Finding the real Rhondda

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With regular exercise and healthy eating, losing weight was never a problem for Rhondda Stewart. But getting the waist she had always wanted required something more. Rhondda tells why she turned to cosmetic surgery.

When I was a young girl, I was confident that I would get married, have children and achieve anything I set my mind to. It was almost impossible for me to believe some years later that this was not the journey my life was to take.

After three miscarriages my doctor thought I had infertility problems and referred me to a specialist. My husband and I were introduced to a new program for conception: a series of drugs to stimulate ovulation and improve the quality of my eggs. It introduced a very invasive regimen to our love-making. I had to monitor my ovulation with a temperature chart and was told when and how often we could have sex.

Some 12 years later, in a new marriage and after a series of operations, miscarriages, many drugs and alternate potions, I conceived and gave birth to my daughter, Cat, through the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) program. The journey took its toll both emotionally and physically, but I came through the other side. I was a size 12 before I had Cat, and during the pregnancy I actually lost weight, becoming a size eight. Yet afterwards, and to my horror, my body ballooned rapidly to a size 18.

I had always, even when young and small, been very straight up and down. But while I worked off the extra weight over the next four years, my waistline never seemed to return to a size that I was happy with. Then my marriage broke up and, once again, I was on my own. Lonely and depressed, I started to feel old before my time. 

As I was in my darkest hour, so was my best friend. Catherine’s marriage had also come to an end, and she said we had to find ourselves and open up to all of life’s possibilities. We started walking and the inches fell off as we consoled, commiserated with and inspired each other nightly.

We got into an exercise and eating program that over the next two years changed my life; I began to rediscover myself. Another friend had heard about an endocrinologist who specialised in polycystic ovaries, which I knew I had. He had discovered that a sizeable percentage of women with this condition are infertile and can put on large amounts of weight. I went to see him and he confirmed that I was in this category. The endocrinologist put me on medication, I continued to work out and maintain a low-GI diet, and to my surprise the weight just dropped off me – though frustratingly not from my waist.

Two years later Catherine sat me down and gently told me, ‘No kind of exercise is going to get rid of that waist. I know a great plastic surgeon. Why don’t you go and see him?’. I made an appointment and saw Dr William Pouw. He showed me how he could do a tummy tuck and some liposuction, remove the excess flab and give me back my figure.

Although it sounded appealing, I had heard so many different stories about liposuction, so I decided I would get a personal trainer and see if there was any other way I could get rid of it myself. After two years of working hard with my trainer, lots had changed – but even though we managed to shrink the stomach, we couldn’t get rid of it.

I went back to the clinic and booked in for the surgery. This was a scary yet somehow liberating decision. As the date of my operation drew near, I started to become hopeful and excited. Then the day finally arrived. I greeted Dr Pouw, then quickly drifted off with the anaesthetic. On waking, a bruised, bandaged new me greeted the day. I found it hard to believe that my belly was now flat and, as I was in a body suit, I still couldn’t quite fathom the difference. 

As the days and weeks passed, the clinic staff were beyond what I could imagine supportive and caring to be – they were always there to answer questions or happy to have me pop in if I was unsure of anything. More than anything else, I felt Dr Pouw had heard what was important to me; I didn’t realise how much so until the unveiling of my new waist. We unzipped the suit and had a good look together. I couldn’t believe it was my body. For the first time in a long time I was really looking at myself, and liking what I saw. But the main difference was the way I felt about myself; I strongly believe Dr Pouw is responsible for that, too. He was so enthusiastic about his work and cared so much about me being happy with what he had created.

I am a clinical hypnotherapist and Neuro-Linguistic Program-ming (NLP) Master Practitioner. Language is something I work with in my career every day, to assist others to see the magic they possess, the beauty within and how to be confident about themselves. It was exciting to experience someone doing that for me; making me feel great about the woman I am. I believe that has changed my self-confidence and body image for life.

Yes, there was a healing process, but it wasn’t what I would call extremely painful. I had nerve twinges that I was unsure about, and as the swelling went down and the bruising came out, the area did occasionally get tender, but overall the pain was not extreme. It was very minor compared to the pain and unhappiness of what was before. I love my new body; I still look in the mirror and surprise myself each day. For me it is the best thing I could have done. I have rediscovered the real me.

Words: Rhondda Stewert. Photography: Andrew Lehmann. Styling: Nicholas Sholl. Hair & make-up: David Novak-Piper.