Which Cosmetic Surgeon do you recommend?

I recently heard back from someone that runs Chetica Ranch and they say that they would recommend Dr Arguello. I would think they have enough information seeing his patients although they have nothing negative to say about Dr Urzola.

I am still working on getting more information so if you can add anything about your Cosmetic Surgery experience in CR, it would be greatly appreciated.

Godspeed to all! ;)

... or are you all off convalescing from your surgeries? LOL

R ;)

Hi,
I am new to this forum too, but have been to Costa Rica a couple of times.
You should check out this forum www.PSjourneys.com for reviews and such.
Aside from that, I will be going soon to get some things done with Dr. Luis Da Cruz. He operates out of a hospital which makes it a little more expensive. His patient coordinator is very helpful (Sue Hallstrom); […]
Otherwise Dr. Pino (http://www.pinosurgery.com/portal/Home/DrPinosPhilosophy/ta
bid/60/Default.aspx) seems to be very well liked (especially for face work), and Dr. Araya(http://www.draraya.com/) for body work.

Hope that helps a little!

Mari,

Thanks for the information but those two Drs you named are the ones I was told to steer clear of! I hope you're not just going by a medical tourism site but that you got a referral from someone... just sayin' :))

I saw some good referrals for Urzola and talked with Amie on this site about Arguello. I will go with one of them but again, would like to talk with some more people. I am trying to fix quite alot of "mistakes" (body) I have now from a previous surgeon in the US and so it's a huge deal!

I have gotten a lot of good advice and referrals about Dr. Da Cruz, which is why I am going with him. The others jusdt comes from the things I have read.
It's a but of a jungle out there, and lots of doctors and retreats.
I went with Rosenstock Lieberman the first time I was there, but that place seems to have turned into a bit of a factory now, so I am trying something new.
Now obviously it depends on what kind of procedures you're having done as to whom you should go with. Rosenstock is definitely good for those that need a lot of lipo, I know that.
What I do find, even with doctors in North-America, is that if you dig deep enough, you will always find some unhappy patients and some happy ones. I think we are just so programmed to think that "board certified in the US" equals excellent. I have certainly experienced both as far as that goes.
I think you need to go with your gut, and the ones that seems knowledgeable enough and caring enough. :-)

Mari

WHat negative things did you hear about these doctors? Always good to be informed and prepared! LOL

Mari

Mari,

Although there are a couple of positives from patients, if you go to Chetica Ranch's site, on the top of their page they specifically say they are not referring patients to Dr Pino. I also talked with Amie who said there was a major issue with a patient of Araya's while she was recuperating at Las Cumbres.

Have you personally talked with any of Da Cruz's patients?

I agree... I had work performed on me by one of the Directors on the Cosmetic Surgery Board of Examiners here in the US and had to have several corrections done!

Now I'm a little leery. I have personally talked with Amie and she personally has had work done by Arguello but I've also seen some good posts about Urzola and I've been communicating with his office since last year.

I'm really wanting to talk with a patient first handedly from Dr Urzola so I can make an informed decision on the surgeon.

As for the retreat I stay at, I figure it will depend on the extent of surgery I decide to get. I need an implant exchange and lift on breasts but then am deciding on some additional body work as well. If I do alot more, I may stay in town so as not to be secluded in case of an emergency. :))

I have been scouring the internet for more information on plastic surgeons in CR and so far now I find that there is a 3rd I would like to consider because I see there are alot of satisfied referrals online about him.

I will be communicating with Dr Rashi Rosenstock's office now as well to see if this makes it any easier to help me make my decision.

If anyone else has any input or referrals for PS, please share!
Thank you all,
Reenie ;)

I know Rosenstock has gotten some bad comments here and there, but I had a good experience there. I had my ears pinned, blepharoplasty and a mid-facelift. All of those came out great. I replaced my breast implants there which did not turn out great, and I had to get it redone in Canada.
Only thing, when they take out stitches, make sure the nurses take out all of them. LOL
I feel very comfortable going with Dr. Luis DaCruz at this point though.

Mari

I am planning to go to Costa Rica for a FL/NL and breast implant exchange and breast lift with Dr.Pino in the near future and I am confident with his ability even after reading all of the many reviews on all the sites. But that is my opinion of course :)

Rosemary et al,

I decided trying to pick a cosmetic surgeon and hoping for a positive outcome from reading about others' experiences online is like trying to win the lottery! That's MY PERSONAL OPINION so I have decided to go to Costa Rica, meet with a couple of highly respected surgeons for a consult, just like I would do here in the US. (Urzola and Arguello)

I mean, come on people. After reading the reviews where one says GOOD things and then the next is BAD, how on earth does anyone know what they are getting themselves into??

I for one, have had negative experiences with surgery and so I do know what to expect (the good and the bad) and what to ask for and what to look for in an aftercare facility that will work for ME. :))

Then, after I tour the hospitals, the medical resorts and meet with two different Drs, I will make my decision and return in a couple of months, or longer. This is a HUGE decision and so I will treat it as such.

Godspeed to you all!
Reenie ;)

that sound like a great idea. and also a fine adventure. I will be there in the end of May myself. I hear that is the start of the rainy season but I will be there for only 10 days. Really I do not know why it seems like of everyone on all of these (3 I know of) forums there are only a couple of people that chime in. Hope they don't just work for the surgeons :(. However it does seem that when people are happy they are not as motivated to stay active on the threads.

Rosemary,

Are you saying you are going to have all of that work done and only be there a total of 10 days? Wow. Most of the Drs I've all conversed with want you there at least 2 weeks for just one procedure.

I talked with my GP here today and told him about my little adventure. He was ok with it because he knows I am doing my due diligence and of course he has known me for a really long time and knows how proactive I am with my medical care.

He also gave me some questions to research and ask the Drs when I go for my consults. I'm glad I'm going first to check everything out. I mean, how on earth do you even schedule your initial consult, then lab work, then go have your surgery and recover and fly home in less than 2 weeks?

It seems like too much for me! Just saying... ;)

PS I'm going to do a couple of sightseeing tours on this first trip as well so I can get a feel for the country and the people before I go lie in a hospital bed and do nothing but recover in a foreign country.

Please keep in touch and let us all know how your surgery goes. Thanks!

I have had the breast thing done a few times so I know how that will be LOL....The first 3-4 days are sore because of the muscles that are cut from (under the muscle implants) but after that I'm good as long as I don't lift anything and take ibuprophen on occasion. The face from what I hear is mostly sore around the ears and cheeks (muscles again) however if i end up letting him lipo my love handles (god forbid) that will be the most painful of all. to me lipo and tummy tucks are the worse pain wise. But again I know that after the first week it is way better. Flying after will not be pleasant (swelling) but It's 7 hours and I will try to sleep, no salt, lots of bromalain, vit.K etc..... I want to maybe go a couple days early to site see as well. My husband will go with me to fetch ice LOL. I guess I am staying in a nicer hotel (no nurse for moi) I have ordered all my compression garments (ooooh pretty ;P) Trust me compression garments are a gift from the gods! I will live in them for several mos. Not looking forward to the facelift garment but it's necesary I think for swelling. Yeah 10-15 days should be plenty. You can't beat the prices in CR.

Geeeze....what if. I always got a few vicodin from my ps's here. I assume we get some in CR. Yikes guess i better ask. Vicodin is a must the first week. as long as you stay on top of the pain, take 1/2 or 1 vicodin or ibuprofen every 4 hours even if you dont think you need it you'll be good.

I would suggest you get a few Vicodin from your local Dr, if you can, just to be sure.

The 15 days sounds a little more "doable" if you ask me. Wow, I am going to CR MAINLY FOR THE MEDICAL HOTEL part, not just the cost savings! But if you think your hubby makes a good nurse, then by all means, go for it. :))

Rosemary, I've had 4 surgeries on my breasts (all approx 10 yrs ago) and several procedures involving lipo on various body parts. I couldn't get up hardly at all the first week. Mom (RIP) took care of me and completely kept me packed in ice and my compression garments for the first week. I had two sets so I could wash one and stay in the other.

Where did you order your garments from?

Then, yes, I lived in mine as well. I had ace bandages on my appendages that weren't in the compression garment and so of course you know about having loose clothing.

Although we had warm weather (springtime in Phoenix) I stayed in sweats. I was very cold because of all of the ice packs but w/o them, the compression garments and pain pills, I wouldn't have survived that first week! And yes, it gets better over time.

So yes, I know what to expect too. I think it may actually make it a little more difficult to get work done again, once you know what to expect!

Good luck!! R ;)

I saw your blog on Rosenstock. What do you think of Cohen/Rosenstock for neck/face lift? I am scheduled 6-16-11 while visiting CR for 10 days with husband an friends. They will take care of me...hopefully??
Kindly, Charley

How did your facelift go? I go 6-15 to rosenstock/cohen for face/neck and they said i actually could fly home on day 5 but it will be day 8 I fly home. What did you take for pain and to keep the swelling down for flight home? How long do you wear facelift garment? I'm obviously still in research mode and learning so please excuse my simple questions. Kindly, Charley