“Smartlipo on upper/lower belly and love handles”
Smart Lipo: Worth it
Pain: Severe
I will be turning 40 this summer so I decided to get the smart lipo as a 40th B-day present to myself. The actual procedure (which took about 3 hours for 3 spots--upper and lower belly and love handles). I though this would be consired 1 area but I guess they consider this 3 areas (hence they got away with charging me for 3 areas).
The actual procedure was not that painful (although the numbing process was very painful). Now the post op--that's another story. A lot more painful than what I had expected. I am now on my 4th day and I am still very sore, bruised and swollen. I am still on pain medication and although it has been getting easier every new day --I am still amazed at how sore I am. I have 8 incisions and they are still very painful.
My question is this--why do we have to wear the compression garments 24/7 for the next 2 weeks and what happens if you don't wear the garment? I want to know the exact reason for the garment and is it true that the tighter the better? Also--could my actual garment (which is a body suit) actually be causing more harm than good?
May 17, 2009Comments and replies (5)
5 posts
19 May 2009
For me the garment caused more harm than good...See my post for the details. Subsequently I had regular lipo done on a different area and had awesome results. I'll never do smart lipo again, ever.
15 posts
20 May 2009
I had smartlipo done on Feb 16th and the 23rd, well 3 months later I must say that there is a huge difference between the way looked in the start of this year. Everyone tells me how great I look since I have lost weight. filp side,,,,, My abs are not as flat as I want them to be but every week they are smaller along with my waist, in my jeans, pants or a form fitting dress my abs look flat, flat only with my clothes off I see a pouch. I now walk 30 miles a week so that I can lose weight all over it's a slow process but the money has been spent so I have to make it work for me. I still eat fresh pineapple everyday along with massaging my abs and a heating pad afterwards. If anyone have anything new to offer please do.
9 posts
10 Jun 2009
My understanding is that part of the smartlipo procedure is designed to develop skin tightening. The compression-wear is designed to keep the skin and underlying tissues approximated so that they heal faster and tighter. Without it, my understanding is that swelling may occur more substantially and interfere with tightening. We are undergoing liposculpture in 10 days (woohoo) and we're planning on keep the compressive-wear on for a month if we can. I was advised you can switch to a spanx outfit after 10 days or so, but check with your doctor to be sure on all of this. Good luck! S
1 post
3 Oct 2009
The compression garmet aids in skin tightening and aids in preventing fluid retention - swelling / edema. You do want to wear it to assist in your recovery.