Cosmetic surgery - have you/would you?

[debster]

I know not strictly a 'health' issue but there you go.

After 2 children my tummy is sagging horribly. I am too lazy to do loads of exercise and am not even sure it would do much good as there is a lot of skin as well as fat IYSWIM. I have started thinking about some form of cosmetic surgery to get rid of my unsightly gut but do not know anything about it. I'm also not sure if I could go through with it either. I know I am a lazy cow but could surgery be the answer? What about the belt things that go round your tummy? Do they work?

What do you all think?

I often think about this but in my bust area. After 2 children and now one on the way (only 5 weeks though) my boobs are...well...how can I explain it...err...well just like 2 flat flaps of skin!!! I've been looking foward to having a bust again now that I'm pregnant but nothing has happened yet.
Would I have it done? sometimes I would and sometimes I wouldn't, and if it came to and we suddenly had the money (fat chance of that!) I think I would probably be scared to get it done so I'm going to be stuck with these things forever!!

If your talking about those stretch belts that send waves to make your muscles contract I would say no. Only real exercising of the muscles will or the surgery. I did buy a belt from fast abs and it didnt do a thing unfortanatley.

As far as the surgery I personally plan on doing a liposuction instead of a tummy tuck. I was just on the internet the other night looking up that exact thing and learned lipo is much safer and heals so much faster. I too have a really buldgy tummy from having children. Surgery could be the answer but obviously to that area only. I would go ahead with it because I know how a saggy tummy can be very depressing especially when your trying on clothes. I think that after having so many kids as myself (3) the tummy may never really lose all the fat because I have lost so much muscle. If you feel its your case then I would go for it. No matter how much weight I lose everywhere else the tummy just doesnt seem to want to go away. I think I can live with other parts of my body being pudgy but just not the stomach. It drives me crazy. Good luck with what ever you decide.

Oh no, I'm so dismayed. After ds1 I reverted to my former shape and ended up thinner than before I started. However, 16 months after ds2 I'm still overweight and my waist has disappeared. I really want my waist back, but how? I don't want to do surgery - does exercise really work? If I do exercise, how will I find the time to Mumsnet? (I have been an addict for some time but decided on a new nickname a few weeks ago)

EmmaTMG, you have my totally sympathy - I am in exactly the same boat. After having 3 children, I am now slimmer than I ever have been (size 10/12), flat tummy, etc. but my bosoms have now become empty flat pancakes. (Size 34B but bit baggy!). I always wish I could have my bust enlarged/filled out, but I dreamt once that I had it done and I was full of remorse after waking up after the operation (in my dreams) to see the scars. Absolutely terrible. I then decided that I would stick with what I have got - although it is only my dream that has put me off. Reality speaking, I think that if I could afford it and I could have proof they would look "good", then I might be inclined to have them enlarged/uplifted/filled out.

I wish I had that problem - my boobs are now too big - I dream of reduction surgery but heard that this is one of the most painful ops and can have problems. Would also kill for some liposuction and a face peel...

I think it would be easier to say what I wouldn't have done! Tummy tuck, buttock suck all over pluck here I come!

Iota - I was the other way round. After ds (1st child) I was carrying round an extra stone. I knew I weighed more, but I didn't realise how much until I got to my second pregnancy. I had morning sickness and couldn't eat and I lost a lot of weight in the first few months. After I had dd I lost the weight straight away.

As far as the surgery issue goes, I think very few people are happy with their bodies - particularly after having babies. I personally would never have surgery. I think we get far too hung up on looks. There's far more important things, and while I don't think I have a great body, I wouldn't want to resort to surgery to change it.

Aside from that to me theres also the issue of going through an operation, for the sake of vanity. I've had to put my ds through 2 operations so far (and there will be more to follow). I know the risk is relatively small, but it's still an unnecessary risk, and I wouldn't want to risk depriving my children of a Mum for something so trivial. Before you all jump on me, I know it's not always trivial, but I think what we're talking about here is.

I only ever had two fried eggs instead of nice breasts and sometimes talked/dreamt about a breast enlargement but never really considered it because of the operation risks involved.

However, when i became pregnant and for the first time ever had 'proper' breast (32C) I LOVED them. And then while breast feeding I went to a 32D which was even better. I really, passionately, did not want to lose me new chest and so just over a year ago I had surgery.

I am thrilled with the result. I did suffer some pain and discomfort for about the first 2 weeks but the most worrying thing was the numbness around the nipple (I was warned to expect this) but that has now gone completely. I appreciate that surgery isn't for everyone but it was right for me.

I had cosmetic surgery 6 years ago - ~I had a breast reduction as they were out of proprtion to my relatively slender bod (36FF), I was delightd with the effects and felt so much more confident. Now I have great tits but a multitude of other problem areas! I have considered a tummy tuck but am reluctant to have an unnecessary general anasthetic now, the risk is small but there is a risk and as a mum I probably wouldnt take it. The slendertone belts dont work particularly well from what I have heard, wish I had the answer.

A tummy tuck costs around £5000. Some people are thrilled with the results but don't even think about until you are completely sure you've had your last child, otherwise everything will get stretched out again and it will all have been a waste! Surgeons say that sometimes muscles get so stretched by pregnancy that they can't retract fully, which means the belly contents (ie stomach, tubes etc etc) sort of spill forward against the bulging muscle, making you look fat even if you're not. In these cases exercise won't help but a tummy tuck can correct it. It is a big op - two nights in hospital followed by two weeks of discomfort (including a weird sensation of being stretched incredibly tight from chest to hips) and having to take major painkillers while you rest at home, plus another two to four weeks before you can resume normal exercise etc. I think it would be work trying a month of sit-ups and a diet before shelling out £5000. Lipo isn't always suitable because the big belly can be lax muscle, not fat, which lipo can't treat. Also lipo won't help saggy skin, and in fact, lipo can make saggy skin look worse, as it will look even more like a deflated balloon. You don't lose muscle with pregnancy, it just stretches, like old knicker elastic! It's always worth exercising first as you don't know if your muscle can tone up or not unless you try.