Cosmetic Surgery – Part 3

My third opinion was with a cosmetic surgeon in the North Shore area. In some weird ‘friend of a friend’ type situation I was referred to a prominent television personality doctor, who referred me to this cosmetic surgeon. Already I was expecting it to be a little swish swish and I wasn’t disappointed. If the public hospital was like a prison, this Doctor’s practice was like an expensive bed and breakfast.

There was elevator music, nicely displayed magazines (all from this month!), a very warm receptionist who even offered tea and comfy seats in the waiting room!

The Doctor himself was wonderful. He took a look with gloved hands and gently said “ahh, one of these, you poor thing”. My mother, who was accompanying me to make sure I didn’t have a breakdown again, said this was a good sign that he had experience with what I had. He explained that he thought it was a benign growth called something very complicated that I can’t remember, which basically sounded the same as what the public doctor had said. He took his time to gently explain everything, answer all our questions and even research certain things in his big books while we sat there.

He quoted around $1500 all up, including hospital fees, said it would have to be done under general, and that honestly he would recommend the other Dr’s over himself as he is not an expert when it comes to oral surgery. My mum piped up “Well can you do the bags under my eyes then?”

“Certainly”.

Could be the start of a beautiful relationship?

Picture/s:
my own!

 

Cosmetic Surgery – Part 2

Today was specialist number 2, although this time in the public health system, and this time I dragged my mum and best friend along for moral support. The place was a lot less welcoming than the previous private clinic I had visited, and all the staff were behind glass windows with little slots through which I had to feed my medicare card. Once approved there would be buzzing noises, large doors would open and we would be ushered through. I have never been to a prison before, but I imagine it’s somewhat similar in it’s practices to the public hospitals of Sydney.

Luckily I didn’t have to wait too long before the specialist (referred by my Uncle, who is a GP) came out in a aqua Drs’ gown and funny patterned operating cap and summoned me into his room. On came the plastic gloves and he man handled the growth with blatant disregard for my dignity or comfort, then went to get another Doctor, just because he might ‘find it interesting’. “It’s unusual to have such rapid growth in only two and a half months”.

The diagnosis is that it is a benign tumour that can easily be removed – next Tuesday in fact. When I asked how much damage it will do to my appearance he scoffed and said “NONE. Why would it change your outward appearance?” When I explained that the other doctor had said I would lose my lip, he laughed and said “no no no. We will just be cutting the growth off, not doing anything to your lip”. And he also said that they will send the growth to pathology to test it and make sure it is benign and not cancer.

I am definitely liking this doctor better, and loving his price – free! But so far it is only two opinions that have differed radically. I am off to get the final vote tomorrow when I revisit the private health system and see a different prominent surgeon.

It’s given me some food for thought though… Cancer… Tumour… Although these are just tests and precautions, it’s a bit scary considering my older sister had cancer when she was my age, and my father died fairly young from a brain tumour…

Picture/s:
my own!

Told You So!

This morning I was drove my hubby to work due to his inability to have short showers and be on time. As usual I had 96.1 FM playing (o how I miss my iPod) and they were doing some sort of quiz. The question they were stuck on was “What kind of fish has no bones, instead has cartilage?”

My husband spat out “A jellyfish!” in a voice that implied the contestants were absolute morons. I piped up that I didn’t think jellyfish were in fact really fish, like how Koala Bears are not bears and Sea Cucumbers are not cucumbers.

Boy did my husband laugh at me! “Didn’t you do Science at high school?! Didn’t you have to do the classifications of living beings?! HAHAHAH! JELLYFISH NOT A FISH! WHAT ELSE WOULD IT BEEEEEEE?!!!! A MAMMAL?!!!” So that’s when I shut up and pondered why I ever married such an obnoxious tool.

When I got home I promptly got onto Wikipedia and this is what I found:
Since jellyfish do not biologically qualify as actual “ fish“, the term “jellyfish” is considered a misnomer by some, who instead employ the names “jellies” or “sea jellies “. Jellyfish are marine invertebrates belonging to the Scyphozoan class.

 

Picture/s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jelly_Monterey.jpg

 

Quote of the Day #1

The corner store next to my apartment is where the locals all hang out to chat, fight and spot undercover cops. This morning I heard ‘Cornetto Man‘ talking to his fellow ice cream eating mate and loved what he said.

“I just want the government to say sorry to the Aboriginals. And the youngins to say thank you for our music.”

Cosmetic Surgery – Part 1

Recently I have had the joy of developing a thing called a Papilloma on the inside of my top lip. It started out as a small lump on the lip that suddenly spewed blood one evening, and since that time has grown to ridiculous proportions and now hangs out of my mouth. I have been forced to become a hermit due to my paranoia that everyone is looking at me and swallowing their vomit.

After hearing the word papilloma casually thrown out there by my GP I made the mistake of googling it and saw lots of references to warts, in particular genital warts! “That’s it! I am never leaving the house now! I have vagina warts hanging out of my mouth!?” Luckily it was explained to me that in fact my growth is not anything like that, is not a risk to my health, and is not contagious – although still reason enough to stay indoors with the blinds closed.

Due to a different condition I have at the moment I have the luck of being full of crazy hormones that make my growth, affectionately named ‘my evil Siamese twin‘, grow at a rapid rate. Usually the growths are fairly small and don’t need any further medical attention once diagnosed, but lucky me has one that doesn’t stop growing, is causing me all sorts of discomforts and is down right repulsive to look at. So begins the ‘what to do?’ saga.

Of course I need to be referred to a specialist, but there’s a problem. One of the real life doctors from the TV show on the RPA hospital, has a brain tumour and isn’t working any longer. Suddenly the health system of Sydney is flooded with patients who ordinarily would visit his clinic, and all the specialists, especially in the public health are booked out until at least July – months away! Due to my crazy body/situation my GP thinks I need to see someone – stat – and organises an appointment to see a prominent private plastic surgeon.

I don’t know why I thought it a good idea to go alone, but I did. He took one look at my mouth and seriously gasped and recoiled. He then promptly told me the papilloma (yes he said it too) had to be cut off, no alternatives. The result would be that I would ‘lose’ a significant amount of my top lip which would dramatically change my appearance in a negative way, and no, there is nothing that can be done afterwards to improve my appearance. “Here’s a quote for $1160 for my services only (the hospital will charge more), now can you go to the waiting room and fix up payment for this visit?”

So there I am bawling my eyes out, furiously sending text messages to my husband, mother and friends about how I am going to be ugly and disfigured for life and I just want to die. “Excuse me Mrs Groupie, can you pay now?”…

Time to get a second opinion!

Picture/s:
my own!

My Work Clothes EtiquetteDressing For Work

1. No white bottoms – meaning skirts, pants, shorts.
2. No visible bra straps or g-strings.
3. Keep cleavage to a minumum, if you have a v neck try to make it end just before your cleavage (or lack of) starts. Keep the ol girls to dazzle on the weekend.
4. No white boots
5. No wet hair
6. Nothing with offensive images or words on it (regardless of language)
7. No open toe shoes – again rock it on the weekend with a wicked pedicure (peep to or toe cleavage is acceptable).
8. Pretty much all earrings are fine – because if you are dressed conservative than elaborate earrngs act as a garnish.
9. If legs or armpits are bare please make them hairless!
10. Always wear a fragrance, but make sure it’s hardly detectable.
11. Brushed hair (if not put it in a bun like me!)

And now, I am ready for work.

OTHER ARTICLES:
- Clothing Etiquette Important to Career Advancement
- Dressing for Work
- How NOT to Dress for Work (Has a good quick reference guide on the left hand side)

efragrance

Check out this great perfume site - efragrance.

With my limited shopping experience on this site I have been blown away by their service. Just by registering as a member you automatically get good discounts on the RRP of any of their stock. Now to be a member just requires a short form with some of your details – none of which are your credit card details, email to which you want an uninvited newsletter to be sent or anything sinister.

And so far, I have put in orders in the morning, and recieved the product (with samples!) by the next afternoon.

Some of My Recent Works

Picture/s:
my own!

Freebie Make up

Recently I was lucky enough to score some freebies. Yay! Love some free stuff! A marketing manager at a pharmaceutical magazine had been given some makeup samples, and, being a single male, he had no use for them and promptly delivered them to my open arms.

The collection consisted of Revlon’s Dark Pleasures nail polish, Just Bitten lip gloss and Bedroom Eyes eyeliner. Also there was some Australis lipsticks for me to try out. What fun! If only I had some girlfriend’s around we could have put on our cotton nightwear, played with makeup and finished the night with a pillow fight and popcorn.

First things first, I tried the Revlon Dark Pleasures nail polish – which I love! It is fast drying and very dark so for best results try two or three thin layers, making sure to completely dry between layers, rather than one thick layer. Also to keep it lasting as long as possible without chipping I’d invest in a top coat polish (I use Sally Hansen products) to apply daily. It’s a very sexy colour that works perfectly with the greys and browns that seem to be featuring in this season’s fashions.

Cleo magazine suggests to use the Revlon Bedroom Eyes range to create a winged effect but I wouldn’t recommend doing so. This product is better for smoky, subtle eyes for the evening outings – it’s just a bit too sultry for the morning bacon and eggs on King Street. The reason it doesn’t work for winged eyes is that it is a powder, and the applicator is really fat (think permanent markers) so it is hopeless for doing detailed work. TIP: Put this eyeliner on BEFORE you get dressed or you’ll end up with black dust all over your shirt.

I found Revlon’s Just Bitten lip gloss in Plum Wicked a little difficult to apply evenly, and although the hue is gorgeous, it ends up looking like you have just had a red cordial that’s left some staining here and there. That said, I found it created a beautiful sheen when applied on-top of my new Australis lipstick in any shade. The Australis lipstick is really creamy and easy to apply, the best thing is that it doesn’t create those little lipstick clumps after an hour of wearing it, it just gradually seems to fade.

 

 

Picture/s:
my own!
http://www.revlon.com

Bargains! Thanks Anglicare

I have recently discovered a grubby bargain heaven! At 105 Carlton Cresent, Summer Hill (near the train station) Sydney there is a driveway that leads to Anglicare’s op shop depot. It may not look like much but it is well worth the stroll down that driveway.

Inside there are huge cages full of clothes and toys. There are also books, kitchenware, shoes and jewellery. For a huge bag of toys you’ll pay $4, while items such as shoes and kitchenware are individually priced (very low!). The best fun is diving into the cages and piles of clothes and stuffing them into the giant heavy duty plastic bags that are provided to you – and at $4 a kilo it is easy to get carried away.

When I rocked up one Thursday morning I didn’t think I’d find one kilo’s worth of goodies – but by the end of my short stay there I was dragging a three kilo bag behind me, and once I had gotten home and washed all the clothes I was pleased to find that I hadn’t regretted a single item I had chosen – all of which were brand labels. I also bagged a set of beautiful Chinese porcelain mugs for my mum for only $5!

Beware though – this is definitely not a glamorous setting or a boutique shopping experience. Don’t wear white! Don’t wear a skirt! And definitely don’t bring a sense of occasion, beacuse to get any good stuff you will have to literally crawl through piles of used clothes and perhaps even battle out some turf wars with other bargain savvy punters.

Considering I had gone fairly early on a weekday, the ‘crowd’ was not too large – although varied. While I waited out the front for my shopping buddy to arrive I saw the plethora of what Sydney has to offer walk into the depot. Trendy Japanese uni students, emos, old ladies, mother’s with prams, tough Maori looking guys and clearly mentally disabled people all trooped past looking determined to find that bargain. I have been told that Saturday morning is when all the ‘new stock’ is put out, and when the doors open it has been likened to the post Xmas sales in USA, or the Stella McCartney range being released at Target. Picture a line around the block, doors open, people literally running and pushing their way towards the stock; screams, clothes and accusations flying through the air. All the trendy stores in Newtown who sell second hand retro clothes for $80 (what the!?) and market stall holders have their people going on Saturdays so I think for the more chic, fashionable adult clothes this is the day to go – if you are brave enough.

I’m personally just looking for Pumpkin Patch for all the babies and kids I know, and some ‘trendy/preppy’ clothes for my husband and find Thursday suits just fine.