What Can Plastic Surgery do for Me?

I know this is a touchy subject because most people have a definite opinion about elective plastic surgery. I use to have one opinion, but 2 children including a c-section later, my opinions changed. I live in Southern California, the mecca of walking size 2 DD's. A walking, and fit size 6/8 standard B, I really felt pretty comfortable in my body, until. . . several people I knew (or knew of) had some cosmetic lifting and tucking and enhancing and they seemed happier than ever. I was having a mid-life crisis of sorts and it was showing on my body. I was embarassed, had trouble being intimate with my husband, and was obsessing over my "overhang" (as described by the plastic surgeon). I discussed a tummy tuck with my husband at length, and while he "loved me as I was" he was tired of seeing my unhappiness and was burdened by the toll that it was taking on our entire household.

In 2004, I underwent an abdominoplasty at the hands of a very skilled plastic surgeon. And once I could stand up straight again, I was amazed with my body. Now, almost 3 years later, I regret the decision. I weigh now almost as much as I did pre-surgery, only now it shows up disproportionate to my body. The reason, my weight issues are in direct correlation to the amount of stress I hold on to. For years I've taught that the physical body is an early warning system for emotional imbalance. I chose to put this knowlege aside when I needed it most; I was more captivated by the happiness my friends and acquaintences were having with their new and improved bodies. I didn't delve deeply enough into my psyche to check my motivations for the cosmetic changes I was about to undergo. I was unhappy, discouraged with my weight loss program and hearing old voices from my childhood that told me I wasn't "pretty enough." Funny, I had this procedure done and ended up emotionally right back where I was pre-surgery. I still had to do my emotional work.

The irony was that as I embarked on truly healing the spaces that caused me to dislike my physical body so much, I had the added challenge of not judging myself for having had the surgery to begin with. I chuckle now, as I continue to do the emotional work and move into a healthier and more fit physical being, at the scene I set up. The surgery did give me an opportuntiy to put the emotional work on hold for a couple of years, but when I did dig into it, I felt as though I was dealing with a backlog of emotional baggage. If my story can help even one person evaluate any irreversible procedure then I will be happy I shared my story.

Let me explain something. . . I still think elective plastic surgery can be an amazing thing. I've seen women have breast reductions and lead new lives. I know women who felt like boys they had so little breast tissue -- breast augmentation improved their lives tremendously. I also know women who needed a jump start towards a healthier weight and were well served by liposuction or a tummy tuck.

But I encourage all men and women to ask themselves the following questions before committing to cosmetic changes: 1) Am I looking to this procedure as a solution to current problems in my life? 2)When I am recovered, what am I ultimately hoping to experience? 3) Am I being honest with myself about my motivation for moving forward with cosmetic surgery? 4) How much is my environment and the collective consciousness influencing my choice(s)?

There are no wrong answers to these questions, but if you can answer them from a truly honest place, you will move forward into achieving the highest good for yourself.

There is no physical fix for unhappiness. You have to do the work, but the experience of healing lasts longer than any bandage I could apply to the wounds.