Beginning in early January, I will be in Buenos Aires for a little over a month to have FFS with Dr. DiMaggio. I do have a habit of writing enormous posts, so in an effort to stay simple, here is a list of questions:

1. How did you find the clothes shopping? Was it expensive? Did you find sizes that fit you? For the record, I am 5'9" and have a shoe size of US 12. I am only slightly overweight (BF% 24, ~20 pounds over).

2. As an English-speaker, did you find it easy to navigate shopping centers?
* As an aside, I do speak a little bit of Spanish and I am fluent in Portuguese (Spanish and Portuguese have a very strong similarity index). If anyone reading this is in a similar situation, please feel free to comment on how it may or may not have helped you!

3. Did you need to carry cash or did you end up using a credit card?

4. How was public transportation?

5. Did you find that the city in general was relatively safe, or did you have to stress caution?

6. Can you think of anything else you'd like to share with me?

I know I've forgotten something, but this is all I can think of for now. I appreciate very much anything that anyone decides to contribute!

Hi Sybil,

I cannot answer any of your questions and I tend to write long posts too ... 

You have made an excellent choice going to have FFS with Dr DiMaggio because having seen a couple of his post-op patients in the flesh when I have been in the USA, they, like the Facial Team's girls that I have met, have looked very natural and feminine.

Good luck in January and Merry Christmas.

Hugs

Paula

Quote from: Sybil on December 23, 2015, 11:16:56 PM
Beginning in early January, I will be in Buenos Aires for a little over a month to have FFS with Dr. DiMaggio. I do have a habit of writing enormous posts, so in an effort to stay simple, here is a list of questions:

1. How did you find the clothes shopping? Was it expensive? Did you find sizes that fit you? For the record, I am 5'9" and have a shoe size of US 12. I am only slightly overweight (BF% 24, ~20 pounds over).

I was there Sept - Oct, can't answer your clothes shopping question as I am not a fashion maven.

Quote from: Sybil on December 23, 2015, 11:16:56 PM
2. As an English-speaker, did you find it easy to navigate shopping centers?
* As an aside, I do speak a little bit of Spanish and I am fluent in Portuguese (Spanish and Portuguese have a very strong similarity index). If anyone reading this is in a similar situation, please feel free to comment on how it may or may not have helped you!

There was a large mall near the downtown apt I stayed in.  While I did not shop there I do go to the restaurants surrounding it.  I was able to communicate in English with quite a few of the wait staff.  Portuguese is also commonly spoken there.  The patient coordinator for Dr Rossi, the surgeon I used, spoke portuguese, also one of the interpreters they use during the hospital stay spoke all 3 languages.

Quote from: Sybil on December 23, 2015, 11:16:56 PM
3. Did you need to carry cash or did you end up using a credit card?

When I went there was a large difference between official rate and black market (blue) rate.  However with the new Argentina gov't the Argentine Peso was allowed to float and from what I can see there is now no difference between official and black market.  That means credit cards should be okay now.  Regarding this you might ask MdM office about this.

Quote from: Sybil on December 23, 2015, 11:16:56 PM
4. How was public transportation?

very good.  Subway and bus system, depending on your stay you can buy a 1 month pass that can be used on all mass transit.

Quote from: Sybil on December 23, 2015, 11:16:56 PM
5. Did you find that the city in general was relatively safe, or did you have to stress caution?

I never felt ill at ease walking around downtown BA, after dark included.

Quote from: Sybil on December 23, 2015, 11:16:56 PM
6. Can you think of anything else you'd like to share with me?

There is a pretty good blog on Tumblr from a woman who went to Dr Rossi past August.

Quote from: Sybil on December 23, 2015, 11:16:56 PM
I know I've forgotten something, but this is all I can think of for now. I appreciate very much anything that anyone decides to contribute!

May you have a rewarding and uneventful trip.

1. I have been to one of their fancy shopping centers. Mostly VERY expensive boutique shops apart from shops like Zara, etc... There are countless shops on the streets with different price ranges. Because female population is quite short there, you might have some troubles finding the right sizes, length wise... Shoes: largest size is usually 41 ( US9.5 - US10 ). To the shops I have been I havent seen anything larger than that.

2. No. You will have to more or less rely on your Spanish, and google translate is your friend.

3. We used both. Bank exchange rates sux... our doorman was very happy to offer far more better exchange rate.

4. We only used Taxi. No complaints... all taxi drivers we encountered were really nice. And its quite cheap.

5. Very safe. But we mostly stayed in areas Palermo and Belgrano, we didnt go out to explore the rest of the city.

6. If you havent already, rent a place somewhat near to the clinic where you will have post-op checkups after your first recovery week. Taxis are ok, but its better to drive 5 minutes than half an hour...

Good luck with your surgery!

Quote from: Lagertha on December 24, 2015, 08:44:46 AM
SNIP
3. We used both. Bank exchange rates sux... our doorman was very happy to offer far more better exchange rate.
SNIP

As I posted earlier, Argentine Peso was allowed to float on Dec 17. 2015.  Looking at the dollar blue twitter feed and official exchange rate they now match.

I carried USD$9000 in mid-Sept 2015.  Would not have to do that now.

Deeiche,

      I noticed that too! We got around 12-13 peso on the dollar not using the rip off official exchanges. Now the official exchanges have that rate too. I wonder what will come of the money exchange "black market"?

    Since the other forum members answered your questions so thoroughly, I won't have as much to say. Depends on how long you're staying and how you feel, but if you do want to do some sightseeing when you're more healed up, go to the San Telmo market. A nice girl who I met in BA who was going to Dr. DiMaggio mentioned that it felt like Paris. You might not feel so well though so prioritize healing of course.

     Food and clothes are roughly the same price as the US but other things are cheaper. If you need any dental work or hair transplants or any cosmetic procedures, it's a lot cheaper there.

      Best wishes for your surgery. Dr. DiMaggio is great (seen his work with my own eyes) as is Dr. Rossi. I would totally recommend Buenos Aires as a place for ffs with either one of them. It's pretty LGBT friendly and socially progressive

- Ruby

   

Hello,

Not much to add here as you've got very good answers allready.
Just want to emphasize the importanse of staying in a suburb close to where Dr Di Maggio and his team are for post op follow-up. Belgrano is the best option, but you might consider Palermo as well. Buenos Aires is very European in style, but there are some dangers you'd be adviced to look out for..traffic(horrendous and dangerous), loose pavements, dog ->-bleeped-<- everywhere. Rent yourself an appartment where you can cater for yourself, sotck up on supplies for 5-7 days innside and have a nurse visit you 3-4 times a day after post op(Dr Di Maggio can help you with that).
And..not every part of the city is just as safe as Palermo and Belgrano.
Best of luck with your surgery and say hello to Dr Di Maggio and his team from me.

All the best,

Jannicke

Wow, thank you so much for the informative replies! This really helps.

I do have an apartment I'll be staying in that's in the Palermo area, so that part is okay for me.

I'm glad that Portuguese is sort of common. That should make things a bit easier for me, although I intend to brush up on Spanish as well. My boyfriend, on the other hand ... poor guy only speaks English, lol. I wonder how he'll make out while I'm mummified and unwilling to move.

I really hope that using a credit card is okay, because I'm one of those people who is really paranoid about carrying much cash. I also heard about how the traffic is a bit maniacal and can be unsafe, so pedestrians need to be extra cautious -- I'm glad that was brought up again. I'll have to make a strong mental note of it.

Thank you all so much again for the information and well wishes. If anyone else would like to add or even reiterate, please don't feel shy; I'll be checking back and I'm sure this thread will help someone else in the future.

Yeah, traffic is terrible, only cross at the cross walks, yes, stray dogs were every where depositing waste every where.  I did take a nasty fall when I tripped on an uneven brick surface in the renovated port area.  There is a chain of local markets called Carrefour, small versions are every where called Carrefou Express.  I went there every couple of days to buy bottled water.  BA municipal water tastes awful.

I am not a city person, speak no Spanish and got along fine by myself for almost 4 week.  My apt was down town in the CBD.

You will do fine.