Did you do something quite drastic for solely your looks and feel good about it?

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I have just read on another thread where a poster said she hated something about her looks but has come to accept it, as getting surgery to fix it was wrong. Should people be accepting of things that make them feel self conscious because it's only about looks and self esteem and isn't a health concern? Did you change anything about the way you looked for non health related reasons? Is it the best thing you have ever done or do you just focus on something else now? Is it the best money you have ever spent or a total waste that you regret?

Trying to weigh up if I should pay around 1k (by 1 small surgical removal and a small dental intervention) to fix something that has meant decades of self consciousness and low self esteem. First time in my life (at grand old age of 43) that I have ever had the means to afford even contemplating it. Thanks if you take the time to reply.

Mine was a chipped tooth! One of the front two had a chip that had worn down and eventually it was about a third shorter than the one next to it! I had composite bonding (I think!) to bring it back down to the right length. The dentist did warn me that it would have to be redone in 4-7 years but if I wanted it to last longer I could try a mouth guard to stop grinding at night. It’s been four years now and it does have another choir but nothing like as bad as it was! I’m going back soon to get it done again. It was a complete painless and very quick procedure and meant I could smile for pictures again!

Does having the mole shaved off get rid of it completely or could it grow back? Sadly my mole is very dark brown so I think it will have to be laser removal for me. I’ve got about 7 sticky out moles of varying sizes on my extremely pale face (committed to sun hats and spf all year round!) that I would ideally remove but like you, the big one bothers me every day. I turn my face, try to cover it with my hair and avoid photos that could show it. It does make me extremely self conscious and as soon as I can get rid of it I will without a second thought! Only thing that worries me is scarring.

Not sure if this counts, but I've spent over 1k on laser hair removal from my face. I have PCOS and excess body hair is an unfortunate side effect.

Worth every penny, and I plan to do more on my body as I am able to save more.

Yes I have done so.
Do it, you won't regret it.

Ipl laser and/or electrolysis.

Another chip - not another choir!! 🙄

I had a nose job when I was 23 - and I'm still glad I did it 20 years on!

I think that people who think they can make themselves "perfect" through surgery/treatments etc are always doomed to be disappointed. But if there is one very specific feature that you hate, and if you have sensible expectations of the end result, then it can be life changing.

Tummy tuck and even though I developed a infection its the best thing I have ever done

I did lip fillers, amazing, no regrets. Also planning on nose job.

I had a nose job in the late 90s and it is the best money I've ever spent. I don't hide my face with my hands like I used to and don't feel self conscious any more.
If you can afford the treatments, I woukd do it.

Thank you ohmerde

Not me, but DH had nose job, before I met him, and no regrets there. Having seen photos of him before, you wouldn't necessarily think he'd had surgery, maybe that he'd just 'grown into his face' a bit as he got older, but it's a definite improvement. He's a good looking man, but the nose definitely detracted from his other features and a relatively small change fixed that. If either of our kids had same (doesn't look like they will though) I'd support them having surgery if they wanted.

I think surgery can be a good fix for one feature that detracts and makes you feel self conscious, because sorting that out brings everything else into balance. But doing everything to your face because you think it will take you from ugly/plain to 'beautiful' usually seems to just results in a person who just looks like they've had a lot of surgery.

I had a mole removed from my face - it was right next to my nose and (to my mind) the only thing you could see when you looked at me.
I didn’t have it shaved, I had it surgically cut out and the incision stitched back together, but as it is in the crease of my nose there is really no scarring to be seen and zero chance of it growing back.

it’s the best money I’ve ever spent on myself, and it has boosted my self-confidence disproportionately for such a tiny bit of work.
Funnily enough though, after telling friends I’d had the mole removed (or them seeing the dressing in the week whilst it healed and asking what i’d done) it turned out that all but one of them had no recollection of me having a mole there on my face, and photographic evidence was required to prove it. So it probably wasn’t anywhere near as big a disfigurement as it seemed in my mind, but I still don’t regret a penny of it for how it’s made ME feel. I say if you can afford your surgery, then go for it!

Breast reduction, upper eyelid surgery and lots of botox and lasers 😀Would highly recommend all of them.

@BassAce I am the same! I mentioned that I would like it removed to DP and my DSIS and they looked at me blankly but I know it's there IYSWIM and when I am driving and I catch myself in the mirror in direct sunlight it looks like a shiny beacon that no amount of self assurance can make me ignore!

Someone I know had a mole shaved and was so happy with the results, like you it had bothered her for years. Also everyone I know who's had cosmetic dental work is thrilled with the result.

If you can afford it then do it

Botox and fillers after weight loss. Best thing. No regrets at all.

@RufustheFloralmissingreindeer I had Thermavein on my broken capillaries- cost £200 and took 15 mind. Zap! Gone.

I spent a few grand on straightening my teeth and exactly £400 on getting a mole removed from my face. This was years ago and I still appreciate (probably every day!) how money well spent both were.

If you can afford it, do it!!

I have my blonde eyelashes dyed each month. Which might not sound drastic but it completely changes my appearance without mascara. I'd get braces, currently considering it.

Get it done, OP. Don't feel like you shouldn't as it's giving in to vanity or whatever. A bit of vanity is fine, good even! It's not like you're planning to have endless tweakments done in the hope of fitting some Insta ideal.

I've had cosmetic dental work costing £3.5k and botox at £300 every 3 months.

Don't regret it for a minute.

Im now off to google varicose vein removal too off the back of this thread - I have a couple that have become really noticeable in the last year or so and I really should do something about them!

IMO things like teeth fixing, mole removal and minor tweakments are no biggie. I wouldn't go under for anything cosmetic personally but that's down to my own fear of surgery - I wouldn't judge anyone who did. Loads of people get stuff done and just don't talk about it - when my teeth were finished no one even noticed or thought I'd had bad teeth before but the difference it made to me was monumental - I could smile in photos again!

Dental work here too.
years ago braces and two years ago white porcelain veneers because I had dark teeth caused by antibiotics as a baby.
even now I sometimes smile openly and it takes me two seconds to realise my teeth now look lovely and then I feel so happy.
i was never teased or had a lack of male interest but it’s something I always felt self conscious about.

Boob job twice.First one at 27 then at 39 as they'd changed after pregnancy (one and done)
I was a small A before and looked very pear shaped I went to a D then an E.
Very happy as I'm in proportion now

I have lost quite a bit of weight, over 3 stone, and despite losing it very slowly I do have some loose skin. I don't care about loose skin on my belly l, but I have some under my chin. I honestly think my double chin looked better than the saggy chin I have now. I will have surgery to tighten it all up when I hit my weight loss goal.

One good thing about incredibly slow weight loss is it gives me time to save up for it. I think it's going to be horrendously expensive!

Rhinoplasty 7k and no regrets