16 days post facelift
I had a face and neck lift with chin augmentation 16 days ago in Costa Rica. I love my chin! I always had a slightly receding chin and a rather large nose, so now my profile is better balanced. I have scabs behind my ears and in my hair that I keep wanting to scratch off but resist because that will just delay healing. There are some red bruises on either side of my chin and yellow in front of my ears. My neck feels like I am wearing a tightly tied bonnet and my ears are swollen and pretty large. Right now I think my face is too tight but I can't tell if it is still swollen or if this is it--some must be swelling because I can't open my mouth very widely. There was almost no pain but my ears were very uncomfortable the first week and even now I can't lie on my side. Overall, I think I look younger but not "me" yet. Maybe it takes time to get used to the absence of wrinkles?
I had several consults here in the states and the cheapest price quoted was 12,600. My surgery in Costa Rica cost 8300 plus 700 for airfare. I stayed one night in a hospital with a private duty nurse when stateside I would have gone home the same day. I chose my surgeon, Dr. Alejandro Lev, after reading on makemeheal.com and seeing photos of his results on his coordinator's website. He does lots of faces, has a great eye and is a very warm and genlte man. He was not the cheapest but I couldn't find anyone who suffered complications or was unhappy with their results. Costa Rica has a very active medical tourism industry. They do a lot of joint replacements, dentistry, and cosmetic surgery.
I've been talking with Didi, and just booked my plane tickets tonight. She's taking a group down there soon, so I decided to go while she's down there with the her other people.
I'll have a full facelift with Dr. Lev on March 7th, flying in the day before for my consultation. I decided to have it at Cima hospital instead of the clinic. Yes, he's not the cheapest, and I could probably find someone in the U.S. to do the surgery for the same price, but I LOVE the look of every patient I've seen of his. Like you, I could not find anything but good things about him.
I'm SO excited to be getting my face done. I was going to do a tummy tuck/body lift, but decided that I really want to do my facial work first. He's going to remove my bad implants that have been causing me problem (during the facelift surgery), and I'll do the tt/bl a few months after my facelift.
Did you like the recovery ranch alright? I emailed them, but have not paid my deposit yet. Still waiting for my passport.
Did you feel alright traveling by plane 15 days after your surgery? It's only a four-five hour flight for me, but having to be at the airport early and having a long, four hour layover in Atlanta on the way home will make for a very long day.
I know you will LOVE your new look. Keep us posted!
I'll have a full facelift with Dr. Lev on March 7th, flying in the day before for my consultation. I decided to have it at Cima hospital instead of the clinic. Yes, he's not the cheapest, and I could probably find someone in the U.S. to do the surgery for the same price, but I LOVE the look of every patient I've seen of his. Like you, I could not find anything but good things about him.
I'm SO excited to be getting my face done. I was going to do a tummy tuck/body lift, but decided that I really want to do my facial work first. He's going to remove my bad implants that have been causing me problem (during the facelift surgery), and I'll do the tt/bl a few months after my facelift.
Did you like the recovery ranch alright? I emailed them, but have not paid my deposit yet. Still waiting for my passport.
Did you feel alright traveling by plane 15 days after your surgery? It's only a four-five hour flight for me, but having to be at the airport early and having a long, four hour layover in Atlanta on the way home will make for a very long day.
I know you will LOVE your new look. Keep us posted!
You women are amazing...seriously. You guys travel by yourself and have major procedures done out-of-country. I am such a big baby. I did not think so until I started reading all the threads on this site. I'm curious about the price your surgeon charges. The first consult I had the quote was $24,100, and like you, I'm trying to decide whether I want to do the face work or LBL first. I was leaning towards face, but my family said LBL. That surprised me. Then again, they probably see the things, in my butt for sure, that I do not. I don't know. I have a consult with Dr. L in a week or so. I was shocked at the price for the facial work. I could break it up and do it in several procedures, but I do not believe I would be happy.
I've never even been on an airplane, lol. I'm not brave, but I also have no fear in this situation. You can look at Didi's site (www.eternallyvain.com) and see some of the group photos over to the side. She's taking a group down there when I'm going to be there, so I don't feel like I'm going alone (even though I'll actually be flying alone). She lives in the U.S., and has had surgery with Dr. Lev before, so I feel like I have someone leading the way. That's good, because I honestly get lost trying to find my car in the Walmart parking lot at home. I have NO sense of direction at all!
His pricelist is listed on the link that I sent. His prices are more than reasonable, but Cima hospital is expensive. He also offers surgery at a clinic that would be almost 2000.00 cheaper for my surgery, but I opted for the hospital this time. I have read accounts from other people (who used other doctors) that had surgeries at the same clinic, and they said it was a good clinic and that they were fine. Still, since I was searching for a doctor who operated in a hospital in the U.S., I decided that I would go ahead and have mine at a hospital in Costa Rica, too. At first, I was going to opt for the clinic, but DiDi said my surgery could be up to five hours long, so I went with the hospital.
My full facelift, browlift, neck, and eyes all inclusive with the 15 day ranch stay and all meals and travel (except for airline because I'm using my frequent flyer miles) is 10,200. That cost includes and extra 600.00 for Dr. Lev to remove my old saline implants during the surgery so I can later get a lift and a tummy tuck. I've been having trouble with the implants causing swelling, so I want them out, and this is a great compromise(in my opinion) for getting them out and being able to do my face before having to address the body work.
Dr. Lev gives a 5% discount for cash payment of his fees (which are only around 5000.00 in my case). You can pay the hospital and the recovery ranch with credit cards or with cash. This stay includes one night in the hospital. The recovery ranch runs about 100.00 per day, and Didi lists on the site how long you need to stay, depending on what you are having done. In my case, I have to stay 15 days, arriving the day before for a personal consult. Anyway, said and done, I will be out 10,200 for everything.
It's a tough decision about which to do first. My husband wanted the body work done first, too (and my body is honestly not that bad at all), but I think he just does not really understand what a facelift will do, or that you can't hide facial work if you have to go to work or school. Like both of you, I know I can hide any body flaws until I get ready to do the tummy/breast. I'm worried that in this economy, even though my husband has been the same company for 27 years, something might happen to prevent me from being able to do my face if I do my body first. At least with a refreshed face, I should have a better chance at finding a decent job should I have to go to work to earn enough money to do the body work later. That's how I rationalized all of this, anyway.
The ONLY thing that I am dreading is calling my local surgeon on Monday to cancel my tt/bl. I have a refundable deposit holding my surgery date, which happens to be a day after my now scheduled date in Costa Rica. I've already rescheduled once, so I hate to call them and back out. I'm going to do it, though, no matter how embarrassing. Can't wait for my day with Dr. Lev!
His pricelist is listed on the link that I sent. His prices are more than reasonable, but Cima hospital is expensive. He also offers surgery at a clinic that would be almost 2000.00 cheaper for my surgery, but I opted for the hospital this time. I have read accounts from other people (who used other doctors) that had surgeries at the same clinic, and they said it was a good clinic and that they were fine. Still, since I was searching for a doctor who operated in a hospital in the U.S., I decided that I would go ahead and have mine at a hospital in Costa Rica, too. At first, I was going to opt for the clinic, but DiDi said my surgery could be up to five hours long, so I went with the hospital.
My full facelift, browlift, neck, and eyes all inclusive with the 15 day ranch stay and all meals and travel (except for airline because I'm using my frequent flyer miles) is 10,200. That cost includes and extra 600.00 for Dr. Lev to remove my old saline implants during the surgery so I can later get a lift and a tummy tuck. I've been having trouble with the implants causing swelling, so I want them out, and this is a great compromise(in my opinion) for getting them out and being able to do my face before having to address the body work.
Dr. Lev gives a 5% discount for cash payment of his fees (which are only around 5000.00 in my case). You can pay the hospital and the recovery ranch with credit cards or with cash. This stay includes one night in the hospital. The recovery ranch runs about 100.00 per day, and Didi lists on the site how long you need to stay, depending on what you are having done. In my case, I have to stay 15 days, arriving the day before for a personal consult. Anyway, said and done, I will be out 10,200 for everything.
It's a tough decision about which to do first. My husband wanted the body work done first, too (and my body is honestly not that bad at all), but I think he just does not really understand what a facelift will do, or that you can't hide facial work if you have to go to work or school. Like both of you, I know I can hide any body flaws until I get ready to do the tummy/breast. I'm worried that in this economy, even though my husband has been the same company for 27 years, something might happen to prevent me from being able to do my face if I do my body first. At least with a refreshed face, I should have a better chance at finding a decent job should I have to go to work to earn enough money to do the body work later. That's how I rationalized all of this, anyway.
The ONLY thing that I am dreading is calling my local surgeon on Monday to cancel my tt/bl. I have a refundable deposit holding my surgery date, which happens to be a day after my now scheduled date in Costa Rica. I've already rescheduled once, so I hate to call them and back out. I'm going to do it, though, no matter how embarrassing. Can't wait for my day with Dr. Lev!
On February 8th, I have a consult for facial work. A year or so ago I was leaning towards this surgeon. Then last week when I had my 2 year follow-up with my bariatric surgeon, I asked for a recommendation. That plastic surgeon's name was the one he recommended. So I have a lot of confidence going into the consult.
How long will you be staying in Costa Rica.
How long will you be staying in Costa Rica.
It's great that you have a reference from another doctor. I ask EVERYONE about references when I get ready to do something. One of my U.S. docs actually told me to go to "Argentina or Costa Rica", saying "I have patients who have gone there and they look really good".
I'm booked for 15 days, but I'm considering rebooking and going a few days earlier so I can see some of the country. I did not realize how beautiful it is down there until my husband, who travels for work to some great places said that it is a really beautiful place.
I've got tons of frequent flyer miles if you want to go with me, lol...
I'm booked for 15 days, but I'm considering rebooking and going a few days earlier so I can see some of the country. I did not realize how beautiful it is down there until my husband, who travels for work to some great places said that it is a really beautiful place.
I've got tons of frequent flyer miles if you want to go with me, lol...
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