How was your Smartlipo recovery?

I had smartlipo on my upper and lower stomach 13 days ago. I love the results except after 10 days I have a lump the size of a golf ball right above the navel. It isn't an infection because it is not discolored; and my dr. says it is fluid and it will go down. I have massaged and applied ice and hot water and it is the same size. Has anyone had this happen? I did however lose 11 lbs in 2 weeks. Pretty excited about that.

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I am considering Smart Lipo but the doctor I went to isn't a surgeon and is not board certified in plastic surgery. His name is Dr. Bergeron in Houston and just wondering if anyone has been to him for Smart Lipo and what your results were.

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Good morning, I had my lipo on 9/22/09. I used ice packs for 2 days and now use moist heat 3 times a day and that made all the difference. Today, 9/28/09 it just feels like I worked out really hard. Just some stiffness and a little sore. Love the results I saw within 4 days. Had lipo on upper/lower abdominals, inner/outer thighs, flanks & buttocks. No regrets, love it and a general anesthesia was used. It freaked me out thinking about being awake. I had a wonderful doctor & his staff was great. I only used 2 of my pain pills. I know it depends but in my case a minimum of a week off is a good thing. The drainage alone would be annoying to manage outside of the home. I didn't squirt but it was pretty heavy for the 1st 24 hours. Good luck.

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I had my knees done last year. It was a very long recovery...5 weeks of discomfort, and 10 weeks till I felt almost normal. It took 5 months plus to see and LIKE the results. I had all the usual side effects. Divets, uneven skin, bruises, sharp shooting pains...now that a year has passed, I am happy with the results. I swore I would not do it again...and here I am 5 days out of smart lipo. This time I did my upper, inner thighs, and the banana roll ( under butt, and inner thigh area) and a tiny bit on the sides...(saddlebags)...there was only like a teaspoon of fat removed on that area...but I felt while I was there, why not do that area too. I could see a little bit of fat starting to form and figured it will get worse over time, so suck it out now. So far, the recovery time has been WAY easier than the knees. I am not in pain, but it does hurt a bit to sit on the toilet or a chair. I had very little drainage the first day...and none the 2nd. I am bruised of course...and sore. I know that I have a lot of time until I see the results. I learned this last time. So far, I am pretty sure I like what is happening. However, I am not any smaller...because I am still very swollen. I am will weigh myself and do measurements in 2 months. I won't bother before then and get discouraged because this procedure takes months...sometimes 6+ months to look its best. So, if you are reading this, and in recovery...be patient. I hated my knees for the first 3-4 months...I love them now. Good luck to all.

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I just had smartlipo done on my upper and lower abs (mostly lower), handles and lower back fat on 10/22. The surgeon removed about 2-3 lbs. of fat total. I have to say that I've been fairly impressed with recovery so far; I haven't had any major pain or swelling, I had almost no bruising, and I have been able to move relatively normally. I started exercising again in a limited fashion on Sunday. There were some things I wasn't expecting. The most discomfort and tenderness is in my lower back area, although I did start having some godawful itching yesterday on the sides as some of the tissues began healing. That continues to move around. So far, the majority of the discomfort seems to be coming from the compression garment, which my surgeon insists I wear 24/7 for two weeks, although the consensus across the board seems to be that there is no good evidence of any long term benefit to compression beyond the first week post-op. I'm glad I did it this time of year; I can't imagine how much more uncomfortable it would be to wear the compression garment during warm weather. Most of the soreness and tenderness (which seems to be at its worst around late afternoon/ early evening) appears to be around the belt-line where the incisions were made. They don't look too bad at this point, although there are two of them that sort of look like small rug burns. It's early days yet, but even though the total amount of fat removed was only 2-3 lbs., I can already see a big change in my shape; a much flatter (nearly completely flat) stomach, and the change in shape from having the side and back fat removed is already impressive. I can't wait to see the final result, especially after I'm able to get back to my full workout again. I'm a bit disappointed to learn (from reading online) that it might be six months before I see the final result, I thought it would be more like 3-4. My surgeon says I should have results I can show in 1-2 months though. Even at six months, I should be good to go long before next summer!

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I just had smart lipo on my upper and lower abs, handles and lower back fat on 10-22. I have to say that in spite of the discomfort, I'm fairly impressed with the recovery so far. I've been able to move pretty normally. The most annoying thing about recovery so far is wearing the compression garment. Most of my discomfort is actually from that. My doctor requires me to wear it 24/7 for the first two weeks, even though the consensus is there is not any good evidence that it affects results after the first week of wear (which will be this Thursday). I still have soreness and tenderness, particularly to touch, and also quite a bit of itching at times as the tissues are healing. I had almost no bruising. I'm glad I did it this time of year; I can't imagine how much more uncomfortable it would be to wear the garment in warm weather. I can already see how much flatter my stomach will be, and the resulting change in shape from the removal of the fat on the sides and back is already impressive. Can't wait to see the final results. I should be good to go long before summer hits!

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I'm going in for smartlipo on my neck in two weeks... if anyone has any comments or suggestions on this area I would appreciate it. Also, I'm taking 3 to 4 days off from work and if you think this is enough time??

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11-15-09 Yesterday I had SmartLipo on my upper and lower abs. Has anyone had a problem with the Linocaine not completely numbing the area? I had to be injected I don't know how many times during the Lipo. I believe they used all they legally could and was still not numb. I took two Xannex and one pain pill during the procedure but was still in agony. I cried the entire time. I was already very bruised by the time I got home and the drainage was really heavy. Thank heavens I had a friend with me to take me home and help me. I have more procedures to be done, flanks, bra fat, banana roll, and neck and chin. I am terrified! Only one day out so no idea what my stomach is going to look like. I hope tomorrow will be better.

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I go tomorrow for my first Post Op visit. I am going to talk to the doctor to see if I can be given something stronger next time. I was told from someone in the office that the Upper and Lower Abs are the most painfull of procedures. I hope that's true! Other then that I am doing great. My bruises have started to turn a lighter shade of purple and gold!Just in time for the Holidays! I still have a lot of swelling and I am very sensitive to the touch but pain is not an issue any longer. I just feel as if I have had a really good workout.

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My one week Post Op visit went very well. I was told everything was looking just like it should. I still have a lot swelling. The bruises are getting better every day. A hardness developing over my upper and lower abs and is kind of strange and uncomfortable. The Doctor said this is normal and is the colagen forming, which is a good thing. I am really looking forward to having my flanks and back done on December 15! I think they might be doing the bananna roll the same day. Even with the swelling I have already lost three inches off my waiste! I am thrilled!

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