POSTED UNDER Facelift REVIEWS
Booked Appt Few Days Ago Paid Deposit Today, So It's a Go'er. Costa Rica, CR
ORIGINAL POST
Just paid my deposit today for face, neck, upper...
WORTH IT$7,400
Just paid my deposit today for face, neck, upper and lower eye lift with Dr Lev on 23rd April 2015. I am excited but nervous too, but have wanted this for many years now. I just need to bite the bullet and do it. Not sure where to stay just yet for recovery, am looking at Las Cumbres and Verdaza. I will post my journey on here, think it will be a big help to me as not many people know what I am doing.
juedrop05's provider
UPDATED FROM juedrop05
1 month pre
1 month to go.......
Well 1 month to wait to the date today till D day lol. I have booked my flight last night and decided to stay at the Verdeza for the 15 nights I am in Costa Rica. I have provisionally booked the room but have yet to pay for that. It is costing $6400 for the surgery, $1930 for Verdeza and $900 for flight. I just hope the results are worth it. Still excited but do get a little scared now and again when reality kicks in what I am actually doing. 1 thing that is bothering me a little is when I go for my consultation, the day before surgery, I do not want the doc to go into great detail and tell me exactly what he is going to do. I think I would be ok with I am going to cut you here, here and here but if he starts going on about draping my skin away from my face etc it will freak me out lol. I am a type of girl, don't tell me just do it with an excellent result lol.
Replies (27)
March 24, 2015
Congrats!!. I'm planning going in sept or October... Having surgery with Dr. Lev? & staying at chetica ranch. I'm curious why didi doesn't think it is safe?
March 25, 2015
I dunno, something has obviously gone on but don't know what. It will all come out eventually, always does lol. Good luck with ur plans, exciting but scarey eek
March 25, 2015
Be interesting to find out... I wish u the best of luck!!. Keep us posted... I wish I could go right now!
March 25, 2015
I am from CR, the country is safe, you will be ok. Is a beutiful country. Good luck with your surgery, keeps up dated.
April 18, 2015
Good luck juedrop!!. Keep us posted.. I upped my date for May 6th.. & I'm staying at the Chetica...
April 22, 2015
Hi Calla lillie,
I am going to CR the end of Sept and staying until mid Oct. I followed this site before my PS surgeries in 2013. I find myself, again, spending way too much time reading RS stories. Anyway CheTica rules!
April 23, 2015
Best of luck to you!!!. I'm sure it will be a beautiful place to heal!!. I can't wait to go
April 30, 2015
March 25, 2015
You made a great choice with Dr. Lev. Try not to second guess your decision. At your consultation just tell Dr. Lev not to discuss the details you don't want to hear. I don't recall him telling me those kinds of things...although it's been a few years since I had my consultation and surgery. He is a really nice man and highly skilled surgeon. His work is beautiful and it lasts, and lasts......
April 9, 2015
I stayed at CheTica for 33 days recently, and will be going back in May again for 2 weeks, I can hardly wait. CheTica recover center in the beautiful mountains of CR. Where the air is fresh, and views are amazing. It is in the middle of no where, a low crime area, but even so it is gated and guarded. Most people don't even lock their doors or their safes. Google it. Complaints Didi shared with others through private communications, shown to me, seem to have been completely resolved with CheTica's new all inclusive rate, which includes the 13% local tax, free laundry, transportation, heating-now all electrical, 3 meals and snacks, tea, drinks, coffee, free international calls, medical beds, 24 hour professional nursing care... The new inclusive price is so competitive, that the final decision one has to make is whether they want to recover in the lovely countryside, or the city. The difference is between day and night. Cottages at Chetica are huge and private. The 80 acres grounds have horses, dogs, cats and goats to look at, and private roads to walk upon. In the city, you will have shorter commutes, no doubt, but you will smell polluting vehicles most all day long, unless you stay inside. San Jose is a very congested city. It is a no brainer decision for most people who are not ready for recoveries in senior assisted living - like environments, or living in private homes, or lonely hotels, Just shoot me now, if I had to do that for more than a day. Hope this helps. CheTica has a U.S. phone line, call the owners directly for information. TripAdivsor.com is not a bad place to get to get updates on reviews, on most recovery centers.
During my extensive research, I found commissioned medical facilitators would say nearly anything to direct naive Americans to the doctors and facilities that paid them highest commissions. Watch out for trolls, on this website, too. Especially if they frequently trash a whole medical/dental practice, recovery center, or two and then tell you there is only one that walks on water. These contributors will not post formal reviews, with dates, and surgery details and certainly no pictures, so they can be traced and challenged. They unfairly, unethically, trash businesses to enrich themselves, all at our expense.
Fortunately, most people are sharp enough to question and recognize the "Smiling Faces".
April 9, 2015
Interesting !!! As it happens I am informed today my wire transfer for my accommodation has failed, I arrive in Costa Rica a week on Tuesday, then I see this, have looked again, contact made......thank you
April 10, 2015
There are legitamite reasons some may not want to post pictures and wish to remain anonymous. And yes, one does have to be careful about what to believe on Internet sites.
I stayed at Che Tica for a month. It was OK. I don't think I would stay there again. There were some issues like leaking plumbing in my room which caused bad odors, bugs in my room, and they kinda nickeled and dimed me for food items(like yogurt) which I felt should have been included in the price. I would give the food a C. I also thought the rides into San Jose were grueling at times when I didn't feel well and I had to see the Dr. Post op. It seemed like a long hot steamy traffic congested ride in a sub compact car. Everyone is different as to what they like and what they can tolerate. Chetica is rustic at best! The nursing care was adequate but I did feel I had to direct some of it. And, I would definitely tell people not to go to the Rosenstock clinic. I don't want to post a "formal" review and I don't want to be "challeneged" or " traced". I don't really care if people believe me or not! I used to give more detailed reviews and people tried to minimize my experience, and those that liked Rosenstock got very defensive. I ended up feeling worse than I did about bad experience with Rosenstock. If someone is really interested in details of my experience they can PM me.
April 26, 2015
first thing I thought of when I read how the above gal loved the rustic countryside for post op was .....the Dr actually drives out to the "ranch" to see patient ?
April 26, 2015
April 9, 2015
Thx for the breakdown the prices...surgery, recovery center and your flight. Helps to see exactly the total cost and prices still better than U.S. prices.
UPDATED FROM juedrop05
23 days pre
Questioning myself today
Had a funny day today, seemed to be questioning myself quiet a bit "what am I doing". Only had a whelm of this feeling since booking and it has usually gone as quick as it came but today, seemed to be every time it came in to my head. No excitement neither, like usual. Am I just having 1 of them days lol ? x
Replies (11)
March 31, 2015
Is anyone going with you to CR? I would think that has to be a little difficult going to another country for surgery and not having anyone with you. Take a deep breath and think about it again. If you are having major doubts don't do it, reschedule until you are sure. You don't have to do it now. This is of course my opinion but go with your gut what is that telling you? Reach out to others on RS who have gone to CR for surgery with Dr Lev. Have a good evening and make decision tomorrow. You need to feel right about it and confident you are doing the right thing. Good luck.
March 31, 2015
No, I am going on my own. I feeling ok today, think maybe it was just 1 of them days am bound to get them I think with it being me wanting thisnot having to have, if you get what I mean. It is something I want and have wanted for the past 5 yrs. need to "just do it" lol. I will be fine and thank you
April 1, 2015
Having someone with you is a good thing. You'll be fine, can you reach out to the PS or patient coordinator for some calming words? Good luck.
April 1, 2015
I'm planning to make the trip in October! I'm a little nervous about going alone! I had a cervical fusion on 3/27 and felt comfort, knowing that my husband was there to hold my hand! However, I made him go home and rest, around 8pm. Bless his heart, he was at the hospital for 12 hours and I am a little moody after surgery... He certainly didn't deserve my crankiness...LOL...or, to deal with me after a FL.. I tried to get my my life long bestie to take the journey with me, but she thinks I'm crazy, so I will go alone...My anxiety was high for weeks prior to the fusion, so I cant imagine, how you must be feeling... Hang in there, just think about the new you that you are going to see in the mirror, very soon! I'm pretty much pain free after the fusion and I've been in pain for two years, only needed pain medication the day of surgery. I will be thinking of you and saying prayers for you! I'm excited to be tagging along with you...Perhaps I will meet someone on RS that will be going in October..
April 22, 2015
Hi Torilynnc, I am going to be there for a neck lift, platysmaplasty, chin implant and TCA peel. I went by myself the last time. I didn't realize what a pampered baby I was before I went to CR. When I came back to So.Cal., I was a new woman inside and out. I am going alone this time too in the end of Sept. I very much looking forward to the experience again.
April 3, 2015
I just got back and I was fine. You'll be great! were are you staying? I stayed at Mercedes and she was wonderful. Its a little more personalble than Verdeza. I made met wonderful people there. Two of them recovering with me will be life long friends! You can do this if you want it bad enough! Wishing you an awesome results and speedy recovery. xoxo
April 7, 2015
You've got this! I am going alone as well and I actually prefer it that way. I have days where I think I am NOT going. But then I look in the mirror and look at the before and after pics of Dr. Levs work and I am all in again! So excited....then not so much. You will do great. I will be there May 4th. Staying at Verdeza, so maybe I will see you there!
Replies (39)