For Miranda, the choice was for a tummy tuck not made overnight. She has had a lot of support from online peers and is super happy that she went for the surgery.
Have you been in doubt about your treatment for a long time?
“It took me a long time to go to the doctor to get a referral. Finally, this moment came, almost 5 years after losing 40 kilos (independently). I come from a family where the motto is: 'You are good the way you are!'. This motto and the voice of my mother in my head: 'You don't cut into a healthy body' have haunted me for a long time. But after years of being unhappy with the way I look, covering things up and disguising things, I finally took the plunge and chose for myself!”
How did you end up at Aesthetic Center Jan van Goyen
“My GP understood IMMEDIATELY why I wanted to have it done. When I got the referral from him, I made an appointment at the OLVG. In the OLVG I met Drs. Van Selms, the doctor who operated on me. He immediately said that I would not be eligible for health insurance reimbursement. He referred me to the Jan van Goyen clinic, where he also operates.”
Was the first consultation what you expected?
“I was very emotional during the first consultation. This was no problem for Drs. Van Selms. He put me at ease, was clear and bright. I had assumed the most intense package you can think of: a fleur de lis, including liposuction and the reefing of the muscles. In the end it went very well. It would be a 'normal' tummy tuck, without much fuss.
What do you pay attention to before making a choice?
“When making my choice to have surgery in the Aesthetic Center Jan van Goyen, I fully focused on my feelings. drs. from Selms is a very calm man with a friendly appearance. I also find him really funny. He always smiles. A man who clearly enjoys what he does.”
How did you prepare yourself for the treatment?
“I've had plenty of time to prepare myself. The consultation was scheduled for February. The operation was finally performed on 15 July. It was convenient for the home front and my work to have surgery in the summer. I joined a private group on Facebook 'Tummy Tuck'. I have (had) a lot of support from this group. In the preliminary phase it was mainly fun. I was curious about answers to the questions: What can I expect? And how do these people handle it? In the context of being co-shy rather than unshy, I was doubly prepared for what lay ahead. I bought a pressure pack and nursing pillow. I made sure I had nutritional supplements, drops and special diuretic teas at home. You can't think of it that crazy, or I would have thought about it! Sports was also an important part of my preparation. Under the guidance of a personal trainer I have made my body stronger and my condition better. I wanted to go into surgery fit at all costs.”
Was the operation successful or not?
“Looking back on the entire process, I can't really say whether it was better or worse for me. There are facets to the recovery that I could not have imagined in advance. For example, the mental and emotional process. The pain is not too bad for me 300%. On day three I stopped taking paracetamol for the wound pain, but for the back pain related to the inability to stand upright. The first nights were mostly sleepless. I got something for that from the doctor. After a week it got better.”
How do you look back on it now?
“And now a few weeks after my tummy tuck. I don't know if I can put it into words at all, but one thing is for sure. drs. Van Selms gave me my life back. My partner and I have grown closer together through the process before and after the surgery. And finally I feel myself, myself! And I'm not even talking about the compliments I get from those around me. People think it's cool, they want to know where I had the surgery done. But most of all they are very happy for me! So if you still have any doubts: DO IT! I could not have given myself a greater gift!” My partner and I have grown closer together through the process before and after the surgery. And finally I feel myself, myself! And I'm not even talking about the compliments I get from those around me. People think it's cool, they want to know where I had the surgery done. But most of all they are very happy for me! So if you still have any doubts: DO IT! I could not have given myself a greater gift!”
