PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Documenting my plastic surgery in Bogota

PBH has been a great resource that's helped me prepare and plan my upcoming trip to Bogota. I will be flying from Miami to Bogota the first week of February to have a breast augmentation and general liposculpture procedures. I've read many of the forums regarding plastic surgery and I've decided to document my experience from start to finish for others who are considering traveling to Colombia for cosmetic surgery. The doctors that are performing the surgery and handling all of my post-operative therapies travel to Miami every 2 months to meet with potential patients for their initial consultations as well as to chart the post-operative progress of clients who have already had procedures done. Prior to making my final decision to use these surgeons, I met with 6 different US surgeons and had 2 consultations with the surgeons from Bogota. I've spent countless hours doing my own research online as to what someone who's having these procedures should expect, possible complications, various techniques for each procedure as well as cost comparisons. Aside from online research, I made sure to speak with several patients that each doctor has performed on to get a better idea of real experiences from women who have nothing to gain by my using any one particular doctor. I feel confident in the decision I've made to use the Colombian surgeons that will be operating on me & I'd like this forum topic to be another available resource for those considering similar procedures. I will post before pictures within the next week and will update them once the procedure is complete. Feel free to PM me or post a comment/questions.

By LatinaLinda on Jan 18, 2006, 15:46 in Friendly Talkzone. AddThis Social Bookmark Button


moby says on Jan 18, 2006, 17:01:

Documenting my plastic surgery in Bogota Thank you for this. It is a very valuable source of information that I have not see or heard of.

Again, thank you. The best of luck to you.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

CrazyGirlPerez says on Jan 18, 2006, 17:16:

good luck with that.
i'm also thinking of getting plastic surgery in colombia, when i go to Ctg i will be talking with some doctors to see what they have to offer

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 19, 2006, 12:23:

I have received some great questions through PM's and I figured it would be best to add a comment so everyone could get some more information. So here goes, first of all thank you for your well wishes. And Mario, I will be posting pictures up as soon as I get to my computer, but I already feel great about my appearance. I'm just looking to fulfill some longtime improvements and no male's or female's opinions will change my mind ;) I appreciate your feedback, though. Now for the Q&A:

* Which surgeons have I selected?

DR. JULIAN MORALES: He will be
performing my breast augmentation and
liposculpturing, approximately 6 hrs of
surgery.
DR. FERNANDO VALDES: He will be
handling all my post-operative care,
from draining massages to use of a
hyperbaric chanmber for 1.5 hrs a day.
Total = 10 days of post-op therapies

* What liposculpturing techniques do these
surgeons use?

Ultra-sound assisted liposculpturing will
be used. When they insert the cannula, a
fat liquifying agent, along with an
anesthetic and a liquid to seal off my
blood vessels/veins (which prevents
contamination of my blood stream with
loose fat) will be introduced. These
fluids will make the impact of this
surgery less painful and less aggressive
to my body (but not any less effective)
than other techniques.

* What type of implants will be used for the
augmentation?

I won't get into the details of why or
why not someone should use silicone
implants. There's plenty of medical
research and personal opinions floating
around on the net for everyone to make
their own choice and decide for
themselves. As for me, I have decided
on silicone implants, which is another
reason why I chose to have this
procedure outside of the US. Be aware
that in the states, the only candidates
that can opt for silicone implants are
those who are having either
reconstructive surgery OR patients who
have already undegone at least one
breast augmentation. Breast implants
(whether silicone or saline) come in a
variety of sizes, shapes, types and
textures. Only your surgeon can
determine which combination of the
above are right for you. Everyones body
is different and those differences will
determine what type of implant and
which method of placement/incision
should be usedto achieve your desired
results.

* How long will I be required to stay in
Colombia?
(Here's a complete breakdown, but
please read the footnote at the end)

Day 1:
Upon arriving in Bogota, I will be picked
up at the airport by one of the doctors,
who will then take me directly to
administer my blood work exams. (This
is done to ensure that I am cleared for
surgery)

Day 2:
Once they have reviewed my results and
confirmed that I can undergo the
procedures, they will begin the
approximate 6 hours of surgery. Upon
completing the procedures, they will
determine if its necessary for me to
stay overnight at the surgical facility or
if I may be sent to my regular lodging.
Either way, I will have a nurse 24 hrs/
day to monitor vitals and all post-
operative functions.

Day 3 - 12:
Each day, I will undergo approxiamtely
1.5 hours of various post-operative
therapies, ranging from draining and
softening massages to the use of a
hyperbaric chamber which helps speed
the healing of wounds as well as helping
loose skin adhere to the muscles
(elasticity). On the last day of my
post-operative therapy, the surgeons
will do a final check-up to ensure the
healing process is coming along as it
should and to give me a rundown of what
I should expect in the weeks to come as
well advice on how I can achieve the
best results.

Day 13:
I will be driven back to the airport for
my flight home.

FOOTNOTE:
I will need to stay this length of time
due to the fact that I will have stiches
from my breast augmentation, and they
will take the longest to heal. If you
WILL NOT need stiches for a surgical
procedure, your stay could be as little as
7 days. It also depends on how many
procedures you're having done. This is
just my account of how long I will be
required to stay for MY procedures.

I guess that's it for now. If anything else comes to mind or I receive any other questions, don't fret. I will post reponses to PM's here so that everyone has access to the same information.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

crazi4cali says on Jan 19, 2006, 12:47:

Thanks for doing this... LatinaLinda... i am sure you will get some crude & immature replies to this posting but, please just ignore then. I have great repect for what you are doing and apprciate you sharing it with us. My wife is REALLY wanting lipo (she doesn't need it in my opinion) but, if it makes her more confident 7 happy then I say "what the Hell!" I'm looking forward to your updates & thanks again!

Crazi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 19, 2006, 13:36:

Crude, rude or attitude They're all fine with me. Really. I've made a concious decision to percieve everything in a positive light, so don't fret. What most might percieve as immature or rude comments WON'T stop me from posting up progress on this site, especially after all of the wonderful information I got from PBH regarding this subject. I hope that everyone who reads this searching for their own answers, benefit from the information I'm posting. There are many different ways to perform plastic surgery procedures and anyone considering a nip or tuck, especially in a country that's foreign to them, should take their time in doing extensive research and finding out the risks of the procedures they're considering. Hope this helps! Best of luck to you all :)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

landcruiser77 says on Jan 19, 2006, 15:47:

fake boobs -fake on you girl i hope the new fake silicon boobies make your life complete and better,and your life back on track!!is nice to be self-pity sometimes

£æ

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 19, 2006, 17:15:

No details included Thanks for the advice Tinto. I definitely won't be posting specifics on anything that could jeopordize my saftey while undergoing surgery. I will however provide this information once I've returned to the states, for those who will feel better knowing in-depth details. As for Mr. Skybroken, just a clarifying note, I never said that my life or body were incomplete or that my life wasn't on track, but I appreciate your sincere concern (*super sarcastic tone if you didn't catch it*). This posting is not for others to pity me or themselves, its strictly for those who have made the choice to undergo plastic surgery abroad in order to improve physically things that we have the opportunity to improve. Surgery is not a substitute for healthy self-esteem.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jalf12 says on Jan 19, 2006, 21:13:

Pictures? I think before and after pictures are a must. I didn't see any of your pictures up yet. My wife has small breasts and has thought about implants; I'd like to see the difference and of course the costs;).

Mario,
I saw a porno where it was so obvious the chick had implants; the big tits were a turn on at first, but once she started bouncin' it was obvious half was plastic and it was a turnoff.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 20, 2006, 08:59:

Saline vs. Silicone & Costs In my opinion, its the other way around: silicone is much more similar to actual breast tissue (when it comes to the "feel") than saline is. But, also remember that there are liquid-type silicone implants and cohesive silicone gel implants (aka the gummy bear silicone). Once you've figured out which of the two you prefer, then you have to decide the consistency you're going for. Many manufacturers have different "levels" or "types" of implants (softest, medium, harder, etc.) What I've come to understand as to the reasoning behind the "levels/types" is that due to various body types, incision areas, placement (sub-glandular, sub-muscular), how much breast tissue a woman may or may not already have, what type of surgery (reconstructive, first time breast augmentation, BA with lift, etc.) she's having plays a definite role in what kind of implant will be the best for her. Saline is very similar to a balloon filled with salt water, at least in my opinion. What you may have felt Mario, was a woman who experienced capsular contracture, one of the risks associated with implants. Anytime a woman has an augmentation, the body produces a capsule around the implant. Sometimes, for reasons not yet clarified, that capsule hardens. They say this can be avoided with massages, but I haven't found any medical/personal experiences regarding this, so I can't say for sure one way or another.

OK, AS FOR CO$T$:

I am not using an agency for this trip (they are just a middleman that add 50% costs to your "vacation") so these are just approximate costs for now. Once I return from Colombia, I will be sure to post up my actual expenses for the entire trip. Please note that these costs include an additional person who is traveling with me to look after me during my recovery.

RT Airfare from Miami to Colombia: $371.00 per person (that includes tax)
* Fly on a Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday for cheapest fares.*

Colombian Airport Tax: $28.00 per person

Pre-surgery blood work: $300.00

Lodging for 2: $65.00 per night

Food & Transporation for 2: $50.00 per day

(6 hrs) Breast augmentation, general liposculpturing (full body), Anesthesia, 10
Post-operative therapies (1.5 hrs each): $4,200.00

Garments: (bra & faja) $95.00

All post-operative meds: $250.00

24 hr. Nurse: $28.00 per day

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, THESE ARE ESTIMATES AND SOME ESTIMATES INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL PERSON. Final expenses will be posted when I return from Colombia. As for pictures, they will be up by Sunday. Hope this helps for now.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

hernandez187 says on Jan 20, 2006, 17:02:

Who is the Doctor Latina Linda who is the Doctor that will be proforming th Liposuction. I am looking for a doctor to proform Liposuction as well as a tummy tuck. and the fact that they come to miami to do a consultation really caught my eye.

Lissette Hernandez

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 20, 2006, 20:55:

Dr. Julian Morales Performs the procedures. Dr. Valdes actually handles the post-op therapies. See the above posts for more information. By the way, the doctors will be in Miami this month. Send me a PM or post another reply if you have any other questions. By the way, one of the patients I've seen who lives in Miami had lipo and a tummy tuck done and the results were AMAZING. Hope all this helps.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

hernandez187 says on Jan 21, 2006, 12:20:

LatinaLinda Thank You for all your information I am very pleased to have spoke to you. And I look forward to meet Dr. Julian Morales. By the sound of our conversation it sounds as if the doctor is very repeatable. I am still a little afraid of getting operated abroad however after our conversation I feel much more at ease. Thank you for that. I look forward in seeing your results.

Lissette Hernandez

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 21, 2006, 12:45:

Glad I got a chance to speak with you Hernandez, it was great talking to you too. I'm glad that most are finding this post useful in helping others with their own questions about PS in Colombia. I hope that you have a great consult next week. Keep me posted ;) And if anyone else would like to speak to me or PM regarding this topic, please feel free to reach out if I haven't already answered your questions. Check back on this post periodically as I will be continually updating it as my surgery approaches as well as when I've returned.

Besitos!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 22, 2006, 16:59:

PICTURE LINKS Here are the links to my before pictures.

Thighs
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/Thighs.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/OThigh.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/AbThighs.jpg

Chest
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/ZChest.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/SChest.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/FChest.jpg

Torso
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/STorso.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/RTorso.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/FTorso2.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/FTorso.jpg

Arms
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/RArm.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/LArm.jpg

Love Handles
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/LoveHandles.jpg

Knees
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/KneesThighs.jpg

Full Body
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/FullSide.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/FullBack.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/FullFront.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/FullSide2.jpg

Back
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/BTorso2.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/BTorso3.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/Soulchik/Colombia/BTorso.jpg

I'll post after pictures when I return from Colombia. Best wishes to you all.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Southern_Dyme says on Jan 22, 2006, 17:32:

Wow Latina,

it sounds like you have thoroughly done your research. I do wish you the best of luck, and I hope that the results are everything that you want them to be.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Jan 22, 2006, 18:32:

Hey Latina or someone else that has have a surgery in Colombia or that knows about pricing of surgeries in the US?

I am writting a paper for my business class about a sort of travel agency that takes people to south america for esthetic procedures... but I have no idea how much do they cost here... and how much is usually the difference? Poor but happy has certainly be of a lot of help but I wonder if someone could please give me an idea of what the difference can be?

Latina good luck with your operation... I have an aunt who had surgery in Colombia and she looked gorgeous after the recovery... I am sure you are going to look great!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

gringolondinense says on Jan 23, 2006, 03:53:

hey linda I just saw your before pix and I really dont think you need to have liposuction. Why dont you just slim down by doing some exercise? youre not even that big really. If you do have lipo, you will have to change your lifestyle and diet anyway to maintain your new slim figure, so why not just change things now? just a thought.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 23, 2006, 09:21:

Lifestyle Change & The OR Hi P, thanks for your comment. I am well aware that post-surgery I have to change my lifestyle and diet in order to maintain the results. That is not an issue with me. In fact, even before I made up my mind to undergo these procedures, I had already been eating much healthier and incorporating excercise into my lifestyle. Unfortunately, my weight has taken a toll on my body and I feel that lipo will help me reshape it as well as relieve some of the stress from the weight, so that I can start more aggressive excercise routines.

Okay, now here's some important information about the OR:

Upon emailing my surgeons after MiamiMike urged me to find answers (thanks Mike! I appreciate all of your insight), here's some Q&A for your information.

* Will an anesthesiologist be present 100%
of the time during my surgery?

Yes. The anesthesiologist will be present
until I am brought out from surgery &
from anesthesia.

* Does the surgeon have a cardiac
diffibulator in the OR in the event of
cardiac arrest?

Yes, the OR is equipped with a cardiac
diffibulator.

* Will I be started on anyphyllactic
antibiotics prior to surgery and continue
for 1-2 weeks post-op?

Prior to my surgery I will be bathed in an
antibacterial solution, then painted with
iodine to prevent topical infection. Post-
op, I will be given antiobiotics and an
anti-quagulant injection (to help reduce
chances of blood clots).

* Do my surgeons have sufficient oxygen
tanks in the OR?

Yes, the surgeons have all necessary and
sufficient life saving mechanisms in the
event of an emergency/complication.

I'm still waiting to hear back about specific brands of implants they use. Once I received this information, I will post it up.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

hernandez187 says on Jan 23, 2006, 19:13:

Latina Linda These were all the question i was going to ask the doctor, you are really making my life much easier. lol

Lissette Hernandez

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 24, 2006, 07:12:

Silimed Cohesive Silicone Implants Are the brand that my surgeons use. There is a lot of information on the differences between regular silicone implants vs cohesive or gummy bear silicone implants. One of the upsides to cohesive implants is that the silicone inside of the shell does not move arounds the implant, which allows the implant to keep its shape (minimizes risks of folding, rippling, etc.) Also, in the event that the implant ruptures, silicone may not spread as eaily as the liquid silicone would. Again the manufacturer they use is Silimed. You can google it if you'd like specific information about this brand.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

hernandez187 says on Jan 28, 2006, 08:26:

Count Down Girl your time is almost hear. I am super excited for you... Can't wait to see you results.

Lissette Hernandez

0 funny, 0 helpful.

GringoinBucaramanga says on Jan 30, 2006, 14:07:

Ya I wanted to get a bonier enlargement here in Buca
So I sent photo’s of the little guy to a few of the surgeons in town to
See what it would cost.
They said I did not have the minima to work with.
But they said if I went to the super market and purchased a
White turkey roll, they could attach it and no Colombia
Girls would know it was fake because most of them have
Never seen a gringo booner.

jj_jp@msn.com

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Compadre says on Jan 30, 2006, 14:44:

latina I don't know much about this topic... But I've heard about breast augmentation trough the belly button...no visible scars at all... Maybe you can ask your doctor about that...
Good luck.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 30, 2006, 18:57:

Belly Button Thanks Compadre. Unfortunately, the only times you can have this incision is when you are using a fillable implant (for obvious reasons). I prefer the areolar incision (through the nipple) over other incision sites. Sometimes the scar is pretty visible in the crease underneath the breast and the arm pit is a bit difficult which can cause a big gap in between both breasts. As for loss of nipple sensation, I think all women can agree that there are other areas where sensation is MUCH more important ;)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 30, 2006, 18:57:

Belly Button Thanks Compadre. Unfortunately, the only times you can have this incision is when you are using a fillable implant (for obvious reasons). I prefer the areolar incision (through the nipple) over other incision sites. Sometimes the scar is pretty visible in the crease underneath the breast and the arm pit is a bit difficult which can cause a big gap in between both breasts. As for loss of nipple sensation, I think all women can agree that there are other areas where sensation is MUCH more important ;)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Jan 30, 2006, 18:57:

Belly Button Thanks Compadre. Unfortunately, the only times you can have this incision is when you are using a fillable implant (for obvious reasons). I prefer the areolar incision (through the nipple) over other incision sites. Sometimes the scar is pretty visible in the crease underneath the breast and the arm pit is a bit difficult which can cause a big gap in between both breasts. As for loss of nipple sensation, I think all women can agree that there are other areas where sensation is MUCH more important ;)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Jan 30, 2006, 19:42:

ay que dolor latinalinda I bet the ressults are going to be great but thinking on the operation "me dolio".

anyway I wish you the best luck...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

leonardo21 says on Feb 24, 2006, 23:47:

keeping abreast of the situation,a comment.. Some time ago in a past not to distant from now someone asked me: what is the big deal about breast implants? The person went into further discussion by stressing as how shallow or mentally inmature the receipients on these implants were and so on... I believe that ladies in general undergo these and other procedures as an effort to enhance their feeling of wellbeing and as far as us guys are concerned we appreciate any effort made to enhance the view. Just out of curiosity, Latina Linda (or anyone else for that matter),why are you undergoing the procedure(s)?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LatinaLinda says on Feb 28, 2006, 09:33:

Undergoing PS in general Is about living in a modern world where both men and women have to opportunity to enhance/change/remove/add/accentuate parts of their bodies to their own ideal of what their physical image looks like to them. It's no different than men or women dying their hair a different color, getting a manicure or facial, buying a different style of clothing, purchasing a new vehicle, making a career change. All of these things affect one's personal image of themself and how they project that image into society. For some, deciding to undergo PS means a better chance at achieving the success you want in your career field, for others it means living a happier, more fulfilling life with a better self image. Whatever the case may be, it's not up to anyone other than the potential patient to decide or judge that person on their choice to make physical changes.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

hernandez187 says on Mar 10, 2006, 13:38:

Hey Girl I hope all is well. I spoke to Vivi and she said you look great. I am about to see Dr. Morales in 6 more day.... Yes I am a little nervous however can't wait to get it done. hey send me some pictures I would love to see how you look.

Besitos

Lissette

Lissette Hernandez

0 funny, 0 helpful.

etherboy says on Mar 21, 2006, 12:24:

saying hi to Linda
Linda,

I'm thinking of getting some lipo done, so is there a good way to contact Dr. Julian Morales? I would also love to see your after pics!

eth

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Karen and Larry says on Mar 21, 2006, 13:08:

Thanks Ms. Linda Thanks for all the time and effort you've taken to share your experiences and we applaud your ability to ignore the narrow minded comments some have made along the way.

As a redhead I (Karen) have the typical, less elastic skin that goes with my hair colour. After working hard to achieve a substantial weight loss for health reasons, I find that I've lost the weight but gained a "turkey" neck.

Regrettably, being Canadian, our Spanish leaves something to be desired so we're having trouble finding an appropriate surgeon in Colombia for this procedure. If you or anyone has suggestions that would be helpful and appreciated.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Shovelbum says on Mar 22, 2006, 01:42:

How are you, Latinalinda?? Hi Latinalinda,

I recently came upon your thread here and I am wondering about the results of your surgery? Are you happy? Was it very painful? I'm thinking about having ome lipo done. Cheers!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Shovelbum says on Mar 23, 2006, 01:18:

Hmmm I was just wondering if Latinalinda's unwillingness to post about the results of her surgery could indicate disappointing results or worse??? It is strange that she was posting so much pre-surgery and promising to post with photos after returning from Colombia (and then nothing except for one post which retorts something enrelated).

Does anyone have any info. on Latinalinda and the results of her surgery (unfortunately, I can't PM her any longer)??

0 funny, 0 helpful.

vivi1118 says on Mar 24, 2006, 07:56:

Latina Linda is doing great Hi guys,
I was the one that recommended Latina Linda to Dr. Julian Morales. I met her in person before the surgery and I saw her a week and a half ago and I have kept in touch with her over the phone. She is doing great and she looks great. I'm sure that she hasn't posted because she is still recuperating. Also she had been having problems with her computer, from what she told me.
A story was written about her surgery expirience by Sergio de Leon from the Associated Press
Here are two of the links

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-03-14-colombia-surgery_x.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/03/20/colombia.plastic.surgery.ap/

0 funny, 0 helpful.

nia123 says on Mar 25, 2006, 22:11:

Contact Hi VIVI, I am considering traveling to columbia for surgery ,could you please let me know how I could contact DR Julian Morales . I was very impressed by the results of your surgery. You look fabulous.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

vivi1118 says on Mar 28, 2006, 13:56:

Dr. Morales' Contact info Hi Nia if you live in or near Miami, Dr. Morales will be coming here May 1st. If you don't live in Miami, his email is jmmedicalspa at yahoo.com
You can email him pictures of yourself with a description of what you would like to have done and he will reply.

Good luck!
Vivi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

nia123 says on Mar 29, 2006, 20:26:

contact thank you vivi ,I appreciate your help.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

plastic surgery in colombia says on Jun 5, 2006, 10:19:

dr morales so is he really good? i can't see the after pictures of vivi or latinalinda and i'd love to see
if you could email them to me sbaenara at eafit.edu.co i'd be happy. thanx a lot.
btw, how much did you pay for these procedures? did you guys do all the research by yourself? did you pay in advance? i'd like to know about that. thanx. sandra

0 funny, 0 helpful.

edmundny says on Dec 6, 2006, 10:08:

I just got back from colombia, where I visited Dr. Morales. He has a pretty good practice from what I could see. I'm still skeptical, until I see some results. Do you mind emailing me the after photos of your procedure? edmund0001 at aol.com
Thank you Vivi

I just got back from colombia, where I visited Dr. Morales. He has a pretty good practice from what I could see. I'm still skeptical, until I see some results. Do you mind emailing me the after photos of your procedure? edmund0001@aol.com Thank you Vivi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jay1234 says on Dec 6, 2006, 18:56:

No follow up? I feel ripped off. I read the whole thread figuring that I would get the feedback from LatinaLinda on her trip, etc.
" I will post before pictures within the next week and will update them once the procedure is complete." Could be just computer problems, I guess, but it sure seemed from the start that she intended to tell everyone her whole story.

Aside from that, on the issue of plastic surgery in Colombia, I am confident that the vast majority of surgeons are great. It seems much more common there and accepted. I do have one bad experience though that I would like to share. Lily, Colombiana friend of my ex-wife came to the US with her husband. She started college here and eventually got her Bachelor's then her Master's degrees. Along the way she had 5 kids, so you can imagine that her body was not what it was before. When she got accpeted to a PhD program she decided that she would return to Colombia to get plastic surgery as a gift to herself for all her accomplishments. She wanted lipo, breast lift, breast augmentation, stomach tuck, and face lift. The doctors and her decide to do all the procedures the same day. Well, tragically, she has a heart attack on the table, lapses into a coma, and dies three days later. Because this was in Colombia, the husband back here had little recourse. It is not like in the US, where the doctors malpractice insurance would have made getting some compensation possible. This guy was basically left with 5 kids and did not receive anything for the death of his wife. I don't post this with the intention of trying to scare anyone off. I recognize that Lily's case was the exception. However, I offer it to remind people that they should consider the worst case scenario. I would strongly consider some good life insurance if getting plastic surgery outside the US.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Dec 6, 2006, 20:31:

Jay--Your Friend Lily made a Bad Decision That was to have all those procedures performed the same day. And this decision from an Educated woman with a Master's Degreee at that you write. This death was preventable ; had she researched Plastic surgery safety at all, she would have seen its not safe(no matter what country) to have all this Surgery performed the same day. I am wondering how many Doctors she had Consults with before making her decision(I hope at least 3) on the Surgeon(s) she did. Very Sad tale but very avoidable with a little research,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jay1234 says on Dec 7, 2006, 20:00:

Smart people do dumb things sometimes Yeah, I definitely agree she shouldn't have taken the risk...I don't know all the facts as to how much research she did. I know the husband, out of grief most likely, blamed her family and friends for supporting her going to get surgery. The thing that is hard is so many people have blind faith in others in positions of trust. I know many people would question that number of procedures in one day. But I'd bet anything that the doctor never gave her a clear picture of the risks and probably told her that it would all be fine. Why? Because the more procedures done, the more money he banks. My main point though is that if she (or anyone contemplating overseas surgery) had really thought it all the way through, she would have taken into account that if something goes really wrong in another country they cannot rely on US courts or insurance companies to take care of their losses. Yeah, you save a lot on the procedures, but you also have to factor the fact that you are just out of luck if something happens into the discount you are getting.

Anyone know more about LatinaLinda's results or why she didn't follow up on her story here?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

aztec says on Dec 8, 2006, 10:40:

jay1234... ...do you reside in the North East. Curious if you are the same fellow I met in Cali a few years ago.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jay1234 says on Dec 8, 2006, 16:21:

Used to... I was born raised in Massachusetts, lived in Connecticut for a few years and now in San Antonio, TX. I moved around a lot though...where are you thinking we met?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jay1234 says on Dec 8, 2006, 16:22:

Sorry, I just re-read the question Nope, I have only been to Medellin, Bquilla, and Cartagena.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

aztec says on Dec 8, 2006, 18:16:

OK Thanks.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

vivi1118 says on Dec 27, 2006, 21:02:

Latina Linda is doing great! For those of you that were wondering what Latina Linda has been doing after her surgery, well here it goes. She has recuperated wonderfully. She is a singer and is currently on tour throughout the US and is preparing for an international tour. You can read all about her tour on her myspace site http://www.myspace.com/mauikai.
This is the main reason for her not returning to post here on PBH. She is constantly on the road. I keep in touch with her via email once in a while.

Also for Edmund - here is the link to my before and after pictures that u wanted to see. Dr. Morales is a wonderful surgeon in my opinion, but if you are still skeptical after your consult, it is best to go with your gut instict. Best of luck with your decision!

Chiki
http://www.makemeheal.com/pictures/viewAlbum.php?albumid=721

0 funny, 0 helpful.

More posts by the same author:

None.

Americas:

Mexico

Cuba

Colombia

Venezuela

Ecuador

Brazil

Bolivia

Peru

Chile

Argentina

Africa:

Kenya

Congo

Malawi

South Africa

Asia:

China

Japan

India

Nepal

Thailand

Laos

 

Travel:

Travelguide writers

Travelicious

Travel with kids

Around the world trips

Learn travel Spanish

Off topic: your thing

Also:

All forums

Travelers

If you're not a part of this travelicious experiment just yet, just sign up here. It's free & easy.

 

About poorbuthappy | About the travel guides | Travel guide editing | Community rules

© 1998 - 2008 Peter Van Dijck, all rights reserved.