Life is too short to spend so much time being unhappy with your body. Some of us, no matter how healthy we are, aren't shaped the way we want. I have spent the greater part of my adult life being disgusted because I carry a disproportionate amount of weight right in my belly. So much so I've had many people over the years ask me if I was pregnant - horrifying and awkward! Clothes have never fit right because once I get something big enough to cover my belly, the pants (size 14) are either hugely baggy in the rear and legs, or the shirts (women's XL) would sag on my small upper half. No matter what weight I would lose when I would be good, my stomach would precede me.
For the longest time I thought I couldn't afford it. Then when I could afford it (and it's quite a bit less expensive than I thought - and with 12 month no interest payment options it's VERY affordable), I convinced myself that doing something like this would somehow be morally wrong, that it was some kind of Hollywood decadence to have lipo. That is was somehow fake - if I'd just diet and exercise more, my stomach would miraculously resize itself. Do you know that guilt talking?
IGNORE IT! I ignored my guilt, I fought with my husband (who was 110% opposed to my having surgery due to ex-wife plastic surgery issues), and I said ""Yes"" to me. This is YOUR life, this is YOUR time, QUIT being miserable because you weren't born with Angelina's curves.
It's been 10 days. I'm already back to size 12 jeans and they are loose (for the first time in years) and I could probably pull up my size 10s if I weren't quite so tender. I walk by mirrors and have to do a double-take because it's so weird to not see my bloated stomach sticking out on my profile. They took 2250 ml of fat out of just my stomach and a little on the sides (more than a 2 litre bottle of pop!) and I can't believe it. I'm shaped like a ""normal"" female for the first time in my life!
From the moment you meet with Shab, your Consultant, you'll know this is right for you. If anything, everybody at Sono Bello is just a little bit TOO perky for me, if you know what I mean. From the gal who took my first phone call to schedule (can't remember who it was, but she was great), thru Shab your Cruise Director, to the doctors and ESPECIALLY the fabulous nurses (thank you Becki and ... I'm sorry, I was stoned, but the other one was great too!), it's a very caring, positive and comfortable experience.
You don't need to worry about pain, the actual procedure really didn't hurt. I have a 4-hour tattoo on my back that was much more of an ordeal. Pretty sure I fell asleep. Take your MP3 player and some sunglasses (surgery room is bright) and enjoy the nice pharmaceuticals and wake up shaped like you want to be. The after-surgery pain (didn't really start until that night), was uncomfortable but no worse than a bad headache (in your stomach).
Is it weight loss? No, it's not. 10 days later I weigh exactly the same as I did going it (swelling probably replacing the fat they sucked out). Will it make me take better care of myself in the future? That is certainly my intent -- but I think even if I don't change my diet and exercise (or lack thereof), I still think I'm going to lose 3 or 4 pants sizes. Is it a ""happiness placebo?"" (my husband's phrase) No, of course nothing can ""make"" you happy if you're dedicated to being miserable, but it is SO NICE not to feel that nagging sense of feeling ugly.To not go through your closet and pass this shirt, and that shirt, and that skirt, because you can't fit in it or it's so tight it makes you uncomfortable.
So whatever your ""area"" - do it. The excuses you are making for yourself just excuses. It's OK to do something nice for yourself. It doesn't hurt (OK, it's not that big of a deal), it won't bankrupt you, and you'll get to start wearing all those clothes you've kept for a decade because ""some day you're going to get back into them.""
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