Amber's Malaysia surgery Holiday

Profession:	Artist
Age:	47
Country:	USA
Procedures:	Full Facelift Rhinoplasty Liposuction to Hips, Thighs and Buttocks Lip Augmentation
Cost of holiday:	$14,000 USA inclusive of all surgeries, 3 nights hospital stay, 5 star accommodation for 14 days, all GG services and transfers on the ground in Malaysia, Return flights Malaysia - USA Cost of just the treatments at home $30,000+

 

"The hospital staff, nurses, Gorgeous Getaways and Dr. Jalil were top notch. I felt very confident in them and the care I received was fantastic. Much better than I have received in US hospitals."

 

If you would like to speak to Amber or other clients, please contact us at Gorgeous Getaways.

 

 

Amber - Full Facelift
Before	After

 

Why did you want to have the surgery?

Going way back to understand where I am coming from...my mother was a Holocaust survivor. All of my grandparents and most of many of my aunts and uncles were killed in the camps. She was interned in Auschwitz concentration camp and escaped during the "Death March" (I ghost wrote a book for her that is now in it's second printing). I mention this because of the way I was raised. I was the "miracle" baby, finally appearing after 15 years of my mom trying to get pregnant, when she was almost 40 years old.

There was a big generation gap between my mother and I, and also a cultural gap (she being Hungarian and me being first generation American). The result of this is that I was a very overprotected child and I had a MAJOR rebellion as a teenager. I got lots of tattoos, did a lot of drugs and basically let my body go.

I stopped taking drugs about 25 years ago, and after having a child of my own and a lot of therapy I finally grew up and out of my adolescent rebellion, but it left its "mark" on me physically. I went to universities and earned a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, and two Masters Degrees. One is "Education" and the other in "Library and Information Technology". I also earned two California teaching credentials, and I was a high school teacher for 13 years. About 5 years ago, my husband and I moved to Hawaii where it is very warm and people dress in bathing suits and skimpy clothes (my body does not look good in a bathing suit)! I stopped teaching high school and embarked on the career I always dreamed of since I was a child...being a full time artist.

I have totally changed my life around and I am having some success at what I am doing. I feel empowered and as if I am finally the person that I want to be. It has taken me 47 years for "find myself" and now that I have, I find I am in a body and face that don't fit my personal view of who I am.

I have unwanted tattoos and my face and body show the ravages of years of neglect and drug abuse.

Being an artist, I see plastic surgery as an "art", and I firmly believe that a good surgeon has to be a sculptor, as I am. I have no hang-ups about working on my body (I had breast implants and a brow lift about 7 years ago). I view it as a sculpture...hopefully a work in progress. For the last 10 years or so I have been very careful about eating well and exercising regularly. I hold a brown belt in Sholin Kempo Karate, I used to run 5 miles every other day (now achilles tendonitis forces me to walk). Now I walk 4 miles every single day. I am in great health but I want my body and face to reflect who I am inside.

Why did you choose to go overseas rather than have the surgery at home? What appealed to you about a cosmetic surgery holiday?

I did a lot of research on the internet before choosing Gorgeous Getaways, but also, I had previous plastic surgery (breast implants) when I lived in California about 8 years ago, so I was aware of prices, research etc.

I chose to go overseas for two reasons:
1. First of all, the care I could get at a hospital overseas is so much better. Here in the U.S., my experience has been that they send you home from the hospital (if you even GET a hospital, not a clinic) way before you feel ready. I have particular issues with nausea and dehydration from vomiting after having a general anesthetic. (I have known this about my body for years. I have low blood pressure and I pass out and get nauseous at the drop of a hat). After surgery I need more fluid than most people and I wanted to be cared for in a hospital setting where I could be on an IV as long as I needed it, until my nausea had passed.

The worst thing I have experienced from previous surgeries in the USA is being sent home while still nauseous and having to be taken back in to "emergency" to get "tanked up" with fluids.
I am also allergic to Phenothyaizines (anti-mimetic drugs), so if I get nauseated, there is nothing that can be done except to wait for it to pass.

2. The second reason was the price. Just can't beat it...it's a "no-brainer".

I chose Gorgeous Getaways because after doing a lot of research I found that Dr. Jalil had a lot of experience, I had read many favorable reviews of experiences of people who had been to Gorgeous Getaways and they offered the best care I could find.

What were your impressions and feelings after you arrived in Malaysia and what did you think of the surgeon, hospital and GG team?

I was not too nervous since I had plastic surgery before. I told EVERYONE what I was doing. Some were supportive and some thought I was nuts.

The hospital staff, nurses and Dr. Jalil were top notch. I felt very confident in them and the care I received was fantastic. Much better than I have received in US hospitals.

To prepare for surgery I took "arnica" for a few weeks ahead and I discontinued my aspirin therapy. I didn't need to do much else as I do not smoke or have a bad lifestyle that needed to be changed.

I have to say that having the surgery in Malaysia and booking with the company that I used (Gorgeous Getaways) was by far a brilliant thing. My 4 star condo/hotel was beautifully appointed, had a fully equipped kitchen as well as maid service, sauna, gym, beautifully landscaped pool, excellent FAST and delicious room service, bath towels big enough to use as curtains, a huge bathtub, etc...

My first day there I went to the Petronas Twin Towers where I shopped 'till I dropped. Malaysia is a mix of very modern (architecture, designer fashion, technology) mixed with the very traditional...Muslim women in headscarves, even a few in Burkahs, sidewalk shrines with incense burning and of course in inevitable British influence in terms of everything from food, to the accents of the people (everyone speaks English and signs are all in both languages) and driving on the wrong side of the road. They are plagued with terrible traffic and pollution, yet have beautiful areas of tropical greenery just outside of Kuala Lumpur.

That same day I went to the hospital to meet with Dr. Jalil and plan my procedures and have the pre-op blood tests, EKG, physical, etc. The hospital was modern and absolutely beautiful. Clean enough to eat off the floor. The nurses were spotless and beautiful in their ironed starched uniforms...little hats and all.

Dr. Jalil was not typical looking in any way. He's a really thin little man, very youthful looking at 50 and dressed in black jeans and a black t-shirt emblazoned with some metal rock group. When I came in, he put his white coat on and exuded total knowledge and control. I had a page full of questions for him and he took a long unhurried time with me answering all my questions and examining me thoroughly. We decided on a face and neck lift with a small amount of nose contouring as well as lipo to the "spots" of fat on my hips, thighs, knees and ankles. A tad of collagen would also be added to my lips for a more youthful look. He drew a topographic map all over my body as a guide to show him where to do the liposuctioning. I left feeling confident that I had made a good choice. That night I added comments all over my body to amuse him when he was doing the lipo. I figured I already had so much ink on my body that a little more would hardly make a difference.

How did the surgery day go for you, and How do you feel after surgery?

I was not very nervous, and the admitting procedure was very easy...almost FUN. I was excited! The day before when I met with Dr. Jalil I felt very confident. I had a page full of questions which he answered with no rush. I felt as if he had all the time in the world to spend with me. I was pleased that he ordered an EKG and blood work-up, as this made me feel that he is being careful not to take patients who are unfit for surgery.

These tests went amazingly fast! I had NO waiting, just walked right in. Kathy accompanied me through everything so I never had to find my way around a foreign hospital or anything. She also got my anti-biotic and sleeping pill prescription for me.

The room was beautiful...It was a private room with a huge T.V., pretty flowered wall paper, clean, big soft looking chair as well as two small sofas. The hospital bed was the typical kind you find in US hospitals with railings and controls to move all parts up and down but instead of a crappy sheet and blanket, I had a soft down quilt. I was also introduced to Sharifa who was to be my own private nurse. She had no other patients but me. She went home every night to her family (when I had the nurses aides taking care of me and which ever nurse was on duty that night), but during the day Sharifa was all mine. It was all very appealing. An IV was started and the next thing I knew I was being woken up after 8 hours of surgery.

Once I woke up after surgery I was amazed at the hassle around me. It felt like there wee nurses all over the place attending to my needs. I remember three nurses...one helping me call my husband in the US, while another fed me spaghetti and meat sauce and apple pie, while another was checking my dressings. I felt great that evening, and had no pain at all.

I was also presented with a nicely cellophane wrapped "bucket of fat" that was removed from my body. An interesting touch, I must say. I took a picture of two of the nurse aides with it.

The next morning wasn't so good I found myself extremely nauseated and violently ill. I was taken off the morphine, as this is what was thought to be causing my nausea. Even after being removed from the morphine I didn't have any pain. In fact I can easily say the whole experience was pretty much pain-free. Yes, I had "discomfort" and I was achy all over from the lipo. My face felt tight and my ears ached a bit, especially when I slept on my side, but it wasn't unbearable in any way at all. I was uncomfortable, but really not in any actual pain. The nausea was another story.

I had a really hard time for the next three days, but this is just me and the way my body reacts to morphine and anesthesia. I kind of knew it would happen, though I was hoping it wouldn't. I had no pain at all, though I can say I was uncomfortable and felt bruised and achey. For me, it was the nausea and vomiting that was the worst.

The care I got from Sharifa and the other nurses and aides was incredible. Sharifa especially. She washed me, washed my hair, fed me, cut me up fresh fruit to try to entice me to eat (I had no appetite), went out and bought me apple juice to try to entice me to drink. She coddled me, held me when I vomited and encouraged me to "get it all out", called me "my darling" and generally was so empathetic and loving. I really felt lucky to have her to take care of me. If I pressed my nurses buzzer for any reason she showed up within seconds.

Sharifa was "the bomb". It was like having my mommy with me. She nursed me through my nausea, brought me freshly cut up mangos to try to entice me to eat, washed my hair, bathed me, cleaned up my vomit and all the while called me "darling". She was so WONDERFUL!

I was in the hospital for three days. I thought they'd kick me out after two, but Dr. Jalil could see I was struggling and still nauseous, so they didn't release me until I was mostly past the nausea and hadn't thrown up for 12 hours. They also removed the catheter and made sure I could urinate and defecate before I was released. I felt that they were very concerned not to release me too early, and I was VERY glad to stay where I could get an IV until I was stable.

How was the recovery for you?

I spent three days in the hospital, and two days at Lanson place before I felt ready to venture out. My big excursion was to the nearby grocery store, and it was enough for a day. Then I started recovering more quickly and in about a week I was shopping at the Twin Towers and exploring Kuala Lumpur.

I would highly recommend Gorgeous Getaways to others. If I ever decided to do more Plastic Surgery I would forgo all research this time and book immediately with Gorgeous Getaways.

What would you recommend to other people who travel on a surgery holiday?

I have a U shaped pillow that I took along for the plane flight. It is filled with "buckwheat hulls" and called a "Bucky". They are made in Washington State in the USA. It was a GODSEND. After the facelift in the hospital it hurt to lay on my ears, and since I like to sleep on my side, I was very uncomfortable.

Once I got back to Lanson Place, I used my "Bucky" instead of a regular pillow and I have been using it ever since. It allows you to cradle your head with no pressure on your ear. They should be given to every face-lift patient in the world. FANTASTIC!

Did you value the service that you received? Would you recommend Gorgeous Getaways to friends and family?

I would tell anyone who is going to have the same or similar procedures that surgery is "rough". Very hard on your body. Everyone is different...some people have pain, some (like me) do not. Some have nausea, some do not. But no matter how your body reacts, I think it is rough.

If you are willing to undergo a few bad days for a lifetime of being pleased with your looks, than I think it is worth it. In any case, if anyone decides to do it, Gorgeous Getaways overseas is the way to go. Much better care and much less expensive than you can get in the USA.

The whole experience of the doctors, hospitals, nurses and care was fantastic. The company I chose, Gorgeous Getaways, was top notch and I would highly recommend them to anyone who wanted to undergo this experience.

"Much better care and much less expensive than you can get in the USA.” Amber

 

If you would like to speak to Amber or other clients, please contact us at Gorgeous Getaways.