After losing an epic 90 kilograms, you’d think Codie McGovern had done all the hard work to change her body and life.
“Now I hover around about 80,” Codie told A Current Affair.
“What’s important to note is with that, my surgeon thinks there’s about 12 kilos worth of (excess) skin,” she said.
After losing an epic 90 kilograms, you’d think Codie McGovern had done all the hard work to change her body and life. (A Current Affair)
The loose skin from her weight loss isn’t a vanity issue – it’s a medical one.
It rubs and pulls as Codie goes about her daily life – from rolling over in her sleep to when she trains.
It’s prone to infections and irritations, and the situation will only deteriorate as she ages.
“Thirty-year-old Codie that’s completely fit and able, ends up being able to make those adjustments,” she said.
“Eighty-year-old Codie, carrying 12 kilos worth of skin, when her muscle is deteriorated and skin decreases in its quality as well, that’s not viable.”
And so Codie started investigating skin removal surgery.
Codie desperately needed skin-tightening surgery after losing 90 kilograms but the only place she could afford was thousands of kilometres away. (A Current Affair)
Facing a two-year wait in the public health system, Codie took out top-tier private health insurance and met with a surgeon.
“He sat there and said, You have done all of the hard work. There is nothing more you can do,” Codie recalled.
It was the ultimate vindication for the 30-year-old, who had spent the last decade loosing the weight the ‘old fashion’ way through diet and exercise.
Then came the quote for the procedure.
“It was close to $100,000,” Codie said.
“I go, I’m stuck like this. There’s literally nothing more I can do. Even if I was to keep training, even if I did lose more weight, no matter what I do I am left with this unless I get it surgically removed.”
Determined to take control of the situation, Codie began investigating surgical options overseas.
Determined to take control of the situation, Codie began investigating surgical options overseas. (A Current Affair)
And she’s not alone.
Cosmetic tourism is exploding – last year alone, Australians dropped $300 million on medical procedures abroad.
The lure – cheap prices and quick turnarounds- but the “savings” often come at a dangerous price
Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Justin Perron told A Current Affair all surgery carries risks – no matter the location.
“Bad outcomes can happen anywhere,” he said.
“I think the danger of going overseas is the very real risk of taking your life into your own hands for very complex procedures – the other problem is you don’t really know who’s operating on you when the lights go out.”
Perron said surgery in Australia costs more due to insurance, hospital fees, medical practice operating costs, specialist training and after care.
Current Medicare rebates don’t reflect those prices.
Codie settled on travelling to Thailand and booked in for an upper body reconstruction. (A Current Affair)
“Rightfully I think anybody should look at anything with at least a little bit of cost in mind,” he said.
“I think the asymmetric challenge between Australia and overseas surgeons has to do with again a different environment to Australia, I mean you name it there’s a whole laundry list of things we have to be able to cover before we can even step inside an operating room” he said.
Codie settled on travelling to Thailand and booked in for an upper body reconstruction.
But even with all her research – she found information limited.
That’s when she approached A Current Affair – offering to document her experience – not knowing what the outcome would be.
“I am scared, I’m excited, but at the end of the day, the nerves that I feel about surgery doesn’t outweigh the relief and the life I’m going to get back,” she said.
Arriving in Thailand after an eight-hour flight, Codie checked into her accommodation and was admitted to hospital – the ward like any other you’d see in Australia.
She underwent thorough medical tests and met with her surgeon, before suffering her first major blow.
She underwent thorough medical tests and met with her surgeon, before suffering her first major blow. (A Current Affair)
“What was initially estimated as an eight hour surgery ended up being a 12 to 13 hour surgery, and there was a part of me that was ready to tap out,” Codie said.
“Like, is there a potential that I’m now at risk of, you know, not making it through the surgery, given it’s so long”
“I almost felt like I was forced into it – not because of anyone – but because I was like, well, I’m here, I’m on the bed, and the IVs in, and I couldn’t just make a quick call or ask additional questions. It was, well, this is your shot, or it’s not.”
Codie went through with the operation – spending some time recovering in ICU before being transferred to the ward.
She couldn’t fault the care provided by nursing staff, although the language barrier was hard to navigate at times.
She did suffer two major complications – biting her tongue during the operation, and then contracting gastro three days after surgery.
“If you are going, make sure you’re taking a support person – you need someone there to be able to advocate for you if you maybe won’t be able to.” she said.
Three weeks later Codie is now at home – recovering well – with some stitches still to be removed – she’ll need to find a local doctor to do that.
“I 100 per cent wish I could have had this at home, even now, like I’m getting a little bit upset, like I was terrified and I had no option and for anyone that has any type of pull in any of this. Something needs to change,” she said.
Perron admits options can be limited though.
“Hospitals are now asking plastic surgeons not to become part of their hospital system anymore because they feel they’re not making enough from insurance companies,” he said.
Codie is now advocating for reform in Australia.
She’s also planning her lower body skin removal surgery – and after that, her wedding to fiance Zac.
“Let’s bridge the gaps. Let’s make the process easier, whether that’s public, private,” Codie said.
“Things need to be accessible, and they need to not have these huge price tags or huge timelines.”
You can follow more of Codie’s story on social media at @theweightofbecoming.