Last fact-checked: 15 October 2020

Having a body lift in San Jose, Costa Rica can help to enhance the shape of your body by removing excess, sagging skin around problem areas like the tummy, lower back, buttocks and thighs.

Offering quality healthcare facilities, competitive pricing, and a wealth of exciting things to do and see, San Jose is a popular destination for men and women who are unhappy with their body shape.

If you are considering having a body lift performed, you should be aware that this type of surgery can encompass a variety of different procedures. Your specific needs will dictate which and how many procedures are performed.

A body lift might include toning and shaping of various parts of the body, such as the buttocks, thighs, and back. Many patients also have a tummy tuck performed as part of their body lift.

Your surgeon will work with you to determine whether you need an upper body lift, lower body lift, or a combination, which is known as a total body lift.

It should also be noted that you will have to spend considerable time in San Jose before you are well enough to fly back home. 

A body lift is typically performed to remove excessive cellulite and skin, or sagging fatty tissue. This procedure is appropriate for men and women.

Many people who have lost a lot of weight may later choose to have a body lift to get rid of the sagging skin that is often left behind following significant weight loss. Unfortunately, exercise can do little to correct this problem.

Women who wish to return to their pre-pregnancy bodies may also choose to have a body lift performed.

As medical costs have continued to rise in the United States and Canada, many people have begun flocking to more nearby countries like Costa Rica to take advantage of quality healthcare, lower costs, and the chance to relax in tropical surroundings.

When considering traveling to Costa Rica to have a body lift performed, you can rest assured that you will have access to superior healthcare, as the country is home to many Americanized facilities and several board-certified surgeons. In fact, there are three Joint Commission International accredited hospitals in Costa Rica.

When planning any medical procedure, it is still a good idea to perform research. We understand the importance of this at Medical Departures and are available to help you in making an informed choice regarding where to have your body lift performed.

Only facilities that have been thoroughly researched will appear on our list. We perform an exhaustive vetting process that includes verifying professional memberships and qualifications as well as conducting criminal and legal background checks for your peace of mind. To ensure we have a well-rounded idea of how things are performed at a facility, in-person visits are performed and real patients who have used that facility are interviewed.

Take a look at these top facilities we have partnered with in San Jose that offer body lift surgery to international patients:

• Gustavo Chavarria
• Pablo Solis

A body lift procedure will generally take between four and eight hours to complete, but it's important to recognize that this surgery is highly individual. The number and type of procedures to be performed will determine the length of surgery as well as what you should expect from recovery.

Do note the following considerations regarding this surgery:

• Body lifts are performed under general anesthesia to ensure you do not feel any discomfort during the procedure itself.
• The surgeon will generally begin by making an incision along the top of the buttocks and above the outer thighs.
• After removing excess skin, your doctor will contour and reshape the underlying tissue before closing the incision.
• When a tummy tuck is to be performed, the surgeon will make an incision above the pubic area and around the navel; excess skin will also be removed and the stomach muscles tightened.
• In some cases, depending on patient needs, liposuction may also be used.

Following surgery, it should be noted that:

• A body lift will usually involve significant recovery and patients should expect to spend several nights in the hospital.
• Drainage tubes will usually need to be present for as long as two weeks following the procedure; this is done to help minimize swelling.
• Your doctor may also advise you to wear compression garments to reduce swelling.
• Patients will need to restrict their physical activities for up to six weeks following a body lift.

The average cost of a body lift in San Jose, Costa Rica is about $9,000 (EUR €8,174, GBP £6,420, AUD $12,475) compared to an average cost of $20,000 (EUR €18,164, GBP £14, 268, AUD $27,723) in the United States.

[Note: These are averages at the time of writing. Please check our individual clinic listings to compare the latest prices.]

Learn more about what our quality-reviewed San Jose facilities have to offer.

Are you ready to schedule an appointment? Read below for more details or speak to our Customer Care Team to find out more about having a body lift in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Sources:

Body Lift. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Website accessed: 15 October 2020. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/body-lift

Deem, Megan. Body Lift: What You Should Know. Real Self. 5 September 2019. https://www.realself.com/body-lift

Joint Commission International. Website accessed: 15 October 2020. https://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/

Blumberg, Yuni. Here’s the real reason health care costs so much more in the US. CNBC. 22 March 2018. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/22/the-real-reason-medical-care-costs-so-much-more-in-the-us.html

Visit Costa Rica. Website accessed: 15 October 2020. https://www.visitcostarica.com/en

Tummy Tuck Surgery (Abdominoplasty). WebMD. 26 July 2019. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-tummy-tuck

(Image by: Jerry And Roy Klotz MD)