3 Weeks to a very life changing experience.... This is my personal recollection of my own cosmetic surgery experience.

I have never written a journal before, in fact I really don’t know how. All I do know is that I wanted to share this experience with my future clients and friends...

It is now 3 weeks until I fly out of Australia to wonderful exotic Thailand through the services of another medical tourism company. I have visited Phuket before so I am very at ease in going there and very excited. I love the country and I love the people.

My decision for a Breast Lift and Augmentation comes after having 2 wonderful children and also hitting my late 30’s... I want part of my body back... I feel a woman sacrifices so much of themselves to bring their children into this world... why not get a little bit back? Selfish? Not at all... I will GIVE to my wonderful (sometimes) children for the rest of their lives.... So this is for me...

I do have mixed feelings at present... Anxious, a little excited, but more than anything completely sure of our decision (I say ‘Our’ because I have the support of my wonderful Hubby... I am sure his support is purely for his own reasons... but I am going to run with it).

I did quite a bit of research of my own; into the procedure, where the incision should be, pre op, post op... Hubby did the research on the size for me... very helpful! I even went as far as getting a doctors consult here so I could be more educated.

Overall I was disappointed by the service provided by the other medical tourism company, which I will endeavour not to mention again. This is what drove me to look into providing better service with our own company.

The Aussie Dollar has also just bottomed out! Great, so instead of paying $5500 I am now paying $5800 for my Lift and Augmentation... But you know what ‘WHO CARES’ I am still saving a whopping $9K!!

I am travelling alone. I have a 16month old baby, who I will not be able to pick up for 6 weeks after the procedure and a 6 year old who will not allow me to sit in peace without jumping on me... I call him my Praying Mantis... All arms and legs... dangerous though...

So my decision was a no brainer. GO somewhere else and recover in peace and quiet. The warm weather always helps. I do feel for my Hubby... 2 weeks with both kids??? Kind of.. Mmmmm Maybe I will be appreciated that little bit more?

OK... yes, anxious now... Leaving the kids is going to be hard, and is starting to hit home... which does make me sad. The little bit of guilt for leaving my husband with the kids is also starting to creep in. BUT... what is 2 weeks out of a lifetime you give to your family? My Husband is more excited than me that I am doing this (surprised?). SO it does make it somewhat easier.
I guess with the new business, 2 children, full time work, partner... it is bound to get the better of me at some point. 6 sleeps and counting... mmmm warm weather...

D Day... Another 4am rise... a million things to do... breathe, breathe...Everything is falling into place with SOMNIO. Appointments booked, Accommodation Sites Booked.... Amazing Hospitals Booked... Medical Insurance sorted... Thank goodness for my business partner Yvonne. There is no way you can run a business like this with only 1 person...

Not so excited to be going today, I hate the whole goodbye thing. I was really happy to catch the train to the airport but the kids and husband would have none of it. My eldest is 6 and he is very aware of what Mummy is doing, so he is a little sad this morning. I am sure it will pass pretty quickly. His holidays are jam packed...

Flight was late, which worked well as I had the day to pack and spend with the kids. No tears at the airport, very quick goodbye and run!!

So checking in was fun... Upgraded to Business Class..?? Thanks! Duty free shopping... New Perfume for me... First time since ‘Sunflowers’ came out... I know sad...

Plane trip was fantastic... Singapore Airlines really knows how to do it. Great service, amazing food... great entertainment... Oh, and the reclining bed helped a little! I would definitely pay the extra to fly with this Airline... Nothing is done in halves. Plus it only about $100 more to go with this Airline... well worth it.

Everything is a little surreal at the moment. Not excited, not anxious, not scared. I don’t think I really understand where I am going... I think that was the welcome champagne and lack of sleep. Landed in Singapore on time, 3 hour stop over, which I don’t mind... Coffee, stretch legs, a little shop... Excited now only another 2 hour flight to Phuket. I did find that Singapore Airport was not only ENORMOUS but also not as cheap as I had thought it would be... Pretty much on par with Australia...

Arrival: The hospital was there to pick me up and straight to have my consult and OBEs taken. Driving to the hospital was a little weird. Even though I have been here before. It still astounds me how the Thai's can build a massive contemporary structure next to rubble or someone’s small 3rd world home... There is no rhyme or reason as to why they build where they build... But it just adds to the wonder of the place.

I cannot fault the hospital. The service, the smiles and decor, the calmness. They walk me to the Aesthetic Centre where my blood pressure is taken, weight (awesome), temperature (a little high)...?

Dr Jib or Dr Pongsatorn (there is also a Dr Pongsakorn – so can get a little confusing). Dr Jib is my surgeon. He sits me down and asks me why I would like the surgery, any more children? He explained the procedure inside and out.. He was not in a rush, very calm... A very intelligent man and I felt completely at ease and comfortable with him. We went through sizes... Now, in the end I left it up to Dr Jib. He said that he would try a couple of different sizes whilst I was in surgery to see which one looked the best. I have asked for a specific size, which he will endeavour to fulfil. But he is a perfectionist and I completely understand that I am showcasing his product and he does NOT want them looking ridiculous.

Made it to the Resort by 1pm... Went to my room – What the? Why would this company want us staying here? I immediately went to reception and asked for an upgrade. There is no way I can recover in a room that size... and it had a wet smell... gross. Obviously little research was done.

Now that I have a nicer bigger and more comfortable room, off to dinner and a little shopping...

Has rained pretty much the whole time I have been here. So a little disappointed. But still very hot... Did more shopping yesterday and had a swim. Made sure I got a massage – as this will not be happening for the remainder of my time here (I don't think).

Pickup for the hospital... 730am. I had to travel to the hospital by myself which was a little daunting and again a little disappointing. Would have been good to have an escort... But I am a big girl... and about to get even bigger!

My hospital room is amazing... HUGE! Nurses are lovely, gentle and patient. I am hooked up to a IV and going into surgery in 30min. No waiting times here! I will be knocked out and morphine up for the next 24-48 hours... Oh, not scared at all... get me in there now!

Spunky hospital gown on, taken to see Dr Jib. Blood pressure, temperature (high still?), Loads of photos taken (not sure if I want to see those photos again). Dr Job then does a little bit of art on my chest...That’s when it kind of hits home... I did not look at where he was drawing as I didn’t want to know what was staying and what was going...

I was then wheeled down to the operating room. Greeted by 6 nurses all saying Sawadee... I was placed on the operating bed. Covered with heaps of sheets so I was nice and warm, a little bit of panic now crept in... I was scared :(.
But the Anaesthetist looked me dead in the eye with her kind eyes and said... ‘When you wake up, you have Boobies of 19 year old’... and that was the last thing I remembered... I went to sleep with a smile!

Operation started at 10:30, the next thing I knew I was getting wheeled through corridors back to my room. The only time I was really in pain was when they moved me from the operating bed to my own bed. Now that hurt!!!

Even though they were so gentle and did it slowly... my goodness, child birth all over again. But that went as quick as it came (not like contractions... they never ended!!).
I was hooked up to morphine and stayed pain free the entire time I was there. I must admit, I was thinking a lot whilst I had nurses bring me food, drink, medicine... and Icould NOT contemplate how anyone could go home after this surgery ...Back at home, it is day surgery... CRAZY. How? Why?

I had 2 nights in hospital being completely taken care of. There is no way I could have gone home – especially with my kids. There is no way I could recuperate as quickly as I can here. The other thing is privacy. I did not want all my girlfriends coming around to have a look at the new additions... Especially when at first they feel like they are up around your neck...

The following 2 days went quick. Hospital food is hospital food... Nothing special. Was nice to have your own rooms, (I say rooms, because I had a lounge room and a bedroom), own LCD TV, own bathroom, couches ... own space. Loved it.

I went back to the Hotel the same way I came – ON my Own... I will not mention it again... I am still in compression bandages and will get these off in 2 days when I go back to see Dr Jib.

I am missing my family... I would assume that it is because I am a little sore and just want sympathy... But it is only 2 weeks...
This is the ONLY way to do the procedure... away from everyday life. No hanging clothes out, having to cook dinner, picking up toys or clothes, feeding the dog even...

I don’t care how much the media reports negatively about a ‘Makeover with a Holiday’ Have they done it?... I am proof...! You DO GET A HOLIDAY!
I was up and shopping everyday... Breakfast every morning... Yes, boobs are tender and get very heavy at times... But in all honesty I am not playing games of tennis nor am I out clubbing. How hard is it to walk along the beach or down the street or sit in a wonderful restaurant in the sultry night air...

I need to wear my post op bra for 6 weeks... no worries... need to massage properly... 3 times a day... no worries...(thank goodness for tinted windows on my car)...

I am stoked with the results. Perfect!! I have had 2 follow-up appointments with Dr Jib. I was really impressed with the work he had done... There is hardly any scarring and they are in alignment... very, very happy. I end up going back to Dr Jib 4 times before I depart... No extra cost... they clean and re-bandaged every time I go... Amazing hospital service. No way could you do that back home!

I have had a wonderful time here in Thailand. Emailing the family every day, making new friends and enjoying the warmth. I now have Yvonne here with me and we are jamming a lot in the limited time I have left here. The surgery is done and dusted... on to bigger and broader things!! My 2nd week in Thailand is ALL about SOMNIO!!!!

• Drink loads of bottled water – and make sure you throw a Gatorade in there as well. Top up the electro lades! -Do everything the doctor says... He knows best!
• Eat in Hotels... the last thing you want is a crook belly while you are trying to recover
• Ask for extra pillows in your room (you cannot sleep for the first week on your side)
• Bring a support person – nice to have a familiar face there and someone to shop with! I went on my own and made loads of friends... But did miss a girlfriend shopping with me...
• Keep busy... The more you chill in your room ... the more you’ll miss. Get out there and experience the culture and the people!
• If you’re not well speak up! The hospital will see you straight away!
• You can still walk to the pool bar!! Just don’t go under...
• Enjoy!!!!

PS: I have been back home now for 3 weeks... And everything is great... no problems... Hubby is happy... the 6 year old is still confused... But I am the BIGGEST Advocate for Surgery Abroad. Oh and I have been measured for a REAL bra... Kabumba!