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Bumps from Smart Lipo (135lbs and 5'9") - Boca Raton, FL

shari45
updated 2 years ago

Not Worth It
Cost: $3,000
Strax (Boca Raton, FL)

It will be 4 weeks tomorrow since my surgery. I...

28 Mar 2010

It will be 4 weeks tomorrow since my surgery. I had the hopes of it being all better by now, but the experience has been horrendous. Not only was it terribly painful, but my surgeon misled me into thinking it would be a very quick recovery. He told me that I would only have to wear my compression garment for 5 days! I am still wearing it 24 hours a day, and frankly afaid not to, as I am desperately trying to find hope in smoothing out the horrible unevenness I have.

I was under the impression that I was a perfect candidate for the SmartLipo since I was ideal weight (135lbs and 5'9"). I only had a little pouch that I had not ever been able to accept. I am now facing the prospect of never showing my belly in public again, which leaves me distraught as I live a mile from the beach in Fla, and often went with my kids. I have never in my life worn a one piece bathing suit. Can someone please help me in instilling some hope?

Like I said, it has been 4 weeks, and I am wearing a very tight fitting compression garment with pads, have had 8 endermologie treatments, and 2x daily massage myself most of the time with a rolling pin. I don't want to give up hope, or have to fathom getting another surgery already. PLEASE HELP!

7 Apr 2010

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Comments (24)

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Sweet Cuban 16 Jan 2012

I've been reading these posts and I think a lot of the problem is the doctor you choose. I heard a lot of good things about Dr. Stratt and a friend had his belly done by him and he looked great. So i went to Dr. Stratt too. If you don't pick the right surgeon you can get lumps. Anyway, thats what dr. Stratt told me. He also said that lumps can develope after the surgery, but its important to wait for them to go down > iad a few lumps initially, but they went away after a few weeks. Anyway, now I look awesome...and I'm really really happy I went to him.

9398anon 31 May 2010

Hi to all of you... i am now 7 weeks post lipo, my belly still with lumps and looks terrible, and as many of you, good in cloths, no so good naked, and waiting the 3 months to see if all those pocked fluids and bumps will dissapear. At least i am not in pain anymore, i stil feel from time to time a burning sensation that comes and goes,but i guess that must be the body that is recovering from the tumescent anestesia in it, and lets not forget that what a laser does is burn and burns nerves and even if we do not see it because it is internal, a burning wund takes time to heal and recover...lets not fool ourselves and i wish doctors would be more honest and say exactly what we could expect from this procedure.

shari45 30 May 2010

I posted latest pic of the results, now 13 weeks post-op.

Houston4138 7 Apr 2011

i am curious..did your lumps ever go away? i am 8 weeks post op and have the lumpiness. i am soo upset.

shari45 7 Apr 2011

sorry to say for me, the lumps are as bad as ever, plus the skin is morbid. It is so wrinkley, I will NEVER be seen in a bikini again. I was a swimsuit model before this! It has caused me so much distress, I have just had to accept I can't show my stomach anymore. I could get another surgery I suppose, to try to correct it, but I don't really think there's much room for improvement besides maybe an entire tummy tuck which is a way radical procedure....
Best of luck to you! Everybody is different and much can change over the months. If it is not that bad, they routinely can correct small lumps with a corrective surgery. Don't fret! See another (highly recommended) surgeon after a couple months for a free consult.

Houston4138 7 Apr 2011

thanks so much for your reply. i was so afraid that you were going to say that. :-(
my lumps arent hard, but the skin is just so uneven and weird looking. i am doing massages everyday to see if ite will help, but it doesnt look like it. i dont understand what happened?? i thought the smart lipo was supposed to tighten the skin. i jsut cant believe this has happened to me. :-(
thanks again..i appreciated your input.

shari45 15 Apr 2011

I know, I felt the same way. I never expected anything but great results. I had been so excited! It is good to know that we are not alone. I feel your pain, I feel like I keep a secret now, because I look good on the outside (of my clothes) but God forbid someone catch a glimpse of my belly!
In your case, DON'T FRET! You are early in and you don't know what it will end up like... Would be nice to have a support group for this, tho! There has to be thousands like us out there! We are not alone.
Keep in touch, and let me know how you are. I really wish you well!

lagata 22 Oct 2012

OMG reading ur comments I have to say that am so afraid right now, am having the same problems and everyone keep telling that is going to go away..uneven skinn, wrinkle and bumps around my tummy area :( am right now 4 weeks after surgery sooo disappointed. :(

shari45 30 May 2010

I wish I had good news to report, but the truth of the matter is, I feel that I am disfigured from this. Worse even is that I have undergone probably 25 treatments of endermologie and ultrasound. These are similiar to treatments that my plastic surgeon's office offered me at a 'discount' turning out to be about $150 apiece, although luckily I have a friend who is in the profession who took empathy on my situation and has done them for next to nothing. It has smoothed out a little I guess, and reduced all the swelling, but I look strange. My son (11 years old) gave me a reality check 2 days ago at the beach. I had resorted to wearing my bikini in spite of the strangeness, I think I was going into a kind of denial about it. I took off my cover-up while I was talking to him, and he couldn't take his eyes off my torso. I tried to act like nothing, and he said "mom, that looks weird". I said "it does?" He replied, "yes, it's all ripply and stuff... just put this back on." Wow. Out of the mouths of babes. I obliged by covering up with my tank again. I have not sought any other surgeries, and am leary that there is anything that could help. I'm just living with it. Good news is, I feel fabulous in clothes. It's just that I have something to hide now....

ms8172 29 May 2010

So what ever happened? What did you decide to do if anything to correct this? I had smart-lipo done in December 2008 and have some waviness on my right side. I wonder if that can be touched up.

anon2082 3 May 2010

My surgery was over a year ago and I still have the lumps. I look great in clothes but I'm embarrassed for anyone to see my stomach. Since then I've heard other people say their DR had them fo velashape right away. My Dr kept telling me I would be fine in 4-6 months. I lost about 7 lbs in the month before my surgery so I always thought that maybe I was too skinny when I had my surgery done. I'm going to talk to another DR tomorrow to see how I can correct this

HockeyMa 25 Apr 2010

It's been 2 months since my procedure and I used to wear a bikini and at this point, I don't want anyone to see my pocket of fluid that bulges out and dimply stomach since the smart lipo! He told me that I shouldn't be worried until after 3-6mths as that's when final results will be more evident. At this point, I'm happy with how my clothes fit better but not happy with the uneven stomach and fluid pockets! Please get better!

teacherlady 24 Apr 2010

Hi Shari, How are things now that more time has passed? I had the proceedure done almost a month ago and I have a lot of bumps too. I have had 6 treatments. I have been told to be patient as it takes up to six months but I feel like others are SO PLEASED with their results by now. btw, I am 5'6, 132 pounds and like you was about 5 pounds from my best weight. I hope I didn't make a huge mistake!

bootyfull 17 Apr 2010

What a shame--I think he may of taken out to much fat, can u pinch a cm or not? Did you have ultrasound massages straigh away after as this is good for healing and uneveness? xx

Miss Glam 5 Apr 2010

You should try a few treatments of Vela Shape! It really works, but it only works right after you have your procedure. I've had liposuction as well and I have lots of those lupms on my stomach unfortunatelly...

shari45 7 Apr 2010

Thanks for the suggestion. I have been doing Endermologie with ultrasound, 3X a week. How does this differ? And would it still help after 6 weeks? I'm at 5 weeks 2 days now...

mimu 12 Apr 2013

did velashape improve your lumps?

shari45 12 Apr 2013

i don't remember having it, but honestly it's been almost 3 years now and the lumps aren't as bad, but still my stomach looks peculiar. i regret it to this day. plus, the skin is wrinkly because he took too much out, but i look fabulous in a tight tee shirt, i'm muscular and it shows my stomach definition, i just hate the bare look of my skin. on the up side however my boyfriend loves it and doesn't even know what i'm talking about when i mention it~~!::) take care

Tawonda 5 Apr 2010

To be honest, I question the doctor due to the mere cost alone. He was quite inexpensive which makes me question that he had no ideal what he was doing. I paid $6200 for my back alone. It's only been a couple of weeks, but it looks great. And oh, by the way- I think you looked perfect before the surgery.

9398anon 31 Mar 2010

I am about to have the smart lipo next week, and reading this makes me think twice, and i already paid for it...:( What is the name of your doctor?

shari45 31 Mar 2010

I made the mistake of acting kind of spontaneous to do this. I had been disliking my belly for the last couple years, and when I make up my mind to do something...well.. big mistake. I saw 4 doctors before I booked my surgery, and went with mine because I 'liked' him. ({edited}) I wish I had gotten someone recommended but I didn't know anyone who had had the Smart Lipo. He, I am realizing, does not necessarily specialize in this, and does a whole gamut of procedures, which was my first mistake looking back. My friend went to Dr Stratt in Fort Lauderdale, and her belly looks great. Unfortunately I didn't know this particular friend had it done until after mine, or I would have gone to her doctor. Maybe it would have not turned out very good either way, as I am pretty thin and this is part of the problem. Anyway, if you are having second thoughts, maybe you should postpone it and think about it some more. If you change your mind, I don't think they can keep all your money, maybe a percentage. I wish you all the best!! I would not wish this on anybody.

Edited by Sharon: We've added your doctor's info to the review. Thanks.

9398anon 11 Apr 2010

Just now I am sorry i did not folow your advice.I went to a meeting with the Dr and the assitant and she had it done and saw the pictures and it looked very good, so i decided i will take the risk and do it. I did it, April 8, it was a very long procedure almost 3 hours, it felt really akward in that moment i realized that it was not so easy and that there was no way out. I did my belly and flanks and my arms.Could not sleep that night sat on thecouch and watched Tv for hours. It was almost as the Dr was struggeling to get my fat out. April 9, went to the Dr, changed the dressings i was draining a lot and a lot of fluid coming out, in pain and could barely move but did not take tylenol, April 10, Feeling much better, no draining, took of the garment i am swollen and saw a lot of bumps and uneveness, hope it will get better.Took a shower it felt soooo good. Very little bruising. Went to look for another garment with a closed crotch , finally i found one but short , like a body, it did not help, my lower belly is very swollen and it comes out from the opening of the garment, it looks terrible, went with my husband to have dinner out,have not apetite. April 11 Much better, sleeping a lot and having a lot of dreams. Thusday is my first sesion in the Triactive therapy, lets see how it goes.

Ab problem 30 Mar 2010

Wow, I feel terrible for you. You looked amazing before in my opinion. I definitely think you should follow up with this doctor or another one. I am also displeased with my Smart Lipo. At first I was upset, then thought my results were better, now I'm back to being throroughly disappointed. Hope it gets better for you.

shari45 31 Mar 2010

Thanks for the support. I am feeling a little better, or maybe I'm just happily in denial for the time being. By the grace of God, I have a very good friend who makes her living as an aesthetician, and she specialized in Endemologie. Her heart has gone out to me, and she is doing me for FREE, 3X a week. She also has begun ultrasound therapy treatment before each. Just recently she has been able to get more aggressive, as I was extremely tender for the first few weeks. I am hopeful that she will be able to remedy much of the worst of it, and what else can I have but hope? What is done is done... I did see my original doctor yesterday, and he immediately volunteered to do another surgery for me. One month out, and I cannot even comprehend it at this point. My skin is still numb. He did however also say that the treatments I'm getting are really a good idea, so I'm sticking to that for now. I wish I had my old body back, but there is no sense in that. My doctor was Dr Nees, at Strax in Boca Raton FL. Ironically I can't hate him for this. He is actually very caring and empathetic, and fully accountable, but we seem to think that the major problem resulted from the nurses giving me the wrong compression garments to wear initially. Bummer!