Nicole Grigorov told Newsweek she flew abroad for a “mommy makeover,“ but instead came frighteningly close to losing her life.
A Canadian mother who traveled abroad for cosmetic surgery says she is still learning how to live independently without hands and feet after developing a life-threatening illness following the procedure.
Nicole Grigorov, 52, had traveled to Costa Rica in September for a “mommy makeover,“ which included a tummy tuck and breast lift. What she expected to be a positive step after years of health struggles instead became a medical emergency that nearly cost her life. “I was given a 5 percent survival rate,“ the mother of four told Newsweek. “My kids flew out to say goodbye.“ On January 22, Grigorov was finally discharged from a rehab facility after 20 days—something her family once feared might never happen, having prepared to say goodbye to her in early October, just two days after the cosmetic procedure. From left: Grigorov poses ahead of cosmetic surgery; and rests after her hand amputation. ‘Everything Is a Blur’ On October 1, Grigorov, from Niagara Falls, was wheeled down to the theater for surgery. What followed, she said, is difficult to remember. “Everything after the surgery is a blur,“ she added. The day after, Grigorov developed severe pain and a high fever. Alarmed, she called a friend to say she was sick. Her friend later told her that she had been screaming in pain. Grigorov said she was unable to move and became effectively paralyzed as her condition worsened. “My friend had to pay for a stretcher,“ she said. “I couldn’t move. My muscles were atrophy.“ She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors determined she was suffering from sepsis, a life‑threatening reaction to infection. From left: Grigorov strokes a dog in her hospital bed; and lifts her arm to show her hand after several fingers were amputated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , sepsis is the body’s extreme and life‑threatening response to an infection. It occurs when an existing infection triggers a chain reaction throughout the body, turning a routine illness into a medical emergency. Sepsis Alliance highlights that an estimated 350,000 adults die from sepsis every year—the equivalent of one death every 90 seconds. That toll is higher than the combined number of deaths from stroke, prostate cancer, breast cancer and opioid overdoses. Grigorov said she believes she contracted an infection from unsterilized equipment during the surgery. “What happened to me could have happened in Canada,“ she said. “It doesn’t matter where you are in the world. It just takes one person to make a mistake. A 5 Percent Chance of Survival Grigorov said her condition deteriorated rapidly. She suffered organ failure and a heart attack and was placed on life support. She spent three weeks in a coma. Doctors later told her family that the only organ that never failed was her brain. “They couldn’t believe I didn’t have brain damage,“ she said. Grigorov’s fingers and toes were amputated due to complications from the infection. “They were black,“ she said. “I am learning how to live without hands, and it isn’t easy.“ She now describes her hands as looking like “paws“ and says even brushing her hair remains a challenge. Years of Saving for Surgery Grigorov, a grandmother of two, said she had spent years preparing for the surgery. Over two decades earlier, she had given birth to twins and was left with significant loose skin. More recently, she learned she had a large fibroid in her uterus that weighed around 20 pounds. After the tumor was removed in April 2025, she began losing weight but was still left with what she described as a large flap of excess skin that would not go away. “My legs and bum were tiny, but my stomach wasn’t,“ Grigorov said. “I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin.“ She added that she had originally planned to have the surgery in Canada, but once the tumor was removed, she booked the procedure abroad instead. The total cost of the mommy makeover was $22,000. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons states the cost of a mommy makeover varies, but the average cost of a tummy tuck is $8,174, according to the latest statistics from the ASPS, and the average cost of a breast lift is $6,816. “I didn’t go to save money,“ Grigorov said. “I went because the waiting list was shorter, and I thought I could heal listening to birds chirp instead of being in freezing cold Canada.“ She said she researched extensively before traveling, choosing a board‑certified American doctor practicing in Costa Rica who was highly recommended. “I read the reviews, and they were all good up until now,“ she said. “Because he was American-certified, I had no hesitations.“ ‘Every Day Is a Challenge’ On October 29, she flew back to Canada and spent two months in a local hospital, where her medical bills climbed toward $160,000 because insurance won’t cover what happened. Despite the severity of what she has endured, Grigorov said she is determined not to let the experience define or destroy her life. “I find myself crying, asking why this happened to me,“ she added. “But it drives me to be stronger and more determined to get better.“ Medical staff have repeatedly told Grigorov they are shocked by her resilience. “They can’t believe how strong I am doing,“ she said. “I’ve always been resilient. God gives you what you can handle, and this was a lot.“ Daily tasks that were once automatic now require assistance. “I can’t just put my top on,“ Grigorov said. “I have to get someone to help me. I’ve lost a lot of independence.“ Still, she said that progress, however slow, matters. “I’m feeding myself now,“ she added. “It’s a setback, but it’s not going to change my life.“ A Warning for Others Grigorov said she does not regret traveling, but hopes her story encourages others to ask hard questions before undergoing surgery—particularly about insurance coverage. “Make sure you ask all the questions,“ she said. “Insurance companies are in business to make money, not pay out. I haven’t had one claim go smoothly.“ Despite everything, Grigorov added that she remains focused on the future. She still hopes to foster children again and regain as much independence as possible. “I am going to be OK,“ she said. “Every day is a challenge, but I am determined.“
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