Phase 01 · Understand
Breast Implant Illness
A cluster of symptoms linked to an immune response to implants. What it is, the evidence, and a symptom check.
Learn moreCosta Rica · Dr. Víctor Urzola
Complete breast implant removal
Whatever brought you here, your explant should be complete, unhurried, and performed by Dr. Urzola himself.
- 1,000+Explants performed
- 100%By Dr. Urzola
- AuthorBook on BII
- U-FlapTechnique creator
What it can feel like
You know your body — something is different
For some women, the change is gradual. Waking up tired after a full night of sleep. Reaching for a word that is not there. Rereading a paragraph before it holds. Aching joints, changes in skin or hair, a heart that races for no clear reason.
On its own, any one of these could be many things. Together, they form a recognizable pattern, one that many women describe after breast implants. It is known as breast implant illness.
Symptom check
Compare your symptoms with the ones women report
Fatigue, joint pain, brain fog and others. Mark the ones you have and see how they compare. It decides nothing — that is what a consultation is for.
A few questions about your symptoms
It takes about two minutes. Your answers stay in your browser — nothing is sent to us or saved anywhere.
This is not a diagnosis and does not replace a medical consultation.
The four phases of care
Your journey, from start to finish
Removing the implants is the step most people know. On its own, it is one part of a complete plan of care.
Founder · Reconstructive plastic surgeon
Dr. Víctor Urzola Herrera, MD
Every explant is performed by Dr. Urzola himself, including the complex cases many surgeons decline. Trained in Milan, France, and Stanford, and a former president of Costa Rica's Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
For years he placed implants believing they were safe. It was his own patients who led him to study the condition, write a book on it, and make explant the focus of his practice. He created the U-Flap, a technique that adds volume to the lower breast using a woman's own abdominal tissue, and has now performed over 1,000 explants, each one himself.
Dr. Urzola's background
What the research shows
The results are consistent
Every symptom traces back to inflammation somewhere in the body, and the research shows that removing the source helps.
In Dr. Urzola’s own patients the figures are higher, which he attributes to removing the capsule completely, in every case.
These are study findings, not a promise. Results vary from one person to another.
- 50%
of patients improved.
Maastricht cohort study
- 58%
improved, and 74% reported a higher quality of life.
Peters study
- 75%
reached full symptom remission at six months, with 85% reporting improvement.
Dr. Urzola’s ongoing study · 130+ en bloc patients
Before & after
Real results, entirely their own
Before-and-after photographs from Dr. Urzola's own explant patients, shared with their consent. Every result is different.
View results · 18+Patient gallery. 18+ verification required.
In their words
In their words
The best words about this work aren't ours. They belong to the women who lived it.
It's worth a trip to Costa Rica to get the expertise and skill at a fraction of the cost. I was a little nervous about having surgery in another country, but Dr. Urzola and his team have made me 100% confident in my choice.
The one and only, life-saving, superhero Dr. Urzola. When other doctors labeled and turned their backs on us and our suffering, you were there. You listened and believed in us. Because of you, I now have a second chance at a wonderful life.
Dr. Urzola did my en bloc explant, lift, and fat transfer. He is a true artist. He cares about each patient individually and is an honest, compassionate, and talented surgeon who is an expert at what he does. I couldn't be more satisfied with the results.
Results vary from one person to another.
The experience
What it is like to travel here for surgery
Travelling to another country for surgery raises many questions that a before-and-after photograph cannot answer.
Claire travelled for her explant, and today she shares, in her own words, what the experience was like.
For Dr. Urzola’s team, your wellbeing is the priority at every stage of the process.
How to book
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
How to request your consultation
Four steps, at your own pace. It begins with a short form and ends with your date reserved. There is no obligation at any point.
Step 1Send your inquiry
Fill out the contact form with a few details about your case.
Step 2Meet Dr. Urzola online
He reviews your case, explains your plan, and answers your questions.
Step 3Receive your quotation
Surgical, anesthesia and facility fees itemized, with no hidden costs.
Step 4Reserve your date
If you move forward, the team guides you through deposit, pre-op and travel.
Our clinic
A high-level clinic in Escazú
Your surgery takes place at our facilities in Escazú, with carefully selected equipment and a calm, private environment at every stage. Take a look inside.
Request a consultation
Tell us about your case
If you would like, leave your details and Dr. Urzola's team will follow up personally. It stays private, with no pressure and no obligation.
Visit us
Location & contact
Dr. Urzola's clinic is in Avenida Escazú, San José. Our team is here to guide you at every step.
Hours
Monday to Friday: 8:00 – 17:00
Saturday: 9:00 – 14:00
Saturday: 9:00 – 14:00