Frequently asked questions

Reference prices range from $500 (buccal fat removal) to $8,000 (jaw surgery) — you can see the starting price for each procedure on its page. The final cost is set at your evaluation, because it depends on factors that can only be determined by examining your case: the indicated technique, whether procedures are combined, the type of anesthesia and operating-room time. Write to us on WhatsApp — in English — and we will coordinate an evaluation and give you a real, itemized quote.

A neck lift starts at $3,000. From there, the price depends on the specific surgery: a necklift and a Deep Neck Lift are different operations, and your plan may combine submental liposuction or other procedures in one session. Anesthesia and operating-room time follow from that plan. Full Face gives you a complete, itemized quote over WhatsApp after your pre-assessment — if you are traveling, before you book flights.

Cost is usually part of why patients research Costa Rica, but we won't hand you a marketing comparison. Our reference prices are published on each procedure's page (from $500 to $8,000, depending on the surgery), so you can start comparing right away. Prices still vary case by case in both countries, though, so the only honest comparison is between real quotes. What we can promise is a complete, itemized quote for your specific case over WhatsApp before you travel — so you can compare it, line by line, with any quote you have at home. What should not vary is the standard: a board-certified specialist, a licensed operating room and direct post-operative follow-up.

Yes. International patients start with a remote pre-assessment over WhatsApp, sharing photographs and medical history, and the in-person evaluation is scheduled for when you arrive in Costa Rica. The team tells you how many days you should plan to stay in San José depending on the procedure, so all necessary post-operative checks are done before you fly home.

Yes. You don't need to be flying in from abroad to use this site: if you live in Escazú, Santa Ana, Guanacaste or anywhere else in the country, message us in English on WhatsApp and book your in-person evaluation at the clinic in Sabana Norte, San José. The process — evaluation, quote, surgery and follow-up — is exactly the same as for any local patient.

A maxillofacial surgeon is the surgical specialist of the facial skeleton: after their base degree, they complete years of hospital residency operating on the facial bones, the jaw joint and the tissues of the face and neck. A dentist treats teeth and gums; a doctor with cosmetic courses applies surface treatments. For surgery that changes the structure of the face — chin, jaw, neck, nose — the maxillofacial surgeon is the specialist trained specifically for it.

Surgery corrects the structure — bone, muscle, deep fat — which is why its result is definitive or very long-lasting. Botox, fillers and technologies like Morpheus8 work on superficial tissues and their effect is temporary: months, not years. Both have their place: surgery solves the structural cause, and complementary treatments maintain skin quality. What matters is knowing which one your case needs — and that is defined at the evaluation, not from a catalog.

You don't feel the procedure itself: it is performed under anesthesia appropriate to the case. Post-operatively, the norm is swelling and discomfort manageable with common painkillers, not intense pain. Recovery depends on the procedure — from a few days for double chin surgery to one or two weeks for a neck lift — and you receive written instructions and direct follow-up from the surgeon. The clinic also has a hyperbaric chamber to accelerate healing when indicated.

It is a complete medical consultation, not a sales appointment. Dr. Hernández examines your case, studies the structure of your face, and explains which procedure is indicated (and which is not), what result is realistic and what recovery looks like. You leave with a clear treatment plan and your quote. For international patients it starts remotely: write to us on WhatsApp at +506 7032 1391 and the team coordinates your pre-assessment.

It depends on the procedure. The team plans your stay with you so that the surgery and the essential post-operative checks happen before your return flight — that follow-up window is part of doing this safely, not an optional extra. Once your case is evaluated, you get a concrete recommendation for how many days to book in San José.

ACOMS is the American College of Maxillofacial Surgeons, the body that certifies specialists in maxillofacial surgery. The certification verifies that the surgeon completed the formal surgical training of the specialty and practices under its standards. It is a verifiable credential — not a commercial title — and one of the first things a patient should confirm before having facial surgery with any professional, in any country.

Yes, and it is often the recommended path: chin and double chin, or double chin surgery and a neck lift, complement each other because they shape the same contour. Combining them in a single surgical session means one anesthesia, one recovery and a more harmonious result — which also matters if you are traveling: one trip instead of two. The exact combination depends on your anatomy and is defined at the evaluation.

There is no single age: there are indications. A genetic double chin is operated on the same at 25 as at 50; a neck lift is usually indicated from 40–45 on, when there is real laxity; orthognathic surgery is performed once bone development is complete. Our published cases range from 32 to 64 years old. Age matters less than anatomy and general health — both are evaluated at the consultation.

Procedures are performed in a licensed operating room, with anesthesia and monitoring protocols appropriate to each type of surgery, and with a board-certified specialist operating — not in a cosmetic office. Every surgery has risks, and part of the evaluation is explaining them honestly for your case and medical history. The decision is made informed, never under pressure.