Smart Lipo: Stories

I am 29 years old with no kids (yet). I am 5'2 and about 125lbs (I gained 10 in muscle since I started working out regularly). I work out 2-3x/week lifting weights and running. No matter how many crunches or arm weights I lift I can't get the shape and definition I want so next Wednesday I'm having SmartLipo. I'm very nervous - mostly because I hate needles, but after wanting to do this for years I'm ready. I've had two arthroscopic shoulder surgeries in my early 20's so I can handle any pain/soreness. I'm going to take my before pictures this weekend so they'll be up soon. Get ready for the blinding whiteness...

Few hours post up now. sore but doing well! Have a post op appointment in the AM so I'll get a good look then

Just had my first post op - I love my results!!! My arms despite the swelling are so small and my stomach is so flat. I have significant bruising on my hips and lower abs right above my pubic area but they fit me with a bigger compression garment to help with that. Will take some pics when I get home!

Day 2 Post Op: I haven't had any pain meds besides Tylenol today. I cleaned up around the house a little, vacuumed and did some laundry and most chilled out. Bruising actually seems better today and only really seems to run around the edges of the compression garments. That being said: get READY for some soreness in those areas! The worst is when you've been sitting or lying down for a while and go to stand back up. I don't think it would be so bad if I hadn't done my arms too because every which way I try to stabilize myself getting up I end up bumping something sore, but oh well. I still definitely think it was worth it. Will continue to post pics of my progress!

Post Op Day 4 - Considerably less sore yesterday and today. Was out and about running errands to get Halloween costume materials and wore myself out, but had a little nap and was able to stay out until 1AM with friends happily being the DD for festivities. Slept in this morning and taking it easy still. It's a beautiful day out so I'm going to put on my running shoes and go for a s-l-o-w walk later on. Will post some pics later today after I'm cleaned up.

Post Op Day 5 - Back to work! Worked a full day without any problems. Had to take a little "desk nap" on my lunch break but after that I was good. Wore a smaller compression garment so it wouldn't be so obvious to my coworkers and I seem to be a little more swollen this evening, but I'm back in the big one now and I intend to sleep in it tonight. Starting to get some tingles in the backs of my arms when I reach certain ways - must be the nerves waking back up. Only complaint so far is the lingering bruising, but other than that everything is good!

3 Weeks Post Op - At some point (I couldn't tell because of the significant bruising at first) I developed a red allergic rash on my lower abdomen that, while it did not itch, concerned my Doctor so I was ordered to not take any more pain meds and to start taking Benedryl nightly. I also applied topical steroid creme to avoid having to take a Medrol dose pack (which I really don't like doing). That was about one week post-op. I stuck to that regiment until this weekend and the rash has mostly gone away.

I stopped wearing the CG at two weeks exactly. This happened to coincide with "that time of the month" so by the end of the day I was gladly back in it, but did not sleep in it. I did this again the next evening, but then stopped wearing it altogether. During the day at work I started wearing a Spanx bodysuit, but stopped wearing that over this past weekend and haven't worn it since. Yesterday was my first day back in the gym and while I could not run (the jostling was very uncomfortable still on my belly), I did walk 3 miles and do all of my normal arm exercises with my usual weights. I'm going to attempt leg day tomorrow - we'll see how that goes!

I have my one month post-op next Tuesday. Will let everyone know how that goes as well!