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POSTED UNDER Facelift REVIEWS

Traveling Abroad for a Facelift

ORIGINAL POST

I traveled abroad to have my facelift and eyelift...

trekkerMarch 9, 2007
WORTH IT$7,500

I traveled abroad to have my facelift and eyelift done and have been post-op for three months now. I am very happy with the whole process and especially liked the live-in atmosphere at the clinic and the camaraderie with the other patients.

The surgery itself went smoothly and I was out of it for much of that day. I awoke to the pain from hell and when I felt my face it was all puffed up. I could hardly feel a person under there! When I looked in the mirror for the first time I was also bruised everywhere (and I mean EVERYWHERE); I didn’t look in the mirror much after that!

Saying all that, I am very confident in the clinic and was treated like royalty. Coming from a first world country I think I was surprised at how I was treated, but then my money was really valued there too I suppose. I lived in the clinic for a few weeks and was given everything I needed, including ice packs, baths and little luxury things I requested. They also had beauty days that were wonderful, and it was great to see all of the other girls living there healing alongside me and getting better day-by-day.

You have to be confident to have surgery abroad. I don’t personally think it’s any worse than paying for a private surgeon in your home country but some people will tell you differently. The price difference will surprise you every time though, I guarantee! I never would have gotten all of this work done at home for what I paid to take a luxury, pampered vacation.

Replies (92)

(unregistered guest)
September 21, 2007
My family has always gone abroad to have their surgeries done, and been very happy. They were getting dental implants done there 30 years ago! I would be interested to know where you had your surgery done. I may be on a plane soon! Thanks, Anna
(unregistered guest)
February 4, 2008
Can you tell us where you had your surgery and the name of the surgeon. I went to Costa Rica with a friend. She had upper/lower eyes, nose and a chin implant and was very happy with the results.
(unregistered guest)
February 18, 2008
could anyone provide a doctor's name for facelift abroad? Have been investigating Thailand and Costa Rica.. thanks
(unregistered guest)
March 2, 2008
Two years ago I went to Thailand for a facelift. I had a lower face and neck lift with lipo under the chin. This cost about $3,200. After the surgery I had some swelling and numbness but no pain which really surprised me. The area under my chin was a little sore for a few weeks. I had no visible scarring at all and I am very satisfied with the results. I am 62 but look under 50 now. I had this done at Bumrungrad Hospital's Anti-Aging Clinic. Also I went to a dermatologist at the same hospital and had age spots removed from my face for about $300 and also I went to a dentist. My doctor for the facelift was Dr Chu-Ongsakul, but probably any doctor at this hospital is fine. While I was there I saw a group of American doctors come to have consultations for their own cosmetic surgeries. The facilities at Bumrungrad Hospital were gorgeous. I have never been in a hospital that clean and beautiful in the US and I recommend it to anyone. Everyone spoke English and many of the office assistants were RN's.
(unregistered guest)
March 8, 2008
Liz, I have been looking at both Costa and Thailand for my surgery as well. What have you found out if you don't mind sharing. I am looking at flights for around March 19. Thanks so much, Ann Editor note: you must join RealSelf so you can be contacted privately with doctor recommendations and feedback. This requires free registration for an account. When registering you must opt-in to receiving private contacts (a check box).
judkt
May 3, 2008
hello susie, i too am interested in plastic surgery abroad, it is exciting to hear about your experience, did you see anyone having breast ,tummy, surgery? did you stay in the hospital overnight or go directly to recovery center? what kind of recovery center did you stay? thank you for sharing your information judkt
boomerdog
May 4, 2008
Hi Susie, Thanks for this info this confirms it I'm going, that 60 minutes clip also helped a couple of years ago, so you were ther a total or three weeks? How long is the flight? I will be contacting this anti aging clinic for more info, I wonder is there any trips planned as a group to go over there, I will be going by myself? Thanks Terry
djb
May 4, 2008
Hi, this is my first choice also. I have a new doctor in the family (my son) and thought that asking him to come along on a semi vacation/info gathering trip after his residency would be great; and the $ no more than a facelift in Seattle would be. I am thinking September after the rainy season. Please send me a note after you hear from Susie....I am excited and nervous but hey , djb
judkt
May 4, 2008
HEY TERRY, LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS INTEREST IN GETTING A GROUP TOGETHER,, I WOULD LIKE TO GO ALSO THANKS JUDKT
dteney
May 10, 2008
Thank you for telling your Thailand surgery experiences on RealSelf.com. I've been searching all over the internet for some specific recommendations on doctors or clinics in Thailand--by people who actually had surgery there. So far I have found very little. Do you have any suggestions about how I can get in touch with other people who have also been there? Are there any blogs or forums you have seen? I'm a 59 year old male and I want to get neck lift surgery done there. Thanks, David
Charlenex3
December 16, 2008
Did you find your doc in CRica yet? I went to the Rosenstock-Lieberman Clinic and used a woman named NORA here in the US as my intermediary. They're a state of the art facility, prices are good, but you do feel a little like you're on an assembly line when you go back for your checkups. I wouldn't stay at the ranch recovery place again though, it's a little too far away, and there were too many things going on there with other visitors/patients.
jpierce1
April 22, 2009
Not sure where you live but my husband and I just got back from Bogota Columbia, we live in FL and it's only 3 1/2 flight and both had face lifts, as it's only been 1 week, we are extremely happy with results and the price was probably 1/4 of what we would paid in u.s. Also safety was never a concern, people were so nice and helpful,will most definately go back.
boomerdog
April 23, 2009
Dear jpierce1 well that's great, I live in vegas, can you share anymore info with me like where you stayed and what dr. you used. Thanks TJ
EasyGoinGal
January 30, 2012
Dont know if you have gotten a group together, but if you need more people, please email me at mysummer2@earthlink.net
Mary , West palm beach
March 5, 2012
Where did you go in Columbia?
Thanks
Mary
weruburight
March 10, 2008
I am 65 and looking for a good plastic surgeon abroad.I have checked mexico found some ok places have not looked elswhere as of yet.Does anyone have some suggestions as to where good, not too expensive places and DR. would be/ Thanks
(unregistered guest)
March 24, 2008
Hi, I just returned from Costa Rica where I had a facelift and browlift. I stayed at a Recovery Retreat named Villa Plenitud. I had a wonderful plastic surgeon named Dr. {edited}. I did a lot of research before I chose him and I am 100% satisfied with the surgery and care I received. The other 4 women that were at the recovery retreat with me were also very happy. Check out his website at {edited}. The cost was 1/3 of what I would have paid in New York. Good luck! Kathy Editor note: you must join RealSelf so you can be contacted privately with doctor recommendations and feedback. This requires free registration for an account. When registering you must opt-in to receiving private contacts (a check box).
djb
March 27, 2008
I am curious about the doctor and the website you mentioned. i am thinking of going abroad for a facelift also. My son is a new doc just getting through his residency as an emergency room MD but with the US falling behind I want to go with him so he can see International options in his work, I can get a lift feeling better for his presence and we can do a little mother son bonding. thanks, djb
judkt
May 3, 2008
hi, i am interested in costa rica for surgery,, can you recommend your dr. also what area did you stay for recovery, costs etc. thanks judkt
1ofaKind
July 1, 2008
Could you please send the nema of a Dr. and the place again. It was editied out from the original post. Thank you.
Tricia
July 1, 2008
Dear Kathy, please send the information that was edited out in the note you submitted on May 23rd. I registered with realself.com so that they will send me the private info.
cadyt
July 6, 2008
Hi... the name of your Dr has been edited ... could you send me his name and how your pain , procedure and recovery went ... Plus the results? How much was the charge of the surgery too.I don't need a brow lift but maybe my upper lids. Thanks Carole
Charlenex3
December 16, 2008
Did you have your surgery yet? I'm 60 and had it in Costa Rica, everything went quite well for me. Let me know if you need info.
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angavethastings
February 6, 2009
Ive joined RealSelf so can you email me the information regarding the doctor and other info?
Charlenex3
February 6, 2009
Contact this woman - she's the US intermediary for the Rosenstock-Lieberman clinic in San Jose, CR {contact information edited} Nora is highly informed of all the goings on there! Let me know if you get this info and if you need anything else. You should probably stay somewhere fairly close to the clinic for the first week or so, or at least have access to it (rides from where you're staying as opposed to taxis) After that try staying at Casa Laurin (ask for Ginette the owner, she is VERY helpful!). If you want a really great place to stay near the airport (but it's a bit time consuming to get to the doctors from here), try Vista Del Valle, the owners are American, it's a good removal from the city, you can eat right there, and the bungalows/duplexes are really nice to stay in. Although the internet access from there isn't great, you have to use the computers in their office area. No TV's either, so bring some good reading material. GOOD PEEPS there! -- Editor note: The user must be contacted privately to share this information. Click on the username to email.
Kimm
March 8, 2009
I am scheduled to have an upper eyelid surgery with Dr Rashi Rosenstock and then stay at the Chetica Ranch, they highly recommended Dr Rosenstock but after some of these postings I am starting to have serious second thoughts, two people working on one eye each...YIKES!!! Can anyone whole-heartedly recommend another Dr or wholeheartedly defend Rosenstock/Liberman Clinic because I don't want to take a chance when my eyes are at stake!
boomerdog
April 19, 2009
yes, I think that makes a lot of sense to be honest with you to have two dr's working at the same time, it has a lot to do with the anesthetic and the amount of time they have while you are under to perform there procedures, I know dr's cohen and rashi are both highly skilled but on the down side I have heard that some of their patients are not happy with surgeries they had around the eyes ie: uneven or something of that nature
anon2373
January 30, 2012
you should check out a dr.rushapol at phuket international hospital phuket thailand.excelent surgeon and much cheaper than england.thailand hospitals are amazing no bugs not like in england.p.
EasyGoinGal
March 5, 2012
Whoever you are, I see your duplicate postings all over. It makes me feel like this is not a valid comment.
sashab
March 5, 2012
I agree EasyGoinGal, I'd look in to this one very carefully.
Mary , West palm beach
March 5, 2012
I may have,as today I've been looking at this site for most of the day!
anon2373
March 6, 2012
can only speak as I find.p
secrets
April 29, 2008
oh dear ! choices,choices.! i researched and researched and thought i had found the best for facial surgery,but really 8 months post op ,i look no different. really i wanted a very tight/defined jawline/lower face but that did,nt happen. i personally dont like the 'refreshed'look,i prefer 'done' because it does tend to drop fairly quickly anyway. i am not damaged but my eyes are weird,vision still impaired. i WISH doctors would say truthfully what they do,instead of NOT doing what is requested.
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