"My journey with Destination Weight loss and Destination Beauty, no regrets!
I struggled with my weight as a dancer my whole life. I was probably a normal healthy weight as a teenager but not thin enough to be a dancer. Probably some body dysmorphia happening there combined with childhood trauma and food based coping mechanisms. Fast forward to quitting dance, loosing all my work due to the pandemic, not being in a healthy relationship and I was 109kg (height 5’7) at my heaviest.
Eventually left the relationship, pulled myself out of the black whole and began the task of healing. But I knew I needed to take drastic action with my weight. A physical “force/stop/repercussion” to my eating habits. So I researched and decided on gastric sleeve surgery with DB. January 2022. Unfortunately due to travel restrictions I had to do it in Australia which was still pricey and they kick you out after two days in hospital to basically fend for yourself. Lucky I was smart enough to seek the help of a nutritionist who I spoke to regularly and still do. (She’s the friggin best btw! She tackles food as well as mental health and environmental factors. This is where a lot of my trauma healing has happened and therefore changed my view on food.)
Come January 2023 and I’ve gone from 109kg to 59kg! A 50kg loss! Not loss, removal!! Never to be found again! Good riddance. However, being in my mid 30s and having saggy boobies and a little belly sag when I bent over was less than ideal. (Flat butt is sad too but I plan to focus on building muscle now! Funny how “ideal” body shapes go in and out of fashion!)
So I had my BL with 300cc implants Feb 4th, and a mini tummy tuck Feb 5th with Dr Angkana. She was/is amazing! Love her work! Earns her title as Boobie Queen! Like my tummy tuck too but still early days as to see how it will heal and settle.
Hospital is nice, nice big room, great nurse and other staff, quick to come when on call, regular pain meds, hardly had to ask! I feel cold easily so glad I took a wheat pack (microwave in room) but eventually got aircon to temp I liked. Moved from hospital to hotel on 8th Feb. Massive apartment!!! Great view, lovely gardens, convenient location to hair dresser (can’t wash your own hair), coffee shops, 7/11 (for all snack and fruit needs), plus nail shop and massage! Daily breakfast had heaps of variety and met so many lovely people (patients and support persons) all willing to share information on getting around, places to go and share taxi fares with!
Places to go- The Sanctuary of Truth (day trip to Pattaya City through tour desk), Erawan Museum (GIANT 3 headed elephant you explore inside. Just stunning, but plan trip back wisely as not all taxis will drive that far-train is easy and cheap), Wat Pho (temple of huge gold reclining Buddha), Terminal 21 (great shopping centre), MBK (knock off clothes/bags/tech), Asiatique (funky vibe markets and restaurants next to wharf).
Besides the usual roughness that comes with having surgery and recovering with drains and compression garments, I only had one moment of annoyance that wasn’t clear. Because I had only mentioned but not booked the tummy tuck, I had all the extra costs and hotel stay information from them but did not realise they did not charge me for the extra cost of hotel stay when I paid for the remainder of my surgery at the hospital. I assumed they had included it just like they did when given the original quote and asked for deposits and other payments. So I get a nasty shock when I’m asked to pay for my extra hotel stay close to my original check out date and I don’t have the money. Lucky mum came to the rescue and transfers happened fast but I was wondering if I’d be sleeping on the streets for my last few days!
And bloody Qantas have not accepted my medical certificate (yet-I’m fighting them) explaining why I had to stay longer for recovery and I had to spend over $900AUD to get flight home changed (hence why I was short to pay hotel stay)! I even had to call them 3 times before they were finally able to find a flight home on my new date that they would ALLOW me to have even though I could see an available flight on their website!!! WTF!!! I thought Qantas were better than that!!!
Anyways, here’s some pics of reference of me throughout this incredible journey! I would totally do it all again, even the pain and the crappy part’s because the results, the friendship and the experience is so worth it!!!! Highly recommend to anyone considering having surgery with DB!
Any surgery pics will be added in comments with some modesty modifications in case your squeamish and don’t wanna see that sort of thing" - Krista.