Cellulaze on 5/15/12 in San Francisco Bay Area - Oakland, CA
I'm 41, 5'7" and 150 lbs (a size 10)....
I'm 41, 5'7" and 150 lbs (a size 10). I've had cellulite for as long as I can remember. My mother has the worst (honestly) cellulite I've ever seen (although she's tall and thin) and as a kid I remember looking at her legs (covered from top of thigh all the way to her knee, front and back, in pretty severe cellulite). Since having kids, mine has worsened. I actually suspect that if I toned my legs more, the appearance of some of it might reduce, but barely enough to make a difference. I can see my legs are becoming my moms and while I've never been showy with my legs (I'm small waisted, flat tummy, big hips and thighs figure), it's gotten to the point where it takes a shot of courage for me to head to the pool with my kids (and the rest of our community) and wear a bathing suit. My size, while not petite, I can deal with. I'm okay with my figure and feel fine in clothes. But the amount of dimples and ripples from my bum to my knees (now back and front) is hard for me to look at.
I'm pulling the trigger and having it done next week. Honestly, it feels a bit hasty as I'm having it done by a plastic surgeon who's done lipo for 20+ years (but only a handful of Smart Lipo cases) and has only done 5 Cellulaze treatments. However, he's a very well regarding plastic surgeon and only a mile away and was willing to give me a significant break in the cost. I hope I won't regret this choice.
Because I'm having so many areas treated (buttocks, back of thighs to knees, front of thighs to knees, side of thighs to knees), he opted to split the treatment into two separate days (to avoid lidocaine toxicity). My first treatment will be Tuesday, May 15th (buttocks and back of thighs) and my second treatment will be Friday (3 days later), May 18th. I can only imagine after wearing the compression garment for 3 days, I won't feel too incented to return for more, but he feels this is best/safest (and certainly it's no financial gain for him to do it this way, so I appreciate his conservative approach).
The office took before shots last week. I will ask for them and (gasp) post them. I realize it's likely I won't see results quickly (sounds like all the MDs are touting 3 months as the litmus test), but I hope to feel even 50-70% improvement by mid-July (two months post-procedures) when I'll be taking a major beach vacation with the family. Hoping I'm not hoping for too much. I'll post again after my 1st procedure on Tuesday. Wish me luck! :)
Aging Maven's provider
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I'm more nervous than excited, as I have kids to care for when I get home and a performance of my daughter's to attend just 6 hours post-surgery (will this even be possible?!) so it won't be the calm recovery that one might desire ... but I'll be well on my way to improvement, I hope!
I'll post tomorrow evening post-procedure. And like LaurelC (bless her), I'll try to get before and afters up ASAP as well.
Just home now from getting Cellulaze done this...
Right now I feel groggy and ready to pass out. I am mostly upset about this foam -- it makes for a very wacky visible, regtangular contour under the clothes ... which to me means ... wait ... all of a sudden, unless I can find a way to disguise this ... I'm in a "down-time" situation and that was not discussed. For a week? Foam under this garment for a week? I don't see me complying, but I'll stay in it till Friday and discuss with doctor when I head in for round two. I did not anticipate this nausea. They gave me some Zofran and I may just take it. Sure hope I get some results for all this. :)
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End of Day 1: I'd planned to attend my daughter's...
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That was a fantastic update! I am so sorry to hear that it isn't exactly an easy recovery, but the way you described everything in detail really helps me to understand what it could be like.
I do have a question, what are chucks?
I can't believe you actually made it to your daughters recital!! I think you get a Super Mom cape for that one!
How are you feeling today?
http://www.amazon.com/Disposable-Blue-Underpad-Chux-23x36/dp/B000FA05Y6
and anyone considering Cellulaze should have them on hand (or a bunch of towels -- but chucks keep the drainage from soaking through).
Today is Day 2, the drainage has slowed down, but I'm still leaking from one leg. I'm sore -- really sore -- but it's absolutely bearable and I haven't even thought to take Tylenol. Since I go back in for more Cellulaze on Friday for the front of my legs (going through this all again is not sounding so enticing right now), doc said that on Friday morning, I can take the compression garment off and launder it and put it back on before I come in (since I'll have to get undressed anyway for procedure #2.
I think the compression garment (soaked and stained as it is) will be far less awful feeling and looking once the foam is out. Happy to answer any questions and hope to get my "before" pictures from the doc's office on Friday (They're HEINOUS. Worse than any of the official Cellulaze "befores" I've seen. Still, although I'm riddled with really bad cellulite, Doc gave me a Grade 2 because apparently, it's only visible when I'm standing. Seems crazy to me. Once you see my "befores," you'll agree I look like a 5+.
I can totally understand why you would feel a bit nervous if the doctor you chose hasn't done many Cellulaze procedures. However, from what else you have said it sounds like he is experienced with other procedures and at least he was really upfront with you about how many Cellulaze procedures he has done. Tomorrow is the big day. How are you doing? Quite a mix of nervous & excited I'm sure.