Extreme Xmas makeovers: ‘I had Botox to banish my turkey neck’
Office parties, Instagram posts and the endless drinks with girlfriends – who doesn’t want to be party-perfect at Christmas? While some of us might settle for a pair of heels, new lippy or a little black dress - others are quite happy to go extremes…
‘I spent £3k on lipo for the office party’ Lydia Smith, 39, works as a food intolerance practitioner, she lives in Surrey. She has three children aged 21, 15, and eight.
In 2014 I realised I wasn’t going to have any more kids. While I’d slimmed down as much as I could by working out, there were still love handles and pockets of fat around my tummy. I really wanted a tummy tuck, however my surgeon advised against it. He explained that liposuction was a better first step as there would be zero scarring or downtime.
I was doing brilliantly at work and had a great contract with a marketing company. At the end of the year the boss had splashed out for the Christmas party – a weekend away at a hotel. It was a special event and I was determined to look my best!
I was in an on-off relationship at the time. All the more reason for me to want to look fantastic. It was about looking good for me – not anyone else! So, I booked in for liposuction in Tunisia, with Christmas – and the party – at the forefront of my mind.
I’d bought a fab little black dress. Yet it was impossible to wear it without help. So, I spent £3,000 having three pints of fat sucked out a few months earlier. While the results were instantaneous – it took a few months for the swelling to go down.
But the procedure, done under a general anaesthetic, was the kick-start I needed to look after myself. It made me feel good about myself.
Before I had the lipo there is no way I’d have worn a body con strapless boob tube style dress in front of my colleagues.
I love getting dressed to go out – but networking at a party is a big part of what the festive season is all about for me. I try to eat healthily and I work out at the gym to keep in shape, but buying myself liposuction for Christmas gave me the vital kick-start.