
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.!
Venus (1 post) 21 May 2008
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!
shapol (3 posts) 29 Dec 2011
Hi Venus,
I'm planing to have my surgery done in costa rica in Feb. As i see you have had your nose job done there and you are happy about it ,Do you mind if I ask you which doctor you had your surgery with?

and I'm glad to hear you are happy with the result.!
PatriciaNorthernCalifornia (3 posts) 25 May 2008
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.
secrets (58 posts) 26 May 2008
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.?
ccacr (6 posts) 24 Dec 2008
Who was your doctor? I just had a horrible job done on a scar revision and I am suing. I live in CR though.
secrets (58 posts) 30 Oct 2010
i went to Rashi Rosenstock,and the whole experience was like a conveyor belt.........and i am left with horrible scars,plus did,nt look one iota better,and my friend looks even worse,well,what she went though was horrific,and they could,nt have cared a damn......for they know we would,nt travel from the UK again to get anything fixed.
bluemorpho (3 posts) 12 Nov 2008
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!

Post a Comment

Use of this website and the posting of any reviews or other content on this website constitutes acceptance of the RealSelf® Terms of Service. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. © 2011 RealSelf, Inc. All rights reserved.