LA’s plastic surgery aftercare spots offer luxury hotel rooms, infrared light therapy, and even medicated leeches

In a city where plastic surgery is as ubiquitous as kombucha, where and how one recovers can be just as important as which board-certified doctor performs the surgery.

“People invest upwards of $100,000 in cosmetic surgeries but choose to cut back on postoperative care, and that’s not a good idea,” said Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon Lisa Cassileth, who specializes in breast reconstruction. THR. “A lot can go wrong after major surgery, and having a friend or family member take care of you can delay recovery and outcome and ultimately affect how you end up looking.”

Post-surgery retreats have been a mainstay in LA for years, with Serenity Aftercare, a healthcare facility in Santa Monica, as the gold standard. But after it closed during the pandemic, a new crop of post-surgery shelters has sprung up, and they’re raising the bar thanks to partnerships with upscale hotels, including the Four Seasons, SLS Beverly Hills and The Beverly Hilton, where patients recuperate in luxurious surroundings with room, nursing, meals and transport included in the night price.

Opened in 2021 by facial plastic surgeon Ben TaleiAura Aftercare (auraaftercare. com, from $1,750 per night) now employs much of Serenity’s staff, including skilled nurses with more than 25 years of experience. It consists of four 3,500-square-foot apartments, most with private balconies, in a luxurious residential building in the Wilshire Corridor. Nurses are available 24/7 and there is an in-house chef who creates a bespoke menu of foods designed for optimal nutrition and recovery, including kosher, vegan and vegetarian options. The post-surgery center offers à la carte healing treatments such as an LED bed (said to help reduce inflammation); IV drip therapy (to boost hydration and provide vitamins); and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. “The 60- to 90-minute sessions help increase blood flow to the tissues after they have been disrupted by surgery,” says Talei.

There is even medicinal therapy for leeches, which was approved by the FDA in 2004. “This is beneficial if blood supply is compromised after surgery, which can happen with a revised facelift, rhinoplasty, or tummy tuck,” says Talei. “It’s an old therapy that’s been around for a long time and helps thin the blood to reduce swelling.”

Irina Brodsky (@laleeches) has been practicing this ancient treatment called hirudotherapy for over 10 years. “Leeches were the original antibiotics,” she says. “Their saliva, which is very compatible with the human body, is essentially a living pharmacy that contains enzymes, amino acids and proteins that are highly healing and act as a natural blood thinner, especially if there is bruising or decongestion is needed,” she adds. Each 90-minute session (starting at $200) is very tolerable and can also be effective for treating hormonal imbalances, joint pain and even depression, according to Brodsky. “There is a feeling of mild burning on the surface of the skin as the leeches act like little pumps, releasing natural blood thinner into the body, but there is no pain,” she adds.

Another newer place for aftercare, Calicia Care (caliciacare. com, from $2,000), co-founded by sisters Erika and Lexi Maldonado (Lexi is an RN), offers patients recovery time in luxurious rooms at The Beverly Hilton. “We take care of everything, and it’s always one-on-one nursing care,” says Erika. Treatments can include in-room lymphatic drainage treatments and Reiki sessions, plus services such as dog walking, manicure/pedicure, and makeup/hairstyling “if patients want to look fresh,” she adds.

Prestige Surgical Aftercare (prestigeaftercare. comfrom $2,099), housed in the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills, has suites with D. Porthault bedding and automated voice control for the lights, beds, and 55-inch flat screens.

Aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon Payman Danielpour shares that his go-to for aftercare is Immortelle Healthcare Group (immortellemed.com, from $3,300), with 12 rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles in Beverly Hills. “It has all the amenities and capabilities of a mini-hospital, and my patients love the white glove, royal treatment, and extra attentive care,” he says.

Sought after for elective and non-elective postoperative recovery, Immortelle prides itself on its holistic approach to aftercare. “With each patient, we look not only at the internal medicine and postoperative care component, but also at psychological support,” says co-founder Evan Pinchuk. “All three go hand in hand when it comes to helping improve patient outcomes.” And thanks to the extensive medical equipment they have on site, Immortelle can perform hospital-level interventions if necessary. Treatments include photobiomodulation light therapy, which promises to reduce inflammation, swelling, pain and anxiety. The 20- to 60-minute treatment ($300 per session) involves no discomfort and “helps patients get better faster,” says Pinchuk, adding, “We deliver Four Seasons care, experience, and service.”

For patients who want to continue healing once they are back on their feet, Pause Studio (break studio. com) has several locations in Los Angeles and offers a range of treatments in their streamlined outposts for anyone looking for a dose of recovery, including LED light therapy beds and compression therapy, which help repair damaged tissue and reduce inflammation (from $40 per session).

A version of this story first appeared in the June 21 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.