Patient testimonials

In their own words, women who travelled to Costa Rica to regain their health with Dr. Urzola.

Real Patients · Real Stories

In their own words

We believe no story is told better than in the voice of the woman who lived it: honest, calm, and deeply personal. Behind each one is a decision made with quiet resolve, and a path all her own. Here, the women who trusted Dr. Urzola with their surgery share how they experienced it, and how it felt to come home.

mellie310RealSelf patient
From the moment he sat down to talk to me, I knew he was the right surgeon for me. I have never spoken to any doctor who so clearly cares about his patients and doesn't seem to be all about how much money he can squeeze out of you. He is so personable and honest and very easy to talk to. My surgery was a complete success. I love my new, perky breasts again and feel so lucky to have been able to have Dr. Urzola as my surgeon.
cathy92RealSelf patient
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. I know without a doubt that Dr Urzola is totally committed to my health and my cosmetic results.
Kaitlyn PaigeExplant patient
I have never met a more compassionate doctor who truly care so much. Before decided to travel abroad to see Dr. Urzola, I have done extensive research on him. However after doing my consultation, i knew he was the one for me. And that was further validated after i met him in person before my consultation. Not only is he compassionate, skillfull but is very kind and approachable. I am very happy with my results and have my life back.
USMCchickyRealSelf patient
Dr. Urzola did my en bloc explant, lift, and fat transfer. He is a true artist! Not only does he care about each patient getting their perfect results, but he also cares about each person individually. He is an honest, compassionate, and talented surgeon who is an expert at what he does. Going out of the country was of no concern because I wanted to go to the best surgeon for the procedures I needed. I couldn't be more satisfied with the results.
Stephanie FyshExplant patient
It's still so hard for me to believe that just under 5 months ago I was in Costa Rica on a mission to gain my health back after almost 6 years of breast implant illness. I didn't know what to expect, or what I would be facing flying out to Costa Rica with my Oma and staying there for 2 weeks to recover from major surgery. I will never forget my experience in Costa Rica, the people I met, the places we saw, and the moments we had.
Breean ThornleyExplant patient
The one & only… Life saving, superhero, Dr. Urzola!!! When other doctors labeled & turned their backs on us & our suffering, you were there. You listened & believed in us. Because of you, I now have a second chance at a wonderful life & I will always be grateful for you!!! Thank you from the bottom of my happy, healthy, heart, Dr. U!!! You're the BEST!!!
Nicole BravocoExplant patient
Going to Dr. Urzola was such a blessing. When I started searching for Doctors, I would have never thought that I would find such a compassionate man. Struggling from BII and worrying about what I would look like after removing implants was so stressful. But after meeting Dr. U and seeing his results and how he explained every detail and answered every question. My husband and I knew I was in GREAT hands. Not only have my symptoms improved greatly but I've healed beautifully. May God watch over him and his skilled hands. We are so lucky to have found him and his staff.
Sher SeniorExplant patient
I am so very grateful to have found Dr. Urzola and his team. From the first interaction, I knew without a doubt that I had made the right choice. The care, compassion, and skill were far beyond my hopes and I couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome of my surgery. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Jodie WebbExplant patient
I wanted to share a little about my surgery which was very complicated due to the fact that I had implants 10 years ago with a breast reduction. 4 years later skin had let down and I needed another lift and reduction. The second doctor decided to do new implants and remove the old implants which I thought was fine. When Dr. Urzola got into my surgery he discovered that my original implants from 10 years ago the encapsulation were left inside of me so not only did I have two capsules from the original implants in me I had the two capsules from the current implants inside of me. My implant capsulations were growing inside my chest wall, my back wall and down past my armpits almost to my elbows. He had to scrape all of that out and it took him 8 1/2 hours, his longest surgery yet and I had to have a blood transfusion because I lost so much blood during surgery, but with all of this said I want to reassure anyone who is questioning Dr. Urzola his care is absolutely top-notch. He made sure that I was taken care of with many nurses surrounding me. He came in and checked on me like six times in the hospital and when he said he was going to be there he was there and he was on time. He made sure that I was comfortable with my pain, with my blood transfusion, and everything. If it hadn't been for him this could've been a way worse situation but he is a phenomenal physician and surgeon and I am honored that he is the one who took care of me. My healing process obviously is a little bit longer than everyone else's but I'm doing absolutely wonderful and super happy that I went forward with it. Dr. Urzola is absolutely the best surgeon I've ever met in my entire life and I am praising God every day for his talents and his heart for what he's doing. The medical ranch was phenomenal and I couldn't say enough good things about every single person there. Soooooo BLESSED to have started my healing there! My healing is amazing and I feel so good. My vision is better. I'm sleeping through the night again. I tested and my Lupus markers are now gone. I have no more joint and muscle pains. I feel like I can take a deep breath again and not get so winded. The pains caused by the implants in the breast area are gone. My skin is brighter and not as dry. My entire body feels lighter and healthier! Dr. U is the most Godly man! Love love love him.
Sydney Simone McKinstryExplant patient
It's hard for me to put into words the admiration and respect I have for Dr. Victor Urzola as a plastic surgeon and a person. My first communication was with Paola, who was so patient with my millions of questions and helping me orchestrate everything. This helped make the whole process of having surgery in another Country flow so seamlessly. Once I finally arrived for my first in-person consultation with Dr. Urzola, I was in tears explaining my situation and expectations. He touched my hand and told me he would do everything in his power to help me regain the life and confidence I once had. Never before have I felt such comfort talking to a Dr, let alone trusting them with my life. All I can say is I feel God works through Dr. Urzola and has blessed him with such amazing talent and a heart of gold. I've now had two separate surgeries with him in the past two years and am ecstatic with my results. I would recommend him to absolutely anyone. He's a godsend and I'm truly blessed to have been referred to him.
Holly DavisExplant patient
When I heard of BII, I was so relieved to find I had a fixable problem. I had a double mastectomy in 2002 with 500cc Mentor silicone gel implants as part of the reconstruction. My first symptoms were terrible rashes up my chest to the neck and down my arms… the various symptoms crept in over the years. Joint pain, eye twitches and restless leg, hair loss, gut issues, allergies, chest pain, breathing issues, and extreme fatigue, to name a few. A friend had her implants removed by Dr. Urzola and this is how I came to know of his work. I got my ultrasound of the breasts there in Costa Rica and found my left breast implant was ruptured. My consultation, discussions prior to arriving and after explant were always professional, comprehensive, and honest. I was told very clearly what I could expect, specific to my body and post-surgical instructions. Dr. Urzola videoed the surgery and the clean-up of the rupture. I could see the poisonous gel sticking to his hands and my inner chest. Without a doubt, the pathology confirmed silicone in both capsules with more in the left, the ruptured side. Dr. Urzola was able to preserve the tissue from the nipple reconstruction and integrate the cuts into extremely precise scar lines. He was able to harvest fat to use for fat transfer and the lift gave the breast shape. With very little breast tissue left after mastectomy, I have the chance to maintain a feminine chest. The kindness, compassion, honesty, and expertise of Dr. Urzola were my gift and have improved my health.
Shawna KrzewskiExplant patient
It has been almost eight months since my breast surgery (en-bloc, lift, and fat transfer) with Dr. Victor Urzola. There were many reasons I chose to go to Costa Rica and have my implants removed by Dr. Urzola. I am Canadian and could not get a doctor in Canada to remove my implants en bloc. This was very important to me because my ultrasound and MRI showed a possible tear in my left implant and I had already been sick for three years with no diagnosis. Having come to the conclusion on my own that my implants were what was making me sick, I wanted them removed with the capsule intact around them to minimize any chance of silicone leakage. Dr. Urzola was able to do this and also videotaped it to show me that it was done this way, and then showed me inside my chest cavity to give me peace of mind that it was all clean. My other major reason for having Dr. Urzola do my surgery was that he was willing to do the fat transfer at the same time. I didn't want to have another surgery, anesthesia, and recovery time. My quality of life has improved greatly with the majority of my symptoms being completely gone and others vastly improved. I am back to doing the things that I love that I could not do before because of being so sick. I can't thank Dr. Urzola enough for all he did for me. I will be forever grateful.
Rahaa NiliaBreast explant patient
I am an explant patient of Doctor Urzola, and I would like to share my experience with Breast Implant Illness including my symptoms before and after the explant. The symptoms I struggled with were: chronic fatigue; cognitive dysfunction such as brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and memory loss; muscle pain and weakness; brittle, dry hair; weight I could not get rid of; chronic inflammation; extreme insomnia; bloodshot eyes and failing vision; adrenal fatigue with thyroid issues; hormone imbalance; slow healing and easy bruising; a metallic taste; vertigo; gastrointestinal issues; night sweats; food allergies; and symptoms of mold poisoning, which was confirmed when my implants came out with black mold on them. I literally felt I was on my death bed leading up to my explant with Doctor Urzola. Almost immediately after my explant most of these symptoms lifted. The first thing that came back was my cognitive function, something as simple as concentration, followed by a slow and steady increase in my overall health and well being. I am able to live my life fully because I no longer have these health issues. I am forever grateful to Doctor Urzola; he gave me my life back. Thank You Doctor Urzola, I am forever grateful!

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