Vaser Lipo to Flanks, Abdomen and Saddlebags two years post op

I have suffered for 20 years with pockets of fat on my flanks (the bum that looks like a shelf syndrome), my outer thighs and a small stubborn bit on my abdomen around my belly button. I shouldn't complain really - at the age of 14 I weighed 230lbs and by the age of 15 I weighed 135lbs (I am 5'9" tall). I am still around the 140lb mark and except for 2 pregnancies - I have stayed there for 20 years now. I also have the expected skin looseness associate with such a weight loss.

I have always thought about surgery of some sort but have never found a procedure I was comfortable with or could afford or both. I have been told I probably need a full tummy tuck plus lipo but I don't have the time or financial resources to dedicate to this procedure - plus - I am a big wimp and don't want to add a great big scar to a stomach (altho covered in stretch marks) that I have come some-what to terms with over 20 years. So I have opted for Vaser to tackle my stubborn areas and then I plan to wait a few more years to see if that has been enough - or if I need to go the whole hog so to speak and have a tuck of some sort.

I am scared to death about Friday - having insomnia but fingers crossed on Saturday I will be posting some great pics and telling you all how fantastic it was!! Got my Ipod loaded with good tunes - so ready to go!! Wish me luck!! And Thank you all in Advance for your support - this forum has been a lifesaver for me over the last few months!! XX NiceFace

Ok Everyone - I've done it!!  or almost done it.  I had Vaser to my hip/flank area and saddlebags yesterday. I was meant to have a small bit around my belly button done as well but I required the maximum amount of allowable local anaesthetic over the 4 hours my surgeon spent sculpting and fine-tuning these areas (told you all I was a wimp!!). Therefor I am going back in 2 weeks time in order to have my abdomen done. I was a bit upset by this at first but now, in hindsight, I know it was for the best. 1. there is no way my provider would risk my safety and recovery and 2. it will give her an opportunity to see how my skin and body responds to the Vaser so that when she does do my abdomen in a couple of weeks time she will have a good idea of how agressive she can be - also - this is my trickiest area for skin looseness.

Guys - this is a painful procedure. I'm not going to lie to you. I wasn't in tears or anything - but I did bite down on my hand a few times. Partially I think my pain was due to my anxiety and fear (I've never had any kind of procedure in the past and 20 years of thinking about it all probably didn't help). But my surgeon also explained to me that, especially in my saddlebag area, I had a type of sclerosed (like grissily hard) fat that even the mighty Vaser doesn't easily break up.  I swear to Gosh I think she is mighty mouse!! How she managed to delicately power thru these areas is beyond me! And again, this is all part of why I took 4 hours to do.

The most painful part of the procedure by far is the initial injection of the anaesthetic into the tissues. The probe is pushed in a bit at a time - and the pain comes from a combination of this and my skin stretching. The anaesthetic burns a bit but this is nothing to worry about. Then comes the Vaser which 'Pops' the blown up fat cells and liquifies them. This is not painful as you are soaked in anaesthetic by this point and if it does become painful, the surgeon just tops you up with a bit more. I will say - the feeling of the Vaser is a bit odd - like running a rod over fatty gravel?!

Lastly - the best bit - the sucking out of the fat - this is not an unpleasant feeling at all and you have the comfort of seeing the containers fill up with your unwanted fat.  In my case - she took a total of 1100cc's of my flanks and saddlebags. Again, if the suction probe starts to hit areas where the anaesthetic has worn off - your surgeon just tops you up.

I was a bit shakey when I got up and a wee bit lightheaded but otherwise fine and weirdly kind of euphoric (because it was over and from all the adrenalin they pump in you with the anaesthetic). The lovely nurse made me a cuppa and gave me a biscuit while I sat and POURED fluid out!!  They say you are either a 'sweller' or a 'drainer' - I am definitely a drainer (thank Gosh) but the down side to this is that I had to change my compression garment by the time I got home as it was soaked thru - as well as my bandages. I had to sleep on a towel on top of an old sheet on top of some large incontinence pads the clinic kindly gave me. Sleeping was a nightmare - I woke up seemingly constantly throughout the night - the pain never got unbelievable because I stuck to my pain killers every 4 hours. I have a course of antibiotics to take as well which are fine.  I am not able to eat much (not a bad thing really) because my compresion garment (goes from under my boobs to my knees and the cost of 2 were included in my fee!!)  is so snug I feel full after a few bites. I am concentrating on drinking plenty of liquids and chilling out. I did find that in the night I moved from my bed downstairs to my settee and I was able to lie semi-upright and lean against the back of the settee for support which helped take away my back pain from sleeping flat on my back in bed ( I am a side sleeper).

Please send me any questioins you might have. I will try to get some pictures to you all at some point as I know how important they are. I haven't had a look yet as I am still draining and very swollen.  Will post asap.

Hey everyone! I am now Day 2 Post Vaser - I will eandeavour to post you all some pics tomorrow at Day 3 once I have gotten the kids on the bus to school and can have 5 minutes of peace to myself!!

I am seeing the tiniest bit of reduction in swelling but not anywhere near enough to tell what my outcome will be. I have stopped draining and am wearing compression inserts which go in your compression garment in order to keep areas smooth and unmarked form the garment as well as to add extra compression to these areas.

I hope this will help my healing as I have loose skin issues and am anxious not to wrinkle. I haven't needed any painkillers today but imagine I will still be taking some tonight before bed. The wounds now (all 6 of them) are a bit itchy and still a tad sore but nothing too bad. I have minimal bruising which suprises me but I believe the compression helps with this.  I am desperate for a bath but it will be a while before I get one of those!

Right - well - fingers still crossed for a great result. My rational mind says there is no possible way 1100 cc's of fat can be sucked out of you withou you seeing a difference. Just need to bide my time!