Topic : I Want Plastic Surgery Because...

I had a mastectomy a year and a half ago too. I've since had the reconstructive surgery, with implants, and nipple reconstruction.  The result is amazing.  I look good in my clothes again.

I am happy to have had the reconstructive surgery, and I didn't have a tummy tuck, nor did I have any procedures on my face.  I am 46, and I am proud of any wrinkles that I have.  I've earned every one.

If you really want a tummy tuck though, when you have the reconstructive surgery, ask for the kind where they use tummy tissue in the reconstruction.  Then they have to do a tummy tuck to make the tummy look normal again.

Do you still live in Canada?  In the USA, it is the law that insurance pays for reconstructive surgery after mastectomy.  Since I have double coverage, I ended up with nothing out of pocket for all of the surgeries involved.

Personally, with facial procedures that I've seen, the results look unnatural.  The skin is stretched tight, and it doesn't look "young" at all...just stretched...think long and hard about having anyting done to your face.

Becky

I don't have the problem of excess skin, but I've often wondered WHY insurance won't pay for the removal of the excess skin.  From what I've heard, the excess skin can cause skin infections and other problems, which the insurance does have to pay for...they should get a brain and realize that prevention is the best cure.

Many plastic surgeons offer financing...if you can afford the payments, you might want to look into it.  Otherwise, I don't know what you should do.

Good luck, Becky

A changed body is the price of having children.  Most people never do get their old bodies back.  You have the right attitude.  I have a tummy, and I just choose clothes that flatter my current figure...nothing tight and clingy.  My sister uses a body suit that is supposed to disguise the tummy, and prevent the "muffin" look.  Personally, I've never tried it...I don't like the idea of my body being squeezed into a tight body suit...I like breathing.

Good luck with the lottery...I'm still  trying to win it...Becky

Has your dentist ever suggested dentures?  It sounds like that might be an option to consider.  It is important to be able to eat normally.  It is important to take care of your own health, so you can be there to take care of your kids.  Bad dental health can lead to all sorts of health problems.  It's time to stop dwelling on the fact that you neglected your teeth (it happens), and look toward the future.

Is there any way you can get dental insurance?  Dental implants can be done, but not usually when a whole bunch of teeth are missing.  Implants can be used to make a denture more secure and stable.

You are a great mom to put your family first, but do take care of yourself too...you deserve it.  I hope that your financial situation will improve enough that you can afford to take care of your mouth. In the mean time, brush the teeth that you have to help keep them from getting infected.

Becky

I know I let myself go over the years, it's been years of depression, feeling ugly, feeling unwanted and

then when your husband starts flirting with a woman at his work, picking her up and carrying her to work and even buying her wine. That really hurt! She was small, petite and had real long hair (he likes

long hair) and I cut my hair short, it helped cut down on my migraines. That did not seem to matter to him though, he wanted me to have long hair. I was still the same person inside, just with shorter hair

and fewer migraines. I told my best friend the other day that I would love to be able to have a "Mommy

Makeover", she said she would to. My stomach sticks out so far, I look like I am four months pregnant

and gravity is really doing a number on these old breasts. Thanks for letting me tell my story and thanks for listening, usually it's the cats that listen to me.

Sad, depressed and droopy,

Becky Weidman

A reputable plastic surgeon won't operate on a depressed person.  Plastic surgery will not magically change your life.  If you husband is looking elsewhere, it is his problem, not yours.  I would recommend that you have a Mommy Makeover of the mind.  Go see your doctor, or a qualified psychiatrist.  If you are depressed, you need help, not plastic surgery.  You need to learn to like yourself just the way you are, and if your husband can't see your inner beauty, then he is the one missing out.

Just a note about me...my tummy sticks out too, and I am fatter than I want to be.  I had a mastectomy last year, and have had breast reconstruction since then.  Really, though, the whole thing hasn't changed me at all.  I am very lucky to have a wonderful husband who sticks by my side...married 26 years and going on 27 on Valentine's Day.

What I do to feel better about the way I look is to get clothing that does not emphasize my tummy.  No clingy anything.  I am 46 years old, so the crop top look isn't for me anyway.  I look for clothes that tend to hang straight, and shirts that are not too long.  I usually like button-down shirts the best.  I wear tshirts around the house, and they are not the most flattering.  When I want to look good, I go with the clothes that look best on me. You may have to spend some time in the plus-size department, trying on clothes to find the ones that look the best.  Personally, I shop at Goodwill and Value Village.  A shopping trip to get clothes is fun if you have the right attitude.  I am 5'3", and I weigh 172 pounds, and I am in a size 18.  Although I would like to be thinner, I don't stress out about it.  Due to medical problems, I recently have gained 20 pounds, and I have had to be buying bigger clothes.  I try not to stress out about the size tags...I am just looking for what looks good on me.

So, go shopping, buy some bras with proper support, and get some clothes that you can feel good in.  AND go see your doctor...antidepressants can work wonders on your self-worth. 

Good Luck...Becky