Smart Lipo
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How was your Smartlipo recovery?

By sanjosewoman on 19 Nov 2007

I'm thinking about smartlipo next week and don't know if I can drive home myself after that. How many days should I take off from work? how long will you see the result? thanks.

View 4 doctor answers to SmartLipo Recovery

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DrBernstein (1 post) 9 Oct 2008
You have made a good choice in selecting SmartLipo as it has a much shorter recovery-period as compared with 'traditional' tumescent liposuction combined with its ability to provide skin-tightening for an enhanced aesthetic outcome.  You should understand that as with all lipsoctions, you won't see your final/best result for a good couple of months. My standard post-treatment protocol is to have my patients start light activities and low-impact aerobic exercise the next day.  You will most likely experience significant drainage on day one, so be prepared.  After 1 week, there are usually no limitations on activities. Most of my patients with non-strenuous jobs can return to work the same day, although I recommend to wait for post-op day 2 due to the excessive draining and its subsequent inconvenience. In your case (a job with heavy-lifing and/or strenuous activity), I would recommend waiting the full week before going back to work.  This may seem conservative to some, but I tend to err on the side of patient safety versus convenience. Good luck with your procedure! Dr. Bernstein
Shell7777 (unregistered guest) 3 Mar 2009
Are you kidding me? I had smartlipo one week ago on my abs and flanks and I am sore as can be. In bed and on meds for 2 days. I am happy with my results, but today will be the first day I am going to WALK 1 mile on my treadmill. I work out 3 times a week normally. I had almost 2 liters out. I thought was quite a bit and it took about 4 hours during the procedure. Maybe little jobs you can get back to work, but be prepared for some time off.
crossyourfingers (36 posts) 11 May 2010
I completely agree. The next day was very painful and took a full week before I could even bend down to put my own shoes on. This next day back to work thing and no pain, I just do not get it!
Cali-gal (9 posts) 1 Jul 2010
I agree with you Shell7777. I had my procedure a week ago today and am actually the most swollen I have been. Still can't tie my shoes or shave my legs. LOL! How are you feeling/looking now?!
7619anon (1 post) 30 Aug 2010
I just had Smartlipo just last week and went back to work the next day and yes, you will have drainage but it stop the next day. I am still a little swollen with very little pain, was it worth it...well the jury is still out on that, I'll let you guys know in a few months....
gmoney69 (21 posts) 17 Sep 2010
Dr. Bernstein, is it true that it takes up to 4-6 months to get your final smartlipo results???
sl2010 (2 posts) 17 Nov 2010
I just had smartlipo yesterday, and theres no way i could have gone to work today! The pain is easing up, and its more of a soreness now, kinda like i did too many crunches.....cant wait to see my final results
chontelle (38 posts) 25 Mar 2011
I TOTALLY AGREE .That is a joke I was clueless all the you tube and today show etc..etc.. have you fooled.I had 3 liters abs,innerand outer.It took 2 to 3 weeks before i was comfortable going to the gym and still don't have all my energy back.
Heartispure (1 post) 10 Sep 2011

I thought it was just me, really felt like I was being a cry baby because it has been 5 weeks since my procedure and I am still hurting like hell. My doctor was great, but he told me the pain varies from patient to patient but is generally minimal. YEAH RIGHT. I literally cried on the table, ti hurt so bad. The swelling, soreness and pain persists even 6 weeks out. The results are beginning to show but not fast enough for my taste. I don't recommend that you believe the hype when they tell you that you can go back to work the next day...hogwash!!

AllyMcBeal (1 post) 21 Sep 2011

Dr. Bernstein,
I'm really satisfied with my result. I just had my procedure Monday and I'm feeling great; I'm going back to work tomorrow, Thursday. I had a pretty healthy lifestyle; cardiovascular activity 3 times a week and weight lifting alternate days before my procedure and I run 2 times a week. I ate pretty healthy before and now. The drainage last day 2; today is day 3 no drainage. I still have bruising and a little of swelling, but nothing major. I was pretty small to start with anyway, I just have belly fat that did not go away after two kids. It really a case by case basis; some will have longer recovery and some shorter. Good luck ladies and just be patient the results will come.

Gilmore (1 post) 5 Nov 2011
I just had smartlipo a week and two days ago, yesterday was the first time I was able to work out, and I extremely sore and did not work out effectively. I have to agree with Shell777, Dr. Bernstein suggest we can go to work the next day, and there's no limitation, please if you get this procedure listen to your body not some one who performs the surgery. we are different in many ways. Maybe one person can return to work the next, I'm still shaking my head at that, but maybe, but listen to your body it will not lie to you.
Berniece (6 posts) 20 Nov 2011
Just had smart lipo 2days ago ...it was not as bad as a lot of the blogs I have read...I feel great and can't wait to see results. My only question is I had chin lipo and the doc didn't give me any sort of chin strap ...should I have one?...everyone I read on here has had to wear it?
HIG (41 posts) 20 Nov 2011
Berniece: Thanks for the info. I am considering do the chin lipo, though I am curious how I can actually keep it hidden from co workers. Did you have brusing on your face? I plan to take off work for a week atleast, so I am curious what much brusing and swelling there will be a week later..and I am curious if it hurts to talk (open and close mouth)? Thanks!
Berniece (6 posts) 25 Nov 2011
Hi ...I had no bruising at all and most of the swelling went down by the next day. I had a small bandaid on that no one noticed. Today has been a week and I can feel it getting even tighter now. I never had any trouble talking or pain at all.....just make sure u get a good doc and you will do great!
sdwen (4 posts) 28 Nov 2011

I agree with your post. I cried on the table as well and they finally decided to put me out. Even then, I was aware of the pain twice and spoke out the words OUCH even though I couldn't open my eyes. It was SO painful. Recovery hasn't been too bad but I'm one week out and just now leaving the house and going to work. The first week was laying on the couch and getting light headed if I walked around.

HIG (41 posts) 29 Nov 2011
sdwen what locations did you have the lipo done at?
sdwen (4 posts) 30 Nov 2011
I had it done by a board certified plastic surgeon in Wichita, KS. He told me he's had one other patient who has experienced the pain that I had. I must be in the small percentage of people who can't tolerate pain well. :(
Berniece (6 posts) 30 Nov 2011
Hi swdn.....Im sorry you had such a bad experience. I think with procedures like this there are many thing to consider. I feel very lucky thatni had no pain at all while getting my procedure done. I hope your results are great and the pain quickly forgotten. I go back for my two week check up tomorrow. I feel great.... I will keep you posted
Sore Boy (1 post) 2 Dec 2011
I totally agree. You will be VERY sore! I am 3 days post abdominal laser lipo. Already looking trimmer. Imagine a small car driving over your abdomen. That's what it feels like has happened to you. Also because it's healing it itches bad at times.
NewbodyMelanie (8 posts) 24 Jan 2012
Bernice,
I had my chin lipo last Tuesday. I have brusing on my neck still. It looks like someone tried to strangle me. It hurts, but is not that much, more like an ache. It is also still numb where the lipo was done. If you have a good doctor he does it up to the sides too, so it just is not under your chin.
I would give a week to a week and a half before going back to work. You also have to wear a chin strap for 24 hours for a while. It will be a week and 6 days when I take mine off. Even then, I will wear it at night sleeping.
rhekier (1 post) 13 Oct 2008
The laser in SmartLipo results in blood vessel coagulation, which means you will have less bruising with your SmartLipo procedure compared with standard liposuction. As a result, you can expect much less discomfort and downtime with Smart Lipo than with conventional liposuction. In fact let me share with you the experiences that we've had in our practice. Both my wife and I are surgeons that perform Smart Lipo. About a year ago, I had my abdomen and love handles done by her one morning. Around midnight that night another surgeon in town needed help in the operating room and paged me. Without any difficulty I went to the operating room and assisted that surgeon in his emergency case. I did not have to take a single pain pill after my procedure and had no trouble working that night. For my wife I performed two separate Smart Lipo procedures on her. The first time I did her abdomen and love handles and the very next day she came to work and saw about 50 patients in clinic with me. The next time I did her arms and outer thighs, and the very next day she performed four operations. On our office manager, we performed Smart Lipo of her chin and she stayed in the officesaw patients that very same day. Each person is different and has different recovery times. These are some real-world examples from our practice.
Had3liposmyself (1 post) 29 Oct 2011
B.S. I have done 2 regular lipos and just did one smart lipo 5 weeks ago and there is no way you will stay at the office after a lipo and talk to 50 clients , you dont even get to see 50 clients any day of the week in any plastic surgery doctors office
reallyhurtful (1 post) 3 Feb 2012
Had you read what they posted it said they saw 50 people in a CLINIC. It is possible. The doctors an in ER in a hospital can easily see more than 200 people daily............
yikes (2 posts) 15 Oct 2008
I had tumescent lipo followed by suction then smart lipo for skin tightening on my abs on Oct. 6 and on my flanks and inner thighs on Oct. 13. Although I was sore and stiff the day after for both of them, I was up and functioning the day of and day after both procedures. The drainage for all of my procedures lasted about 24 hours and kept me close to home. By the day after the procedures I was taking long walks and doing everything I needed to do at home, driving carpool, etc. By day 3 after my first procedure the only discomfort I had was tenderness. I am on day 3 for the second procedure now and I am a little more sore and stiff than I was after having my abs done but will go about my regular daily routine. I wouldn't try to lift anything really heavy just because it is a little uncomfortable to do a lot of bending and I'm not ready to hit the tennis courts yet but I find the more I keep moving (mostly walking) the better I feel. My doc reccomended lots of walking for the first couple of weeks. I also began massage on day 3 after my first procedure and will begin massage on thighs and flanks today. The first couple of days can be tough but it gets much better and more comfortable each day.
Deborah Eastlack (1 post) 23 Nov 2008
I just had Smart Lipo on my inner and and outer thighs. Recovery has not been bad. The doctor does provide a script for pain but I have not had to use it. Mostly it is just sore. The biggest surprise is when you pull the tight garment up over your legs, blood squirts (really squirts) from each hole...the was weird for me...but after 1 day not more squirting. I can immediately see results on the inner thighs but my outer thighs are still swollen so it's difficult to see the results. The worst "pain" is after sitting for awhile and then getting up to move...

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