Cosmetic surgery

I wouldn't do it, but that's only because I don't like being put to sleep (I was put to sleep when I had my wisdom teeth out and it was pretty terrifying!)

Simple answer:  No.

Long reasons:

(1) The way I look comes from my parents.  I see my mother and father in my face and body shape, and I see myself in my sons' faces.  I hope to see bits of my mother and father and myself in my grandchildren's faces some day.  And for them to recognise themselves in me.  (Please, no comments about adopted children and the like.  These are my feelings about my situation, in which we're all biologically connected.  And since my sons' are NOT my husband's children, I do know what it feels like to search for a physical appearance connection that just isn't there - though I wish it were.)

(2) I would much rather get to a place in my head where I'm happy being me - where I don't put so much value on how I look or how I think "the world" sees me and just be at peace with the fact that I am a good person and that looks are not the sum total of who I am (family resemblance connection above exempted).

(3) I would be scared that I would have something done thinking it would make me happy - and it wouldn't.  So where would I be, then?

MeShell - in instances such as yours where weight loss kind of dictates it, of course that is a different kettle of fish.  I know I would probably have to have some sort of work done after a huge weight loss.  Which is possibly part of the reason I'm not that interested in losing a lot of weight.   

I can completely understand and respect why someone wouldn't do it. My biggest issue is my jawline/weak chin. I actually have been embarassed by it for so long that I asked my mom for surgery when I was about 16. She knew how much it bothered me and said when I was 18 she would pay for it. I chickened out. To this day I regret it because I'm SO self-conscious about it. I'd love to say that I can come to terms with it and accept myself for who I am, but I think if I haven't been able to do that in 39 years I probably won't. 

I can completely understand and respect why someone wouldn't do it.

That goes both ways Anne. Just because I don't like pain and wouldn't do it, I am not bothered at all with what other people choose to do with their bodies.
Interesting point peedal made. The one thing I WOULD have changed about myself were I not so chicken I would no longer even consider. My nose which now fits very nicely on my 5 year old son. I am of mixed race origin and I think looking back this nose probably set me apart from my siblings somewhat and I faced alot of teasing over the years for it being too square and too wide and as one of my brothers said once, it looked like someone punched me in the face when I was born. Not nice I know but I think it's safe to say I am completely over that now and I think my little boys nose is very sweet! I hope he grows up someday and is proud of the way he looks.

I wouldn't rule it out 100%, but I don't think I'd ever do it. In fact, I'd say I'm 99.9% sure I'd never do it. Mostly for this reason:

(2) I would much rather get to a place in my head where I'm happy being me - where I don't put so much value on how I look or how I think "the world" sees me and just be at peace with the fact that I am a good person and that looks are not the sum total of who I am

I think a lot of people work too much on what's outside when they really ought to be working on what's inside. Just my 2 cents. 

I would have  my breast uplifted if I so desired, at the moment I don't so desire, but if I did, I would beg steal or borrow to have them done!!! Mainly because I would like to be as perky as a young girl. I wasn't born that way, but quite fancy dying that way!!!

Not easily. It would have to be an exceptional case and your GP would have to prove that it would correct a problem that is having an impact on either your physical or mental health. At least that's how it works in the PCT that I work for.

If I manage to shift the excess weight I've got now and if I had the money I'd have a tummy tuck, breast lift and neck lift with no hesitation whatsoever....

Anne is right it isn't easy to get it done in NHS..I had a preexisting case from our car wreck where the seat belt cut the tissue in my breast and that was the original plastics I was going to have but now that I have lost more weight then what he anticipated me losing it changes the whole aspect of what needs to be done. By the NHS standards my BMI has to be 26 in order to get a TT and breast lift done and I am 29.

One of the other women in our support group has tried to get in after her surgery and he wouldn't even entertain seeing her for a consultant appointment..I am very lucky I got as far as I did....

Would love to get Lasik... not out of vanity - just simply sheer annoyance with my bad eyes that ive had since I was 7.... and now my closesighted is going so more irritation.... i'm too chicken to have it done though. What if it went wrong and I was blind?

I know just about everyone back home gets it done.....

No.

I've had a number of surgeries, and I can't see myself ever volunteering for it.

I would like to get my missing molars replaced with implants instead of bridges, but I don't really see that as cosmetic because you can't see those missing molars unless I open my mouth wide and the bridges are compromising the existing molars they're anchored to.

Would love to get Lasik... not out of vanity - just simply sheer annoyance with my bad eyes that ive had since I was 7....

A friend of mine was legally blind and had to use very strong lenses to see.  He had Lasik done even though he still needs glasses as it so improved the quality of his life - things a lot of people take for granted like taking a shower and being able to see, waking up at night and being able to see the alarm clock, etc.

His health insurance did cover it in his case, since it improved his sight from legal blindness.

I've never had any type of surgery, not even a tooth pulled, and I'm not really keen on having any done.

However, I have thought about having a breast reduction when I turn 50.  That would be for  health reasons, though, not reasons of appearance. I have a narrow back and narrow shoulders that don't support my boobs and it affects my upper back and posture.

I would also like to run through the fields braless.

I was so scared of being put to sleep.

It's all the recovery time afterwards that scares me, but I see your point entirely - I was terrified I wouldn't wake up and be there for my kids.  Been there, WAY too many times to ever sign myself up for it unless absolutely necessary.

I plan to have cosmetic surgery when I am around 40 for a tummy tuck, breast lift and liposuction. This is after I have kids and have breastfed. I am good about working out, but things could look better, but after a few pregnancies, I am going to need some help!

See I used to say I would do this, too.

Before I had children.

Now I think really hard about everything I do and how it could impact my childrens' lives.

Sadly, things can go wrong with any surgery, and for me, it's not worth taking the risk that I could die or my life be changed to the point where my kids' lives would be affected.  I always thing of that famous rugby player's wife who had TT after 4 kids and not only did she almost die but also she's permanently disabled.

Also my perspective has changed with time.

There is NO way to get the same body you had before you had kids back, no matter how much surgery you have.  Things just aren't the same.  I mean, my ring and shoe sizes went up half a size.  Weird, but that's what happens.  Also, many mothers find their hair and skin never got back to what it was.  Again, no surgery can change things like this.  And then of course, age plays a factor.

But looking back, I wouldn't want my old body back!  I like this one better - it's strong, healthy AND it's a mother's body now.  I love it!  It gave me two beautiful, healthy children.

I've never had any type of surgery, not even a tooth pulled, and I'm not really keen on having any done.

However, I have thought about having a breast reduction when I turn 50.  That would be for  health reasons, though, not reasons of appearance. I have a narrow back and narrow shoulders that don't support my boobs and it affects my upper back and posture.

I would also like to run through the fields braless.

This is me also. My chest has always been way too large for my smallish frame to support them. As a result I have rounded shoulders and extremely poor posture.

Yeah I would love to join the braless bunch running through the fields!  

For me, having me teeth done was very important. Since I was very young I've battled against my spaced teeth. I wore braces for over three years and had perfect teeth when they were removed but in time my gums started to recede, I experienced bone loss and the gaps returned. My dentist told me my teeth weren't strong enough to handle braces so I opted for veneers. In my opinion the teeth can be one of the first signs of ageing. With veneers my teeth never age!

I'll have to get back to you on this!! With my first pregnancy, my body went back to almost exactly the same. Just a wee bit saggier on the lower tummy - but it wasn't flat to start with anyway!

This time, I have no idea what will happen. I probably wouldn't do a tummy tuck though.

However, like Anne, I hate my neck and expect it to get worse with age. I also have heavy upper eyelids/brows which will undoubtedly also lower with age. My mother has a friend who had to have a brow lift because it got to the point it was affecting her vision. I might consider having that done one day. I also have varicose veins that my midwife thinks will go away after my pregnancy. But if they don't, I might see what the alternatives there are.

Not saying I'd do any of it for sure though.

Thanks to genetics, my nose turns to the right, which deviated my septum slightly.  I thought about having it fixed when I was in high school, but when the doctor told me he'd have to break my nose, then re-set it... I ran like the wind!

Honestly, I don't see myself ever having it done.  There are things about my body that really drive me crazy, but none of it affects my wellbeing enough to warrant putting myself through something that invasive.

ETA:  I wanted to add that I don't have a problem with cosmetic surgery.  If someone feels they'd be happier with bigger/smaller breasts or calf implants, it doesn't affect me one way or the other.

I had a mole removed from the back of my neck, which I suppose counts as cosmetic surgery. Although it was pretty ugly, it never bothered me that much because I couldn't really see it except in the mirror but I finally got fed up with people telling me I had a cancerous looking growth 

I suppose some people with my nose might get it done, in fact my father's sister had a very similar nose and she did, but I think I'd rather look like one of the family.