Sandra W. has struggled with body image her whole life. "In high school I was a size 10 - not enormous, but too heavy to feel I could be athletic. I wanted to be closer to the ideal, and I tried every diet and exercise program under the sun. But I stayed overweight.

"As an adult I went up to 200 pounds a few times. And even when I managed to starve myself down to a size 4, I always had this pooch on my belly. I called it my 'flap.' It never went away. It made me look sloppy. I couldn't tuck in my shirts."

At the age of 36, Sandra decided she'd suffered enough. She came to my consultation room to talk about her body. She weighed 195 pounds.

We discussed all of her dissatisfactions. These included her size D-cup breasts which "point down all the time," she said, and seemed to graze her lap whenever she sat down. After a long talk, Sandra decided to have both a tummy tuck and a breast lift. We scheduled her surgery for October (2003).

Her surgery went uneventfully, and her recovery was, she says, "not as bad as people said it would be." She returned to her job as a purchasing agent a week later.

Since then, Sandra has lost additional weight, bought a new wardrobe, started a new job, and experienced dramatic upswings in her self-image and her sex life. "It turned my life around," she claims. She was so thrilled that she sent three of her friends to me.

Here's what Sandra has to say:

Sandra W. on the Surgery That Gave Her a Life

"What I would say to women considering plastic surgery is that this isn't about vanity. It's about how you view yourself. I finally feel comfortable in my own skin. I'm not ashamed to walk around naked. That has been great for my marriage. My husband and I will be celebrating our 18th anniversary this year, and I can honestly say the sex is as good as it was during our first year of marriage.

Before the surgery I had sex as little as possible. I just didn't want to look at my own body. Now I'm ready at a moment's notice. My husband is thrilled. 'That doctor's a genius,' he says. 'I love your body.'

Scars Not An Issue

I don't mind any of the scars. After three years you can hardly see them, and even after 6 months it wasn't distracting to me. Dr. Gottlieb has a great hand.

Today I can share tops and pants with my 14-year-old daughter. I wear camisoles, halter tops, snug skirts and boots. I buy tailored clothing instead of the baggy clothes I used to wear. I used to wear my husband's shirts to hide my pooch. Everyone has noticed the change. My daughter tells me what a big difference she sees in the way I carry myself. When I go out to lunch with my friends they can't say enough about my new look.

Best of all, I can be active and do things with my family without worrying about how I look. I can just be, instead of being self-conscious. To my mind, that's the opposite of vanity.

The Experience

Dr. Gottlieb made the experience completely positive for me. First of all, he didn't try to sell me on anything. His manner is very quiet and unassuming. He makes you feel comfortable from the minute you meet him. He's there, he understands. He listened to how I felt about my body without telling me what to do. He just told me about my options.

Everyone in the office was patient with me, and gave me all the information I needed. I spoke with Lynne [our patient care manager] several times and she put me completely at ease. She told me there was nothing to be ashamed of in seeking help. But she didn't push. She let me decide what to do.

Follow-Up As Positive as the Experience Itself

I've heard about plastic surgeons who forget about you once they've finished the procedure, but Dr. Gottlieb isn't like that. The follow-up was as considerate and kind as the surgery. And it doesn't stop after you heal. A few weeks ago I called the office about some scar tissue on my breast, and they said come right in. They scheduled me for the following week. Dr. Gottlieb looked at what was bothering me and cut out the tissue right there in the office. Two weeks later, you couldn't see a thing. He didn't charge me. This is three years after the original procedure!

The experience was great, and the results go on and on. Now I wake up in the morning and can't wait to look in my closet. I used to dread getting dressed.

Like I say, this has really turned my life around.