Forget Turkey and Thailand: I had a facelift and mummy makeover in an unlikely destination that’s fast becoming THE medical tourism hotspot. It was cheap, the results were flawless… and I can’t wait to go back

There is no doubt the body positivity movement is bigger than ever and, don’t get me wrong, it’s a great message to spread.

‘Embrace your curves’ and ‘love the skin you’re in’ are plastered across most female-focused marketing campaigns and I respect and support every word.

But what if those well-meaning mantras are not working for you? What if you don’t even like the skin you are in?

Sure, my body was lumpy and bumpy because I grew humans inside it, but, quite frankly, I didn’t want to wear that with pride, and looking in the mirror only made me miserable.

So, as I was nearing the end of my maternity leave at age 39, I decided to do something about it and booked myself a cheap mummy makeover abroad.

On a mission to get some sun, sea and surgery, I immediately joined a load of Facebook groups to check my options.

There was no denying the results people were sharing were amazing, but the prices were much steeper than I’d imagined.

A mummy makeover in Thailand started at $17,000 (£8,500), or $11,000 (£5,500) for a facelift, and once I added flights and accommodation there was no way I could afford it.

Turkey was another cheap option, but flight prices and the massive 20-hour trek from my home in Australia put me off.

That’s when I stumbled across a post about the Philippines.

Having holidayed there a couple of times, I felt pretty confident in the infrastructure and general safety standards, so I looked into it further.

I soon found plastic surgeon Dr Joel Unson, who had hundreds of amazing before-and-after photos and five-star reviews.

We did a Zoom consultation, and then Joel sent me to get blood tests and X-rays and have the results sent to him.

My package cost $12,500 (£6,300) and included flights, accommodation, a tummy tuck, a breast augmentation, muscle separation, a mons lift (also known as a pubic lift) and all the tests and medications needed.

The Philippines actually has really strict rules around elective surgery, and I also had to have independent health tests, scans, more bloods and a meeting with a psychologist.

I’m not going to lie: there were a few tears the night before surgery. I had all sorts of mum guilt for risking my life for vanity.

That was obviously playing on my mind when I woke after surgery too, because apparently I was yelling at everyone that I ‘should have gone to Thailand’ and they had all ‘messed up and would be sorry’.

I was mortified, but felt a bit better when they told me it was really common and they had heard worse.

Thankfully no one had actually messed up and my surgery was a success. I was thrilled with the results.

So thrilled, in fact, that I went back to Manila six months later for a second round of surgery.

This time I picked Dr Rino Lorenzo for my lower facelift, upper eye lift, liposuction for my pesky double chin, and a fat transfer from my thighs to my cheeks. However, his approach was not as gentle as Dr Unson’s had been.

‘You look like an old lady,’ Dr Lorenzo told me as he prodded my cheeks. ‘It’s really bad.’

Watching my jowls jiggle in the mirror, I quickly decided to forgive his shocking bedside manner and handed over my credit card.

All up, the surgery cost me $6,800 (£3,400) plus $400 (£200) budget flights with Cebu Air, and my hotel was around $90 (£45) a night.

I pre-warned the doctor about the possibility of a verbal attack as I came to, but I was clearly more relaxed that time around, and I’m pleased to report no medical staff were offended.

After surgery, my swelling was insane and I could hardly recognise myself in the mirror. I was genuinely worried they would not let me fly home because I looked nothing like my passport photo.

But after 14 days, I was given the all clear and headed home feeling and looking like a new woman.

And honestly, this part sounds made up, but I swear it happened: a couple of weeks later, just before my 40th birthday, I got asked for ID!

Look, the swelling was still pretty bad, and my sister screamed when I Facetimed her, but I’m taking it at a compliment.