Post-Surgery Recovery in Costa Rica: A Practical Guide for Medical Tourists

You had the procedure. The surgeon said it went well. Now you're in your hotel room or vacation rental in San José, your legs ache, you can barely get out of bed, and you won't be cleared to fly for another three weeks.

This is the part of medical tourism nobody fully prepares for — and it's the part that matters most.

This guide will walk you through exactly what you need for a safe, comfortable recovery in Costa Rica.

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How Long Do You Really Need to Stay?

Your surgeon gives you a minimum. That's not the same as the optimal time. Here are realistic timelines based on what we see working with medical tourists every week:

| Procedure | Surgeon's Minimum | Realistic Recovery Stay | |-----------|------------------|------------------------| | Liposuction / tummy tuck | 7–10 days | 14–21 days | | Rhinoplasty | 10 days | 14–18 days | | Facelift | 10–14 days | 16–21 days | | Hip replacement | 21 days | 28–35 days | | Knee replacement | 21 days | 28–35 days | | Spinal surgery | 14–21 days | 21–35 days | | Breast augmentation | 5–7 days | 10–14 days | | Dental full-mouth | 7 days | 10–14 days |

Flying with a deep vein thrombosis or a wound dehiscence from a long-haul flight is not a risk worth taking. Stay the extra week.

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Setting Up Your Recovery Accommodation

A standard hotel room is not a good recovery environment. You need:

A Proper Bed

Hospital beds allow you to adjust your head and leg elevation — critical after abdominal surgery, cardiac procedures, orthopedic surgery, and rhinoplasty. You cannot replicate this with pillows in a standard bed.

Hospital Express delivers hospital beds to houses, apartments, and vacation rentals across the GAM, same day. Our most popular models for medical tourists:

• Semi-electric bed: electric head adjustment (one button), manual foot — best for most post-op patients
• Fully electric bed: all positions electric — best for orthopedic and cardiac patients who cannot grip a hand crank

All beds are delivered with side rails, anti-decubitus mattress, IV pole, and overbed table. Setup takes about 20 minutes and we walk you through everything.

Bathroom Safety Equipment

Falls in the bathroom are the most common post-surgical accident. You need:

• Bath chair / shower chair: essential after lower extremity surgery, spinal surgery, or any procedure that affects your balance
• Toilet riser with handles: getting up from a low toilet is extremely difficult after hip or knee replacement
• Grab bars: portable suction-cup bars can be placed anywhere

All of these are available for rent or purchase from Hospital Express.

Mobility Aids

Depending on your procedure:

• Walker: standard after hip/knee replacement, spinal surgery, or any lower extremity procedure
• Crutches: after foot, ankle, or knee procedures where partial weight-bearing is required
• Wheelchair: if you cannot bear weight at all, or for outings to clinic follow-ups
• Transport wheelchair: lighter, for being pushed by a companion

Medication Storage and Supplies

Organize your medications before leaving the hospital. Confirm you have:

• Pain management protocol in writing
• Anticoagulants if prescribed (common after orthopedic procedures)
• Antibiotics if your discharge includes them
• Wound care supplies (usually provided by the hospital for the first dressing change)
• Compression stockings

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Home Nursing: When You Need a Professional

Many patients underestimate how much they need nursing support in the first week after discharge. Signs you should have a nurse:

• You need wound care (packing, drain management, staple/suture removal)
• You're taking anticoagulants and need INR monitoring
• You cannot self-administer injections
• You had general anesthesia and are still confused or groggy
• Your companion has no medical training and is managing your care alone
• You're on supplemental oxygen

Hospital Express provides home nursing for medical tourists, including:

• Post-op wound care and dressing changes
• Drain management (Jackson-Pratt, Blake, etc.)
• IM and IV medication administration
• Vital signs monitoring
• Catheter care
• Patient bathing and hygiene assistance

Our nurses are licensed (RN-equivalent under Costa Rica's Colegio de Enfermeras), experienced in post-surgical care, and can communicate in English.

Nursing packages:

• 8-hour daytime shift: 7am–3pm or 8am–4pm
• 12-hour shift: 7am–7pm
• 24-hour care: live-in nurse with daily rotation

Contact us on WhatsApp (+506 8777-7361) to arrange nursing before your surgery date.

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Home Physician Visits

If you have concerns after discharge — a fever, unusual swelling, wound appearance, or simply questions your surgeon's office hasn't answered — you don't need to taxi back to the hospital.

Hospital Express can send a licensed physician to your accommodation. The doctor will:

• Assess your wound and vital signs
• Review your medications
• Order lab work or imaging if needed (we coordinate with nearby labs)
• Communicate with your surgeon if required
• Provide a clinical note in English

This service is available throughout the Greater Metropolitan Area (San José, Escazú, Santa Ana, Heredia, Cartago, Alajuela).

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Oxygen Therapy During Recovery

Supplemental oxygen is sometimes needed post-surgically, especially if you:

• Had general anesthesia and have pre-existing COPD, asthma, or sleep apnea
• Are recovering at altitude (San José sits at 1,150m / 3,770ft — higher than most US cities)
• Experience low oxygen saturation (SpO2 below 94%) at rest during recovery

We provide pulse oximeters for home monitoring and oxygen concentrators (5L and 10L) if your oxygen saturation warrants supplemental O2.

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Physical Therapy: Starting Rehab in Costa Rica

Starting physical therapy early — under proper supervision — significantly improves outcomes after orthopedic, spinal, and cardiac surgery. Waiting until you get home can cost you weeks of progress.

Hospital Express coordinates home physical therapy throughout the GAM. Sessions are typically 45–60 minutes and include:

• Range of motion exercises
• Strengthening protocol as cleared by your surgeon
• Gait training for lower extremity procedures
• Patient education on home exercise program

Sessions are documented and a summary can be sent to your home-country physical therapist.

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Preparing to Fly Home

Before your surgeon clears you to fly, confirm:

1. Wound status: Is the wound fully closed? Is there active drainage? Open wounds or drains are red flags for flying.
2. DVT risk: Long-haul flights are high-risk. Get compression stockings. Ask your surgeon if anticoagulant coverage for the flight is appropriate.
3. Oxygen needs: If you needed supplemental O2 during recovery, confirm you don't need it at cruising altitude. Airlines can provide in-flight O2 with advance notice.
4. Documentation: Take your surgical report, discharge summary, imaging (CD or digital), and medication list. Your home physician will need these.
5. Follow-up scheduled: Have an appointment booked with a physician at home before you leave.

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Hospital Express: Your Recovery Partner in Costa Rica

We work with medical tourists every week. Our team speaks English and can coordinate your entire recovery setup — hospital bed, nursing, home physician, physical therapy, oxygen — before you even arrive in Costa Rica.

WhatsApp: +506 8777-7361 Email: contacto@hospitalexpress.net

Message us with your procedure, surgery date, and accommodation location. We'll send you a tailored recovery package quote within a few hours.