I am currently 3 days PO and I thought it was appropriate to start the process of my review while I still remember everything! I wanted to write a really honest review, because I went into the procedure thinking the recovery wouldn’t be all that painful based on the reviews I’ve read on here, and I’ve found it a little more difficult than I was expecting, so here’s my warts-n-all account to-date.
I'm 35yo and have a 5yo son. I have been quite lucky with my shape as I've a natural hourglass figure, but the downside to this is that I've always carried weight in my limbs - my arms in particular have always been disproportionately large compared to the rest of my body. Even when I'm at my leanest I always still loathe my arms - in fact last summer I lost a significant amount of weight and while my hips lost 10 inches, my arms only lost 0.5 inches - which just shows how my body retains the arm fat.
I eat a healthy vegetarian diet, I exercise regularly (3x pw in the gym and running 3x pw plus walking our dog twice a day) but the weight I was carrying in my arms and tummy were just getting more and more stubborn. Having always been a bit of a yo-yo in the weight department, I finally decided enough was enough and it was time to take a different course of action - I was sick of being miserable with photos of myself and always trying to crop my arms out of pictures, and I thought enough was enough! It was time to do something I've been contemplating for a long time and look at liposuction.
I started off looking at MYA but then after having read a series of negative trustpilot reviews I stumbled across RealSelf and found lots of people talking about their positive experiences with Dr Wolf, so I decided to book an appointment. So firstly - Dr Wolf. In all honesty I've been blown away by him. My Mum accompanied me to my consultation, she's had liposuction and a tummy tuck herself (20+ years ago) so I thought she'd be a good ally and would help me ask the right questions. As soon as we left the consultation we both said how incredibly kind, respectful and gentlemanly he seemed. I felt totally comfortable that he a) knew his stuff, and b) was going to treat me well so I'd already decided that as long as the price was manageable I would go ahead with the procedure.
In the weeks leading up to the procedure he contacted me frequently, providing me with lots of information, sending me the prescription for my aftercare medicines, reminding me of important details and he always responded to any communications within a few hours. I work in marketing so I hate it when people don't communicate very well, it makes such a big difference to a customer’s experience - so I was very impressed with this aspect. The day before the procedure Dr Wolf called me to make sure I was OK and all set, again – a lovely touch.
On the day of the procedure I headed into London and made my way to the clinic. I was met by a very bubbly nurse who got me ready in my sexy getup of paper knickers, paper bra, gown and compression socks. The anaesthetist came and spoke to me, as did the nurse who would be in the operating theatre with me, and then finally Dr Wolf came to see me and marked me up, took pictures etc. Shortly afterwards I was taken into theatre.
The theatre team were wonderful, I was surprised about how many of them there were! I think there were about 6 people in there, but there was some great music playing, they were laughing and joking with me, keeping me nice and warm and doing everything required to make me feel at ease and comfortable. I slowly drifted off to sleep when the twilight sedation took its effect and came to back in my little room having been dressed. I have a vague recollection of them trying to get me into my compression garments – I recall not being totally compliant and rambling on about needing to go and collect my son from school.
Back in the treatment room I was very woozy and light headed, they wanted me to get up and about but every time I stood up I fainted. They gave me a drink and some biscuits to get my blood sugar levels more stable so that I felt a little better, but to be honest I was zonked from the sedation and just kept dozing off between the instructions they were giving me. The light-headedness and nausea continued, and as the anaesthetic wore off the pain became more apparent.
My journey home took around 2hrs and this was uncomfortable, I had an incision on my hip and what I didn’t realise was that the dressing had shifted a bit and my compression garment was digging straight into the incision so I was very sore. When I got home I released the pressure slightly to get another pad in and this caused me to faint – something I’ve now become much more familiar with! They weren’t joking when they said that the compression garment affects your blood pressure!
My first night was rough, I don’t think I slept for longer than 30 minutes at a time, I was in pain, it was so hard to get comfortable, the compression socks were really hurting in the fold behind my knees, the 4d foam vest made me feel like I was laying in a tractor tyre – it was pretty miserable! I was provided painkillers, anti-inflammatories, anti-biotics which I’ve been taking. I’ve definitely needed the painkillers, which were an optional (I thought I may not need them but was mistaken).
On Day 1 I prepared myself to take the compression garment off. Boy was this hard work! It took us 90 minutes to get me undressed and in the shower. I expected to become light-headed when I undid the compression garments, but I think I fainted 9 times in total. Combining that with the extensive leakage (which I had expected) and it just wasn’t a fun time! I really felt like I'd been hit by a bus. Thankfully my OH is medically trained and not squeamish because, bless him, between the leakage and me passing out, it would be cause for some to feel overwhelmed. Needless to say, I’ve needed a lot more support than I had anticipated (but thankfully he’s enjoying earning his brownie points).
Nevertheless, I was showered, we managed it and I headed downstairs to have my first MLD massage (BTW my therapist Lisa is an AMAZING human being – she was so lovely, super patient with me and talked me through lots of tips to keep me feeling well). The massage was interesting, at first she focused on my lymph nodes in my neck and jaw area which was nice and gentle, but then she did start to massage the skin in the treated areas – this was not painful but a) I could definitely feel the bruising – it was tender, and b) it was quite a sickening feeling, the sensation of being touched in the treated areas. My skin was numb, but the tissue/muscle underneath was bruised, so it was quite an unsettling feeling. The rest of the day I rested, I tried to move about and I did manage to have a little walk about the house but I didn’t feel up to much else.
Day 2 post op (yesterday) and I was back at work – working from home. I don’t feel I gave myself enough time for recovery, Dr Wolf had recommended I take longer but I didn’t feel like I’d need it – that was a mistake. I took a couple of calls from bed and some sat at my computer, I did manage a decent walk at lunch time too which was nice! I was up and about in between my calls etc but I wish I’d taken longer off. I felt I needed the pain relief, I could certainly feel it towards the end of each 6hr window of coverage where the pain relief was wearing off, though by the end of the day taking 2 painkillers was making me feel spaced out and I decided to cut it down to 1. I had assumed that the removal of the garment would be plain sailing after we’d tackled the first removal, but that was also a mistake! The fainting continues! :-O I had expected that the leakage would remain for a few days, so that was no surprise, but the constant light-headed-ness was a shock. By 8pm I was exhausted and I slept through until nearly 6:30am – only waking when my OH gave me some pain relief to get me through the night.
This morning I woke up feeling stiff but not as sore as yesterday, I haven’t had any pain relief yet today and I’m not feeling too uncomfortable. I did finally manage a bowel movement (apologies for TMI) but this was very painful – it felt like the tissue that had knitted together in my tummy came away again when I was “squeezing”. I understand it’s all part of the process, I guess I just hadn’t expected the first couple of days to be so sore.
Preparing myself for undressing and showering shortly, but looking forward to getting to have another look. Which brings me onto my final topic – the results. I am obviously heavily bruised and have some swelling, but I’m already delighted with the results. My waist looks itty bitty and the first look at my arms literally took my breath away!! Very, very happy and excited to see what my shape is like in 12 weeks or so when I’m less bruised and swollen! I can’t wait to be able to wear short sleeved tops, boob tubes and vests next summer without feeling the need to wear a denim jacket over the top to cover up my fat arms – I’m having to stop myself from buying lots of vests and slinky dresses as I don’t know what my final dress size will be yet, but I’m so excited to show them off (all in due course!)
I’ll continue to update my review of the whole process as I heal, and will continue to provide progress photos.
Updated on 19 Dec 2020:
I’m 5 days post op now. The notable differences are that the bruising is really coming through now! My general mobility is improving more and more each day, but thank the lord for the 4D foam vest as without it I just feel so vulnerable! I have a 6 month old Dalmatian who’s very bouncy (awful timing!!) so when she occasionally leaps onto me I am very sore but it’s just the extreme bruising. Without the “body armour” I wouldn’t want to be around her.
Leakage has almost entirely stopped now, I just get a bit of leaking from my drains when I’ve been walking and my right elbow is still leaking but all other incisions seem to have dried/closed now.
I spent a lot of time up and about yesterday busy with Christmas prep and I felt it by the evening, but was pleased to have spent the afternoon out of the house. I had my second MLD massage yesterday also, which brought me to tears at one point just because of the sensitivity of one of the parts of my abdomen. I’ve continued rubbing it through the day though and will start using the ultrasonic massager on my treated areas 3x a day from today (quite excited that I get the chance to take off the compression garment more than once a day to do this!). Post MLD we tightened my compression garment onto the next setting down so I could attack the slight swelling in my tummy area, as this was due to the garment and vest being a little loose.
Generally I feel SO much better than I did a few days ago, feeling much less like I’ve been hit by a bus and more like a very very bruised peach! Have moved onto paracetamol now to manage the discomfort, which seems to be doing the trick.
Despite the fact that my tummy has swollen a little bit, I’m loving the new shape and am very excited to be able to enjoy that in the new year.
Updated on 21 Dec 2020:
Just a quick update today, to say that my drains were removed and BOY do I feel better for it. I was quite uncomfortable from the drains and the accompanying stitches rubbing on the dressings/garment so it feels quite liberating now not having those to contend with.
Bruising continuing to ease which means I’m so much less delicate, and am able to lay on my side and front for short periods now too which feels like such a treat! Quite looking forward to not having to wear the compression stockings any more, though I feel like I’m developing a degree of Stockholm Syndrome for my 4D vest... I think I might secretly love this captor!
Updated on 26 Dec 2020:
I'm almost completely pain free now when I'm up and about wearing my compression garments, I just have the occasional twinge or pull here and there really. The only discomfort I have now is when something touches the remains of a bruise and when I first wake up I feel pretty achy, but being able to sleep on my side and front feels like such a luxury!
I've started to notice the lumps under my skin, and am using my handheld ION massager to massage the treated areas. I couldn't get it working to start with, but my MLD therapist gave me a bottle of ultrasound gel and that's got it working perfectly. I haven't swollen as much as I expected to, since tightening the compression garments and foam vest it seems to have helped keep the collection of fluid in my tummy at bay.
When I take my garment off I still feel quite vulnerable, as I'm now used to having heavy padding on 24/7, but I am becoming obsessed with my results! My only issue is where I have quite sturdy legs I now feel like my legs look larger, but I'm looking forward to being able to get out running again and down to the gym (when they reopen!). My waist shape is looking lovely and the contour on my flanks is really nice, I'm really excited to try on a bodycon dress in a few weeks and take stock of my new shape!
Very much seeing the evolution take place and my old pre-baby ratios making a welcome return!! :)
Updated on 3 Jan 2021:
My bruising is almost completely gone now, which makes moving around and MLD much more comfortable. I’m seeing amazing progress with my arms, really enjoying starting to see some definition form along my triceps. Have a small amount of fluid build up in my tummy so doing lots of massaging to try and keep that under control. The MLD is getting painful now where she’s massaging the fibrotic tissue! It’s extreme!! Feels good afterwards though as it loosens up my limbs and I feel super mobile. And finally, I’ve been managing to get out on some bike rides recently too, while I can feel the wobbles in my arms, my tummy feels all good so will keep enjoying that to get myself moving beyond just the walks.
Updated on 27 Jan 2021:
So thought I’d update my progress.
Since I reduced the time in the compression garment to 8-10 hours per day and stopped wearing the 4D foam, I’ve been getting bigger! I know I’m still swollen so I’m putting my faith in the process and hoping that this subsides!
In the photos of my front and rear view you can see how I’ve “fluffed up” since 1 wk PO. Crossing everything I get back to that shape/size soon... or better preferably!
my arms are looking good though, and even though I’ve still got swelling I can see the improvement.
I have some discomfort still, night time is the worst as I get very uncomfortable trying to settle into bed - my arms and flanks don’t feel great at that point. I have a few moments of weird sensation, numbness, tingling, prickly feelings etc. Generally though my mobility is good, Daytimes I don’t have any issues (other than if I get caught on the back of my arms by the dogs tail or a branch when I’m out walking!) and I’m getting back to exercise etc now too :)
I must admit, with the daily massaging, foam rolling, MLD sessions, no fixed waistbands, weird skin sensation etc, it’s a little more aftercare than I was anticipating, but having seen other people’s results I’m certain it’ll all be worth it!
