Surviving thyroid cancer and morbid obesity, Justin changed his destiny again with a cosmetic makeover; and proposed to his girlfriend just days after surgery.

Before Tummy Tuck and Liposuction	After Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

Looking for my silver lining

When I celebrated my 18th birthday with my family, I was totally unaware that a few days later, I was going to be diagnosed with a massive thyroid cancer which had spread to my parathyroids, jugular vein, face and lymph gland. The surgery in Auckland City Hospital was major and the complications that followed were none too pleasant either!

They say that every cloud has a silver lining and all I could think was – at least having cancer I would surely lose weight and look like all my friends. Sadly this was not the case as the doctors thought it was having an endocrine cancer that caused my massive weight gain in the first place.

I continued to battle with my morbid obesity problem – constantly aware that people would stare at me in the street and often mutter comments along the lines that I must be a fastfood junkie – and others that are not printable! Eventually, having completed as much radiotherapy as I was allowed, I had a lapband operation which helped me lose 63kg!

The weight loss sounds terrific but I was left with so much loose skin around my body, I felt as though I looked worse than before. I knew I had to do something, and quickly. I visited a cosmetic surgeon in NZ, but he seemed to think I was in the "too hard" box. The amount of operations he recommended I would need and the costs involved were totally beyond my means!

It seemed I was destined to live with a body I loathed. I felt things were too good to be true when Gorgeous Getaways offered to come to my rescue. I sent photographs and a detailed description of my medical history and an outline of what I realistically hoped to achieve and they were so positive; I actually wondered if it was a trick! At last, it seemed there was light at the end of a very dark tunnel. I just kept hoping that if they could do even half of what I wanted, I would be ecstatic.

Surgery and an engagement

Gorgeous Getaways booked me into the Ampang Puteri Hospital with the famous and well respected plastic surgeon, Dr Jalil. I arrived in Malaysia and from the second I stepped through the airport door, the Gorgeous Getaways team were by my side. I was chauffeured to the hospital and put instantly at ease. I met Dr Jalil and it was such a relief to find a surgeon who actually believed he would make a difference for me. He was going to operate the next day; I could barely contain my excitement.

The operation went even better than expected. Even through the hospital pressure bandages, I could see the difference. My GG case manager was by my side when I was awake enough to talk. The hospital nurses and staff were so kind and helpful; you couldn’t help but feel the future was going to be great.

My girlfriend Ivy came over to Malaysia so she could be by my side every step of the way. She was amazed at how quickly I was up and about and feeling on top of the world.

We went to Mid Valley Mall and bought an engagement ring. I proposed at the top of the KL Tower and to my great delight (and relief) she said yes! Ivy said she loved me no matter how I looked, but she loves the new me – a shadow of my former self and in my eyes, the happiest person ever to have a Gorgeous Getaways holiday ever!

One more procedure before getting hitched

Dr Jalil has said that I would really benefit from having my chest operated on – he couldn’t do this when I had the last surgery as it would not have been safe to do at the same time.

I am hoping that I will be able to raise the funds to have this done so that I can look my best on wedding day on January 24th 2009. Even if I have to wait to have this surgery after I am married, I will definitely have it done and I will certainly be using Gorgeous Getaways and Dr Jalil. The next thing on my list will be to return to have dental work done.

I would not hesitate to recommend Gorgeous Getaways to anyone who is feeling in need of any form of cosmetic surgery. I think I am a perfect example of turning adversity into success – and yes, every cloud does have a silver lining after all!!

If you would like to speak to Justin or other clients, please contact us at Gorgeous Getaways.