Traveling for surgery
International patients
Full Face receives patients who travel to San José, Costa Rica for maxillofacial surgery. The process starts remotely — a WhatsApp pre-assessment in English with photos and medical history — and one planned trip covers evaluation, surgery and the essential post-operative follow-up.
01 How it works
From your first message to flying home
Remote pre-assessment
It starts on WhatsApp, in English. You share photographs and your medical history, and the team reviews with Dr. Hernández whether your case is a candidate — and for which procedure. Honest answers before you spend anything on travel.
A quote before you book flights
If your case is a candidate, you receive a personalized quote and a recommended length of stay for your procedure. You plan dates only when the numbers and the plan are clear.
Evaluation and surgery in San José
The in-person evaluation confirms the plan — it is a medical consultation, not a formality. Surgery takes place in a licensed operating room, with anesthesia and monitoring protocols appropriate to the procedure.
Follow-up before you fly home
Your post-operative checks happen during your stay, directly with Dr. Hernández. You fly home once the surgeon clears you, with written instructions and remote check-ins afterward.
No procedure is confirmed without an in-person evaluation — if at that point something is not indicated, you will be told. That honesty is the same for patients who traveled to get here; it is what makes the result trustworthy.
02 Why here
Why patients choose Costa Rica
An established destination
Costa Rica has been receiving patients from the United States and Canada for decades — it is one of the most consolidated medical-travel destinations in Latin America, with a private healthcare sector used to international patients.
Close to home
Direct flights connect San José (SJO) with major U.S. hubs in a few hours, and Costa Rica runs on GMT-6 — the same hours as U.S. Central time — so coordinating calls and follow-ups is simple.
A verifiable specialist
The case for traveling is not distance — it is the surgeon. Dr. Hernández is a maxillofacial surgeon certified by ACOMS, the American College of Maxillofacial Surgeons: a credential you can verify before you commit to anything.
A recovery-friendly setting
The clinic is in Sabana Norte, a central San José district about 30 minutes from the airport, surrounded by hotels and services — a practical base for the quiet first days of recovery. The clinic also has a hyperbaric chamber to support healing when indicated.
03Planning
What to plan before you travel
Traveling for surgery rewards planning, not improvisation. These are the practical points every international patient should have clear — all of them are settled with the team during your pre-assessment, before you book anything.
- Length of stay
- It depends on the procedure: recovery to everyday activities ranges from a few days (double chin surgery) to one or two weeks (neck lift). Your stay is planned so the essential post-operative checks happen before your return flight — you get a concrete number of days with your quote.
- Bring a companion if you can
- For the first days after surgery, having someone with you makes everything easier. If you travel alone, tell the team in advance so your case is planned accordingly.
- Communication in English
- WhatsApp is the clinic’s main channel and works from any country. Write in English — the pre-assessment, your questions and the coordination of your trip are all handled there.
- Travel and lodging
- The clinic does not sell a travel package: you book your own flights and accommodation. Sabana Norte is a central district with hotels and services nearby, and the team answers practical questions — including payment options — on WhatsApp before you book anything.
04 Common questions
What international patients ask
How much does facial surgery cost at Full Face?
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.
I live outside Costa Rica — can I do the whole process with you?
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.
How long do I need to stay in Costa Rica for surgery?
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.
Can several procedures be combined in one surgery?
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.
Start with a conversation, not a commitment
Send your questions and photos on WhatsApp. You will know whether your case is a candidate, what it would cost and how many days to plan — before you book a single flight. Dr. Juan José Hernández Herrera and the team reply directly.