by Kristina Morgan & Karen McConnaughey
July 2008, in my article about plastic surgery in Mexico, I talked about cosmetic surgery and La Casita Montana, where post-operative care is the best-kept secret in the Lake Chapala area—but now the cat is out of the bag, and I was able to follow the progress of two willing patients who have gone under the knife and have graciously allowed their personal experiences with plastic surgery and the recovery at La Casita Montana to be publicized.
Guadalajara’s proximity to tourist destinations such as Puerto Vallarta and Lake Chapala, the largest American and Canadian retirement community in Mexico, has helped boost its appeal as a place for Americans seeking affordable plastic surgery.
One of our friends, Shelley Brown, had her surgery done at a state-of-the-art clinic with excellent patient care. Mexican surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and have the same memberships and certifications as American doctors.
Anne Dyer, of Casita Montana, has done the research and selected Guadalajara’s top surgeons with reliable credentials.
Shelley, who stayed with Anne for post-operative care, laughs, “The problem with many Americans is that they think everyone in Mexico is a chicken farmer riding on a burro. They don’t understand that Mexico has some very well-educated and well-trained professionals. My doctor is a professor of surgery and his credentials are impeccable but I never would have done this if Ann hadn’t been here.
“I couldn’t find a doctor I could trust and had no references I could count on and that’s scary. In the U.S. I can ask friends, ‘OK, who did you go to?’ In Mexico Anne did all the research and she recommended my doctor because he does reconstructive work and I needed that for my nose.”
Ten days after her surgery, I met Shelley while she was getting a pedicure from Fatima at the Casita Montana and she was still recovering.
She had a face lift, a nose job, a chin implant, liposuction along her jawline, and an upper and lower eye lift. Total cost for the surgery? $6500 USD. The same surgeries would have cost approximately $23,000 in the U.S. I asked Shelley if she would do this all over again knowing what she knows now and she beamed, “I would do it again in a second! In a New York minute! I was looking a lot older than I really am and I don’t feel old. I would do it again tomorrow except that I don‘t need to.”
Shelley then pointed to her lines at the corners of her eyes. “I’m almost 50 and I wanted the doctor to leave some laugh lines. He left everything so natural. My doctor also focuses on health. If my blood panel had showed that I was not healthy, he never would have done the surgery. That’s key because this isn’t like ordering a burger!”
“I can’t remember when I have met a more dedicated, easy-going, thorough doctor. I felt comfortable and safe and if I had agreed to it, he would have done my surgery on a Sunday. Imagine! A doctor working on Sunday!”
Shelley's doctor was Dr. Victor Ledezma, who teaches at the University of Guadalajara and the Institute of Reconstructive Surgery, and is also the director of the Florencia Clinic in Guadalajara. Dr. Ledezma has been in medical practice for 33 years, with 27 of those spent doing reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries. Dr. Ledezma is also involved in an organization similar to Operation Smile where he helps repair childhood facial deformities.
Anne arranged for hypnosis before and after Shelley’s surgery to make it a pain- and stress-free experience and to speed the healing. Her hypnotist also concentrated on smoking cessation.
Shelley said, “I can’t tell for certain if it helped or not but I thought it was a neat idea because I believe in the power of the brain.”
Post-surgery, Shelley’s pain was managed and her bruising was minimal. Dr. Ledezma started her on antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory and a pain medication the day before she went into surgery, which she notes was “very proactive.”
“After the surgery, I didn’t want to come out of the B&B, and Anne provided me with everything I’ve needed. Staying here has been so intimate, and there’s been no shame or embarrassment while I’ve been recovering. Anne even spent the first night in the hospital with me. I didn’t have to worry about anything. And, when I got back to the B&B, I left my door unlocked so Anne could check on me in the middle of the night to make sure I was okay. It was ideal post-operative care, and it made me feel very cared for and special…which I am, of course,” she laughed!
Shelley also added, "You know, Anne couldn't do this without the wonderful support of Graciela, her cook, cleaner and general all-around wonderful person!. She not only cooked soft food for me the first four days after my surgery...fruit smoothies, scrambled eggs, yogurt...but she was always checking to make sure I had what I needed. Also, I had two mothers...Anne checked on me at night, and Graciela would peek into my room in the daytime to make sure I wasn't in any distress. I cannot thank them enough for the care I received...I felt as if I were home with my two best friends taking care of me, not in a B&B in a foreign country...it was amazing!"
Shelley showed me her room at the B&B, a spacious, well-appointed room with a king-sized, comfortable bed where she said she felt like a princess.
The package at the Casita Montana where Shelley recovered was well thought-out. In addition to massage and hypnosis, Anne also offers a professional hair stylist, a fashion consultant and a make-up artist after the surgery.
I asked why Shelley chose Ajijic to recover from her surgery and she said, “Because I shine here.” Indeed she does.
Suzann Reynolds’ surgery was less extensive than Shelley’s and she connected with the other surgeon, Dr. Manuel Jimenez del Toro. She said, “We laughed all the way through my interview.” She had her eyes and neck done. “I don’t want to be 25 again, but I wouldn’t mind going for 45 or 55,” she said with a wink! Suzann also stayed overnight at the hospital, but decided she would go it alone, so Anne and Suzann's friend Janice waited until Suzann was out of surgery and doing well and then left. Anne came back the next day to pick her up and took her back to get her stitches removed. I asked Suzann if she had had any pain, and she replied, "nothing that wasn't alleviated by Advil!" I find that impressive.
Anne had a “Stepping-Out” party for both Shelley & Suzann on Saturday, July 26. Friends and colleagues joined the two “Stars,” which is what they felt like with all the videos being taken and cameras flashing. The fact that both our friends are so willing and generous to share their experiences AND pictures with us is a little overwhelming for me. Women usually want to hide this experience from everyone, and we’re so pleased that we’re able to share their journey with you.
Shelley’s nose is still swathed in a bandage, so it will be a few weeks before we’re able to see the ‘final product!” She had such a major procedure done, and, believe it or not, at the party, it had only been 12 days since her surgery, and she left for home the following Monday. Therefore, wonderful woman that she is, she said she will continue to send us updated pictures as the bruising and swelling goes down, and especially when she gets to remove her bandage. What a woman! We'll be sharing her recovery with you in our photo array as we receive them.
Suzann looked beautiful. I kept looking at her (because I thought she look beautiful before!), and realized that what I was seeing was not a face that had had surgery…I was looking at a woman who looked relaxed and rested as if her stay in Ajijic had rejuvenated her. That was what amazed me. And, you couldn’t see any scars on either Shelley or Suzann…they were hidden in the hairline.
I’m so pleased that Anne has started her Wellness & Beauty Day Spa. Her rooftop garden is named “Happiness Garden,” which can be reached by one of the few elevators in the area! Ajijic is so uptown!! It’s a well-named location.
The spa offers everything you could possibly want from massages to hypnotherapy (for pain management, smoking cessation and eating!) to pedicures and manicures. Shelley enthused, “Fatima is fabulous. I’m really picky about the hygiene when I have my hands and toes done. Fatima does everything she should…even sterilizing the tools between procedures while she’s working on me. I was very impressed.”
If you’re ready for a new you, don’t hesitate to call Anne…she will take care of and pamper you through everything, and all your friends will be amazed at how relaxed you looked when you return home…they’ll never guess your secret!
Thank you to two amazing women who have the confidence and candor to let us travel with them on their amazing journey. Shelley and Suzann, you’ve always been beautiful people in my book!
To contact Anne Dyer, From the US & Canada: 1-918-770-4089
www.casitamontana.com
Local phone: 376-766-5513 (from within Mexico: 01-376-766-5513
E-mail: casitamontana@yahoo.com.
Buena Suerte!