Vaser lipo to inner+outer thigh, hips, inner knee + ?? skin tightening above knee - Sydney, AU

Firstly I'd like to say I'm posting this purely because I have found this site so helpful in making my decision and also with post op concerns. I chose to tell no one other than my partner about the operation and have found this site a source of comfort as I can't discuss this with anyone.

I am now 10 days post op - wouldn't hesitate doing it again - though I am still very sore.
I am 169cm (5ft 5in) and pre op weighed 57.5kg (127 Ib)

I am 46, since my teens I had always been around 56kg and have always had saddlebags. I have never been overweight but didn't like my figure because of my thighs. Since turning 40 I have developed fat pods on my hips giving me the dreaded muffin top - and generally carry more weight in my upper legs. After a lot of research I actually decided on my Cosmetic Surgeon over the Plastic Surgeon as she was very focused on sculpturing my figure rather than the PS who seemed focused on specific areas. The PS said he would take about 1 litre (1000cc) fat and would not do the inner thigh as there wasn't much there - the CS said she thought about 2 litres (2000cc) fat but post procedure she said she was very surprised to have actually taken 2.9 litres (2900cc). My operation covered a lot of areas but not a huge amount of fat removal. I had 18 incision sites.

The procedure was done in the clinic surgery under local anaesthetic (twilight I think). I was aware of what was going on throughout the op but drifted in and out of sleep. The tumescent fluid was a little painful feeling like a rollerball of pin pricks. I could feel the pressure of the suction wand at times but nothing to bad. I remember putting on the compression garment and taking photos of the suctioned fat afterward. My appointment was at 12 noon and I was walking out the door at 5pm. I was sick 3 times that evening. Only used Panadeine Extra for pain and had an uncomfortable but reasonable sleep.

My surgeon also did more of an experimental procedure above my knees where I had kind of like cellulite appearance (hard to explain but not a nice look in shorts). Both PS and CS said they would not remove fat from this area but my CS said she could try placing the vaser probe under the skin to try to tighten the skin. This was quite painful but the results are excellent at the moment but we are not sure if it has been successful or if it is a little swollen giving a smoother appearance - I have my fingers crossed (she charged a nominal fee $600.00au as not sure of the outcome and I was happy to be a guinea pig in the hope of good outcome)

I have found the recovery stories vary so much in the posts I have read. For me I could easily say I was up the next day fending for myself as my partner had to work - then went for afternoon tea and cooked a roast dinner - I did do all this and was pretty good but I was also VERY sore especially when moving from sitting to standing and vice versa (and sitting on the toilet!!). After you stand up and start walking there is this terrible drawing/pulling/million little ant bite type pain that lasts for a while then settles. (hard to describe). What has amazed me most is that this pain is still very similar now on day 10 and hasn't subsided. I can move much more freely now though. It's still uncomfortable to sleep on my side. There is a lot of time when sitting or walking that you have no pain at all so it's not like your in constant pain - just different actions cause pain (getting in and out of the car is still a big OOUCH factor).

I didn't take any time off work - procedure on Friday and planned to work on Monday - ha ha - I only work 3 days a week and decided to take Monday and Wednesday off and I went back on Saturday. I am a nurse and on my feet all day and we don't stop. It was a difficult shift and I have decided to take more days off this week. Being on my feet for so long I felt the pressure in my legs and the swelling around my knees a little to much. Remember I have told no one that I had this done so I am trying to act as if nothing is wrong the whole time!!

Sorry there is just so much to tell - Going back to the first 24hrs - I remember thinking that I was so lucky because I had had no drainage. I was just so well strapped up with absorbent padding that I just couldn't feel it. When I took off the pads and blue sheets the next night for my shower I couldn't believe the weight of them. They were saturated. I weighed them and it was 3kg. So there would have been at least 2.5 litres of fluid drained out of me. I then discovered I had not been given enough pads to cover all 18 incision sites. I was totally unprepared for this and quite upset but we made do by boiling scissors and cutting the pads we had. I stocked up the next day. Applying the pads as dressings was the worst of the experience - I went from pads to large absorbent type bandaids over the first 7 days. Day 8 no dressings needed and all insision sites healing nicely. Some sites drained heaps and some sites very little. I only had to change dressings daily. My left leg has more swelling around the knee than the right and it had much less drainage. I managed to wear a pear of jeans for the first time yesterday (day 9).

I was so excited on day 1 when i'd taken the dressings down - I looked in the mirror and for the first time in my life I had no thighs - so exciting and amazing. At this point there was no swelling and looked fabulous. The love handles were completely gone too. Unfortunately there is then some swelling that sets in - I don't have much except for the inner knee/ lower part of my leg where it gets quite tight. My big concern is that the compression garment in not adequate - it is just a spandex one and I'm sure something firmer would be much better. I commented that I thought it was to big but was told that was the smallest size. My Doctor said with the amount of fat removal I have had it was sufficient. I do think more compression would help with the pain when you stand and start walking. If any Doctors happen to read this I would love your feed back.

Bruising......Hips - barely any.....Inner thigh - barely any (now light yellowish).......outer thighs - dark purple, moderate sized area......Inner knee (and 6inches above) dark purple, large bruised area.....above knee with vaser probe - a small amount.

I am applying arnica cream to the bruising but only twice a day and have no idea if it is of any benefit or not. My chemist said the massaging motion is the most helpful to increase circulation. I am also still taking oral arnica.

To this point I don't have any fibrous hard lumps forming - At what point in the healing process does this happen?? I hope I'm lucky and don't get any!!

Due to the distance I live from the surgeon - I had my post op visit on day 7. She was very pleased - she did comment that I had quite a lot of bruising - I also had 1 session of ultrasound. She said she won't take my measurements for another month as swelling needs to settle but I know I've lost cm's already.

I am really happy with my results so far. All I ever wanted was to have no thighs sticking out when I wear my jeans and I think we have mission accomplished. Can't wait for the final result and can't wait for the pain to be gone.

I can't believe how many times my teenage kids hug and squeeze me and pat me on the legs - they don't know what I've and I just have to grit my teeth.

I will try to post photos - wish me luck - I'm not very techno savvy.