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POSTED UNDER Smart Lipo Reviews

SmartLipo on Calves and Ankles - Sacramento, CA

UPDATED FROM lulugrrl

Post Op 1 year - front view

WORTH IT$5,500

lulugrrl's provider

Dr. Blynn L Shideler

Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Payment process
Wait times

The staff is awesome at Sono Bello where my procedure was performed. Suzanne (patient care consultant), Amy (Nurse), Jessica & Amanda (receptionists) have all been extraordinary with me. They have been great with answering all of my questions, I had a ton believe me, and continue to be supportive through my recovery. In the beginning, there was a bit of mix up with doctors and I ended up with Dr. Shideler and I couldn't be more happy! He has been great with me since the beginning, answered all my questions, eased my worries and was up front and honest with me about my procedure being a difficult and more of a specialized area. I really appreciated the honesty from him. He had done my procedure (calves & ankles) many other times so I felt very confident with him as my doctor, not to mention all the other experience he has. Dr. Shideler has a great sense of humor and told me exactly what he was doing during the procedure. I really enjoyed this part because I love operation/surgery stuff and it helped calm my nerves (along with the drugs) during the surgery. I'd recommend Sono Bello and Dr. Shideler to anyone that is in the Sacramento/Bay Area in California. Thank you Dr. Shideler, Suzanne, Amy, Jessica and Amanda! I wanted to add a few more thoughts after I've had some time to think about my experience at SB. I still feel the same the same way about the staff and doctor but I do feel their process is backwards. I did not meet the doctor until two weeks before my procedure and at that point, he could have told me I was not a candidate; I would have been crushed if that were the case. To wait that long from the time I booked the appointment to the first meeting of the doctor, is too long to have your hopes up about the procedure. I think you should meet their patient care consultant, then within a week or even before you BOOK & PAY for your procedure, you should then meet the doctor to determine if you like the doctor or if you truly are a candidate, THEN book and pay for your procedure. Even though everything worked out for me, I can see how it would have been devastating if it hadn't worked out with their current process.

Replies (27)

Lulugrrl u can't even begin to imagine how relieved i am to finally find a post like yours....Iv always had full legs with a slim body which i didn't mind at 1st, but after 2 kids now, my legs have gone from full to ridiculously fat! Ive been researching for ages for a good doctor that will perform the surgery on me, seeing as it is a very sensitive area, cos i wouldn't want my already fat legs damaged any further #coversface# Your story is so amazing! and ur legs are gorgeous!!! Im so inspired and excited to go down same road... I will get right to contacting your doctor asap! Looking forward to being able to wear skirts without feeling self conscious and also being able to wear jeans without looking like my legs were stuffed into them! I will definitely keep you posted....
Hi Chi1! Congrats on making the decision to research this procedure and move forward with it! It will definitely change your life! I completely know how you feel. That was actually one my questions to the doctors, would they recommend doing the procedure before or after children and they recommended before. I knew my husband and I would be starting the whole baby thing within the year so I jumped on it and did it before. I highly recommend looking for a surgeon that has experience in the calf/ankle area because it is so sensitive and a small area, you want someone that knows the right technique. Thank you! Thank you! I am sooooooo happy and thrilled with my results. I have bought so many dresses, skirts and shorts since having this surgery and I don't feel any embarrassment at all! I've received so many compliments as well. In fact, my best friend's father saw a photo of the two of us in dresses, and he commented on how nice my legs looked and he didn't remember noticing my legs before. I've know him for 25 years! So, it made me feel really good that it was something he noticed after my surgery, which he knew nothing about. Please let me know if you have any further questions in your journey. Best wishes!
Lulugrrl, I live close to Sacramento and looked up your surgeon and to my surprise his facility has been shut down by the health department. :-( so looks like the search is still on. Did your legs ever swell before the surgery that is? My legs look like ur before photos and mine always swell. This is the most embarrassing spot on my body, my legs. I'm small weigh 130 but my ankles are big way to big. I can't wait to finally get them done next year after I have my baby!! Thank you for sharing your story. P.S. do you think insurance would cover this since its so painful to walk sometimes and the swelling?
Hey Lulugrrl, just as prettyeyes commented, I checked out the doctor online and found out the facility has been shut down, so yea - the search continues...:ave 2 doctors I'm checking out now...about to set up a consultation for next week...will keep you posted Glad to hear your rocking them legs:-) Can't wait to do same#excited#much!
Hi prettyeyes0904, The Sono Bello Sacramento office is still open. They actually moved offices last year, maybe that caused confusion? I actually just called the Sacramento office to confirm they are still open and they've never been shutdown by the health department. Here is their new location and phone #: 1750 Howe Avenue Suite 500 Sacramento, CA 95825 P: (916) 604-4543. I did however ask if Dr. Shideler (my surgeon) was still working with them and they said he retired just last year, so he is no longer practicing. Bummer, he was amazing. I am sure if you call them, they may be able to refer you to another doctor in their practice that performs the same procedure. YES! My legs swelled at least 2 inches by the end of the day! I I totally understand how you feel, I felt the same way. Congrats on your baby and making the decision on having the procedure when the timing is right. I am not sure about the insurance. If you're able to get a doctor's note with some sort of edema diagnosis and stating that they recommend the surgery, you can check with your insurance and see what they say before committing to the surgery. I know insurance companies are stinkers so not sure it will work but no harm in trying.
Hi Chi1 You may see my reply to prettyeyes but I thought I'd reply directly to you as well. I called Sono Bello in Sacramento and they are not closed and haven't been closed since they opened up several years ago. They moved offices, which maybe could have caused some confusion online? Not sure. I did confirm that my surgeon retired last year, which is a bummer. Are you in the Bay Area or are you thinking you'll travel to whatever doctor you feel is the best for this procedure? I remember going through the search, it took me a bit of time when I first started my research a few years before I had the surgery. Yay! Congrats on setting up your consultations! That is a big step towards your final goal! I am very excited for you. Thank you! Yes, keep me posted. I am so happy to hear others are pursuing this surgery, hopefully it will become more common and help all of us out there. Cheers and best wishes!
Hey lulugrrl, Thank you for getting back to me. I actually called last year and that's when a lady on the phone said there office was being closed by the health dept because of a lot of lawsuits. Not sure of her name but I googled it myself and it said sono bello was officially closed. But I'm thinking that they moved to have a fresh start!! I'm not sure what's true LOL. I'm going to Google them now and see the new plastic surgeon and office! Super excited that they are opened now, there might still be hope!! Thank You again
Hi prettyeyes, Oh my! That is not good! I am not sure either, I bet there are a lot of politics with a place like that. :) When I called, it went to main 800 line and I asked to be connected with the Sacramento office. If you do that, I am sure they will connect you as well. Good luck and I hope they have someone to help you at that location. Are you willing to travel to the Bay Area? I bet there are several SmartLipo surgeons that will perform on the calf/ankle. Just a thought in case Sacramento doesn't have someone for you. Best Wishes!
Hi Lulugrrl, Yea I saw your reply. The thing is I'm just looking for the best doctor for the procedure regardless of location(tho some states are preferred tho) I looked up Dr Shafer in NY, so I'll see how my consultation goes and what's achievable. Thanks:-) Will def kip you posted
Hi there, Wow! Your one year post op results look amazing! What a fantastic result. I am based in the UK and had the procedure done seven months ago. I am really pleased with my results from the front but I do appear to have some swelling on the inside and back of both ankles still (particularly at the end of the day) which is not giving me as much definition from the back as I would like although it is still a vast improvement from where I was! I am due to go back to see my surgeon at eight months. Can you please share your experience at this stage post-op? When did the end of day swelling stop? Did you notice any changes in shape from six months to a year? Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance. Demalad
Did you do Smart Lipo or regular lipo for this?
She did smartlipo. But I believe my doctor is doing traditional lipo, I find out on my pre op on June 3rd :-)
Hi Demalad! Thank you! I feel really lucky and very happy with my results! I definitely still had so e swelling at the end of the day at 6 months. I cannot really remember exactly when that stopped but I know by a year it was definitely gone. I think it was around 8-10 months I noticed it being gone. I definitely noticed a little more shape in the back of my ankle and even on the inside between 6 months to year. I think this was due to the swelling being completely gone. Hang in there with the swelling it will go away! Congrats on having the procedure!
Hi, My doctor called it ultrasonic lipo and did the procedure under general.
Thanks so much for your reply Lulu girl. I am so pleased I had the procedure done.
I'm finally getting mine done June 18th. I super scared and nervous at the same time. I hope I get great results as you did!!
Are you doing regular lipo or Smart Lipo?
You can follow my journey if you like! I believe my dr is doing traditional lipo. My pre op is June 3rd :-)
Congrats prettyeyes0904!!! I am so excited for you! Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to reading about your journey! It has been 2.5 years since my procedure and I absolutely would do it all over again! I am sure you will feel the same way!
Lulugrrl, I do have some questions. 1. Did you have swelling in your ankles and calves before procedure? Like in summer? 2. I'm terrified of blood clots, did you use those compression machine thing after you had the procedure to reduce the chance of blood clots? 3. What are some ? I should ask my doctor? 4. I'm going on a cruise on sept 6th I will be 2 1/2 months post op will I be okay like swelling wise? 5. Anything I should get before procedure to help me heal? 6. Did you walk around okay after? 7. Did your doctor ever mention risks or complications that can go wrong? Eeekkkk I'm so scared Thank you so much!
Hi prettyeyes0904! 1. I did have swelling before the procedure. Something that is also in my genetics is water retention. I still deal with some water retention but mostly when I've been on my feet all day or for even a couple of days or when I wear really high heels. Even though I still have some swelling in those cases, I still have great shape and it's not that big of a deal, not compared to my "old" ankles/calves. 2. I did not use a compression machine, I only used the compression stalkings. I would suggest using the full compression panty hose versus the knee highs. The day of the procedure I wore knee highs it caused a lot of bruising around my knees because it pushed the swelling to spot and then stopped. Once I started wearing the full length panty hose, my bruising and swelling around my knees started going away. 3. Off the top of my head, I'd ask if the doctor has experience with that area and lipo (you may have already done this). Is there a 24 hour nurse hotline or someone for you to call if have questions during your recovery. I have a list of questions I asked my doc at home, I will look at them tonight and reply again with them. 4. Have fun on your cruise! I still had some swelling at the end of the day around week 6 to 12 but you can checkout my pictures above to show you the shape I had, they still looked amazing. The swelling was minimal at the end of the day so you should be ok but you may heal differently, just keep that in mind during your recovery; everyone heals at their own pace. 5. I used arnica gel a couple of times a day. It helps heal the bruising as well as the swelling. I also took some supplements that I know help with healing, I'll get back to you on which ones I took get back to you with those. 6. I was definitely very very sore with walking and took the first 4 weeks before I walked normally without any pain. It mostly felt very stiff and like I did a massive hard core calf workout the first few days. Then after I'd walk around they'd loosen up and feel better. I think the discomfort was mostly after I had been sitting for awhile or first thing in the morning, I'd have to just let my legs adjust to standing before I walked and then it felt better. Are you planning to return to work right away? I would suggest taking at least a week off if you can. Just to give you some time to heal a bit without the rush of work. 7. My doctor did mention risks/comps but they were all the ones you can find online that have to do with any liposuction procedure. I was really nervous and scared before as well. It's totally normal. I am here for you if you need me, even if to just be a "sound board" about your nerves. You will totally be fine and you will be so happy you did this surgery, I am sure of it! Best Wishes!
Hi Lulugrl I just want to say a huge thank you for posts, I have been reading your journey over and over again for months while waiting to have my cankles done and I have found you review incredibly helpful! I'm based in New Zealand and just had my procedure done yesterday so here I lay feet up feeling very swollen. I'm going to start my own review so I can share my experience too and hopefully help someone else like you have for me. Cheers your legs look gorgeous and I pray mine turn out similar. Take care L x
From Scotland in UK just had my ankles and calves done 2 days ago. Doing lots of walking although slowly, drinking litres of water and elevating legs when resting. Ankles and feet very swollen. Hope they go down a bit by Monday when I'm back at work. No one other than my husband knows I've had it done. I think from what I've read I could be still struggling to walk. Don't see any tea difference just now due to swelling but I wasn't expecting to. Massive difference after op just like the picture you shared. Thanks for your posts really helped me today [RS bleep]
Hi there wow early days if you saw a big difference post op then you'll get a great result once the swelling goes down. I need to post a new photo so you have prompted me to do so! Please keep in touch I love hearing from others who have gone through this op. Each day gets better you'll be surprised how fast they recover. Take care
UPDATED FROM lulugrrl

Post Op - 1.5 years

Hi All!

I am adding a photo from my one year post-op last September and I'll add another one for my 2 year post-op this September.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my legs. I can't even believe at how good they turned out! There is not a day that goes by where I regret this surgery, I am so very happy I went through with it.

Any little hard lumps I had left over have gone, all of my incisions are healed and the scars are so light, you don't even really see them and all skin sensation at my lower ankles has returned! The only lingering thing I have from the surgery are some light brown marks on the inside of my left upper ankle region. I am not sure what caused it and I still need to contact the doctor to see if there is anything I can do to heal it completely. If not, it's not so noticeable so it probably doesn't matter.

Best wishes to all of you ladies that have decided to consider or go through with this surgery, it is definitely worth it in my eyes.

Please feel free to always contact me with any questions!

Replies (1)

Have read all yours and many others reviews. I'm so happy you have ur legs u have alwYs wanted. I to want just normal looking legs to be able to wear dresses. Can I ask where ur dr is please? Sad in tx
UPDATED FROM lulugrrl

03.20.12 - PO-mth 6 Howdy!!!! I am technically...

03.20.12 - PO-mth 6

Howdy!!!! I am technically about 7 months post-op now but thought I'd add all my info with pictures from my PO -mth 3 and 6.

I cannot be any happier with my current results!!! I love love the shape of my "new legs"! I still have a little swelling when I am on my feet for the majority of the day but I think that is pretty normal regardless of this procedure.

I still do not have all of my skin sensation back in the lower bottom parts of my ankles but I know I am still healing and it seems to get better each month, it's pretty much almost back entirely just a few spots are still a little numb.

My incisions around my ankle are still dark (I have olive skin tone) even though I have been using Mederma for quite some time. I decided to try a new product called Scar Away, which are patches I wear for 12 hours and those seem to be fading the incisions pretty quickly. I've only used them for about two weeks and can already see a major difference compared to Mederma.

I do have some brownish marks left from the lidocaine on the inside of my left calf (you can see them in the PO - mth 6 side picture). I am calling my surgeon about this to see if he recommends something that will make them fade. If, not then oh well, they are not too bad and I still do not regret having the surgery.

I have bought so many dresses and can't wait for summer to show off my new legs!!

I highly recommend this surgery to anyone that has thick ankles/calves! The healing is the hardest the first couple of weeks but if you can get through that it's smooth sailing afterwards!

My best wishes to everyone that decides to go through with this surgery and feel free to send me a personal message or comment on my post and I will continue to respond when I can.

Cheers!

Replies (11)

Wow lulugrrl. What amazing results! Your legs look so natural too. No wonder you have bought up large on skirts! I have my op at the end of May. So looking forward to my results (although not the op so much!)
Hey Tairiver!!!

Thank you so much! I am really very happy with the work the surgeon did, it's seriously such a dramatic difference I am still just so amazed!

YAY! Congrats on setting up your surgery date! I hope my post will help you but please feel free to contact me with any question after your surgery.

Cheers and best wishes for your recovery!
Hi there Lulugrrl!
How are things going with you now? I bet you are wearing a miniskirt every day of the week now!
I am having my op on Monday! Right now I am pretty excited but I think this may turn to nerves over the next few days. I am actually being put under for my procedure as part of the reason for my operation is that I have some scar tissue that has built up from a sporting injury andthis has disfigured one of my ankles. I am getting the procedure on both legs though so they will be symmetrical, and slim- like you I didn't have much luck in the way of genetics, even before the injury!
Any last minute tips?!!!!
Hi again,
I am now nearly 1 week post-op and am already amazed with the results. I can already see that my legs are much slimmer and I don't have that much swelling at all. Having said that, I only had the procedure done around my ankles (not my calves) and I have been wearing the compression garments pretty much non-stop since they operated on them. I have also been drinking heaps of water and taking arnica orally so maybe they are having a bearing on my recovery too?
Only one concern I have is I seem to be getting lines across my ankles where the compression garments crease. Did you find this too? After all this trouble I certainly don't want them to heal this way!!!
Hope all is well with you :-)
Hi Tairiver!!!

I am so sorry I didn't see your previous post, not sure why it didn't email me!! So happy for you to have had th surgery!!

I did see those crease lines as well from the compression stockings and they did NOT heal that way.....thankfully!

How are you doing?? I hope your recovery is coming along nicely and you are starting to see some of your real results.

Hope you are well and wishing you a speedy recovery!
Wow! I want lulugirl's legs. Anyone know of a surgeon in Toronto who does this procedure? I desperately want my ankles done. Anyone who regrets doing this???? I'm also wondering if the swelling at end of day was so bad you couldn't wear skirts, around the 3 month mark. Thanks everyone for the advice!!!!
Hi Sad Legs,

Thank you I am very happy with my results!!! I do not know of a surgeon in Toronto. This is what II did was look on the smartlipo website for surgeons in my area and then I called/emailed them all to find out if any of them did the ankle/calves area.

I absolutely have no regrets doing this procedure at all. This summer has been awesome wearing shorts and skirts without having any embarrassment about my legs. I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am and what a great feeling it is.

I would say that by my 3 month post-op, I still had some swelling at the end of the day but it was minimal. I went to a wedding and wore tights with a short dress and really high heels and my ankles were a little swollen by then of the night but I only noticed the swelling, my husband and friend that knew about the surgery couldn't see the swelling.

Everyone heals differently but I think the swelling does take some time to go completely away. I am actually ally prone to swelling even before the surgery, something else that is in my genetics but it is far less than before the surgery and it really doesn't show much to others, I just know my body and know when I swell.

I wish you the best, let me know if you have any questions!!
Hi Sad Legs,
I am now 8 weeks post op and I still do get swelling every day at the end of the day. It is worse if I have had a full on day on my feet. The swelling is noticable to me (it is quite uncomfortable) but my legs still definitely look smaller. They did even from day one. I think I have been quite lucky though as my feet never swelled up either so I didn't have to get new shoes or anything like that. One reason for that could be that I only had my ankles done, not my calves or knees. I am also still wearing my compression socks non-stop despite my doctor saying I could stop at 6weeks (it is winter here so not a big inconvenience).
I definitely do not regret this procedure at all. Feel free to ask any other questions.
Good luck with your decision!
Congrats on your 8 weeks!!! How are you doing? So happy to hear you do not regret doing this procedure!

Wishing you a speedy recovery!!
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