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A CUT ABOVE Pandemic triggers surge in cosmetic surgery By Jill Ellis-Worthington
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hough Melinda Tessman, Veronica Hauser and Dianne Abbot are at different ages, stages and have different occupations, they have two key factors in common. They all have had ‘work’ done and are all pleased with the results. Tessman, who is 43 and a stay-at-home mom, and Hauser, who is 70 and retired, went to Dr. Marilena Marignani to remedy issues about which they were unhappy. Tessman had lost 160 pounds after having gastric bypass surgery three years ago. Her sister previously had gastric bypass and then a tummy tuck performed by Dr. Marignani; she was happy with the results. Tessman was hoping for the same outcome, so her abdominal operation was done in September of 2021 at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital, where Dr. Marignani practices cosmetic surgery. The removal of six pounds of extra skin has improved both her movement and her mood. “My husband and I have a vow renewal coming up, and I’ll be able to wear the dress I’ve always had in my head. I’ll get to go to a bridal shop and buy a dress that I never thought I’d be able to wear,” enthuses Tessman. Hauser’s surgery helped both her vision and her self-esteem. She disliked the way her eyelids were drooping, so she went to Dr. Marignani, who removed excess skin in her eyelids during a day surgery procedure in November 2021. “I just hated that I had that skin hanging down. A local lawyer, Diane Abbot, who is 60, went to Dr. Corey Moore for a lower facelift in spring of 2021. She did not like looking in the mirror and seeing her “drooping jowls.” She also detested the deep lines around her lips and later went to Dr. Moore for a laser treatment to remove them,
42 Lifestyle May/June 2022
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“so my lipstick wouldn’t go travelling.” With all of her court and client interactions over Zoom the past two years, Abbott became more aware of how the drooping jowls made her look “sad or angry” and thought about it for a year before seeking Dr. Moore’s help. Most cosmetic surgery is not covered by OHIP, but all three women confirm that they are happy with having invested in their appearances. The pandemic was a driving force for Hauser and Abbott as both had extra money that would have been spent on travel over the past two years and decided to use those funds for something that would have a lasting impact on the way they
