Regaining confidence

Regaining confidence — patient story

“Dr Barker is the nicest man I have ever met,” says Carol Wardell, who was selected for the Access Program in 2019. “He said to me: ‘at your age why wouldn’t you want to look good!’”

Wardell has had operations throughout her life to help her lose weight. After the most recent surgery, she lost 60kg, almost half her body weight.

“I was turning 60 in two weeks, so I thought it’s now or never,” she says.

But the results left her body sagging so much that it severely affected her self image. “I just lost so much weight. To be blunt, my breasts were literally hanging down to my knee caps,” she says. “I had to do something because it really affected my self-confidence, but I just couldn’t afford to.”

Wardell read about the MQ Health Access program in a Facebook group. The program is the brainchild of Professor Anand Deva, Head of Cosmetic, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at MQ Health. So she put her name down for a possible bilateral breast reduction.

Eventually, Wardell received a call from MQ Health. In September 2019, she met with her surgeon, Dr Anthony Barker.

“I couldn’t believe I was selected,” says Wardell. “Dr Barker is the nicest man I have ever met. He really cares about his patients.” Wardell also says it was the best hospital experience she’s had and the clinic and hospital staff were so kind — nothing was too much trouble.

The surgery proceeded on 1st October, and she has several more scheduled in coming months to tighten the skin on her stomach and face.