What made me decide to do this?
I have been working out for most of my life. Once covid hit and the gyms closed I stopped working out as much. I was in the middle of a massive project for work that had to do with Covid and my stress was out of the world. 30lbs later I knew I had to do something. So I was waking up at 5:30am and working out 5-6 days a week and using Noom for my diet. These areas of fat just wouldn't budge. So I got a big bonus from work and saw another friend's results so went for it.
Before procedure
I sent the pictures virtually one day after seeing a picture of myself and just wanting something to give me a boost. It seemed like working out was the one thing in my life that no matter how much I did I couldn't get things to budge. I was eating all organic, watching my nutrition like a hawk. I sent the pictures virtually and was shocked at the amount it cost. So I did nothing for a month, deciding to work out and eat nothing but salads for lunch and dinner. With my thyroid issues, no change. So I called back and scheduled it.
Day of Surgery
The day of surgery I was freaking out (yep that's when i started to get nervous). I wasn't generally feeling well and under a huge amount of stress at work. I got to the office, it wasn't as fancy as the office in the pics and my hubby was nervous. They had me fill out a lot of paperwork and I went to the back to get prepped. The top bra didn't fit and I felt like a whale, so she gave me some pasties and the nurse, Danielle, told me don't worry about it. Then Nicole, the other nurse came in and they both talked to me like we were old friends and told me to relax. My pressure was 155/96, after relaxing my systolic went down to 135 but the diastolic stayed at 93/94. So they went to talk to the doctor, ideally they want it under 90 and I couldn't stop panicking. The Dr. D came in and talked to me about realistic expectations, that i might need a tummy tuck and that she could only take out 5000 ccs at one time.
During the procedure
I walked into the room, they had me choose my music on Alexa. Gave me pills that included xanax, pain and a shot of something. They also hooked me up to an IV because they said I was dehydrated. They did the procedure and it didn't hurt, there were a few times when I winced and was uncomfortable but Dr. D and nurse Nicole and Danielle talked me through it, it was like being on the table with my girlfriends, they were so nice and accomodating. Towards the end, I was getting to the upper limit and we both decided to do the thigh on a different day (we had talked about it before I went on the meds). Given my weight (I wear a size 14) I knew it would be the case and had already mentally prepared for that. The doctor told me to come in 2 days later she had space on her schedule.
Night of procedure
I came home expecting the worst. I took 800mg of Ibuprofen and went to sleep. I woke up around 8pm and did 15 minutes of laps around the house. I did this twice. My sleep that first night was rough, I had been having headaches for a week and it came back. Luckily I have one of those beds that automatically lift so i was able to sleep on my back.
Day 2 (24 hours past the procedure)
This day was not great. I was in pain when I woke up, got some breakfast and took a pain pill. I did some watching of netflix and then had 3 conference calls for work. I did some laps around the house and walked a total of 30 minutes. My compression garment was tight around the top so I put another pad so it didn't start creasing. Once I did that, if I was laying in the bed my pain was about a 2 on a scale of 1 - 10. I had zero leaking but looked super swollen like I was 4 months pregnant.
Day 3 (48 hours post procedure)
Shower time! I had no idea what to expect and was half expecting it not too work. I took off the compression garment and didn't recognize the body staring back at me. My stomach looked flat! My back size was so much smaller. I just looked SMALLER! I took a shower in cool water and looked at the holes, they were so small (I had lipo a few years ago and the holes were huge). They looked like a scratched mosquito bite. I felt so much better. All the drainage was in the pads some of them were soaked through, they packed me really well.
I got dressed and went back for Round 2, inner thigh, outer thigh and knees. More on that in the next review. But if this were it, I am SUPER happy. Dr. D is amazing! She called me the day of the procedure herself. She was like a caring aunt, I felt very cared for. She really cared about my results and getting the best possible outcome, without being unrealistic and promising me the world.
Updated on 21 Jul 2021:
Adding my healing stories to help others. I thought my thighs were going to hurt a ton. They barely hurt, abs are 2 days older and hurt more (not hurt, maybe sore is a better word). I took shower number 2 and it felt great, my thigh holes have completely closed up and scabbing. I got another faja and it was a little tight. So I’ve been wearing the one from the place and washing by hand, throwing in the dryer while taking my shower. I did thigh liposuction before and it hurt like hell and didn’t work. I felt like I wanted to kill myself, this recovery on them has been better. I cut the bottom calf off my garment so I could wear capris. It is hot and humid!
Abdomen
My abdomen is still super swollen! I look about 4 months pregnant. Now I did get a more comfortable ab board that has really helped me. The foam wasn’t doing it. It was $10 on Amazon. I should have gotten some tent dresses from Walmart. I feel so self conscious, like everyone is looking at my stomach, and the swelling, and can tell what I did. My hubby says I’m mental lol.
I usually wear a medium tshirt, my hubby’s Large is tight on my stomach. I should have done any other time than summer so I could hide it with a jacket or cardigan.
My front stomach isn’t bruised but my back is, I should have gotten a back board. Sometime I sit on a chair, forget and wince in pain.
Pain level
Haven’t taken the 800mg ibuprofen in a few days. When I am sitting, working, I don’t feel any pain. I’m not in pain necessarily but uncomfortable.
Just going to power through. I think in the whole day I am aware I did something maybe 30 minutes of the day. I cuss and just get over myself. Hoping the swelling dissipates. Tired of feeling like a whale.
Will update in a few days.
Updated on 22 Jul 2021:
My abdomen swelling has come down a lot. I look so much smaller! I’m able to sleep on my side now (little wins!). My backside still is tender to the touch. I should have gotten a back board. The ab board I got is so helpful, I have zero bruising where I have a board. There was some lower bruising on my back but I think that has resolved.
My thighs are doing well, getting smaller every day.
I’m still wearing the compression garment from Elite. I started on the 2nd clip and now able to go all the way down to the 4th clip. I got it in size large can probably go down to medium next week. Also have been wearing a soft bra with it. Cant imagine wearing anything with under wire right now. I bought another garment from Amazon for $90. At the 48 hour mark I couldn’t stand to put it on it was so tight. I might try tomorrow.
Updated on 26 Jul 2021:
I’m not healing as fast as I would like. My thighs, that are only 9 days post surgery feel completely healed. My abs and back are still sore and stiff to the touch.
I finally started doing massage in my back and it feels a lot better. My life is crazy now so I haven’t been able to walk a lot like I wanted. So I don’t feel like my healing is going as fast as I would like.
I didn’t experience a 2nd round of swelling. At night I still wear my ab board for comfort. Hoping that after 2 weeks I can bend down comfortably and pick stuff up. With the faja on I need help.
Updated on 2 Aug 2021:
Lymphatic massage, lymphatic massage! I have been healing well but t the end of week 2 I noticed my feet tried swelling a LOT! I was doing all the things, drinking lots of water, walking, staying away from salt but by the end of the days I looked like sausage toes.
I booked a lymphatic massage with Massage Solutions in Atlanta. She did LED, ultrasound therapy and this morning I feel so much better. I had a lot of fluid trapped starting to get hard. Definitely recommend! Swelling in my feet disappeared!
Updated on 6 Feb 2022:
Best decision I ever made. I added weight training after 4 months and high protein to my diet and my results are just fantastic. I stuck with the lymphatic massage for about 5 months going every week and just stopped wearing my faja at around 5 months post. I get occasional swelling but its rare and I’m happy I don’t have to wear that binder to bed or during the day anymore. The other side benefit of what Dr. D did and how she sculpted me is even though I didn’t get a BBL, it looks like I did, the hers of squats and leg workouts really show now. I see Char at Massage Solutions, no bumps, no lumps. Just a really even, shapely bikini body. Thanks again to Dr D and her team for a great experience.