I Love my New Shape!!!
Having 2 wonderful children left me with the...
Having 2 wonderful children left me with the additional perks of stretch marks and stomach pooch - so, I've decided to do something for me this time, and invest on making my appearance better once again. I had the procedure done on July 7th and I would have to say, it was not so bad at all. My doctor began by giving me a shot of Demerol and started marking my tummy - I was getting my lower and upper abs done plus my flanks. Then I was taken to the surgical room and given anesthetics on the sites, followed by breaking up the fat using the laser. I didn't feel pain at all, except for when it gets around the rib area. Then the fat was suctioned out with a small cannula - at one point, I got up so the Dr can check the areas - other final suctioning, and I was done. I was wrapped and went on my way home. The whole thing took about 3 hrs, 2100 ccs later. No pain meds prescribed, just Extra Strength Tylenol.
Surprisingly, my first night wasn't so bad. I was tired, but not really in so much pain except when I had to get up from a sitting position and vice versa. I was just sore like I had a big workout - I was exhausted, that I fell asleep in my recliner. The next morning, I was going back to my Dr, for a post op follow-up - I took the city bus, and walked 11 blocks to get to the clinic, like it was nothing. I got there - they helped me out with my wrap, took out all the yucky pads - I drained all night and that was it - He was very pleased with my results, and since I wasn't draining anymore, I just went home in my garment.
I would say at day 2 (day 3 including the day of procedure), I was able to move around freely with very minimal feeling of soreness - I was able to flip from side to side while in bed, and it didn't even seem like I had anything done. I have been up and about with my kids and so far it's been great. I'm now at day 7 and I took off my surgical garment and started using the Flexees body garment which is way more comfortable than the one I was in. It looks like a bathing suit, so at least I can be in my shorts - It does feel like it's giving me the same compression as my surgical garment. I see my Dr again in another week. I know healing is an individual thing - so far, I'm doing wonderful.
I have been taking pictures and I'll update them as I go - feel free to ask me any questions.
At just over 1 month post op, I'm still very...
At just over 1 month post op, I'm still very happy with my results. At my last post-op appointment, my Dr. said that I'm only 25% healed, so I have a long ways to go. Aside from some very little tenderness left on my hips, I absolutely do not feel any discomfort. I do get some swollen days, so my tummy would look bigger than PO, but still significantly smaller than my pre-op. I had 1 stubborn lump that I had to massage (during evenings) to the left my belly button - but I haven't seen it much after week 4 - I have been very lucky not to have the lumps and ropes that other people describe, and my skin seems much smoother. The flanks are just awesome, no swelling whatsoever - I'm hoping that my results continue to get better as time progresses.
Replies (2)
OK - I'm a little over 2 months PO, and I have...
OK - I'm a little over 2 months PO, and I have to say that's I'm still amazed with my results. There are still days where it seems that my abs is bigger than my "NEW" shape, but that settles down too -- I guess that I'm still swollen inside. At my last check, my doctor said that I'm only 60% healed, so I have a ways to go. Anyway, I'm updating my pic.
Replies (15)
Hi I want to know if the appearance of your stretch marks improved and if your skin got tighter. I also had 2 kids, and I gained so much weight on both pregnancys so my skin in my waist and stomach area, stretched to the max, so my skin right now is very saggy, my stomach is not too big, since i do 100 sit ups a day. Do you think smart lipo is good for me, Im more concern in fixing my saggy skin and stretch marks and maybe flubby stomach but that would be extra but not my priority. I want to go back wearing my bikini and getting my stomach a tan :) Any input will really help.
I guess since my strench marks are below my belly button, and now that my pouch is gone, the stretch marks are covered by my bikini - I don't see them much anymore, but they do seem smoother ....and so is the rest of my stomach. My skin wasn't really saggy to begin with - just huge! LOL, and my skin retracted very well. I cannot really advise you if this would be the right procedure for you vs. a tummy tuck - but, I would suggest you consult with a doctor who can better advise you. They can tell whethere you can maximize the benefits of the procedure and what your expectations should be.
Hi, I agree with the previous person that commented, that without consultation it is difficult to judge which procedure would be more beneficial for you. BUT, please make sure that you have a second opinion no matter what answer you get. You might want to hear an answer really bad, but it might not be the optimum answer. I went to two different doctors that performed both the tummy tucks and smart lipo. At the end I went with the doctor who had great experience with smart lipo, the one that I felt comfortable with , the one that I felt that had me as a "person" not just an another "patient" in mind, took the time to answer all my questions, showed me a bunch of before and after pics, before pictures that looked more like my pre-procedure stomach..... Also, going into any procedure you have to have realistic expectiations and you have to think about ALL the pros and cons for each. (tummy tuck = huge scar, perfect looking stomach, long and hard recovery...etc, smar lipo - a good looking stomach, minimal downtime, local anesthesia....etc)
I had smart lipo 32 days ago, and I am very excited about my results. For me it was the answer to my problem. I had a fatty stomach all my life, after two kids I had a looser skin as well, no strech marks luckily. Before babies my waist was 27 inches, pre-procedure it was 30 and now I am back down to 28 already. Clothes fit me great! I still have a couple of months of healing ahead of me, as I still have a bunch of little lumps, and wrinkley skin since there is not fat to fill it out.
As far as the compression garment goes. Yes, it is annoying to wear it but it is totally fine under clothes. - no one can even notice it that you are wearing it.
Good luck with your decision!