As some of you may be aware, at about 7pm on the evening of Monday the 28th of March, Dr Jonathan Toogood was injured in a motorcycle accident when a car pulled out into the road, making it impossible to avoid a collision. As the sole casualty, Jonathan sustained a broken knee, a broken ankle, broken ribs and a fractured pelvis.

Despite the severity of these injuries, fate intervened in miraculous ways. Jonathan remained lucid in the immediate aftermath of the collision – an excellent sign, as thorough examinations later revealed that he had been completely spared any head or spinal injuries – or indeed any nerve injury. Furthermore, his hands were completely unscathed. For this, we are tremendously thankful.

Nonetheless, since Friday the 31st of March, Jonathan has already undergone extensive surgery at Vincent Pallotti Hospital, with more procedures to follow on Tuesday 11th of April. So far, his medical team is extremely pleased with his progress. Jonathan himself is in good spirits and is already using this “forced downtime” to pause and reflect.

Because our immediate focus over the past ten days has been on Jonathan’s wellbeing, we are deeply grateful to have been able to refer those patients whose procedures require immediate attention, to trusted fellow surgeons and colleagues. In Jonathan’s absence, we know they are in excellent hands.

To our patients who were scheduled for imminent surgery, and who have elected to delay their procedures until Jonathan’s recovery is complete, we deeply appreciate your understanding at this uncertain time. In the coming days, we will have a clearer timeline, and will then be better placed to reschedule procedures and manage expectations. Please rest assured you will be updated accordingly on an individual basis. General updates will be made via our newsletter platform on a two-weekly basis. http://eepurl.com/hDj5J5

I would like to reassure you that MASC Laser Clinic and Somerset Surgery Day Hospital are still open and functioning at full capacity. It is a testament to Jonathan’s leadership and forethought that his staff are ready and able to continue “business as usual” even in his temporary absence.

To the many patients, friends and colleagues who have sent messages of support, we offer our sincere and heartfelt thanks. Your prayers have been a source of constant strength, as have the many gestures of kindness shown to our family and his team at Somerset Surgery. We have been completely overwhelmed by the many generous gifts and flowers already received. We respectfully request that a donation to the Look Good Feel Better Foundation https://www.lgfb.co.za/ in lieu of any further flowers would be deeply appreciated.

Throughout his 17 years as a surgeon, Jonathan’s patients have always been his number one priority. Despite his recent circumstances, this remains unchanged. Jonathan is committed to making a full recovery and is looking forward to his return.

With heartfelt thanks,

Sheldene Toogood

Somerset Surgery & MASC Laser Clinic

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Women’s intuition, mothers’ instinct, gut feeling or a sense of just knowing are things we have either experienced ourselves or witnessed in others.  We are so much more than just flesh and blood with a thinking brain.  We are also emotion, passion, heart and vision.  Sometimes we experience things within us that are hard to express in words but are feelings that we understand and know what they mean. 

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Sheldene’s Thoughts: January 2023

Self-help books always top the bookseller charts in January as we are all determined to make better decisions, set loftier goals and whip ourselves into shape in the New Year.  As an “A type” personality I’ve always put aside some time in the beginning of the year to set myself some goals for the year ahead.  This year I’ve decided it’s going to be different, I’m not going to strategize on how to make the most of 2023, I’m going to rely on the fact that I have learned enough over the past 5 decades of my life to know who I am, what I like and what’s good for me.  I’m not going to grow this year …I’m going to bloom!

We are all so focused on maximizing every moment of every day that we are left drained.  We are so busy ticking off “To-do” lists and attending to the next thing on our agenda that we never feel like we are entitled to enjoy the fruits of our labours.  We are always focused on some point in the future where “everything will be just right” –  we neglect the fact that the beauty of life, is right here in the moment to be enjoyed.

When plants get the right sunlight, nutrition, water and care they bloom.  Somerset Surgery and MASC laser clinic gives you access to experts who can help you bloom.  You don’t need to work it all out yourself, you don’t need to be “the best you can possibly be” before you put yourselves into the care of our experienced professionals.  Come for a consultation and together we will help you bloom beautifully.

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Carl Jung said “Life really does begin at forty.  Up until then, you’re just doing research.”

Successfully getting through your forties after all that painful research in the proceeding years is to end up with the “Strong back, soft front and wild heart” Brene Brown talks about.

So what has my research taught me?  What elements can I draw on to ensure I keep the soft front – that is the willingness to stay vulnerable and curious – not armoured up and closed.  Have that wild heart that still burns with passion and being open to inspiration and the leading of the Holy Spirit.  That strong back – not to be seduced by the ways of the world but to keep my faith in the word of God and His spiritual principals and the things I know to be True?  To have courage to be both fierce and kind?

So I asked myself what did I learn from each decade of my life?

In the first decade, I learned that I was wanted and loved by two caring parents.  Their happy home made me want to be a wife and mother one day.  

In the second decade I learned that I could apply my efforts to learning and study and that hard work would always yield results. I became really interested in powersports and bodybuilding and I learned I had something to offer the world.  That I wanted to have a career one day. Fantasising about owning a health emporium, something like a Health & Racquet Club before they even existed.  I also learned I happened to be to the liking of a certain bodybuilding medical student.

In the third decade of my life it all came together, wife, mother, career and because God gives you above and beyond, more than you can ever hope or wish for, that health emporium in the form of Somerset Surgery.  I learned that travel is as joyous and invigorating as I hoped it would be.

In the fourth decade I learned – this may be anti-climactic – that I don’t hold the universe together! Humility, I learned humility.  The importance of letting go and letting God.  

I developed that strong back from the obstacles I overcame, the discipline of hard work and constant learning, knowing Gods word…and from lifting heavy weights too.

The soft front from being open to love, to forgive, to look for and want the best for others.  To be softened by humility and the gift of being a mother to my two beautiful girls.

The wild heart – to be passionately loved and in love with my best friend for 30 years.  To still want adventure and new experiences.  The unshakable belief that my best years are still ahead of me.

But mostly I’ve learned to be grateful.  Grateful to God for blessing me with a life beyond my wildest imaginings.  Grateful for all the people I’ve met along the way who have contributed to making me who I am today.  

Here’s to the next decade and all the gifts it has to offer!

The post Sheldene’s Thoughts: 50! How did that happen? appeared first on MASC.

Have you ever seen a portrait of a Nobel woman during the Renaissance?  Have you ever wondered about the white face paint, the high foreheads and the lack of eyebrows?  It baffles me as to why someone would want to look like that and it’s beyond comprehension that it would be considered beautiful or desirable.  But yet it was the “look of the day” and to look any different in high society would indicate that you were not “on trend”.  The key to looking like the society people desired to be a part of lay in the use of “Venetian ceruse” the expensive, white face paint made of a mix of vinegar and lead that was only available to the wealthy classes.  As we know today, lead is poisonous.  The toxic white paste caused the destruction of the hair follicles of the eyebrows and hairline resulting in receding hairlines and absent eyebrows.  Ladies of “lower classes” who could not afford Venetian ceruse would use cheaper products that did not contain lead and they would not lose the hair on their face – but they would shave their eyebrows and hairlines in order to appear as the noble women did.  What was actually a “diseased” appearance became desirable because it was a display of wealth and status.  Only the rich could afford the product therefore only the rich looked this way.  Anyone desiring to look rich had to “fake” it in order to make it look like they were of means.

I’ve always maintained that the best plastic surgery is “never seen”.  I believe the mark of good surgery is that it restores something that’s aged or drooped in such a way that one still appears “natural”.  Not windswept, over plumped or disproportionate in any way. My husband and I recently travelled to the USA for a mid-winter break.  It was wonderful to be in the warm Northern hemisphere where we could shed our winter clothing and not have to wear facemasks anymore. What we saw on the streets of New York was quite jaw dropping.  The trend for the Brazillian butt lift taken to extremes leaving one wondering how the ladies ever sat down comfortably.  The other trend taken too far is over plumped lips and cheek bones leaving faces distorted and characturerish.  The look would be accompanied by very visibly branded handbags, sunglasses, heels and T-shirts.  The designer label already visible from 100 paces.  This got me thinking….Just as the Renaissance women were left disfigured by the desire to appear:  On trend, in the know/in the money/in the right social class; modern women are doing the exact same thing with surgery for the same reasons.

If cosmetic enhancement is only available to those who have the means to acquire it and having access to these treatments means you belong to an exclusive group, having subtle improvements would be pointless if no one in the general public could clearly see that you have “had something done”.  The over accentuated features that could never be mistaken for your natural, unaltered appearance have become a status symbol.  

The unfortunate side effect of people having extreme “enhancements” is that it gives aesthetic surgery “a bad name”.  People who desire to improve some aspect of their appearance fear going to a plastic surgeon because they don’t want to look like “Those People”.  Aesthetic improvements DO NOT need to be extreme for you to feel “seen” or to feel like you “belong”.  An ethical, experienced plastic surgeon should partner with you in your desire to be the best version of yourself that you want to be.  It’s important that the surgeon you consult be up-to-date on all the latest trends and improvements in surgical techniques and post-operative management.  But he or she should also be skilled in helping you discover the best way to enhance your appearance in a way that keeps you feeling confident and looking fresh and healthy.  A Surgeon should never be too hasty to give you a “cookie cutter” solution that will only satisfy you for as long as a certain look is in fashion.

Don’t chase transient trends, don’t seek aesthetic enhancement to gain the approval of anyone other than yourself and as always….seek balance in all things.

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I don’t have any make-up on; only a little bit of eyeliner. I turn 50 in November. Those of you who have already reached this landmark know that it comes as quite a surprise that you still feel so very young although you are already ticking the higher box when it comes to any questionnaire drop down. I do pride myself on my youthful appearance and the good condition of my skin. I put this down to regular “Tweakments” I’ve done over the years as well as excellent, consistent skincare treatments and products.

So, what are “Tweakments”?
Generally, the word “Tweakment” is used to describe subtle, barely noticeable cosmetic procedures – basically, anything that is more involved than makeup, but less invasive than a facelift. That means Botox, Fillers, Medical Aesthetic Skin Care treatments (including laser rejuvenation and hair removal), Fat Filling of the face, Lipo of double chins and Eyelifts.

It’s often quoted that, even during wartime, lipstick sales never decreased, as women would save for this luxury to maintain their spirits. It would be very interesting to know how lipstick sales are doing during this time we all have had to wear masks. But what is a FACT: Nonsurgical procedures continued to increase even during the height of the Covid pandemic. (ISAPS* 2020 global Survey). Noticeably the Plastic surgeons at Somerset Surgery experienced an increase in demand for both surgical and nonsurgical procedures because of patients’ time flexibility, the opportunity for a more private recovery and of course due to the so-called “Zoom effect”.

This month we are asking if you are “Selfie ready”? It could also be “Are you ready for your next Zoom meeting?”. Consider having some subtle, barely noticeable Tweakments and keep an eye on our Socials or sign up to our newsletter for great tips and advice (and to see some amazing before and after photos). Sometimes the right combination of “Tweakments” can have a dramatic effect on your appearance and… keep you looking as young in your photos and online meetings as you feel on the inside.

– Sheldene –

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