Case study - Heather'S Surgery Holiday In Malaysia

Profession:	Front Office Manager
Age:	23
Country:	Australia
Procedures:	Breast Augmentation
Cost of holiday:	Approximately $6,500, inclusive of surgery, hospital stay, 4-star accommodation for 10 days, and all care and transfers on the ground in Malaysia Cost of just the treatments at home $6500

 

Heather is thrilled with her new body and so happy she 'took the jump'.

 

 

Doing something for me

I had thought about this surgery for so many years, probably about 6 years. I was not 'tiny', nor did anyone ever complain about my appearance. This was something that I wanted for me.

I had agreed to talk to the media in Kuala Lumpur, which turned out to be a major Australian magazine.

In 2006, I finally went to a surgeon in Queensland and spoke extensively about my options. I wasn't 100% happy with my answers and still felt I needed something more. 

I googled the words "Thailand Cosmetic Surgery" and Gorgeous Getaways came up. I was immediately comforted by the fact it was an Australian-based company. After speaking with Louise on the phone and several emails later - I decided this is what I was going to do. 

I was not nervous until the morning of my flight. I was sitting at my laptop re-reading over the information on the Gorgeous Getaways website. I told my family of my plans a few weeks before hand - they were extremely worried about me, especially because I was venturing overseas.

A close friend - my "Other Mother" was meeting me at Kuala Lumpur airport as she was flying in from Hong Kong. The next morning once we arrived at the hospital I met with Dr. Jalil in his surgery and could hear his previous patient thanking him over and over again for such a wonderful change in her life.

I bought a mixture of loose t-shirts and singlets, not knowing what to expect.

The hospital room is huge!

My "Other Mother" and I waited patiently in the hotel lobby for the GG crew to arrive. I was greeted by Louise and the magazine reporter and photographer as well as Charlie drove us the short distance to the hospital.

We went to a small office and 'checked-in' and paid for my surgery (I had called my credit card company in advance to let them know there would be large amounts coming out of my card in Malaysia). The cost was slightly more than I was expecting due to the exchange rate at the time, luckily I had allowed for this before I left.

We then arrived to my hotel… I mean hospital room. This room was enormous - and all to myself (and my Other Mother). There was a sofa bed for her and one for me, although her sofa bed would squeak with every breath she took - neither of us slept that night anyway! The nurses were just beautiful - they spoke fluent English and there were never any communication problems.

I remember being wheeled down to pre surgery and taking my pre med, and also meeting the anesthetist, but I don't remember anything after that until I woke up.

My first thoughts and words were "What have I done to myself" and then "Did I tell the photographer I thought he was hot?!" I had self-administered morphine throughout the night and when I accidentally pressed the nurse call button she had arrived before I could say "I think I pressed the button" - Literally!

I was discharged from hospital by lunch time the next day and was taken back to the hotel by taxi. Unfortunately, the driver decided to take the route that had speed bumps every 20 meters and my GG representative - Faith, had to ask him to slow down please!

I was given sleeping pills and pain killers. The pain killers I was given had an anti-inflammatory in it which I felt didn't work for me. I bought Panadol rapid from a local 7/11 type shop. The sleeping pills worked a treat!

Showing off the “girls”

The day after my surgery I was taken to a different hotel to meet with the reporter and take some photos after I had a sleep in the morning.

I was up and shopping every day after that until the day I left. We mostly caught trains and the monorail. We went to the day spa in the Hotel which was absolutely divine.

On one of our final nights, we went with other Gorgeous Getaways patients and had dinner together and some of us then went to the night markets. We looked like we had been in a train wreck but were able to laugh and joke about it all the same.

Most of Kuala Lumpur is pork-free due to the high Muslim community. We learnt about foods such as chicken bacon & chicken ham. Not so high on my recommendation list.

We probably spent too long in KL. In hindsight, we should have stayed for a couple of days and then gone to Sabah in Borneo which I think would have been a little more 'relaxing' than the hustle and bustle of the city.

It was time for me to pack for home. I was mostly nervous about getting my luggage on and off the carousel. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be and I could have asked the airline staff to help me out. I was excited about showing off my new 'girls' to my friends back home. 

18 months later

Immediately after my surgery, I wasn't necessarily 'pleased' with my results. I had tight, hard, sore breasts. They didn't move when I brushed my teeth or did light exercise. The looked fake and I really felt it. It is now almost 18 months later and I have soft, plump, barely noticeable (that they are fake) breasts.
My friends have noticed more confidence in myself and a bubblier girl has come out.

I love the way I look in glamorous evening gowns, cute singlets in the summer time and of course my figure in a bikini.

I don't feel 'better' about myself but I do feel more confident and sexy in clothes. This has definitely been no career changes or offers since my surgery. I feel that all of the changes have been from me and not from those around me. I love my new body and I'm so glad I took the jump.

Heather’s tips from her holiday

I would definitely not recommend anyone go alone. I think it was vital that I had support with me and also company. If you are traveling alone, I would suggest  that you ask Gorgeous Getaways to put you in contact with others traveling alone so that you could maybe have breakfast together each morning or a coffee in the afternoon.

The staff at Gorgeous Getaways were wonderful. Faith was such a kind person and made you really feel like a 'friend' rather than a ‘client’. The nurses at the hospital were so warm, just like having a mum there for you. I'm sure that if I had ever needed a hug, they would have supplied that too!

A surprise at the hospital was a small toiletries bag which included everything I could possibly need. It had toothbrush and toothpaste, cup, towel for the shower, shampoo and conditioner.

I bought a bottle of French champagne duty free on the way over so that we could celebrate on our last night in Kuala Lumpur, and we did just that! We bought some cheeses and crackers from the local store and popped the champagne and jumped into bed and watched a Matthew McConaughey movie and sipped at Veuve Clicquot.

I would recommend Gorgeous Getaways to anyone considering surgery away from home. Don't do it yourself because you just never know who the surgeons are or if they are surgeons at all. The team was only a phone call away, day or night and had an answer to every question or would call back within the hour with an answer.

 

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