Last fact-checked: 9 November 2019

A breast augmentation in Costa Rica is an excellent solution if you feel uncomfortable about the size or shape of your breasts and want to save some money at the same time. Offering prices that are substantially lower than in the United States, along with beautiful tropical surroundings, Costa Rica has quickly become a preferred destination for all types of cosmetic surgery procedures, including boob jobs.

Women who feel self-conscious about the symmetry of their breasts or who wish to restore the volume of their breasts after childbearing and nursing often select this procedure. Breast augmentation is also a good choice for women who want to enhance the shape and volume of their breasts after significant weight loss. Women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer may also find that breast augmentation is a good way to restore the shape and volume of their breasts.

Why Undergo Breast Augmentation in Costa Rica?

Bordered by the North Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica is replete with national parks, rugged mountains, and, of course, some of the best coffee in the world.

Medical travelers will find that Costa Rica offers the perfect environment for relaxing and recuperating. Just a short plane ride from the United States, Costa Rica is home to a growing number of excellent medical facilities staffed by English-speaking physicians. In fact, this tranquil Latin American country has become widely known for its excellent medical care, adhering to international standards established by such organizations as the International Standards Organization. 

In the process of planning to travel to Costa Rica for breast augmentation, it is nevertheless important to do your due diligence so as to ensure you're booking in with a reputable clinic and surgeon. We can help at Medical Departures; only those facilities and physicians we have thoroughly vetted are included on our list.

We begin the vetting process by confirming qualifications and professional memberships. Additionally, we feel it is important to conduct legal and criminal background checks. Since a significant aspect of medical travel is the environment, we also want to gain a feel for what to expect from a facility.

Prior to the procedure, your physician will meet with you to determine your goals for breast augmentation. Those goals will help to determine how the procedure is handled. In cases in which a woman wishes to increase the size of your bust line, the surgeon will make an incision beneath each breast, around the nipple, and under the arm. Next, he or she will create a pocket in which an implant will be inserted. 

Finally, the incisions will be closed using surgical tape, sutures, and/or skin adhesive. To help with healing, gauze bandages will also be placed over the breasts. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes up to two hours.

Since patients will often feel tired and sore following their procedure, it is usually best to do any sightseeing prior to the procedure. Patients can typically feel well enough to be up and around within 48 hours, but soreness may persist for several days. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication to help with any discomfort you may feel. Within a few days of your procedure, the gauze bandages can be removed. You may then begin wearing a surgical bra to help with support. Stitches are usually removed within 10 days of the procedure.

It is common for patients to experience some tingling or even burning in the nipples for a week or two following a breast augmentation. Some swelling may be present in the breasts for up to six weeks. Patients will usually need to refrain from strenuous activity for several weeks following a breast augmentation. The nature of your work will dictate when you will be able to return home and then to work. You should expect some scarring from the procedure to remain for several months following the procedure.

The average cost for breast augmentation in Costa Rica is $3,200 (EUR €2,906, GBP £2,283, AUD $4,435) compared to $11,500 (EUR €10,444, GBP £8,204, AUD $15,941) in the United States.

These are estimate prices at the time of writing; for up-to-date prices, as well as clinic photos, surgeon profiles, patient reviews and other useful information, check out these three leading clinics in Costa Rica that offer breast lifts and implants to international patients:

• Gustavo Chavarria
• Miguel Alfaro Dávila

Discover more about our quality-reviewed clinics and surgeons and everything they have to offer.

To book, see below for more information on how easy it is, or speak to our Customer Care Team for more details regarding breast augmentations in Costa Rica.

Sources:

Breast Implants. WebMD. Website accessed: 9 November 2019. 
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-breast-augmentation

Breast Augmentation. Mayo Clinic. Website accessed: 9 November 2019. 
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-augmentation/about/pac-20393178

Best Things To Do in Costa Rica. US News Travel. 13 August 2018. 
https://travel.usnews.com/Costa_Rica/Things_To_Do/

Image by: Ttschleuder licenses under Creative Commons