Costa Rica is a popular location for North Americans and Europeans seeking safe, dependable, and technologically-advanced medical and dental services at affordable rates. Advanced social programs, and privatized medicine together with quality education, and infrastructure generate a model of health and well-being that is first rate.

Rates on average, for cosmetic surgery are 25-50% less than the States for cosmetic surgery, and dental procedures.

Costa Rica medical procedure costs are determined by the complexity of the surgery rather then the how much doctors and medical facilities determine the economic market will bear to pay and they dare charge. Affordability does not mean poor quality quality in the case of Costa Rica where care is first rate.

Like doctors in the U.S., medical doctors in Costa Rica receive formal university training followed by a postgraduate residency program. The latter ensures that they have extensive practical knowledge in their specialty. In addition, all medical physicians must meet general requirements to be a member of the Costa Rican Doctors' and Surgeons' Association (232-3433, fax: 232-2406, medicos@racsa.co.cr). Dentists, on the other hand, are certified by the Costa Rican Surgeons and Dentists Association (256-3100, dentista@racsa.co.cr).

Before either cosmetic or dental work is performed it must be approved by medical staff based on a series of pre-operational tests. Blood work and cardiovascular fitness tests are part of several hours of pre operational procedures. Clients typically stay in the country an additional week to ten days in post operative recovery. All-inclusive packages are available for those interested.