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?
1 post
29 Oct 2008
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.
2 posts
31 Oct 2008
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.
95 posts
30 Sep 2008
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.
1 post
15 Jul 2009
I had smart lipo 4 months ago, and, like many others have small lumpy areas that are more profound at the end of the day than they are first thing in the morning. My surgeon has recommended laser resurfacing and endermologie sessions (back to back). I havent had to pay for these treatments and am now on my 8th treatment (spaced 10 days apart) but Im still disappointed with the results. I really thought Id be flat and smooth by now. Ive been assured that the lumpiness will go eventually and will just take time and that the treatments are just helping this along. Is this true? Will the lumps eventually disappear as a matter of course? I can cope knowing that it will take a year or so but not knowing whether it will stay like this is pretty depressing!