Plastic surgery?

[Linda W]

Caroline,

Is your MIL going with you this time??? I hope not for your sake.

Linda

 

[Haven]

I have no problem with elective cosmetic surgery, but I''ve never had any myself. I actually used to watch those plastic surgery shows on Discover Health Channel all the time because I found people''s choices so fascinating.

I don''t think I''d ever have elective surgery because that''s just too invasive for me, but I have done a few other elective cosmetic things that weren''t so invasive. I''ve had my teeth professionally bleached, I have two porcelain veneers for teeth that were too small (can you tell I have a minor obsession with my mouth?), and I''ve had laser hair removal. These are all permament things, so I don''t see much of a difference between them and plastic surgery. I''m just too conservative to have any surgery if it''s not necessary, I don''t want to put my body through the trauma.

 

[diamondfan]

Linda, no thank god. This is a romantic trip for hubby and me.

Deer Valley was tough, everyone skiied but me, even my 6 year old went all day every day to ski school, and I do not like to ski. I planned to snow shoe spa and shop, but got sick and did not find the spa where I went so great. It was expensive and not very good. And the shopping was only so so. So I am ready for some sun and mellowness and shopping.

 

[FrekeChild]

Thanks crystalheart1 and diamondfan. I really appreciate it, and she would too.

I began developing when I was 11, and at 13 had a lot of boys following me around. I was always the sporty type- started swimming at 2, tennis from 3-20, horseback riding from 8-12, basketball from 12-13, volleyball from 11-14, and other sports along the way. Probably one of the worst experiences I had was playing volleyball. We had to wear these pre-made uniforms from the 60s (I kid you not, they were ancient) and while I was only 5''2, weighed about 100 pounds, I had to wear an extra large-and it was a bit too small-but I still struggled into it. Another was having to find underwire sports bras for tennis-because that was the one sport that I played in high school when they really started to get big. They were 32DDs and the only sports bra that was big enough and had underwires-I still have them and wear them now-only the wires started to break, so I have a lot less of them. It was mortifying to be this little toothpick with balloons on top.

When they got really big, I would joke around that I had cleavage even when I was wearing a turtleneck-but really, it wasn''t far from the truth. And secretly, I always think my mom was ashamed of them. She would tell me that the most flattering thing I could wear were big heavy sweatshirts. Every high school dance I would go shopping for a dress, and fall in love with these gorgeous empire waist dresses that maybe one boob would fit in. I can''t even begin to tell you how many dresses I had to get a size 11/13 to fit my chest and then get it altered to fit everywhere else. Only once was I allowed to get an empire waist dress, and we had it altered so that the bottom was hemmed, and the fabric removed to add a few inches to the top. I even have a mole on my left breast that my mom would use as a measuring device, it had to be covered up or I couldn''t have that dress.

One time that really hits me was when my parents made me do the debutante thing

and I had to get a wedding dress to wear to the stupid ball (you can tell I really enjoyed the experience right?). Well add in wedding dress sizes to the mix, and I''m a curvy little size 6 wearing a size 14-16 gown. The pictures made me look like I had serious uniboob and my chest looked like it started at my belly button.

Ok, I''m not going to bore you with any more walks down memory lane, but between fitting into clothes (even now it''s not exactly easy-I show a lot of cleavage in the styles that are popular at the moment- but it''s still WAY easier than it was) and struggling with sports (trying going to tennis clinic with 10 guys and giant boobs-fun times, let me tell you

) I would never ever judge someone for making the decision to have their body altered in some way. I can''t tell you how many time I cried myself to sleep because kids made fun of me or I couldn''t find a dress for Prom, or whatever it was.

Having said that however, some of those people on Dr. 90210 and Extreme Makeover--They need to be seeing therapists instead of plastic surgeons. Especially that one chick on Dr. 90210-the porno girl who has had something insane like 75 procedures or something-she totally had body dysmorphia. She even wanted to get her 3ct diamond implanted in her wrist.

Ok. Done now.

 

[diamondfan]

Freke, my friend''s mom also had her in baggy tops, big sweatshirts. Her mom was also very large and as a result, hunched over to hide them. I think, very sad story, but the mom was molested as a child and always felt that having developed so young was the catalyst for this, she believed it would not have happened otherwise. Of course no matter what he was a sick man, but she always sort of blamed the way she looked for it, and when her own daughter blossomed so young and so largely she was really terrified. And trust me, it is quite creepy to see a man who is decades older than you leering at your friend''s chest...creepy is not even the word for it. My friend was always embarrassed and uncomfortable about herself. It is sad looking back, and I think it has complicated her romantic relationships.

 

[FrekeChild]

EUGH!!! DiamondFan I know what you mean unfortunately. A few years ago I was working at a ice cream store (mentioned in that other thread) and I was behind the counter in my normal clothes because it was my day off-this was a year or so after the surgery. Well, this attractive younger guy (early 30s) comes in with his father(probably late 60s-early 70s) took one look at me and said, "I'll take my cream from her, thanks".

Thank you for respecting me as a woman and not treating me like a sexual object.

I could tell that the son was really embarrassed. I felt bad for him (and thought he was cute!). I was about 23 so I could deal with it ok, but still...that 5 minutes will probably always be with me.

 

[kellyfish]

I am muscular, but I had lipo in 1999 to contour my thi*hs, hips. Excellent results. I never even think about the spots that used to bother me so bad!!! I will have a b lift when I wean my dd as she is the 3rd I''ve nursed & my last child. If you read some Plastic Sur. mess boards you can see some people who absolutely have body issues that cannot be fixed by sur., but many just want a little tweak. Reasonable expectations and an excellent MD are a must.

 

[Delster]

Date: 4/1/2008 11:19:34 PM
Author: FrekeChild
EUGH!!! DiamondFan I know what you mean unfortunately. A few years ago I was working at a ice cream store (mentioned in that other thread) and I was behind the counter in my normal clothes because it was my day off-this was a year or so after the surgery. Well, this attractive younger guy (early 30s) comes in with his father(probably late 60s-early 70s) took one look at me and said, ''I''ll take my cream from her, thanks''.

Thank you for respecting me as a woman and not treating me like a sexual object.

I could tell that the son was really embarrassed. I felt bad for him (and thought he was cute!). I was about 23 so I could deal with it ok, but still...that 5 minutes will probably always be with me.

Oh Freke I''m so sorry this happened to you

It reminded me of a story a friend told me about how the boys in her mixed secondary school used to tease the girls, pulling their bra straps etc, and how one girl was nicknamed ''An Bórd Bainne'' (The Milk Board). So cruel. It made me very grateful I went to an all girls school, I wouldn''t have been strong enough for all that back then.

I wouldn''t consider any surgery right now but who knows in the future? I have a bad habit of frowning while I''m concentrating and that''s not exactly doing wonders for my skin. And the girls are a 32E, goodness knows what pregnancy/nursing will do to them! For the moment I''m focussing on sunscreen and kick-**s undergarments and hopefully that''s all I''ll ever need!

I''d never judge anyone for having plastic surgery but sometimes when I see celebs who have had vast amounts of it, or reality shows about people addicted to it, I do feel kind of sorry for them. I wonder about when people undergo surgery after surgery, whether there must be something amiss with their self-esteem.

 

[partgypsy]

After going through puberty my nose bugged me, thought it was too big. Not helped out by my mother saying things like "Oh you would look just like Susan Dey - if you had a nose job."

I also never liked my lower belly. There were times in my life I would do 100''s of sit ups every other day in an attempt to have a flat belly. I would get a six pack, but the lower part still looked soft!

As I''ve gotten older I have become less critical of how I look, more acceptiing of myself in general. I do more yoga than aerobics nowadays.
I might feel differently if for example had a job like being a newscaster where part of my job is being super attractive. There it would be an economic thing to increase my income. At this time in my life I am happy with what God gave me.

I''ve known a number of people who have had plastic surgery of one sort or another. For many I didn''t see what the fuss/desire was about, but from my own experience with my nose I know, what bugs you, bugs you. I think it is great when someone just goes ahead and gets that "thing" whatever it is done and moves on. I would be more worried if the person then found something else that needed fixing, and then something else, and so on.

 

[musey]

Date: 4/2/2008 12:21:34 PM
Author: kellyfish
I am muscular, but I had lipo in 1999 to contour my thi*hs, hips. Excellent results. I never even think about the spots that used to bother me so bad!!!

Out of curiosity, saddle bags?? These drive me CRAZY! I am also muscular and thin, but that little bit of deposit doesn't disappear until I am clinically underweight (seriously). I don't get any fat on my boobs/waist, only in that little below-hip area (and my butt, heehee!, but I LIKE that

).

I have seriously considered just having that little bit on each side sucked out. Don't have the money yet, but I will someday. It's not about becoming thinner, it's about fixing the shape of a very specific, centralized area. Though, to be fair, no one seems to see them besides me, so they're mostly in my head. Still...

 

[divergrrl]

I had liposuction done on my thighs when I was 27. I was in AMAZING shape, thin, fit, pretty smooth thigh skin, but I had hereditary saddlebags that a lifetime of figure skating, dance lessons, weight lifting & teaching aerobics could NOT budge. I even worked out 3x a week with a hardcore trainer for a year before hand to try and bust them, but no luck.

Since I was at my optimal weight, and had maintained the same weight all my life, I was an ideal candidate. It was a GREAT surgery for me. I love having those suckers GONE. I have a long waist, & short legs, so i felt the saddle bags made me look squatty. I have a longer, leaner silhouette now.

Even having 18lbs left over after having 2 kids has not brought the "bags" back. Sure, I''m a little more padded all over, but my shape is the same, does that make sense?

Looking back it was worth it. I''m really into outdoor water sports (diving, waterskiing) and live on a river, so bathing suits are de rigeur for me in the summer. It feels nice to feel confident in a bathing suit & not worry about my legs.

I think I''m done with plastic surgery for now. I used to want a chest augmentation, but, eh....its not permanent, and that''s not Ok with me. I''m too active anyway, my small girls are fine by me...

and I''d be afraid to have anything done to my face (aka facelift, botox, etc). I like my face, it looks like me, and I am not a fan of that weird shiny stretched plastic look that some women get when they do too many procedures. Its not pretty...they cease to look pretty to me. I''d rather have some crows feet...but that''s just me. bring on the spf 50. I''m also only 37, iand I still get carded, so ask me again in 15 years, I may be singin'' a different tune. LOL!

But I don''t like the Micheal Jackson or CatLady looks either!

 

[Fancy605]

Date: 4/2/2008 7:32:25 PM
Author: musey

Date: 4/2/2008 12:21:34 PM

Author: kellyfish

I am muscular, but I had lipo in 1999 to contour my thi*hs, hips. Excellent results. I never even think about the spots that used to bother me so bad!!!

Out of curiosity, saddle bags?? These drive me CRAZY! I am also muscular and thin, but that little bit of deposit doesn''t disappear until I am clinically underweight (seriously). I don''t get any fat on my boobs/waist, only in that little below-hip area (and my butt, heehee!, but I LIKE that

).


I have seriously considered just having that little bit on each side sucked out. Don''t have the money yet, but I will someday. It''s not about becoming thinner, it''s about fixing the shape of a very specific, centralized area. Though, to be fair, no one seems to see them besides me, so they''re mostly in my head. Still...

Oh, musey, you are living my same issue. On me, fat gathers on the same areas. Below the waist only. I would LOVE to have those little areas fixed. Luckily, there are lots of designers who make clothes that sort of disguise all that (and then of course, for each of those there 4 or 5 who''s designs make it even more prominent)

Sometimes I wish I could take the fat from my lower half and make boobs of it. (Gross, right?)

 

[robbie3982]

Date: 4/1/2008 5:24:40 PM
Author: nebe

Date: 4/1/2008 5:12:05 PM
Author: chizzy1982

Is it really awful for a teeny tiny part of me to wish for a small, very minor accident which resulted in a broken nose so would have a ''legit'' reason to get it fixed?

I''ve felt the same way. I have a very ''indian'' nose and one side of the bone has a small bump on it, so my profile is off. It''s not bad enough for me to justify having a nose job outright, but if something happened and I needed it......

I also want my breasts done simply because they''re not shaped the way I wish they were. Who knows what will happen years down the road, but I think about it. Maybe after I have children.

I HATE my nose and always have. I''d fix it in a second if it wasn''t so freaking expensive. I just can''t justify spending that kind of money on something like that at this point in our lives. I''ve broken it 3 times. I had corrective surgery after the first 2 breaks, but not after the third since it wasn''t actually knocked out of place badly enough to need it that time. The first 2 times were in high school (cheerleading accidents). The first time the plastic surgeon said I absolutely could not make any changes to the shape of it, that all they could do was put it back straight (it has been kicked totally crooked!) and it had to be done immediately (surgery scheduled for just a few days after it happened) so that they wouldn''t have to rebreak it. While fixing it though, she did managed to make it a bit narrower. The second break (just about a year after the first) flattened my poor nose (got stepped on in yet another cheerleading accident). Same doc gave me the option this time of waiting and having her fix it exactly how I wanted or putting back how it was immediately. My parents even offered to pay what the insurance wouldn''t cover! It was late winter/early spring though and I would have had to wait a while for it to heal completely before she could go in and reshape it and I didn''t want to have a messed up nose for my senior prom

so I just told her to go ahead and put it back how it was. I wish I''d waited to have it fixed how I wanted it!!! Ugh. I never even look at my senior prom pictures!!! I look at my wedding pictures all the time though and it would''ve have had plenty of time to heal for those. Sigh. Third time I broke it was senior year in college, last semester in a third cheerleading accident (seriously, I''m done stunting forever!!!). It wasn''t bad enough to need to get it fixed, but I can feel how it''s not quite straight and it does bother me.

So, I''m ok with plastic surgery and I would definitely get it myself and have in the past. The only thing other than a nose job that I would consider for myself is maybe a chin implant. I think part of what makes me hate my nose is the imbalance between my nose and my weak chin. Oh yeah, and possibly a tummy tuck if I have a lot of loose skin I can''t lose after having kids.

 

[LAJennifer]

Date: 4/2/2008 8:35:32 PM
Author: Fancy605

Date: 4/2/2008 7:32:25 PM
Author: musey

Date: 4/2/2008 12:21:34 PM

Author: kellyfish

I am muscular, but I had lipo in 1999 to contour my thi*hs, hips. Excellent results. I never even think about the spots that used to bother me so bad!!!

Out of curiosity, saddle bags?? These drive me CRAZY! I am also muscular and thin, but that little bit of deposit doesn''t disappear until I am clinically underweight (seriously). I don''t get any fat on my boobs/waist, only in that little below-hip area (and my butt, heehee!, but I LIKE that

).


I have seriously considered just having that little bit on each side sucked out. Don''t have the money yet, but I will someday. It''s not about becoming thinner, it''s about fixing the shape of a very specific, centralized area. Though, to be fair, no one seems to see them besides me, so they''re mostly in my head. Still...

Oh, musey, you are living my same issue. On me, fat gathers on the same areas. Below the waist only. I would LOVE to have those little areas fixed. Luckily, there are lots of designers who make clothes that sort of disguise all that (and then of course, for each of those there 4 or 5 who''s designs make it even more prominent)

Sometimes I wish I could take the fat from my lower half and make boobs of it. (Gross, right?)

My issue too - and I had them sucked out! Best thing I ever did. I am teeny-tiny, but very curvy. I could drop to 88 pounds and the saddle bags were still present. It really made wearing pants difficult (because I''m soooo small). The procedure was so easy - the doctor injects a solution that plumps up the areas to make the fat removal easier. Total removed from me (including my fat and the injected solution) was about 3 pounds. The shaping difference was incredible! Even the people who said, "you''re crazy - you''re so small - you don''t need that - I don''t even see anything" - were amazed at the results. I felt sore after the procedure, but I never really felt "pain" (though I do have a really high tolerance). I''ve evened gained a little since the procedure (6 years ago), but the proporptions are now even. He took a little from the outer thigh, inner thigh, back of thigh, inner knees, upper and lower abs, and grab handles (all for a total of 3 pounds - so it was very minimal).

 

[musey]

Date: 4/3/2008 1:49:35 AM
Author: LAJennifer

He took a little from the outer thigh, inner thigh, back of thigh, inner knees

That sounds PERFECT! Mind if I ask how much that cost? (Of course just don't reply if you don't feel comfortable sharing.) I doubt that that would be in the budget for a few more years, but that's exactly what I'd want. I get so frustrated with my silly body! Like you, everyone says "don't be silly, you don't need it" etc... I know the difference would be minimal, but it would mean a much greater confidence in my shape!

And okay, Fancy, we should start popularizing the transfer of saddle bags to boobs. We'd be bajillionaires.

Anyway, I guess now that I'm posting I should contribute to the original question... I think that people should do what makes them happy. Most reputable cosmetic surgeons do require a psychological consultation before performing procedures, which I think is quite important when you consider the growing number of cosmetic surgery addicts. Beyond that, I don't think it's anyone else's business what people choose to do with their own bodies, provided that it doesn't have a negative impact on other individuals.

But then, I'm generally liberal in the area or personal decisions... pro-choice and all that. I really don't think it's appropriate for other people to 'judge' if it doesn't even affect them.

 

[LAJennifer]

Date: 4/3/2008 3:11:48 AM
Author: musey

Date: 4/3/2008 1:49:35 AM
Author: LAJennifer

He took a little from the outer thigh, inner thigh, back of thigh, inner knees

That sounds PERFECT! Mind if I ask how much that cost? (Of course just don''t reply if you don''t feel comfortable sharing.) I doubt that that would be in the budget for a few more years, but that''s exactly what I''d want. I get so frustrated with my silly body! Like you, everyone says ''don''t be silly, you don''t need it'' etc... I know the difference would be minimal, but it would mean a much greater confidence in my shape!

And okay, Fancy, we should start popularizing the transfer of saddle bags to boobs. We''d be bajillionaires.

Anyway, I guess now that I''m posting I should contribute to the original question... I think that people should do what makes them happy. Most reputable cosmetic surgeons do require a psychological consultation before performing procedures, which I think is quite important when you consider the growing number of cosmetic surgery addicts. Beyond that, I don''t think it''s anyone else''s business what people choose to do with their own bodies, provided that it doesn''t have a negative impact on other individuals.

But then, I''m generally liberal in the area or personal decisions... pro-choice and all that. I really don''t think it''s appropriate for other people to ''judge'' if it doesn''t even affect them.

It was 6 years ago and I paid a total of $7000. I think the Dr. fee was $5000 and the rest was for the anesthesiologist and the surgery room. I did a lot of research on doctors - and I went to Jon Perlman in Beverly Hills - he is terrific. My procedure was a few years before extreme makeover was on TV - but he happened to be one of the most featured surgeons on that show - I guess ABC agreed with me.

 

[divergrrl]

Musey: I had the same as LA Jennifer in 1997 and it was 5k. In Portland. I think its more now.

Funny...I was at kickboxing with a girlfriend last weekend & joking about my post-baby jellybelly/muffin top. Now mind you, I have 18lbs left to lose, so its an "all over body fitness" goal thing I''ve got workin'' here. She says to me.."Well just go to Dr. W and have it lipo''d out!".

Ummmmm.....HULLO!! You don''t get lipo to lose weight. (ok some folks do, but that''s not the intended purpose, it works best to budge stubborn pudge) I was like...no thanks, I''ll sweat it off for free. It''s just a baby fat thing. And actually my shape is fine, its just bigger than I like. And 18lbs is a lot on a shorter chick.

I just thought it was funny that her first thought was to get it surgically removed without making a diet/exercise effort first. But she wants butt lipo, and even though I''ve seen her in a bikini, she doesn''t need lipo,she needs squats & lunges (her figure is fine, could use a little firming, but lipo doesn''t firm) but she''s afraid of weights, she says it will make her bulky. What-evah.....

I think as long as people realize plastic surgery isn''t a cure all, and that you need to do what you can first & if something still bugs the everlivin'' daylights out of you then go ahead....

 

[kellyfish]

Date: 4/2/2008 7:32:25 PM
Author: musey

Date: 4/2/2008 12:21:34 PM
Author: kellyfish
I am muscular, but I had lipo in 1999 to contour my thi*hs, hips. Excellent results. I never even think about the spots that used to bother me so bad!!!

Out of curiosity, saddle bags?? These drive me CRAZY! I am also muscular and thin, but that little bit of deposit doesn''t disappear until I am clinically underweight (seriously). I don''t get any fat on my boobs/waist, only in that little below-hip area (and my butt, heehee!, but I LIKE that

).

I have seriously considered just having that little bit on each side sucked out. Don''t have the money yet, but I will someday. It''s not about becoming thinner, it''s about fixing the shape of a very specific, centralized area. Though, to be fair, no one seems to see them besides me, so they''re mostly in my head. Still...

It was inners and outers (saddleba*s--which md said respond well). I was 5''5 and only 116 lbs, but really never even wanted to wear pants because the area was not proportional--heredity. VERY little fat was removed--but it completely smoothed the contour--yes--especially in the saddle area. I told no one except hubby as i did not want to have to justify the procedure as I was technically fit and thin. The absolute best compliment I can pay to my PS is that I NEVER think about that area anymore. I am not perfect, but I walk around the house in a t shirt and panties now even ten years later. Luckily I did not become some kind of PS addict . My results have lasted almost 10 years and I have had 3 babes since. I WAS NOT usin* the procedure to lose wht--which is key & have remained a healthy size. If you consider a procedure--have referrals from people in the medical field & look for someone with an exemplary medical record and reputation!!!!!