I Have A Hypothetical Question For My Blog Buddies... Obviously, I Need Help In Making A Decision

Okay, here's the deal. The same surgeon that performed my Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is now offering face lifts with a ten day recovery period. Huh? Yup, TEN DAYS. It's about $5,000.00 and believe me, I'd trust this doctor to the ends of the earth because he is really caring and one of the best in the field of plastic surgery; in these parts anyway. He claims that this new procedure lasts longer and is much safer. It's called a Cranial Suspension Short Incision Face Lift with minimal downtime using local anesthesia. This sounds like just *the ticket* for someone like me who has (after many surgeries) developed a fear of going under the knife. Yes, I think this would be by far preferable to the old *nip and tuck* face lift of days gone by. It's certainly something worth considering. Normally, with all the costs added together a face lift is up around $35,000.00, which is more than I'd ever spend.

Then, a couple of young doctors opened up a practice locally where they offer the latest technology in foot and ankle pain management without needles and drugs, the "Pediatric/Adult Flatfoot Reconstruction", which I didn't even realize existed until now. I'm uncertain as to what it costs, but for someone who has been teased unmercifully about her flat feet for an entire lifetime, I'm thinking this might be like the dream of a lifetime, come true. Frankly, I'd have to see and talk with someone (or several someones) before I ever decided to dive in head first, but just the thought of having arches in my feet makes me totally giddy.



These are the feet I was given at conception and lived with for 57 years. Sometimes they really hurt, having to walk around on my ankles isn't all fun, you know. Sure, I'm a great swimmer, but that is the ONLY advantage to having flat feet.

So, here is my dilemma: Mr. Snoots says I could pick one and have it done, BUT there would be no vacations or trips to see the kids or anything else for a year. Hmmmm... So, speaking hypothetically, would either be worth it? Which one would be more worthy? Having my sagging upper eyelids, under eye bags, sagging jowls and turkey neck fixed or having arches in my feet for the first time in 57 years? Would it be worth only seeing my children at Christmastime? I just don't know. I'm in a complete quandary over this, so I'd appreciate a bit (or a ton) of input here. These are things that really plague and occupy my mind right now but I'm not sure I could stay put for a whole year without seeing my kids or taking a vacation.

Quite obviously, I need help in making a decision and I'm nearly in tears at the thought of having to choose. Any thoughts from anyone? Or experience? Should I just blow them both off and learn to accept my aging process, therefore continuing to take a few vacations every year and see my kids more often? I keep thinking of things like: What if I did one of these, missed seeing my kids, then I have something happen and I die? Would it have been worth it then? Of course not. No one can weigh the pros and cons of a situation better than I... To the point that I cannot make decisions about things of this caliber.

This picture was almost a year ago and it's not getting any better.... I don't want to hear what you think I want to hear. I want to hear what you really think. I can't help but wonder if either procedure is worth the risk.

Any thoughts out there? Clearly, I must trust all of you or I wouldn't be asking, so help me out here. Please? Pretty please?