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“Still Swollen 5 Weeks Later”

3 posts
Comments (7)
Updated 19 May 2008
Posted 17 May 2008
Not Worth It
Spent: $2,400 in Los Angeles

I had a consultation and paid for Smart Lipo. I had the surgery on my neck April 14th.
However, during the surgery, as the doctor was injecting fluid into my neck, I asked him when he was going to use the laser and he said he wasn't.

I panicked as I discovered I wasn't going to get Smart lipo but a tumescent lyposuction. I would have never chosen to get this type of lyposuction. As I made the decision for Smart Lipo based on the comments on this website.

Before totally panicking, I decided to wait and see the results, as he assured me this method would work much better. It's been 5 weeks now and I still have terrible swelling and painful lumps all over my neck. Would this have happened with Smart Lipo?

I'm not sure what to do. I'm afraid to go back to the doctor. Last time i went he did ultrasound, massage and shot my neck with some enzymes. However, that all seemed to irritate it and make it worse. I can't find any comments about this kind of reaction. Would appreciate any help.

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

Vote: 4 members found this review helpful

Comments (7)

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chrysalis13 (12 posts) 19 May 2008
Didn't you have to sign some forms as to what he was really going to do? If so, you may have a lawsuit or at least a refund. That's crazy. As far as the swelling and hard spots, that's your body healing. I had this on my arms and flanks (I did smart lipo) and they did the ultrasound and massage (with that big black massage head?) but for me that has been helping a lot to decrease the hard spots. I don't know about the enzyme shots though. So, yes, that would have happened with smartlipo also, but from what I've read one of the best things about smartlipo was the ability to use it on small spots like the neck. Regular lipo seems to violent for such a small delicate area.
gotoperson (3 posts) 20 May 2008
Thanks for you comment. I do have a receipt and it says payment for Smart lipo. I chose Smart lipo exactly for the reason you stated -it's less invasive and great on small areas. I'm so upset. I went to a plastic surgeon yesterday for a second opinion. He gave me a really hard time for seeing someone who wasn't a board certified plastic surgeon. I guess I didn't think that Smart lipo, being a laser treatement, was plastic surgery. I hope others will learn from my mistake and make sure your doctor is a board certified plastic surgeon.
kwongdzu (1 post) 10 Jun 2008
Hi. I am considering getting the same procedure in Los Angeles and noticed that your procedure is the same price as the one I was considering. Can you tell me who you saw for the procedure?
SmartLipoMD (45 posts) 16 Jun 2008
It sounds like you had an ethical problem rather than a "board certification" problem. Their are unethical people in all types of practices. It has nothing to do with their board certification. Don't let the 2nd physician think that you had any fault in this because you choose someone that wasn't board certified in plastic surgery. It's an ethical issue. If you discussed a procedure, planned on having the procedure, paid for the procedure, and signed a consent for having the procedure performed. . .having a different procedure without informed consent is not ethical. Did your consent say that they could change the procedure if it needed to be changed at the physician's discretion? How are you doing now?
gotoperson (3 posts) 16 Jun 2008
It's been two months now and it's getting better. It's still a bit swollen. The lumps seem to be gone. I guess I was just very sensitive. I've heard it can take 6 months to see the final results. I'm feeling happier with the progress. I guess I'm wondering if I would have had the same sensitivity with Smartlipo. It was my understanding that Smart lipo is less invasive and heals quicker. I just never anticipated this from the reviews I read here about Smart Lipo. It sounded like people had fully recovered in a couple of weeks. As for the doctor. I don't think he was deceitful. I think he just forgot. It was strange the morning of the surgery, he thought I was someone else and forgot meeting me. So I think he just messed up. But do you think the result would have been different if I had had Smart Lipo?
Amy1976 (1 post) 23 Aug 2009
Hi, I'm also considering smart lipo in Los Angeles, can you tell me who your Dr was? Thanks.
SmartLipoMD (45 posts) 16 Jun 2008
Doctors are human. I'm sure he just forgot what he told you and told you what he thought when he saw you without any of the background information. I'm glad that you are fine. You may have recovered quicker from SmartLipo but everyone heals at a different rate. Some people are still "sensitive" after SmartLipo, too.

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