Face,Neck and Eye Lift in Costa Rica, CR

Am waiting to see Dr. Arguello for final consult before surgery tomorrow. Cost includes facelift necklift, upper & lower blephoplasty. If we agree on a short scar armlift procedure, that adds $3,000. Hospital costs will be $4000 approx. Misc tests and meds total approx $400. I will stay 7 days at CheTica Recovery Ranch starting today and then to a hotel with a friend joining me for the second week stay required post surgery.. Have stayed, at a little hotel near doc's office to get in sightseeing between appointments presurgery.

I had the described surgery on morning of Wednesday, Aug. 31. Was staying at a very reasonably priced, nice but not fancy hotel called El Maragato a 7 minute walk to Drs offices at Hospital Clinica Biblia and close to all the San Jose sights and street entertainment. The afternoon prior to surgery I had the appt with Dr. Arguello, having met with Dr. Arce his asst physician the day before. We decided against arm lift bc I did not want the long scar surgery due to the kind of improvements I sought. He felt I would not achieve the improvement with a short scar procedure and so we agreed not to try it. My arms are not big and while I have some hanging underneath, I was more hoping to tighten just the front lax and dimply skin. So it's longer sleeves from no own, I guess. The driver from CheTica picked us up ( my husband is here til Monday) and we got settled into our room, had dinner and met the amazing Frances who has been the most attentive and kind nurse ever since. The place is about 30 minute drive from downtown, and transportation to and from surgery and all dr apps is provided at no extra cost. This is important-the surgery was at a different location from the hospital where I met with Drs., but the driver took me to this location. While the name was on the admission paper, there was no address, and I assumed that the staff and doctors office had communicated where I was to go. The driver, Ruben, escorted us up, told the admission clerk I was there for surgery and left. That's when the guy looked at the paper and said this is not the correct location cation. I speak pretty good Spanish, which was a good thing, but here's what I failed to do that I want to make sure no one else goes through. I took no papers with addresses or phone numbers of CheTica with me because I didn't have local calls set up on my cellphone. Have the drivers phone # with you and don't let them leave until you know you are in the right place.. And double check the location of surgery with your doctor.and driver before you go! It worked out but I was panicking because I couldn't reach dr office that early to advise them of the mixup. Dr. Arce had set me up with a great app called WhatsApp that allows you to contact each other like texting without the cost of mobile phone out of country. I was able to reach him and the CheTica and get transported to the right clinic in time. Be sure to carry a copy of your passport if you don't want to risk having the original with you. So, after that, all has been uphill! Surgery went well, recovery relatively painless due to the pain patch Dr. Arguello uses. I will add more details soon about costs, things to be sure to know about or bring, but bc my eyes have been so inflamed and uncomfortable from the stitches, I have not felt up to writing til today. Per Doctors instructions, I have kept the eyes covered as much as possible with gauze soaked in chamomile teabags (bring several with you) and now ice to ease swelling and irritation. Bring a soft ice pack or old fashioned ice bag with you as well as natural tear drops like Systane. You will see from my photos that I bruise very easily due to thin skin and look worse than most people here at my stage of healing. But nurse says I am healing, with no signs of infection. I hope to get eyelid stitches out
The meals, fresh and healthy, are brought to the room unless you feel up to eating in the common dining area, the Buena Vista Social Club. I spent the night at the Clinic

More before pictures