treat the things that matter most

As a flight attendant and operating theatre nurse for over 25 years, it was only a matter of time before I would end up with varicose veins, all of those hours standing on my feet fighting against gravity whilst flying and standing in the same position whilst assisting surgeons in the operating suite.

Also both of my parents had suffered from varicose veins and it is hereditary. They both had them surgically removed 20 years ago.

After commencing work at the Me Clinic, I was interested in the treatment of these ugly veins in my legs that would not allow me to wear dresses or skirts or even go to the pool for fear of people seeing my ugly veins.

The idea of having breast augmentation surgery was something I had considered for many years.

I had always felt my chest was not in proportion to the rest of my body which was tall and athletic, and this had troubled me during my adolescent years and adulthood.

When I left school, and was studying and working, I tried to accept the way I was. I wanted to believe and that it was fine to look the way I did.  But when I would go shopping to buy a dress or an outfit.

“I have always been fit and active, and love to exercise. I love fresh, healthy foods, and steer clear of junk food. When I was growing up, I rode horses competitively and played basketball several times a week."

"When I was in my early 20’s, I started worrying about what my body looked like. I’ve always had a womanly shape, but no matter how much I exercised, and how well I ate, I couldn’t lose weight around my thighs and stomach.

Or if I did lose weight, I looked drastically underweight with a sunken face and no breasts.

"I reached the mature age of 63 and felt happy with my fitness level and the strength and shape of my body. I have always kept active and balanced my lifestyle with healthy eating, plenty of sleep and lots of laughter, but I was unhappy with my face. My jowls, my loose neck and very drooping eyes. No amount of exercise could fix that."

"I looked into what kind of cosmetic surgery would suit my situation and decided on a lower jaw and neck lift, as I didn't feel I needed a whole face lift.

At the same time I decided to have a blepharoplasty (eye lift) because for someone who laughs a lot, I looked quite sad. The results were amazing and I felt like I had gained 15 years."

Turning 40 didn't bother me, it wasn't about the number. It was the evident changes in my face, the loss of volume and youthfulness.

I noticed it looking back at photos. I knew that time had passed, and I was tired of looking and being told I looked tired, with or without makeup.

The thought of actually turning 40 did not bother me; it was not about the number. It was about the visible changes in my face, the loss of volume and youthfulness that was concerning me.

"I feel like my entire life I have looked different on the exterior to how I felt on the inside."

"My eyes made me feel and look tired and much older than I was. Having inherited my fathers eyes and genetics, I always had a small degree of loose skin over the top of the eye creating a hooded look and bags of skin that hold fat around the eye, making them look puffy and under slept. No matter what I did- creams, laser, fillers, peels … nothing improved the appearance of my eyes. It made me look so much older than I actually was and felt! 

"My earliest memories of being overweight started many years ago, at primary school."

"I was teased right through school with all the usual nasty name calling. I tried to exercise in my teen years, bike riding, walking and swimming but it just never made any difference. Eating was my comfort zone."