Sagging Syb

Six Months Update - After six months I am both pleased and disappointed. I'm way middle-aged and had the lipo for saddlebag thighs that really were never going away on their own. The surgeon was very realistic on what I could expect and made sure to mention that I would not have my smooth 30-year old thighs back, just less of the middle-aged thighs I had. He was so right. I wish now that I had measured my thighs/butt before the surgery. Don't know why on earth I didn't! My thighs are definitely smaller and my pants/slacks/skirts fit much, much better. On the other hand, they are more wrinkley and rippled than they were before - the bad side of skin that's no longer elastic. Not pretty out of clothes but much easier to fit into clothes!

Six months post lipo, I'd say the results are mixed. My thighs are smaller and I look much better in clothes. That said, I should admit that I gained almost 20 lbs after the surgery - exactly the opposite of what I'd been planning. I'm not sure why, others have said this is an unconscious reaction on the part of the body but I think I was just so relieved to be rid of the "focus" of my body angst that I began munching freely and the result was a surprise gain. About 2/3 of that's back off now but it may have affected the results. My doctor was very realistic and made sure that I knew at my age (56) I was not coming out with smooth, 25-year old thighs -- that, in fact, I'd have all the cellulite and such I already did... just not juttng out in the saddlebags I had before. This is very true. I have a little additional draping in the inside of my thighs. Otherwise, they don't look better or worse.... just smaller around. I had told the doc that at this age my main concern was how I looked in my clothes rather than out of them and, true to that idea, I am still much happier.

I had vaser and standard tumescent liposuction, used as a combo. The deposits on the outside of my thighs (saddlebag thighs) had been there a lo-ong time and were pretty "solid" - not the loose, easy fat of new deposits. If you've ever seen "old" fat deposits, you know that they are kind of waxy... it's a whole different ball game. That's one of the reasons it's taking a while for everything to go back to the new normal.

Just "weighing in"on the conversation.... I had lipo (hip and outer thigh)about six weeks ago and am only now seeing what will probably be the final outlines of the results. I wish I had measured before surgery (seems like a no-brainer now) because visually I seem the same (to me) but I can definitely tell the difference in slacks. Others have frequently asked if I've lost weight. Interestingly, I've not lost an ounce - while recovering I seemed obsessed with eating and gained back whatever couple of pounds came with the fat loss. But the change is permanent - any gain did not go there, thank heavens. My surgeon and his staff members who've had lipo all agree that you won't see the total result for at least six months - more so in some hip cases, maybe less for tummy? I think this is true because I still have spots that are quite tender and that feel like there is still swelling way down under. Meanwhile, I'm trying to maintain some sanity during the holiday so that I continue to lose so I can really get the benefit of the surgery investment. Why on earth didn't I have it done post-holiday so that, for once, I could eat my fill, figuring I'd have it all "sucked out" later! laughing.... S.

I would not have anyone but a board certified plastic surgeon do the lipo regardless of type. There's a lot of hype by the vaser folks and I don't trust it all. You want someone who not only does liposuction but who does a LOT of it, so they have the procedure down pat, have seen varying results and so that the doc can give you a realistic appraisal. Like all other medicine, it's a specialty field. You sure don't want to be disappointed again. Believe me, there are LOTS of certified plastic surgeons in Miami. Can I ask what disappointed you about the tumescent lipo you had done before? I just had tumescent lipo done (hips, thighs) and was told by my plastic surgeon that the smart lipo and vaser (both of which he does) was more suitable for smaller areas such as neck/chin and touchups. The lipo I had done was a LOT more bruising and damaging than I had anticipated... but I'm only one week out so have to wait to see the final results.