For this month’s “Let’s Talk About” topic, I’ve picked Plastic Surgery. And for those of you who read my blog regularly or follow me on Twitter, you know that I am having plastic surgery. So instead of talking about plastic surgery in a broad, “how does it effect us culturally”, or “is it right or wrong” sense, I choose to talk about my experience with it all.
I am having my procedure on Wednesday May 19, 2010. After I get home, sleep a few days and get to a point where I can sit at my desk, I will start updating with post-op experiences. Until then, I can only share with you the things I have experienced until now. So here it all goes.
Two years ago (give or take a few months) my husband and I started talking about breast aug’s and things that we liked and didn’t like about them. I had wanted one at that point, but was still weary from the possible negative side-effects (i.e. having my body not take the implant well, becoming sick, feeling weak, reacting poorly to the anesthesia…) and not financially in a place where I had to really make a choice about it, realistically. So over the course of two years we slowly started doing more and more research, putting together Excel spreadsheets with names of doctors, where they were located, their credentials, their staff’s credentials, and much more. I e-mailed a handful of places, requesting rates and information packets. Still, six months after doing all this, we had not definitely decided that we were going to do it. Then one day we talked about our future in more detail than we normally do. As much as we want to have kids, we realized that this isn’t the right time for us and that we still have a laundry list of things we want to do together, and alone. And that’s when we decided. I kind of just said ‘I want this, and if I wait 10 years until after I have all my children, I may not be in a place to do this, financially or physically.’ My husband agreed. So we then chose a doctor and proceeded with the consult.
Right now we are waiting to have the pre-op appointment (this doctor is two hours away so we will have a partial phone pre-op and partial in person when I am there for the surgery), we have paid, got my prescriptions, and now we are just waiting for it to happen.
The hardest part so far has definitely been the mental anxiety and stress that comes along with having plastic surgery. I have actually dealt with the possibilities of the surgery not going as planned, and moved past that. It’s the peripheral things that have made it hard to deal with.
My husband and I wanted to tell our parents so that they didn’t just see us after the surgery and go “WHAT? WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US?”. As it turns out, we could have done that. Matt’s parents said that wouldn’t have hurt their feelings or shocked them. But still, I am glad we told them because.. better safe than sorry 
They pretty much took it as good as any parent would… warned us what could happen, said “you better make sure you have a good doctor” (ugh, duh), and “don’t turn out like Heidi Montag”. But for the most part they treat us like adults and didn’t have much judgmental stuff to say to us (not to our faces, at least!). My mom, on the other hand, acted disappointed and upset. In reality? It’s disappointing and upsetting that she reacted that way. But I’ve come to terms with the fact that parents don’t like to see their kids grow into a person that they just didn’t picture. I believe my mom just didn’t think I would do this and thinks I will be a different person now. She told me the same things Matt’s parents did–make sure you have a good doctor (ugh, duh again), and don’t look like a “freak” and the classic “you’re not going to get them really big are you?”. But as much as I love our parents, I have to know that they love me, they don’t fully understand why, and they are just concerned. Nevertheless, the judging phone calls and guilt trips have been stressful. And sometimes you think “Is it worth having everyone react so poorly?” but then you have to remind yourself that it’s your life and you have to life your life to make yourself happy, not others. But I must say, it has been difficult. My sister and her husband have been the only really, truly supportive family members. They asked questions at first but in a supportive way. They have been the only ones in both sides of our families to really accept and be happy for us. Granted, we only told our parents and sisters (& sisters’ husbands) but still. So we appreciate their support. It almost makes up for everyone reacting so mixed.
The burning question for those who know me seems to be: “Why? You don’t need it.” Everyone views their own body differently than others view it. Since high school 7 years ago I have lost a lot of weight, gained weight back, and lost some again. And the initial loss back in 2004-2005 was a significant amount of weight for me because I was never really overweight. Nonetheless I lost about 40 pounds. My body has reacted to the loss and gain, as any body would. I have a lot of stretchy skin, loss of volume, and generally a smaller cup size on one side. So while you look at me in clothes you may not know, but I know. I know and that’s enough. And that’s really all I feel like I have to say about that.
Last year we bought a house and put LOTS of time and money into it. It’s not 100% finished but it’s really very close. We literally had to fix everything. New floors in the WHOLE ENTIRE HOUSE. Every room had to get primed and painted. We ripped out the kitchen counter tops and appliances and re did it all… ourselves. We did everything ourselves. Matt’s dad is retired so he helped so much. But the whole process is so stressful because it’s so big financially and it weighs on a marriage when one person wants to do one thing and the other wants another. So, yes, we are so very glad the house is practically done. And this surgery is also partly a reward to us, among other things, for remaining so strong throughout the process. We never gave up on each other or on the house and the outcome has been turning a heap of crap with a great floor plan and big back yard into our perfect starter house. So yeah, the surgery is partly the treat that comes after the work. We lived on next to nothing for three years, barely getting by, and now we are saving money and doing well. So I feel entitled to something just for myself. That’s really not anything I need to defend past what I’ve already said, and that’s really not something people can question.
So I have a phone appointment with the surgery center on Monday, where we will plan the time for Wednesday, work out last minute details and what not. I’m excited, after two years of discussion, it’s finally here. I know I will be nervous when I check in, but right now I’m excited. Some other details I can give right now: the surgery only takes between 1-2 hours, I’m released that day right after (but we are staying in town because we have a post-op appointment with the doctor the next morning), and I am going back to work on Monday. They say after 4 days you feel good–good enough to go back to work–so I will be going back to work. That should be interesting 
And after 3 weeks I can go back to the gym. I will miss the gym greatly. But it will still be there when I get back!
That’s all I have for now. If you guys have questions, comments, or anything… use the comment section below or even feel free to e-mail me I’m an open book.
More to come later.
(P.S. That is Lucy Pinder in the photo)
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