- Chevy Chase, MD

I was pretty much thin all of my life even after having 3 children. That all changed once I started depo aka the birthcontrol shot. After receiving it for 1 year my weight shifted from 135 to 150 and didn't stop, even after stopping the shot. I am now 223lbs and horrified every time I look in the mirror.

After alot of thought and a ton research I've decided to go with smart lipo hoping that this will allow me to gain some of my confidence and feel good about myself. Im scheduled to have my love handles and bra line ( i guess thats what its called) done on May 9th and then the upper and lower stomach a week later. I will post before pictures in a couple of days.

Surgery date, arrived at the office and was taken straight to the back for po meds, pictures, and paper work, some drawing of my back and love handles and quick stop by the potty and then was on my way to the procedure room.

First: Pain med introduction which was not bad at all. a needle to numb each area (painless), a small cut (never felt it), the insertion of a long instrument (a pinch) and then in went the pain med, there was a small amount of burning only for one or two areas but completely tolerable. The pinch from the instrument pushing through the first part of the tissue was all I felt and it didnt even make me flinch. The doc said that the pain med introduction would be the worse part of the entire surgery, so I knew it would be easy sailing after that for me because that portion of the procedure was no where close to being painful.


Next: The laser which was nothing, if I didnt see Dr. Khalefiah's arm moving back and forth I would have never known that anything was happening.


Third: Suctioning which tickled like crazy, I was in the OR room laughing sooooo loud!!!!! It felt like someone was using the tip of there finger and zipping really fast across the skin. There were 2 different occaisions when I started to feel a little burning, I guess the suction tool was moving a little close to an area that didnt get numb, I didnt jump, just let him know and he added more pain med and kept the it moving. I think the whole procedure took about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Last: The drainage and compression wrap. OMG, I stood up after the procedure was over I felt completely fine and then the drainage started pouring out of one area like someone was pouring a glass a juice. It was crazyyyyy. The MA helped me get into the compression which was tough but he made it happen, he padded me with paper chucks, helped me back into my clothes and I was on my way to the waiting area to get me discharge instructions.

Just when I thought all was said and done while standing at the desk I started to feel hot, a little SOB, and extremely weird. Those damn meds that I had taken before the procedure had hit me and to be honest that was the worst part of the whole procedure.
I started feeling so off that I was taken to the car in a wheelchair. I was feeling sick to my stomach, I couldnt keep me eyes open, it was terrible, while being driven home I kept waking up saying random things. I arrived home after about 45 minutes and as soon as I stepped out of the car I was running for the trash can (didnt make it) but I swear I was 100% better after that.

As the hours went on I continued to feel fine the only problem I encounted was need someone to help me clean up and fasten the compression wrap.

Pain management : I feel sore and thats it. I am moving at a normal pace but when getting in and out of the car or rolling over in bed I have to take it slow. I have a prescription for valium which I haven't taken, antibotics that I take every 8 hours with 800 mg motrin and thats it. My level is no low that I dont feel anything between the 8 hour dosages. This procedure is called smart lipo for a reason and I feel geat.

Its day 5, I'm still numb and swollen but can definitely see a difference. Whats strange is the left side of the back and love handles show more of a change then the right although both areas still swollen, wondering if thats normal....