In the Name of Beauty

Okay, so I went under the knife today. Well, not exactly a knife, but a laser...

I had some scarring on my chin which I've had smoothed out with laser surgery, as well as having some moles and other sundry bits and pieces excised from my body.

All I have to say about the whole experience is.... OUUUUCCCCHHHHHH.

It hurts like hell! I mean, really really hurts.

I had over twenty injections of local anaesthetic, twelve of which were in my face. Who knew faces had so many nerve endings! It was excrutiating.

And now, approximately twelve hours laters, my chin looks like some horrible disfigured Incredible Melting Man with blood and swelling and oozing and, well... it's just freaking gross. It can't even be covered with a dressing, because of the awkward location, so all I can do is put vaseline on it to protect it and leave it open for all the world to see.

My four year old is scared of me.

And it aches, throbs, burns and just plain hurts.

And this is just my chin. How do women have this done to their whole face?!

Anyway, this has taught me a valuable lesson: I am NEVER having cosmetic surgery done ever again. I don't care how grotesque I am. I will live with my imperfections.

I don't know how women repeatedly subject themselves to laser surgery, chemical peels, botox, implants, nips and tucks, major reconstructions.

What kind of crazy world do we live in that we do this to ourselves, of our own free will, all in the name of "beauty"?

I'm pretty sure if I knew what I was feeling and looking like right now, I would not have gone ahead with this.

But maybe it's like childbirth... you forget the pain, and a year later you start thinking... hmmm... another one wouldn't be so bad... would it?

Well let me answer that question straight away: Yes. Yes, it would be so bad.

Don't do it.

Ouch... sounds nasty! But... since it was your chin, I can kinda see why you'd go through it. I have not had any cosmetic surgery, no need - guess I'm a natural beauty so far... LOL I can only think that if I EVER lose all the weight I want to I'd need/want my tummy tucked as there'd be a mass of loose empty skin left behind as with the years my skin has become less elastic and will not spring back where it used to be.

yeah, i always thought i'd want a tummy tuck, too, because my tummy has never bounced back after having joshua (10 and a half pounds of baby!).

but now i know that if i worked hard at the gym, it could get a lot better than it is, and i wouldn't have to endure surgery.

as for my chin, it still isn't perfect and it never will be. there is only so much they can do with laser surgery. but i guess it is better than it was. not sure if it has improved enough to have gone through the whole procedure, though.

and no, desiree, you definitely don't need cosmetic surgery - you are beautiful just as you are! :)

Hi, I have a garden blog and no camera. I live on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and have fallen in love with succulents. I found your blog and succulent photos and would like to use two of them in my blog.They are so gorgeous: transluscent green rosettes.
Is that possible? I would attitribute the photos to you. Thank for your consideration.

And i love you blog. I am reading it backwards so far, and skipping around. The bit from a few years ago about having your mom's arms was so so true, for me too.

Andee

tbank you andee. i'm happy for you to use my photos if you attribute them :)

i wish i was a gardener... i'm not much of a green thumb! :)