It wasn't a decision that I made spontaneously. It wasn't a choice that I made so that I could look more aesthetically pleasing in the eyes of everyone else. In fact, it wasn't even so much for my husband that I chose to alter the way I looked. It was for me, and I couldn't be happier with the results.

My name is Pam, and it was nine months ago that I decided to undergo two different cosmetic surgery procedures; liposuction and breast augmentation. Do I look different from the way that I used to look? Yes, absolutely, but this is something that is seen behind closed doors, off limits to everyone except my husband and myself.

Why I Had Cosmetic Surgery

I've always wanted to have larger breasts, as many women do. As far as the liposuction, I wasn't necessarily overweight, but the weight itself had, over the years, situated itself in places that I would rather it not be. This was the reason that I chose to undergo a body-sculpting procedure.

The Challenges Accompanying Cosmetic Surgery

As with anything in life, there are challenges that go along with having cosmetic surgery. For me, it was trying to describe to my cosmetic surgeon the exact outcome that I desired. I know that nothing in life is for sure, but since I was shelling out $8,000, I wanted to make sure that the results were going to be to my liking.

I informed my surgeon that I wanted high-profile breasts. He said that my gals were in good enough shape that I would not need a lift. And since I didn't need a lift, he thought that mid-profile breasts would still give the effect of having high-profile breasts. Was he right? No. As a result, I had to pay $3,000 more to have a revision done in which he went in and removed the original implants and implanted new ones. Was I happy about this? No, absolutely not. But, after spending $8,000, what's $3,000 more? I knew what I wanted, and I was willing to pay the money to get it.

The Final Results

After it was all said and done, I couldn't be happier with the results, but there is one topic that I would like to touch on: the pain. Unless you've been through some type of comprehensive surgery, you can't even begin to imagine the pain that I was in after having a breast augmentation and liposuction performed all at the same time. I don't even know if I would say that the results are worth the pain, but then again, the results were worth just about any type of pain. It's a vicious cycle.

I couldn't even walk myself to the bathroom for several days after getting home. My daughter drove me home, and she says that I was delirious the entire time. I think part of the reason that I was in so much pain is that I am not at all tolerant to hydrocodone, which is what I was prescribed for pain management. As a result, I took muscle relaxers and nonprescription pain relievers, and still the pain was almost unbearable.

I must point out that the breast augmentation revision that I underwent was not nearly as painful. In fact, I was out and about the very same night that I underwent the revision procedure; this was quite unlike the first procedure, after which I didn't leave the house for more than a week.

My Advice for Others

If you're thinking about undergoing cosmetic surgery, make sure to do lots of research on the doctor who will perform the procedure. I conducted my research in two ways: I talked to several of my friends who had undergone cosmetic surgery with the same doctor, and then I made sure to read through the doctor's website. On his website, I was able to view his accreditation and licensure as well as look at before and after pictures. I do admit that it was my friends' referrals that most influenced my decision to let him perform surgery on me.

Don't be afraid to stand up for you what you want. If you want high-profile breasts, then tell your doctor you won't settle for anything less. And don't let him talk you out of getting them. If you do, you very well might find yourself dishing out thousands more dollars, like I did, to get the exact results that you wanted the first time around.

Most important, remember that cosmetic surgery does come with risks. It's imperative that you evaluate your reasons for wanting to get a procedure completed, and make sure that your desire is worth the risk.