Question
Confused about post-Liposuction and Smart Lipo care
I had Smart lipo and traditional lipo 4 1/2 weeks ago. I had a lot of bruising, which has almost completely disappeared but have soooo many questions with regard to my healing!! I have done HBOxygen and Dermawave treatments as well as lymphatic drainage massages. I am now thinking of doing Triactive to help with swelling and tightness in my abodomen and waist.
I have a hard stomach, which I am told is due to swelling. But, I've also been told that excess protein will lead to scar tissue!! I have been wearing my compression garments non-stop and wonder if that is actually slowing my recovery down (constriction of lymph nodes, etc.) My fear is this tight stomach (due to fluid) will somehow solidify into scar tissue!!
I am doing self-massage and trying everything I can to have the best possible outcome from this surgery. I do not want areas of hardness (scar tissue) to remain. Am I doing the right things? The doctor says to wear the compression garments for 6-8 weeks now. Beforehand, he had said 6 weeks, and maybe less if I did the extra treatments (HBO, Dermawave, etc.) Today, he said I'd wear them until the firmness (fluid) went away. That could take MONTHS!! Ugh.
I am just so confused by all of this. Now, he said to start exercising unrestricted, but wear the compression garments (Spanx)...but make sure nothing leaves a mark on my waist that might remain. When do I have to stop worrying about marks? Frankly, everything leaves marks. Even the corset leaves marks. They go away, but... I am just confused by all this. I want to do everything right. Am I doing the right stuff here?
Answers (3)
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1
October 5, 2008
Sounds like you need some answers.
Most plastic surgeons are going to tell you to wear a compression garment for several weeks after the procedure. All of this other stuff may help to some degree but it also seems excessive. What type of Hyperbaric Oxygen are you doing? Are you really going in an oxygen chamber under physican observation and being pressurized? There are many "pseudo" hyperbaric oxygen therapies sold by doctors who either don't know or don't care about the science of hyperbaric oxygen. Simply going in an oxygen tent for 15-30 minutes is not going to improve your outcome. True hyperbaric oxygen therapy requires a physician to be sitting there while you are treated for 2 hours, 5 days a week. Dermawave non-needle mesotherapy has little peer recognized scientific proof that plastic surgeons believe needs to be done after liposuction. I have a feeling that some non-plastic surgeon is making extra money selling you treatments for which there is little scientific evidence or proof that it works. Your doctor should be answering all of these questions and if he/she is not you need to find a doctor who can examine you and answer your questions/concerns.
2
October 1, 2008
Post liposuction care
It sounds like you are doing all of the right things in the post-operative period. As for Smartlipo, I usually tell my patients to wear their garments for at least 2 weeks and longer if possible. For traditional liposuction, the healing time is longer, and the garnments typically need to be worn longer. You will continue to heal and see improved results for up to a year so don't get discouraged.
Those supplemental treatments can help, and I have seen some good results with some of them, but they are optional. If you have specific concerns, it is always best to consult your own physician, however it sounds like you are on the right track. And remember, it has only been a month, and the results will continue to improve with time. If a touch up is needed, I usually tell my patients to wait at least 6 months, and we can reevaluate the situation then.
3
October 1, 2008
Post Liposuction/Smartlipo Care
Answer by Clement Banda, M.D.
The general consensus is that 6 weeks of compression garment wear is optimal. Periods as short as 2 weeks have been advocated for Smartlipo. I am of the opinion that this is only true for very small areas of fat with minimal suctioning after the Smartlipo laser.
Deep tissue massage, Velashape, Acoustic Wave Therapy and all the other similar procedures are helpful adjuncts. You do not have to do them. If you do absolutely nothing but wear your compression garment you will be just fine. Remember that it takes up to 12 months to get to your final result. Allow yourself some time.
The hardness of the treated area tends to be inflammatory tissue which will eventually soften.
Your physician and you should closely follow your progress. It is not unknown to need revision of the procedure months down the road. All this available information on the internet is great and affords the medical community an educated consumer. However, there is no substitute yet for an evaluation by a physician and maybe a second a opinion.
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10/29/08
I had smart lipo performed 1 year ago. Since that time I have had 2 revisions with the last one being performed 4 weeks ago. I have a lump on my left side the size of 1/2 a baseball and a band of hardness 2 inches wide below my ribcage and extends from my right side to my left side. The Doctor said this was caused from the type of garmet they provedide me with after the first procedure (it was a wrap around with velcro that fit from my ribcage to by pubic area. He then performed a revision and I wore a different type of garmet that was like an undershirt and had a snap that fastened between the legs. 4 months later I still had the same problem and he again performed a 2nd revision. It appears the results are going to be the same. This time after the procedure he said there was no more fat and I was filled with scar tissue. After each procedure I massaged the areas and wore the garmets 24/7. When I look in the mirror in the mornings the lumpynes and hard spots are less visible but later in the day they continue to be more pronounced. The whole stomach area looks deformed with these masses and a couple of areas that look like the tool was drawn too slowly across. There are a couple of lines about 1/4 inch wide and 6 inches long. Any advice?
Thank you.
10/31/08
I have to say a lot of it has resolved, but I still definitely have some hardness in my stomach. I am now almost 10 weeks out and have now been told I will se the bulk of the results at 4-6 months with continuing improvement until about 1 year. Wow! That was all much longer than initially told. If I had to give anyone advice from my experience with Smartlipo and tradional lipo, it would be that the doctors seems to gloss over the recovery time a bit to get you in the door. But, be aware that it is a LONG recovery. I'm still not entirely sure what my complete result will be yet, but I am happy with the results thus far. I just hope I will eventually be "soft" all over with no lasting hard patches!! We shall see.