“Horrific experience - extremely painful - too new to see results but would not recommend to worst enemy”
Smart Lipo: NOT worth it
Pain: Worst possible
I went into my procedure 5'6", 120lbs, age 44 with a few trouble areas: outer thighs, upper/lower tummy, back rolls, mozilla side boobs. I am very fit for my age - no kids. However, I suffered life-altering injuries 20 yrs ago and I was in a wheelchair for 1.5 yrs. Due to the difficult recovery from that accident, I developed problem areas of fat that won't go away and now have significant cellulite issues.
I am very modest but in the Summer like to wear a midriff which I have not done in 20 yrs since my accident because I hated my stomach appearance. I thought SmartLipo was the answer - I have done mesotherapy, countless workout routines including personal fitness training etc and nothing worked. I only wanted my tummy done but after consulting with a prominent La Jolla doc, who said SmartLipo is a piece of cake and urged me to do the other areas...gee, I am already under anaesthesia..., off I went to surgery.
I had five areas done in Nov 2007. My outer thighs are smooth as a baby's butt!!! My stomach is ruined with lumps and sagging skin - I cannot believe I ruined my nice body over a little protruding tummy...it hurts like hell too. I take Vicodin every couple hours just to get through the day.
Recovery wise, I could not get dressed for 6 days. My crotch is bigger than my dog's head. My back boobs and love handles are slightly improved but I am still horribly swollen and bruised so only time will tell. One side of my waistlibe is more sculpted than the other and on my small frame it really is obvious.
It was the most painful thing I have experienced in my life - I have been through a lot and am a "tough" girl when it comes to pain - this was awful. despite the results, I would never have willingly gone through the recovery - I was not well-informed.
[Editor's note: this review was originally published under Liposuction and was moved to the Smart Lipo reviews in May 2008.]
Dec 10, 2007Comments and replies (7)
unregistered guest
25 Jan 2008
I am sorry your doctor didn't give you the "real deal" on how much it hurts to have lipo. Out of curiousity - you wrote this when you were only six weeks out - the lumps and swelling can last for six months. Are you feeling better? Did the "ken doll" swelling go down (that is very comon, by the way)? Also, did you get smart lipo with suction or without?
47 posts
1 Feb 2008
I am now 9 weeks out and can say that I am much better now but my stomach is still very lumpy and uneven - perhaps gross looking with puffy rolled areas . . . my belly button feels stuck to my spine. Occassionally I can still feel spots that had been worked on that are mildly painful to the touch. I am happy with the inch-loss reduction but not the skin appearance. I cannot bare to see myself naked - it is not a nice feeling since I seem to have let vanity take over and I had a really descent bod before the surgery. I did smart lipo with the suction . . . I have noticed a huge difference in the way my clothing fits and looks for the better. I still would not recommend this procedure to anyone - I have injuries that impede my ability to work out some areas and was left with no choice after trying to improve the areas over two decades. I had no idea it would hurt so much.
3 posts
24 Feb 2008
My experience was very much like yours.
unregistered guest
24 Feb 2008
How are you progessing and how far out are you from your surgery? Is there any real hope that my stomach will smooth out in the end? Still very bumpy and uneven. Michell Anne
1 post
1 Jun 2009
Wow, I hear of horror stories but, yours scared me. I have been looking into getting the smart lipo with Dr. Schafer he is known as Dr. smart lipo. I actually looked at Dr. Kincaid first... go figure. Glad, I chose to check out other doctors. How are you doing now?
47 posts
22 Jun 2009
My stomach appears to be permanently disfigured from the initial procedure. I have tried everything to fix my initial results which were horrible. It does look better but I cannot look at myself naked in the mirror or in the shower. The skin is taught or loose in areas and there are many lumps. Believe me, I have tried everything and spent a lot of hope filled dollars on Thermage, Lipodissolve, 3 rounds of Smartlipo with another doctor, and exercise. I figure now I am permanently disfigured from the above-named doctor. My best advice to anyone small in size who is considering this procedure is to simply not do it -