Debbie Byrne Harmon
Age: 36, mum-of-six from Ballyfermot Procedures: Tummy tuck, breast lift, liposuction
I FIRST got pregnant at 15 and although I have six children now, I also lost six babies. After 12 pregnancies my stomach just hung down, and I was really conscious of it. People always thought I was pregnant again because it stuck out so much and I was really fed up with it. I was always hiding away in hoodies, and I just wanted my body back.
Aside from that, because of the overhang, sweat used to get trapped in the loose skin and make it smell and itch. Something had to be done. A friend told me about this place called Beauty in Lithuania, which has an office in Drogheda. I booked an appointment but had to cancel it because I had to pay an unexpected bill. They felt that my story made me a good candidate for them, so they asked me to represent their company and offered to give me the procedure for free.
I went to a consultation and met Daiva, who was lovely. She asked me if I would like to get a breast lift too, and although I was a bit iffy about it at first, everyone kept saying I was mad. They said that I was being offered it and I couldn’t have a lovely stomach and sagging boobs. So I thought about it and agreed. I decided to get the breast lift, liposuction on both sides and a tummy tuck done. In Lithuania, the whole lot cost about €4,000, including travel, whereas getting it done here would have been several times more.
I believe it was the best thing I ever did and I would highly recommend anyone to go. I went over at the end of August and the place was so spotless and peaceful. I stayed for a week, and it wasn’t actually painful recovering. You just take your painkillers and get on with it.
I was a size 16 on top and 14 in jeans before I went. Now I’m a 10 in both and I’m thrilled with the result. What did my husband think about it all? He was delighted because he got a whole new woman! Debbie will appear in RTE2’s Body Shopping, a three-part documentary series to be transmitted in April. Dr Ciara Kelly follows a selection of people going down the road of cosmetic surgery. She explores why and how they’re doing it, and if, in the end, getting work done makes them feel any happier.