BEAUTY & GLAM
Jump-start a
healthier lifestyle
MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH BODY CONTOURING
By Rhonda Shrum
A
lmost four years ago, I had a massive procedure that included a
body lift, tummy tuck, breast augmentation, breast lift, and a little
liposuction. Oh, and a hernia repair thrown in for good measure.
It was over seven hours long and the recovery was brutal. Worth it, but
brutal. Finally, after being overweight my whole life and dealing with excess
skin, I could tuck a shirt into my pants and wear a two-piece bathing suit. I
was no Barbie, but then again, that was never my goal. I just wanted to shop
somewhere other than the “Plus-size” section and feel comfortable in my
body. I honestly felt like I could live in that size body forever and feel fine.
Fast forward a few years. I met my soon-to-be second husband, and got
a little comfortable. Together, we have three young boys, so meal planning
became an exercise in creativity to get them all to eat. My own meals became
less veggie-heavy, more carb-loaded. Drinking wine on the patio with the love
of my life - after the kids were asleep - became my favorite pastime.
And it showed.
It was a slow creep, but eventually the
clothes I loved didn’t look the same. I could
still fit into them, but not comfortably.
Knowing that weight loss takes time and
effort, I often tried planning my own meals
alongside theirs. I signed up at a local gym. I
did power Pilates.
From left,
But having three kids in different schools,
Dr. William H.
with different start and pick-up times, takes
Huffaker,
Dr. Herluf Lund,
its toll. They’re all in scouts, each in different
Dr. Charles Nathan,
dens with meetings on different nights.
and Dr. Christian
They all take taekwondo. Quite frankly,
Prada.
we’re BUSY. And when you’re a busy parent,
it’s usually your things that get thrown out the window first. So power Pilates
went away. And before I knew it, planning separate meals went away too. Not
only was I exhausted, I was depressed. The idea of getting back to where I was
seemed like an overwhelming task. But I eventually came to terms with the
truth: I was no longer happy with my body.
I always knew I could have liposuction for contour, but I was hesitant.
Surgery and recovery is a time commitment, and time is precious. I
wanted to do it the “right” way. I lingered for months, trying and failing to
get into habits that would make my extra 25 pounds go away. I’d lose five,
and then gain them back.
I got married in February, and we spent a wonderful week in Mexico. I
promised to enjoy myself, and I did, but I made another promise when I got
back - that swimsuit body that walked in Mexico wasn’t going to look the same
this summer in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Sometimes, all you need is a photo to
help you make up your mind, and my honeymoon photos did it. I was having
liposuction. It wouldn’t make me lose weight (liposuction is not a weight loss
procedure), but it would help shape some areas that now had extra padding.
The thing about having cosmetic surgery though, is that it is not an
“easy” way out. Oh no. It is major surgery (liposuction is a very aggressive
technique), and you will be sore and
bruised and tired. Your body will not
bounce back in one day, and you will need
help, so you have to have people who
support you in your decision to help you
physically when you can’t get out of bed or
can’t get to school to pick up the kids. It’s
not “easy,” but it’s certainly worth it.
Liposuction results don’t show up
overnight. Due to intense swelling that
occurs after surgery, your weight will
actually go up for a while. Within four to
six weeks, I should see about 80 percent
of my results. Over the course of the next
few months, I will see the final results, and I honestly can’t wait. In the
meantime, the surgery has completely jump-started my desire to become
healthier. I now see what being lax can do to surgical results, and I won’t
make the same mistake again. I’m eating better, and I even got a new bike
for Mother’s Day. Healthy lifestyle and slimmer body here I come!
Rhonda is the marketing director at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery. You can read her blog at stlcosmeticsurgery.com.
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