“Initial review "not worth it". though the results aren't 100% what i thought, there is some improvement”
Smart Lipo: Worth it
Cost: $3,250
Pain: Uncomfortable
Pain: Uncomfortable
Smart Lipo satisfaction: Fair
My Smart Lipo provider: Sign in or join to view provider name
Definately more saggy skin on the banana roll area than there was previously. The best way to describe the appearnce... think of someone who's lost a lot of weight then their skin hangs. It's like several creases or big wrinkles if you will. Because of the distance of the photo it isn't as noticeable as it is in person. The laser hasn't helped tighten at all but there is some difference in the appearance of my buttocks. For that reason I am one the fence but leaning more towards worth it. When deciding if this procedure is for you, you just have to decide if the fat loss is more important than the appearance of the skin. I'm sure age is a factor.
before
2 weeks later
2 days after
2 weeks later, bruising is worse in person and down to my knees. Lots of uneven lumpiness.
day after the procedure
week 4
lumps on left, week 4
week 4, fat roll (banana roll) still apparent. Easier to see on back leg
week 4
week 6, note the saggy skin under my cheeks
week 8, more lifted on the outter edges of the crease?
before...easier to make direct comparison. Worth 3K+?
week 8
Apr 3, 2008Comments and Replies (0) Be the first to comment
44 of 46 people found this review helpful
This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.
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unregistered guest
3 Apr 2008
Hi, I noticed you live in Colorado and was wondering where you got your Smart Lipo done. I was thinking of having the procedure and so far could only find Dr. William Merkel in Grand Junction who performs it. Any info. you can give me would be helpful.
unregistered guest
4 Apr 2008
Hi there, so after reading your story, how long did the Doctor say it would be before you would be able to see your final result?
45 posts
4 Apr 2008
His name is {edited - shown above under title). I love his staff and really like him. He really seems to know his stuff. Just hoping the procedure turns out the way i hoped. I trust him and feel reassured when he tells me things will improve. It's just so hard to believe when i look worse then i started. There is also Dr. Menacoff (not sure of the spelling). I know him as an ENT doctor but noticed over the past few years he now does plastic surgery. Great ENT but i can't speak to his plastic surgery skills. He was also about $700 more for the same procedure.
3 posts
4 Apr 2008
Hi Julie, So I've been doing more research on Dr. Millard and Dr. Menachof and called their offices today (so happy there is someone closer then Grand Junction). Did you get a consultation with both Dr.s? Dr. Millard sounds pretty impressive...I watched some videos on how he is 1 of 2 Dr.s who does that High Def Lipo...wow! Obviously through your research you thought he was the best to do the procedure, do you think its worth having a consultation with both? I'm a little nervous that you're not 100% satisfied. I'm trying to get an appt. in the next few weeks. Hopefully you'll have better news by them. Once again, I appreciate your info. and am willing to hear any advice. One more question, his receptionist said that he does about 5 differenct types of Lipo, including Smart Lipo, did you specifically ask for that kind or did he think it would be the best. I didn't realize there were so many options. I just wanted to be awake and to have minimal recovery with good results.
unregistered guest
6 Apr 2008
Your butt was lopsided before....smart lipo can't reverse that. Be patient. I think 4 days out is too soon to say that something wasn't worth it.
unregistered guest
6 Apr 2008
not to be mean but your butt looked kind of lopsided to start with. I think the swelling has just made that more apparent.
45 posts
6 Apr 2008
I agree...that it's too soon to tell. Have you had the procedure done yourself? If so what was your outcome? Are you a patient or do you work in the mediacl field? You sound a bit defensive. I wanted to post pictures on the website ASAP. In all my research i couldn't find the pictures i was looking for. Pictures like these help people understand the procedure. I had no option of "don't know". The choices i had were "it was worth it" or "it was not worth it". The people at realself.com told me i can change my outcome later if i choose. For now i still lean towards the negative. As for the lopsided butt before...don't you think a good surgeon would make corrections so the lopsidedness would be less apparent not more apparent? I know they do it all the time with breasts. I'm not saying i had a bad surgeon...QUITE the contrary. I think he is probably the best plastic surgeon i've come across (I've seen 4). Whatever the reason, i just don't want my butt to look worse than when i started. Anyway, I WANT to be happy with the results! I will say I'm surprised how much it still hurts but hope it's all worth it it the end.
5 posts
7 Apr 2008
Julie, Don't get discouraged! Legs tend to stay swollen longer then any other part of the body. This happens due to disruption in lymphatic drainage in the area. After about 2 weeks you will notice a significant decrease in swelling. Bruises should be gone by that time also. You will feel lumps for another 3-4 months, but they will be getting softer almost daily. I've done SmartLipo on my wife's legs and was able to track progress daily. It gets worse before it gets better. Once the area is less sore - you may start doing lymphatic drainage massage that should help decrease the swelling and lumpiness. I hope in 1 month you will change your opinion about the procedure. Max Grishkevich, MD
6 posts
7 Apr 2008
Julie7, I am now at about 10 weeks and the swelling rarely happens now. When I do have swelling, it does swell more on one side than the other, but these days I am 90% not swollen and the sides are even. I am really happy with my results and know that you will be too. To those still researching, I highly recommend Dr. John Millard. Everyone in his office was fantastic and he has experience in this field. Check out his website (just search his name).
6 posts
8 Apr 2008
I had my tummy done and even at its most swollen moments, it was smaller than I was before I had the procedure. I only swell now when I do something super aggressive. A 4 hour mountain bike ride causes some minor swelling and my doc says that this is normal. I think it is all of the bouncing over rocks and jiggling that happens. A normal workout at the gym doesn't cause any swelling. All of the literature that I have read says that the swelling can be expected for up to 6 months, but it is really minor at this point. I massaged my tummy for the first few weeks, and iced the area for about 20 minutes in the evenings (always keep a cloth between you and the ice pack and don't go over 20 minutes). The lumps will go away. I don't remember what week that happened, but it has been a while since I have felt a lump, so maybe it was about week 6. I would say the major swelling went away on week 4. It seemed like that was a magic moment, because a lot of my symptoms went away by then. I love my results and wish this had been available years ago. Based on your photos, I think that the amount of swelling and bruising I see is normal. I too was lop-sided when I was swollen, but I trusted that Dr. Millard knew what he was doing and, sure enough, my tummy is now flat and evenly balanced. I get my 3 month photos taken in a couple of weeks. I will publish the before and afters then.