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This review is for anyone considering Smartlipo. I'm not anti-smartlipo, but this procedure is significantly misrepresented by Cynosure, the maker of the smartlipo machine and publisher of the brochures, along with many doctors who should NOT be anywhere near this device. I'm one of the unlucky ones who got a quack in Batavia, New York that thinks he's an expert since he took the EIGHT HOUR COURSE that Cynosure gives and sends ANY DOCTOR, NOT MATTER WHAT THEIR FIELD, out to alter someone's body.
I'm also one of the lucky ones who lives near a doctor who's considered one of the best smartlipo surgeons in the east. Yes, I SHOULD have gone to him first, but he's already fixed three others from the quack I went to and has assured me that I can be "fixed". I'll have to go one more summer without feeling good about my legs, but I won't have to worry about it for next year. I won't bore you with the details of my procedure, but below is a list of things that you might want to know before you go out to talk to a doctor about having this done. I'm going to speak to having legs done.
1. Smartlipo is NOT a lunchtime procedure. It is liposuction surgery with a laser. A good surgeon will tell you that. It is the next wave of liposuction and is quickly taking the place of the old method. The laser does help in tightening the skin and the tumescent (wet) procedure reduces bruising, pain and swelling WHEN IT'S DONE PROPERLY. You should have the maximum fluid used for your body weight and should not have more than 2-3 areas done at once. Example: inner thighs, anterior thighs and knees in one procedure, then outer thighs and abdomen or gluteal crease in the next procedure. These should be done about 7 days to 1 month apart. This is a health precaution as well as a results precaution.
2. You will be home laying around the house for about three days and draining for about 24-72 hours and have to wear a compression garment for 2-6 weeks, depending on what you have done, for the best results. Some people don't wear the garment, but I found it sped up the healing process, which is making it easier for me to get my corrective surgery done sooner. You're going to be sore for about three months, gradually getting better the whole time, but still sore. you'll have lumps and bumps in your legs for that long, too, again, gradually getting better. You'll need to massage those areas and seriously look into Lymphatic Drainage Massage. IT WORKS WONDERS.
3. THE DOCTOR. This is probably the most important advice I have for you. Do not, do not, do not, go to a doctor that does not do this as his only line of business. Do not use a pediatrician, a general doctor, an ear, nose and throat doctor - get my point?? Do not use any doctor that has added this to his practice and sandwiches your smartlipo inbetween allergy shots and annual physicals. The only training required by law to do this is the EIGHT HOUR course that Cynosure gives after the doctor purchases the machine. OH, I forgot, they offer two more eight hour courses for ADVANCED training. Think about it - 24 hours of training lets any MD start to reshape your body with absolutely no previous cosmetic experience. Don't do it. Run away. Fast.
4. Do your research and make the commitment to yourself to get the very best. Save your money, get the best deal on a credit card, make sure you have enough time off from work. You're worth it. I am planning my time off, how much it will cost me for gas and hotel (My "Good" doctor is two hours away) and what I'll use for time off at work. I should have done this the first time, but again, I'm very lucky to be able to do it right the second time. This is something I've wanted for about 10 years and I'm not going to screw it up again.
5. Once you've got your resources together, only look at board certified plastic surgeons, OR, doctors who have proven skills and track records IN THE AREAS YOU WANT TREATED. This is a wonderful website, and it probably saved me from going back to the quack and letting him try to fix me (he told me could, but I got a full refund instead) but I would direct you to liposuction.com. It's a great place to gather all the info you'll need to be well informed about your procedure and what can and can't be done. There's also a great page with a list of questions to ask the doctors - you will want to interview at least two, if not three - that you're considering using.
6. The most important questions you can ask are, "How long have you been doing this procedure on the areas I want treated and how many have you done?", "How do you determine where to sculpt and contour?" and lastly, "Can I have three references that I can call that have had the same areas done?". Don't gloss over any answers that you're not totally comfortable with, and if they cannot give you three references, thank them and never call them back. Any doctor who is good at this will have several happy customers who would love to tell you how happy they are.
7. Be an active particpant in the procedure. Let the doctor know excactly what you want and don't let him say "I know what to do" before you lay on that table. If he gives you a hard time, say thank you, get up, get dressed and get out. It's your body.
I hope this helps someone. Again, I'm not anti-smartlipo, but I've learned a very valuable lesson about cosmetic surgery and the makers of the machines that assist with it. I'm looking forward to my next surgery and am thanking God that I'm able to come out of this OK. I'd love to hear from others. Also, I'd like to thank Julie7 on this site. Her comments and review along with all those who wrote in helped me get to this point tonight.
Updated on Aug 7, 2008:
UPDATE - AUGUST 7th - Something else that's very important for everyone considering smartlipo to know - Even those who get happy with the procedure are not completely happy with their first results, no matter how good the doctor is. This is not bad, just honest. It appears that a few bumps and lumps will show up during recovery and they'll need to be fixed. Almost every post here gives credit to that.
A good doctor will tell you that you will probably need a touch-up, or even two, due to the fact that while he/she will do their best, you will have a lot of fluid in your legs/stomach/whereever and it is almost impossible to get a 100% smooth result the first time.
NOW - this is different from having major issues, such as mine for example. I consider 12-inch ridges down the front of both my thighs and sharp indentations at the top of both NOT to be touch-ups, but screw-ups. If I did not have those, the small lumps in the other areas might have been acceptable, but I believe all touch-ups should be minor. Contouring and blending are not negotiable.
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6/10/08
Hey
Thanks for your story and wow!! You covered it nicely for folks out there running to get fixed up by this lunchtime procedure. Everything you said is accurate and difinitely helpful for someone seeking out to do the treatment. Can I see what happened to you? And would you mind letting me know who is going to fix you? Or could you review my story under Unattrative Result and tell me if I look like something your doctor could help me with??? I don't want to have to pay for a mistake for the rest of my life. I really do feel deformed now. I understand having a deformity. I an accept that. But a self-inflicted One? That's the part I am having a hard time with. I trusted my doctor and I feel as though he let me down. After paying for the thing and meeting in person, I learned that it really was lipo but couldn't get a refund or I would have. I basically considered myself stuck. Thanks again for puting your information out there to help others. You are truly paying it forward. You are a good person.
6/13/08
Hi ND,
I've read your review and was horrifed about what happened to you. I am very sorry for your experience. In fact, it was after reading your write-up a few weeks ago that I got the nerve to pursue my total refund. One thing we as women need to do more - stand up to any professional when we have questions and tell them "no" when it doesn't feel right. I'm never going to let this happen to me again. In fact, I've called my new doctor twice to get references. They told me they're calling clients right now, but it's hard to get people to agree to discuss this procedure and I can relate to that. But they need to find me at least two or I'm not going to use them. They promised to get me some info by next week.
I really can't speak to what my new doctor could or could not do for you, but the wavy area on the side of your leg looks similar to one of my areas that will be corrected. I don't have pictures but I can tell you that 90% of my issues are shaping and contouring on the outer thighs. The Quack just sucked out fat without blending into untouched areas. I don't mind telling you that I was absolutely terrifed when I went to meet Dr. F. (New, Good Doctor). I was afraid he was going to take one look at me and say I was a lost cause. I almost cried tears of joy when I showed him my legs and he immediately began to say what needed to be done and how he'd do it. He looked at one area and said, "You've got to feather this in,just like a professional painter joining old and new paint so no one can tell where one area ends and the other begins. I can't believe he didn't do that". Then he realized who he was talking about and said, "well, he's a quack." That's where I got the nickname.
I am reluctant to give Dr. F.'s full name on this site since I got a strange e-mail asking for the new doctor I'm going to. I have a funny feeling it's from the Quack's office or wife. When we met with him to get my refund, he demanded to know what doctor I was going to use and I wouldn't tell him. I'd also like to wait until after my first corrective surgery before I give out his name, just to make sure I'm OK. Don't want to jinx myself.
Feel free to e-mail me. I know how it feels to think you're the only one with this issue. And by the way, I can certainly understand how you view yourself, but from what I see in your pictures, your legs look pretty good for the most part. I can't imagine that someone worth their salt can't make some adjustments to make your feel much better.
6/18/08
Hello,
I am planning to have Smart Lipo done on my abdomen next month. The only affordable price I was able to find just happens to be in Batavia. Would you mind telling me if the Doctor I am using is the "Quack" you encountered? This Doctor is Dr. {edited}. I really don't know alot about him, other than the basic information I was able to gather on the internet. Thus far, I haven't come across anything negative. I am going in for my consultation this week, and plan to schedule the procedure for the end of next month. Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for sharing your experience. It is very helpful to those of us who are new to all of this, and are still in the decision making phase.
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6/20/08
CW,
The Quack in Batavia is a pediatrician and the only Dr. in Batavia that does smart lipo. I can't speak to his stomach lipo skills but if you're looking for an opinion, I'd wait and save some more money to go to someone else. To give you an idea of what your procedure might be like with him, I felt everything and was in pain most of the time. Twice I cried out and he ignored me both times. When the procedure was done it was obvious that my legs weren't even but he tossed his gown off, got me bandaged and tossed me out the door into the mall. His staff isn't geared toward lipo, they're geared toward kids. Nice people, but not the supportive kind I learned I want behind me in a procedure like this. When my husband and I went to get my refund from him, he was more concerned about pointing out that I signed the release and telling me where I was wrong instead of admitting that he didn't blend and contour any of the areas he touched. He's never done lipo before he bought the machine. I was stupid to go to him and lucky to be in as good a shape as I am.
There's a Dr. in Williamsville that I talked to. His office staff leaves something to be desired but he's a plastic surgeon, not a doctor looking to make free and clear cash on the side. The doctor I'm working with right now is opening an office in Rochester, NY this fall so there's another option.
As for not finding anything negative, you won't find anything officially negative on the internet about a doctor in New York State unless a complaint has been officially filed with the NYS Office of Standards and Practices AND the doctor has been cited. Any complaints that aren't found to be "true" are never published.
I'm sitting here rubbing my legs, thinking about my corrective surgery. Think real hard about using Batavia Medical Laser Center.
6/20/08
Hello,
Thank you so much for shedding some light on all of this for me. As I explained, I am very new to this, and information is often limited, with regard to the specific doctors themselves. I will definitely be doing a little more "shopping around" before I make my final decision.
Good luck with your corrective procedure. Thanks again. Take care.
7/2/08
Just an update -
Spoke with all four references from Dr F's office and am very happy with the info I got. All are thrilled with their entire experience there and are happy with their results. Three of them had the same areas done that I'm getting corrected and both say what a great job the Dr. did with contouring and blending, and touchups are included and expected to make sure you're even and happy with your results.
- Met with the traditional lipo doctor today just to cover all my bases. Not at all impressed with his lack of knowledge of smart lipo procedure and results. Kept telling me that I shouldn't worry and that it will take 6-12 months for my results to show. Obviously doesn't know about the much shorter results time for smart lipo. Also told me that pain would last that long. I'm not in any pain anymore, just a little sore to the touch in a couple of spots still. I'm definitely sticking with my new smart lipo doctor in Utica, NY.
7/7/08
Hi bowling babe,
Can you tell me who dr F, the good smartlipo surgeon you went to and where he is located as I would like to get the surgery myself on my thighs. Can you tell me how you went.
Regards
kh
7/9/08
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! I had the procedure done @ Medical Spas of Houston..MAJOR LIARS! They will nag you before the procedure to snatch your money..then after you realize it doesnt work..the're going to advise you to wait for the "Magic" results..Uhmmm several months later-no change. Yes I excercise.
Yes I eat right.
Yes I brought Spinx (garment they use to make you think you are losing anything but very minimal 2-4 lbs water weight that comes right back). After procedure: you are on your own!
Procedure is NOT a lunch time miracle, Procedure is messy. Yo
7/9/08
i so glad i read your post. I have a consultation in batavia at the "laser place" and i was very surprised to see that it doubles as a pediatricians office. I can't thank you enough for this. I'm in Buffalo and a medispa here is starting to offer this procedure, so, I'm, going to wait it out awhile until he gets a few patients under his belt...thanks again
7/22/08
Hi Waiting,
Glad this helped. I feel more stupid every time I think about what I did. I'm very happy with Dr F so far and am not looking, but could you tell us the name of the spa in Buffalo?
I have an update on Batavia from someone who went recently. Apparently Dr "I" is opening a separate office in the same mall to do smart (or in his case, not-so-smart) lipo. That means that he'll look a little more professional when someone walks in but DON'T BUY IT. I've been in more than one very nice office and after talking with them discovered they're not all they're cracked up to be and that's the case with him. He made a comment to me when I went for my refund. I showed him a sunken area on my inner thigh and told him I was afraid I'd have to have a fat graft. He interrupted me and said "You won't have to have a fat graft, I know a plastic surgeon and I know you don't need one." Really.
BTW - that sunken area has improved greatly since I started working out on the treadmill again. I can see now that it will probably be corrected with my next surgery.
Some things I wanted to share since I wrote my initial review. If you are having any issues with tightening of the skin/long bumps and lumps in your legs, I would suggest a serious walking routine when you feel up to it again. As I said above, the difference is amazing. I started the treadmill again in earnest about three weeks ago (four times a week with two strength circuit sessions a week, too) and at that time my inner thighs were sore and one looked really bad. I decided it was best to try to ignore it and get a grip. Just yesterday it occurred to me as I was treading that I didn't feel anything and realized that the pain was gone, and I hadn't had any for about a week. I got brave enough to really look at my right thigh and almost cried with joy to see the improvement. I'm pretty confident that with the corrections I'll be just fine.
Something else to consider: If you're having inner and/or outer thighs done you'll want to press the doctor about your anterior (frontal) thighs, too. In "old" lipo, from everything I read and heard, they would not do front or back of thighs. On "liposuction.com" I've read that almost the entire leg can now be done, and, in fact, there are several pictures showing that. I am so happy because I realized that my anteriors need work and Dr. F assumed that he'd address those, too, for a complete job for my corrections. I read that no more that 60% of the fat should be removed from that area, but improvement, not perfection would be just dandy with me.
I also found a site called "makemeheel.com" that sells all sorts of items for recovery. I'm going to look into the Actipatch for my next procedures. Just some FYI. Has anyone tried those?
7/9/08
the medispa in buffalo is smooth solutions. I called the office today and the receptionist was very open with me. She said the doctor and the nurses are doing their training the week and they will be set to roll out the actual procedure in the next two weeks. she also stated that they will perform the procedures on the staff first, so they are doing consults but actual appointments will be a month or so down the line. Im actually looking to get my jaw line and chin done. Im kind of scared because if that gets fudged up, there's really no hiding that from public view.
7/14/08
I can see your point and you are wise to wait. I've been very grateful that I can wear capris this summer to cover up my thighs. If it was my face I'd be mortified.
Is the doctor at Smooth Solutions a plastic surgeon to begin with? If not, I'd be even more leary. I plan on giving out my doctor's full name and locations after my first corrective procedure. He's planning on opening an office in Rochester later this year so if you're interested in waiting and driving here I can give you his name as soon as I'm done with my first round. I don't want to jinx myself or jump the gun, if you know what I mean. As a side note, judging from his staff and the great references I got, I'll be moving all my cosmetic business over to him when he comes to Rochester. I have roseacea (sp?), too and get periodic laser treatments for it along with an occasional peel. Has made a big difference for me.
7/16/08
hi mandi--
just today i went in to see "the country's most sought after" smartlipo doctor. without giving his name, was your procedure done by him at his office on west tc jester in the galleria area of houston? i am in the medical profession and his office staff left me a bit aghast and concerned...i didn't even see the physician, just an advanced practice nurse and a pr person about the procedure.
conclusion...LAME at best.
7/16/08
Luis,
Good catch on your observations. This is a great example of who not to use. You should always speak at length with the doctor performing your procedure. This is a big decision and shouldn't be handled by the second string team.
7/20/08
Hi bowlingbabe,
I'm a guy who lives near Batavia and am considering Smartlipo for my breasts. Please let me know how you like your new doctor, and if you're comfortable with it, his name. Want to find a good local doctor for this!
Thanks.
7/22/08
JULY 22 UPDATE – I went for my 2nd consultation last week. The doctor and I discussed what to do and I’m going for the corrections to the inner/outer thighs, knees and blending into the rest of my leg. He’s also going to improve my outer banana roll and the front of my knees as they relate to the rest of the corrections. He explained what he would do and showed me a couple of different ways he would do it, along with discussing options of one or two sessions. At first he had said it would have to be two sessions, but since I’ve opted not to do my stomach, at least not until next year, he said we could go one of three ways:
1. Two sessions about three months apart so he could touch up the first area and correct the second at the same time.
2. Plan on one session with a slightly lessened amount of local anesthesia in all the areas to provide for the safest amount I can get at one time. With this option he would monitor my pain level and if I was uncomfortable he would increase the dose to get the best results in the areas he was working on, and put off the other areas as in option one.
3. This one is totally up to me, but go for one session and accept a certain level of pain. I told him that I didn’t want to feel anything this time since it was very painful last time and he told me “I assure you that this will be a very different experience from your last procedure”. I liked that – a lot. He also said that if he thought it was too much he’d stop anyway, no matter what I said.
He showed me how he’ll determine where he’ll work and explained that I would probably need touchups in three months since it would be a little difficult to see exactly where the Quack had screwed up, once I had all the fluids in. He’ll make several different marks on my legs to signify different needs. He’ll correct the ridges on the sides and top of my thighs by blending the front and inner at the same time for shape and symmetry, or possibly going from outer thigh down to inner knee first, then correcting the inner thigh. If that’s the case, the upper inner thighs may be a second procedure, along with the banana roll. It all depends on pain level and getting the best results possible in the first procedure.
I asked him about the front-top of my knees and he at first said that we could not do those because the tissue would eventually fall from my upper leg, but then stopped and said that since we are addressing the anterior thigh he could and would alter the knee area so it would also blend in with my leg or I would have a bump.
When we were all done he asked if I had any more questions and went over everything we discussed again (from his notes). I scheduled my smartlipo with him for September 11th. I don’t want to wait that long, but I also know how hot it gets in Upstate NY in August. I’m in no rush to wear the compression garment in four weeks of 95 degree, muggy weather.
As I was leaving the office, Dr. F. turned to me and said, “OK, we’re going to make your legs look great!”. I really needed that, and right now I’ll settle for a solid “GOOD”!
8/1/08
WOW! I was just about to go meet with Dr. I in Batavia. I am so happy that you wrote about your experience and I will definitely NOT be going there. I am very excited for you to get your new treatment with a real PS. PLEASE keep us all posted on your results and the dr...I would be very interested in meeting with a dr. who really excells in SmartLipo!
8/4/08
Hi "BBG",
sorry it took me so long to get back to you. the doctor's name is {edited} in Utica, NY, at Rejuvenate Medispa. If you call, please tell them Roberta R. gave yo utheir name. Good luck!
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8/4/08
JCP,
Glad I could help. Just to clarify, Dr. F. is not a plastic surgeon - he is a skilled heart surgeon that has taken the time to extensively study lipo with two "PS's in the country and had his staff do the same. I don't want to mislead anyone about him, it wouldn't be fair to him or them. he is still planning on opening a second office in Rochester sometime next year, if you want to wait.
8/7/08
Bowling Babe has some very good advice for choosing your SmartLipo physician. However, the technique that your physician uses, eg. tumescent (as described above) or non-tumescent, is not important. Whether they have prior liposuction experience or not is not important. This is an inherently different modality and applying traditional liposuction techniques will lead to unreliable results. Board certification in plastic surgery is not important. As with any type of therapy the most important physician traits are experience with the device and knowledge of its (and their own) limitation. Beware the physician that has only one tool because that is all you are going to get.
8/9/08
Please "Dr. John." I hope people are keen enough to tell that your post is total BS.
8/11/08
At first, I advised everyone to disregard "Dr. John's" comments. I think I was a bit hasty. Please read them and pay attention to the tone. I get a strong sense of a doctor who has added smart lipo to his general practice, who does the procedure and is a bit nervous about his business being affected by bad press and word of mouth. He seems very concerned with defending practioners that don't have any background in cosmetic surgery and speaks contrary to what I have read on the official liposuction site used and supported by cosmetic surgeons. This is very perplexing to me. I think it's a really good example of what to listen for and watch out for when interviewing your smart lipo doctor. And ladies, that's what we are doing. Keep in mind that we are the "employer" and the doctor has to convince us that he/she would be the best "employee" for the job. And that means that references and credentials are non-negotiable.
For me, experience in body contouring and a fine hand coupled with a passion for perfection is the only standard a woman should accept for anyone touching her body to make changes on it. References are non-negotiable and you should get at least three if not more. I'm trained on a calculator, but you certainly don't want me to do your taxes. We are putting our lives in someone else's hands and we should be very assertive when it comes to expectations. And, ladies, we need to realize that we may decide that a certain procedure just isn't what it's cracked up to be and that it's not going to work for us. Do not to let some doctor talk you into it because his son's or daughter's college tuition is due and he needs the cash.
8/12/08
I am considering smart lipo with a DR in Utica, NY at Medspa min a few weeks. Anything good or bad about this DR.?
8/12/08
I just wanted to comment on all of ur valuable info, Im not from NY nor am I even looking to have Smart Lipo done, I started reading ur post and found it so informative for people I just had to comment and thank you for taking the time to help others. Thanks!
8/18/08
If you're referring to {edited} on Genesee Street in Utica, He's the doctor I've been writing about that's doing my corrections in less and a month. You can read my comments about the references I got and the consultations I've had with him. I'm very confident about his skills from everything I've researched. I would be very interested in your experience with the office and Dr. F in general. Please let me know, and thanks in advance for your info.
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8/27/08
Is there anyone out there that can recommend a GOOD dr. in Houston? I'm going for a consult tomorrow and I'm not sure I'm going to the right guy after reading something from someone else's email (TC Jester/Galleria area.) Comments?
8/28/08
hey mandi--
sorry for the long time to respond. than so much for your reply. before i got your reply i had already decided against the procedure. i hope that you are doing better and are recovering.
take care. if you need anyone to talk to or need any medical advise, feel free to contact me at any time.
luis
8/29/08
Thanks for posting about your bad & good experiences with SmartLipo! I live in central NY and am strongly considering the procedure on my abdomen and possibly buttock. Could someone recommend a good doctor for this procedure?
Thanks,
Shan
Ps. What is the cost for this procedure on those areas?
8/29/08
I am not sure about this procedure, but it looks a lot less invasive then traditional lipo and the claims of tightening the skin interest me a whole lot! How much does it really tighten the skin? Can someone recommend a really good doctor in the central/upstate new york area? Specifically for the abdomen!
Thanks
9/2/08
Shan,
My doctor is in Utica, NY. The others are in Buffalo
9/2/08
Has anyone in Maryland had Smart Lipo done by
{edited} in Hunt Valley
Maryland?
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9/2/08
Hi CE, not sure if you have had this done or not but I had SmartLipo done this past Thursday by {edited} and I HIGHLY recommend him. He and his staff were awesome and my procedure was painfree. The shots in the beginning were the only slight pain I had. I had my upper and lower abs and flanks done. They have offices all over town but the procedure is done at their Bellaire office. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.
Good Luck,
~Sarthur
Editor note Provider information is located in this users original review.
9/9/08
Just an update. I've had to move mu smartlipo corrections out to October 3rd due to family matters. My legs are much better than I had hoped and quite a bit of the hollowness is beter.
I got the information packet from Dr. F's office and WOW, what a difference from the sloppy package I got at Batavia Medical Laser Center. A lot of helpful info along with much more advice on how to heal. Batavia's contained 90% "disclaimers" to cover Dr I's. butt.
Will keep everyone updated.
9/12/08
I live in Jersey but i travel to Houston often to visit family. I am willing to have the procedure done in either city as long as a board certified plastic surgeon does it. Does anyone know of one in Houston or Jersey?
Also i went to a dr in Paramus,Jersey and he said I had "to much fat" for smartlipo....I thought if i was within 25lbs of my goal weight that i was a good candidate? I am 5'6 154. He suggested regular lipo which of course costs twice as much. Anyone have any comments on that?
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9/12/08
so did you like your results?
9/30/08
Hello-
I was doing research about Smart Lipo because I am very interested in finding out more info.I am very althetic, play all sorts of sports when I can and I am at the gym non stop but my stomach is my problem area I have a little lets call it "pooch" I was wondering about the place you mentioned-Smart solutions? (I am about 45 minutes away from them) Have you heard anything about them or how the Dr are etc..How are the procedures cost, down time? Did you go and meet with them yet? I heard only a few things about them and they have been positive. I want to do all my reasearch before I consider this, All these replies have been very very helpful. Thanks to everyone and Goodluck!!
10/6/08
Hello all. It's been a while since I wrote. I finally had my second, corrective procedure yesterday and I wanted to let you all know how it went. My overall grade as it stands right now is an A -. Not bad since the Quack rated an F-. On a good day.
Cliff Notes on the procedure:
1. Pre-op and prep were very good. I had to follow up with the office to get my prescriptions, but other than that they were very proactive and caring. I think the factor in the prescription issue was my re-schedule. I had to get new scripts because the others expired before my actual appointment. Got a call two days before surgery from a nurse asking if I had any questions, going over all the pre-op info with me and to make sure I had all my meds and knew when to take them. They also told me that the new plastic surgeon, Dr. "M", would be assisting Dr. F. I immediately became a little nervous since reading other posts here, where some of us had walked in and found we were going to be guinea pigs. But, she was a board certified plastic surgeon so I decided to give myself the option of raising the issue only if I felt unsure of her skills.
2. Arriving at Rejuvenate, I was greeted by the nurse who was assisting with my procedure. I got there about 30 minutes before they open and she was waiting for me. The office manager was also there and was very caring and friendly. He took the time to sit in the waiting room, talking with me, until I was called in for prep.
3. Dr. M came in to meet me and look at the areas "under construction". I was very attentive to her attention to detail and how she approached my issues. She asked a lot of questions around how long it had been since the Quack, and how long my legs had looked like this. She addressed each area and asked more questions. She left to consult with Dr. F and I decided that I was very comfortable with her so I didn't question her working on me. That proved to be a definite OK, but with a couple of changes I would make at the next procedure. (I do have to go back in March for a second time. The Drs. determined that they would not have enough local anesthetic (sp?) to do everything without pain - which I greatly appreciated after the Quack).
4. The Drs. came back in and things got a little serious, but not in a bad way. After re-examining my legs Dr F explained what he could and could not promise. (This was different from my two previous meetings with him so I was a bit upset, but it does turn out well in the end.) The Quack had done more damage than we had thought and I had some areas that cannot be fixed by more lipo alone. They will look much better after the "cliffs and valleys" are corrected, but the quack had lipo'd down to muscle in some areas, as I had been afraid of, and they can't be fixed with more suction. This is where it got better. I said that I was afraid of that and had read about fat grafts but couldn't find anyone locally who did them. Before I had finished my sentence, Dr. F said "I do them. We can do that". Again I was very happy. We discussed how they'd be done. As is obvious, I will get them in the areas on my outer thighs and possible inner thighs when I get my next procedure. It will be six months after my corrections and everything should be settled by then so we'll know where they need to go. When Dr. F and Dr. M do the touch-ups (Yes, I already know I need touch-ups) and the second areas they will "harvest" (such a weird word for this, huh?) the fat they'll be taking out to use for my fat grafts. Another case of Bad News/Good News.
5. After being marked for surgery - which took about 10 minutes to get all the corrections and areas correct, the procedure was the opposite of my experience at Batavia Medical Laser Center. (I typed that in again just so anyone searching for the Quack will see this and read about my experience.) For one thing, I was in a very clean exam room, not one that looked the storage area for a library. I was draped almost to the point of a mummy with surgical chucks and antiseptic was used all over my entire lower body. The doctors were in full surgeon's garb and I was told about every move they made. The numbing process was a breeze compared to last time. I didn't take the Atavan since last time it made me sick, so I can attest to the Drs'. skill in administering the lido cane. The laser portion of the procedure was probably four times as long as my last time which tells me that my skin will be tightened this time. That also made the suction portion much less violent than the Quack. I now realize that by not using the laser sufficiently the Quack had to be much more aggressive with the suction, which caused a great deal more bruising, swelling and pain. I hate him more each day lately.
The suction portion of the procedure was so much better that the Quack at Batavia that I can't every compare them. I felt almost no pain and when I did, I let the Drs. know and they immediately changed their approach - AND APOLOGIZED. The entire procedure took about 2 1/2 hours since they were working together. Dr. M was very concerned about evenness and stopped to check several times to make sure her work matched Dr. F's. (They are pretty close but don't match, which is why I'll ask for one or the other to do the complete procedure next time. I am very happy with Dr M and would trust her as much as Dr. F. I have no problem with the small differences in their approach, and they did work very well together).
7. When we were done, both Drs. looked at my legs and they did make a couple more changes. Then they asked how felt, which they did several times during the procedure, and they told me I could take my time getting ready to go home and could rest as long as I wanted. A BIG change from Batavia Medical, being shoved out a side door into a mall and left to fend for myself. My hubby had driven me, and they called him for me, telling him I was ready but there was no hurry. Then, I got to meet the woman who had been extra kind and helpful. She came out to sit with me and tell me how good the doctors were. She also told me what Dr. M had said after first seeing my legs - "Oh Roberta, we are so happy we can help. Dr F. came out after seeing you and said "I can't believe what he (Quack) did to her'". I'm not sure that was the best thing to tell me, but I was glad to hear that the Dr. seemed to be very concerned about helping me.
My recovery is again, night and day from the Quack. I had no nausea last night and very little pain but a lot of draining, which I now know is good. I feel 100% better than the last time and am ready to go out and buy some pumpkins for our front porch today. I am a bit disappointed with the results in that my left hip is still a bit bumpy and not totally blended, and the front of my legs don't seem even. But, as the days go by I notice that the swelling and bruising have settled in more, and I need to remember that this procedure is very different from the last so the whole process is likely to be very different.. BUT - this is still a HUGE improvement from where I was, and I know I can get the fat grafts I need next time. Summer of 2009 is looking very good to me now.
I hope this has helped some people avoid what I have had to go through. I'll keep updating every few days to let everyone know how it's going. I have to say again that we have been miss-led by Cynosure and many of our favorite magazines - Self, Fitness, More, etc. All these procedures are much more invasive than they first sound and it's up to us as women to challenge anyone who says they aren’t. Hope everyone has a good fall, and I'll write again soon.
10/6/08
Hello Bowling Babe and others who are considering using this Dr. in the mini mall in Batavia. I have to admit that I was one of his victims. I first went in Oct 97 for a abdomen lipo and waited until april 08 before I was determined that no results had occured. Mind you, I am an educated individual (PhD) and I thought I knew all the right questions to ask. He told me he had done several of the procedures before, and even some men. When I called the office to complain they told me I was his first male to have this procedure and I would have to speak with him directly. He was rude on the phone and stated I needed to come in and see him. When I arrived, he lifted up my shirt and said, "It looks much better to me!" Then I reminded him and showed him my before picture and he finally agreed to do the procedure again which he did. This time I directed him how much fat i wanted to see in the tube before I left as I had researched this in detail. The staff tried to be accomodating. However, they kept opening the door exposing me lying there in my underwear, they didn't know how to use the razer for prepping. I screamed in pain a few times and he completely ignored me (And I have a high tolerance for pain). I would not recommend him to anyone!
10/6/08
Oh, I forgot to mention the BIG issue I had in batavia with Dr. I. He promised me I would have a 2"-3" reduction in my waist size and would need smaller jeans. Even after 2 procedures this isn't the case.I actually wer the exact sime size jeans and they fit identicle to the way they did prior to procedure #1. I actually wrote this promise on my contract before I signed it. I would recommend this to anyone. If the Dr. promises anything that sounds too good to be true, hand write it on your contract before signing it.
10/10/08
Chub Guy,
I am pursuing legal action against "Dr. Mini Mall" Would you be willing to talk with me and possibly join me in it? Let me know.
10/17/08
i have just had my upper and lower abdomen done and i'm not sure if i'm gonna look deformed or not! starting to be worried. first of all, there was NO INDICTION of the actual process in the literature i was given!i was completely unprepared and horrified at the whole process. i looked thinner at the office immediately after the surgery but started to swell the next day...she said i would but she did not elude to the fact that i would look even bigger than before the procedure. it was done on a saturday and by thursday, i looked as if i would explode...literally! she assured me that this was normal...i am now three weeks post-op and now my main complaint is the hardness. even though i look less lumpy, i have strange deposits of hard "fat'? i start the morning pretty flat and during the work day, ANYwhere my clothing touches..waistband, zipper, etc. becomed a huge indention or extrusion to the point that i look very deformed by the time i am able to get my clothes off in the evening. i have faithfully worn the compression garments and purchased a couple of extra so i am never without. please let me know if you have had any of this experience and if it will fix itself...i was NEVER told that i might need a second surgery or touch-up. she just says i will be back in a bikini soon. my kids are graduating and i don't even feel the need to be perfect again at my age, just wanted to feel better about myself and look good for my husband...i am really hoping i havent made a big mistake..........please help!
10/18/08
Dizzy, I have had all of the same symptoms that you describe. At almost 6 weeks post op that is finally starting to go away. I only have a narrow band just below my belly button that is still hard. The swelling at the end of the day is LESS - but still there. You have another experience to go through yet - nerve pain - extrememely sensitive to the touch, tingly or sunburned feeling (it's nasty) but that too is getting less. It's easier if you know what to expect - I think - so you don't imagine something is not quite right. FYI - i went out and bought a couple of pairs of maternity pants for those couple of weeks that I just could not stand wearing a waist band. "It hurts to be beautiful"
10/18/08
thank you so much for your reply. i guess it will all turn out ok. today is exactly 4 weeks post-op and i am starting to feel the burning and just plain sore feeling. even down on my hips although the procedure was on the upper and lower abs. still a little fevered also but seeming to go down nicely! hadn't thought of maternity pants..might be a great solution for me too. i hope to hear from you again as you get to see the final results of your procedure and i will keep you posted on mine too.good luck!
10/29/08
I had mine done twice at the lifestyle center in clayton, mo. DO NOT DO IT!!!! No results and since I signed a note saying results were not guaranteed, they still want me to pay for it. I however, will not paid for services not given. The rep said I was the perfect fit for this procedure. She told me that I would obtain my goal of having a flat stomach. I now am in dispute with Care credit. If it comes to going to STL local press, I'll do it. I don't want someone else to go thru the pain, downtime and still no results.
10/29/08
i had mine done in marshall, mo at cosmetic laser enhancements. i am in the 5th week and i am alot less fluffy but still not looking "thinned out" like the day it was done.i was so excited at first i thought it was great..then reality set in. i am like you in the fact that it is a painful ordeal. my docotr said that 2 of her patients actually took themselved in to the emergency room during the night! i think those of us who have had it done need to put out a pamphlet of what you can REALLY expect...it't not the easy ride and quick results they lead you to believe!!!
how long has it been for you? my husband and mom are concerned at how much i swell during the day and how "hard" i feel, it's freaky and abnormal. please keep me posted. if it hasn't been long enough, you might still get better results than you think! good luck
10/29/08
It’s been about one month since my first corrective procedure. Now that I’ve had time to let most everything settle, I have a few more comments and I must amend my initial grade of A- to a B. Here’s why: It’s become evident that Dr. J and Dr. M didn’t match their work. My right thigh has improved nicely, although I will need some fat grafting and a little more contouring on the inside. The anterior looks pretty good, but will need a bit of work when I get my banana roll done. My left thigh is a disappointment. Dr. M did not touch my anterior thigh and it is obvious. Her contouring work on my inner thigh, knee area and outer thigh is a definite improvement over how the Quack left me and looks good, but I am once again unhappy when I look at my legs. During the procedure she and Dr. J discussed my anterior thighs (front) and she said she had not done it. He replied that he had and that she should. She said she’d take a little. I (once again) trusted the judgment of a professional and am regretting it. It can certainly be corrected, but it is frustrating when I paid for it and have been looking forward to more progress at this point. At my one-week follow up Dr. M was quite pleased, and I still agree with her assessment since I had come in with some real challenges for them. Considering what they had to work with I can say that they are competent and caring and I believe they can deliver a good final outcome, but it has become evident to me that no matter how good or gifted the doctor, we need to speak up and assertively get what we want and make it clear that we are in charge and we know what we want!!!!
I will not ever make this mistake again. I have my six-week follow-up on November 10th, at which time I am going to make it clear exactly what I want done. I am going to push my agenda, telling them about some of the things I’ve read on this website that other doctors have done to enhance the procedure, and insist that we try them. For instance, many people in this category have told of their doctor using the laser again in all the areas that have been lipo’d after all the suction has been done. Those that tell about this have mentioned how smooth their legs are. Well, I’m going to get that done, too. No matter what. And I will speak up during the next procedure, from the marking of my legs to the last bandage, if I need to.
I’ll let everyone know what happens at my next visit
10/29/08
geez you are all scaring me! my hubby is going for his first smart lipo procedure EVER! the dr. even had his flanks done and showed us pic of before and after and some of the staff had it done too and they all looked great though through their clothes, not like they were going to strip down and show me/us but still i wondered what it looked like underneath and they were all skinny and young too. so my husband is having his moobys (man boobs) smart lipo'd and his tummy. his next procedure will be flanks and chin. he is so estasic and i am so excited for him too! hopefully he will have a positive experience! he is too excited that i cannot even tell him anything that anyone on here has said. did you ever think that those that have had great results have no need to be on a board complaining so we only hear the bad stuff and not the good stuff!
10/29/08
today, i went to my appt with a harmonal
specialist. this was set up about two
months ago...even before my lipo. when the doc pushed on my stomach to lay me back on the table, he FREAKED! i told him by stomach was hard and swollen due to the vaser lipo. he asked lots of questions and then informed me that his close personal friend INVENTED the vaser lipo asd he was pretty sure that our complaints were NOT normal! i told him of the message board and that there were lots of us with the same outcome...he was apalled. he said he was going to speak to his friend and get some better details of the recovery process, but he was quick to assess that my dr didn't take enough out for a good result. he said he said that everything the boby has to re-absorb can settle anywhere thats convenient giving a less than great result. i called my lipo dr (who was more than slightly annoyed) and i will see her again nov 10th. i am supposed to ask specific questions and forward the pics to my hormonal specialist so he can advise. i will certainly keep you guys posted! one of these days., one of us are going to get a straight answer!!!
10/30/08
my abdominal lumps are getting more pronounced........
10/30/08
Bowling babe, I would consider legal action.How do we exchange information? i only live about 20 miles from Batavia. have you spoken to anyone legal yet?
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10/30/08
There are plenty of good result posters. Just read all the ones that say it was worth it. I had it done at the end of August on my upper and lower abs and I am pleased with my results. It does take some time for things to get back to looking normal but overall, my experince was a good one. My clothes look awesome and I can't wait till next summer to put on my bikini. Another friend of mine here in the Houston area had it done too by a different doctor and she is pleased with her results too.
I feel bad for the people that are having a bad experiences.
10/30/08
whew! i was really getting scared cause his lipo date is tuesday! if his blood pressure holds out he will get it done, if it doesnt and mine holds out i will get it done, so hopefully one of will get it done! are there pictures on here that people can post or have posted? i would love to see some before and afters?
10/31/08
Yes, some posters have posted pics. Go to the main page of Smart Lipo, where it says the 81% says Smart Lipo was worth it. Should be on the right hand side of the page. Then scroll down and go on to the next pages until you see little picture icons next to each post. Those are the ones that have pictures. Hope this helps.
11/10/08
well my husband had his moobys (man boobs) and tummy done on nov. 4th. he was home and slept that whole day and the next day he was up and about and slept the last half of the day again getting tired easy. tomorrow nov. 11th he is going for his jowls and flanks hopefully both but if not definitely the flanks. i am going to try to attach some before and after pics. i wanted to get some pics of today cause today is the fist reeeeal noticeable day of his chest! i will get some more pics soon though but i guarantee you he IS seeing results with some soreness still like he did a hundred crunches. our dr., i say our dr. cause he is going to be doing my flanks, bra roll and jowls as well, is a wonderful guy. he is so personalbe, funny and very caring and attentitive as well. He uses the MPX one in only 3 Dr in Colorado who is using smart laser which allows it to melt More fat in a shorter amount of time for better results. At first he was going to use the traditional one for lack of a better word but then my husband had to wait cause of blood pressure problems and the Dr. said it would be good anyways cause then he can use the new MPX instead and it would be better results for him since he had a large area of fat to lipo. if anyone in colorado wants to know who our dr. is let me know. he is in boulder and he is worth every penny and pain.
now if someone can tell me how to add photos i can show you my husbands!