Case Study - Janette's Surgery Holiday in Malaysia

Profession:	Natural Therapist
Age:	50
Country:	Australia
Procedures:	Facelift, Browlift, Upper and Lower Eyelift
Cost of holiday:	approx $7,000, inclusive of surgery, hospital stay, 4 star accommodation for 14 nights and all care and transfers on the ground in Malaysia Cost of just the treatments at home $22,000+

 

Janette prolonged wait for surgery was worth every moment, returning home less self-conscious and brimming with confidence.

 

Before Facelift, Browlift, Upper and Lower Eyelift	After Facelift, Browlift, Upper and Lower Eyelift

 

A decision over cost

I had thought about surgery for over 5 years, but money was the main problem, it became a daily thought. I was looking much older than my years, top eyelids very droopy and began to get jowls, it was depressing not just upsetting.

I dreading looking in the mirror and seeing a person that wasn't how I felt. My husband luckily was very supportive without being pushy, I did use a credit card for most of it.

I told only one person besides my family what I was going to do as I did not want people lying (to be nice) and telling me I didn't need it.

I had researched for over 5 years and got quotes which made me think I would never be able to afford. Everything felt so right when I researched Gorgeous Getaways, people that spoke English and looked after you made my choice simple and obviously the price.

I traveled alone as it was a short time between deciding and booking,

I had also researched the cheaper less invasive threads, but was told my face was too far gone for it to work.

I had 3 specialists quotes for the procedures and 2 were around $15,500 and 1 was $22,000 which I could never consider without winning lotto.

You see horror stories of things going wrong with overseas surgery, but then it also happens at home, even with lesser procedures so I checked the surgeons' experience and chose by best surgeon and hospital.

Calm and collected

I don't know why I never felt nervous, also Gorgeous Getaways support staff were nice and helpful.

I spent 2 nights in hospital as one side of drains behind my ears had bled more that hoped. I was quite happy to stay the 2nd night, I was aware this could happen and didn't feel ready to be on my own.

When I first looked in the mirror, images of the horror stories came to mind but I still wasn't worried as I knew it was only early days.

The best things about going on my own, was that I could be selfish and ensure a good recovery, rest as much as I needed. Keeping my maintenance procedure up - icing my swollen face, antiseptic get on my stitches, arnica cream on bruising and doing chi breathing a couple of times a day to increase healing and recovery.

I never needed a painkiller from leaving the hospital but I did need sleeping pills mainly because, with stitches around both ears it was painful to sleep on my sides, the main problem from surgery, was lack of padding on the operating table as I lay for a good 4 hours, my bottom did not have the necessary padding on my tailbone and got a bedsore. Luckily it didn't open up into a sore but I could only lay on my back for up to 15 minutes at a time, it was less painful to sleep on my stitched ears.

A bit of fun during recovery

I chose the hotel because it meant I didn't have to cook; I started slowly using the gym as soon as I could, this let me feel more normal. Also, I took self photos daily.

I got friendly with 2 other ladies staying in the same hotel and as we recovered starting going out to shops, bird park, got lost and it was great. Two of us had a photo shoot which was a really good laugh.

I was in Kuala Lumpur for 2 weeks, before my final check up, whilst waiting with an assortment of other Gorgeous Getaways clients at the hospital, some ladies were asking me when I was going to have surgery, as a few ladies who had the same as me looked very bruised. I believe the difference being, that they were out and about really quickly after surgery and were not even doing the minimal recommended procedures to improve their recovery.

More confident, less self-conscious

I came home - 2 weeks away feeling like my face was still a bit stretched, a couple of small bruises that I could cover easily, most of the bruising that showed was on my neck, having long hair I could cover that easily and nobody could tell anything had happened.

My frinds could tell straight away, because I was still a bit swollen my face didn't show any wrinkles, as the swelling subsided over the following weeks, my wrinkles and lines returned. MINUS the jowls, and other extra skin; I could see my eyes as I felt they should of been all along. The scars are extremely hard to notice.

I am so much more confident in myself, just in everyday life, not self conscious of been judged by how I looked.

A word of advice

If you go with anyone be sure its someone who will back your decision. One lady had her husband who was not convinced she needed it, after the facelift, he kept saying she didn't need it after surgery.

Make sure you carry out what you need for your best recovery, it is a big operation and can be life changing.

Gorgeous Getaways gives you the back up and help that I couldn't find even in Australia, arranging and taking you to and from appointments, answering your questions, comraderie Swith other patients.

I don't advertise to everybody what I did, but if anyone asks, or is in the slightest bit interested I have not hesitation of telling them and recommending Gorgeous Getaways.

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