Jay Martin Kulkin, MD (retired)

I decided to have liposuction to get rid of my double chin. I had a free consultation with WIFH (with Dr. Kulkin who has since retired) and my liposuction was scheduled for the following weekend. All of the staff were very polite and answered my emails/phone calls immediately every time I reached out to them. The surgery went better than I expected. No, it did not feel great having a metal rod shoved into my skin, but once the numbing medications set in, I was fine. Weeks then months went by and I had a couple follow up appointments. The doctor said my chin was looking very good and that once fully healed, it would look great. Well here I am about 9 months later and my chin looks like I never had the procedure. WIFH offers excellent service and very friendly staff members, but I would never have another procedure done by them. I completely wasted $2,000.

Dr. Kulkin and his team are the cream of the crop. Exceptionally warm and friendly from the lovely ladies at the front desk all the way through the procedure. During that lovely time in a woman's life when we are barely fit to be around other humans, I packed on 20 lbs. (omg) and the fat decided that my stomach was its permanent resting place. But alas, I found Dr. Kulkin and woohoo!! It is gone.
I have also visited many other times for Botox, IPL, Micro needling, a VI peel, and (WOW) the Hydrofacial.
I will never go anywhere else for my "beauty" needs. Nor should you :)
Kelley

I've been wanting smartlipo for over 2 years because I'm skinny but have lovehandles. I went in for my consultation last year. I met with Dr. Kulkin. We talked for awhile; he never rushed me. He listened to all my questions and concerns. I waited for 6 months to go through because I was so nervous about the risks & dying. I called him multiple times and emailed his coordinator Lindsay with a lot of questions. They never got annoyed but just reassured me that I would be in good hands and that they've done over 10,000 surgeries and none of the patients ended up in the hospital or ever had any serious side effects. I decided to go through and the process took about 40 min. I didnt feel any pain; I was awake the whole time. Dr. Kulkin called me the same night to follow up.

I didnt feel much pain or discomfort afterwards; I did have bruising. I continued my normal schedule the day after. The incisions leaked the first 24 hours. It's been a week now and I'm still swollen so I don't see a difference yet. But the doc did tell me not to look at myself for a month because it takes that long for the swelling to subside. Hope I love the results! Will post another update.

Updated on 1 Apr 2019:
Impressed by the results so far! The pockets of fat are definitely smaller but hoping they shrink some more. I can tell that my body is still healing because I feel sore once in a while. Hope to see better results within the next week!

I began my journey in August of 2018. I Came on this website, through word of mouth, to search for a doctor to help me snatch my waist back! I found Dr.Kulkin and I never looked back. So happy........

Updated on 20 Oct 2018:
This is the day before my procedure

Updated on 20 Oct 2018:
This is the day of the procedure. Very swollen of course and i had a drain attached to me.

After two years of planning and researching several doctors around town, I finally decided to have my procedure with Dr. Kulkin a week ago. I was very nervous and afraid of the entire process. I made the mistake of watching a video of a smartlipo and that totally freaked me out. I spoke with Lindsay at Dr. Kulkin that quickly calm my mind with the suggestion of taking anti anxiety med prior to the procedure and she also got me in touch with a lady that had the procedure a few years back, to help me with my fear. She was thrilled with the results. The entire process was painless except for a few stings from the initial anesthesia injection, after that no pain. Just a tugging sensation on your stomach. After two hours and 1200 cc of fat removed from my stomach, I was on my way home to recover. It has been a week and I only used pain med for two days. My tummy still swollen and bruised but overall no pain. The garment I have to wear for the next three months is very tight, uncomfortable and sometimes unbearable to sleep, but I understand is part of the healing. I will post pictures three months from now. I want to thanks Dr. Kulkin, Nicole (his amazing assistant) and Lindsay for their kindness and professionalism during this process. You guys are awesome!!!!

Updated on 18 Nov 2018:
It has been almost two months since my smart lipo. I still don't have the tight and flat stomach that I wanted. I wear my compression garment during the day for comfort and support. I went to my one month follow up and the doctor said is progressing fine, but he also said: "If you lose 10 lbs you will love the result of the procedure." WOW! I was shocked, I paid a lots of money for this procedure, I could have joined Weight Watcher and lost the 10 lbs much cheaper if that is what is going to take for my tummy to look flat. So far, I have lots of lumps and a crease on my stomach that was not there before. It is a little smaller but nothing as I expected...Not sure if was I good investment...

Smart Lipo Journey.......... I schedule a consultation with Dr. Jay Kulkin for smart lipo on June 2, 2018. First, the office is absolutely beautiful and the staff were amazing. I drove from North Carolina and I arrived early for my appointment. Dr. Kulkin took the time out to see me ahead of my schedule appointment. Thank you... Dr. Kulkin is very personable. We talked about what I wanted to have done. He examined me, told me about the procedure and what to expect. Dr. Kulkin made me feel so relax, worry free, and excited. After talking with Dr. Kulkin I decided to have my lower and upper abs, flanks, and bra strap done. After the consultation he escorted me to another room and I spoke with Lindsay Spires, to set an appointment date, the cost, and other information pertaining to the procedure. Let me tell you Lindsay, was super sweet. She helped me with all my paperwork and answered all my questions or concerns. My procedure is schedule for June 15, 2018. I am excited. I will post pictures of my journey.......... More to come....

I have been stalked RS for well over a year and I finally decided to just start my mommy makeover journey. The doctor I decided to go with is Dr. Kulkin in Atlanta. The consultation was very informative and the staff has superb customer service. Dr. Kulkin is very knowledgeable and after the procedure that I had this morning which was my total abdomen, that also included my flanks you could see the difference once I was up off the table. Not only did I get my take home package, but Dr. Kulkin gave me his cell phone number as well as I have him mine. He really does care about his patients.

Updated on 7 Apr 2018:
Here are my before pictures.
Updated on 8 Apr 2018:
Today I feel way better than last night, Dr Kulkin called me again today to check on me. This morning my drain was removed as well as my stitches. I have on my compression garment, that thing is a lifesaver. It makes the pain actually subside, I bought all this extra stuff on amazon that I can now send back. Lol !!!!

Background
I committed to improving my health in 2015. At that time I was 197 lbs and feeling tired and miserable all the time. I had been struggling with my increasing weight for nearly 15 years and for my 5'2 frame, it was time to make changes. I was in my early forties, dealing with PCOS, borderline Type 2 diabetes, and didn't want to hit 45 feeling this same way. I gave up my biggest vice of Diet Coke and lost 10 pounds in 6 weeks. That encouraged me to join OrangeTheory and I immediately fell in love. Committed to four workouts a week and within 7-9 months I had lost 50 lbs. Everything was getting smaller except my tummy and it was driving me crazy because it is my biggest insecurity. I plateaued and then in early 2017 I tried the HCG diet twice and while I did see a weight loss, it wasn't for the long-term.I have stayed with OrangeTheory and recently started 9Round and hope to see some additional changes in my body as I head into 2018. My goal with this procedure was to reduce my upper and lower abdomen to give me more confidence and to offer some additional motivation to stay on track with a healthy lifestyle. I am certainly not looking to earn my Victoria Secret Angel Wings with this procedure, rather to address a lingering physical insecurity and feel better and more confident.
Consultation
Easy conversation with Dr. Kulkin to discuss the procedure, risks, my expectations, and any concerns. He clearly articulated the procedure and the after care, along with setting realistic expectations of what the upcoming 6 months what entail. He was reassuring in that my expectations for the procedure were achievable,but also dependent on me 'doing my part' and continuing to eat well and exercise. This procedure is not weight loss and he does a good job of reminding you of that. After my consultation I met with coordinator to review the pricing and scheduling. Once payment was made, a date was set and the paperwork was sent electronically for me to review and sign. I did find out that if you use a no-interest offer through Care Credit, the provider covers the financing costs upfront, which may be added into the total cost of the procedure. By offering to pay in full for my procedure, I was able to save about $500, so that was a good win for the provider and for me.
Pre-Op (Nov 2017)
Arrived at office about 1.5 hours prior to my scheduled 12:00 start time. During this time they reviewed the procedure with me, took my vitals, completed my pre-op photos, did my markups, and fitted me for my compression garment. One thing I wish I had done was pre-op measurements, as your weight will not really change with this procedure. Photos and clothes will start to tell the story but measurements would be good as well. I took antibiotics the day before, day of, and then each evening and morning for the next week. I was given a prescription for Xanax, which I filled but did not take. I was also given a prescription for hydrocodone to manage the pain afterwards. Wear dark, loose fitting, comfortable clothes and slip-on shoes or flip flops. You will thank yourself later as bending over will be a little challenging or uncomfortable.
Procedure (Dec 5)
OR was cold so I recommend socks for your feet. Once I was on the table and sterilized, Dr. Kulkin came in and began the 'bee stings' which were the injections to numb the areas. This is an accurate term for these injections. Doesn't hurt, but does sting as the medication is injected. I had 4-5 of these on my abdomen. Once that is complete,a small incision is made at each site and fluids are injected under the skin. This is a very odd sensation, as you can feel the cold from the liquid and the weight of the liquid on your abdomen. There is a little tugging as the tool is moved slightly within the site, but no pain. This process took about 45 mins I believe to complete each site.
After the fluids are in, he took his laser and inserted it at each site. Once inserted, he would move it left and right, back and forth, to melt the fat. The tugging here is a little more intense, not painful, but certainly an odd sensation. Every so often I would feel a 'hot spot" similar to small electric shock when you touch something. As soon as I felt this, I would tell him and he would increase the numbing meds at that site, and then go back to melting. I probably felt this 5-6 times (mostly around my belly button and above my pubic bone) and he would immediately stop and do what was needed to make me comfortable. This process took approximately 45 - 60 minutes. Once complete, he used a vacuum tube and began sucking out the fat. Again, tugging and pulling but no pain. I could see containers filling up as he did this. I appreciated his commitment to the best results, as he would go back over areas a couple times as needed with both the laser and the vacuum. During the entire procedure, I was alert and engaged in conversation with the doctor and his nurse. Music in the background and overall a relaxed environment. He and his nurse were constantly checking to make sure I was ok, not in any pain, and doing well. This was very reassuring! Once he was satisfied, he inserted a drainage tube, sutured my incision site, and reviewed the aftercare steps with me. I was then helped into my clothes, my vitals taken again, and I drove myself home. Had I taken the Xanax I would not have been able to drive home. However, based upon my conversation with the doctor and other reviews, I didn't see the need to take the Xanax. Left the office around 3:00.
Post-Op
Got home and felt tired from the adrenaline and activities of the day. My abdomen was very swollen, felt like a waterbed or jello (weird!!) and was very cold. The drainage tube was easy to manage and honestly, I cannot imagine not having one for this procedure. If you don't have one, you are going to have a hell of a mess to deal with for the next 24-48 hours and that's just not something I think anyone would like to worry about. I would empty the drain about every hour or two. Energy level was surprisingly good and I sat in my home office and caught up on work. Dr. Kulkin called around 7pm to check in and make sure I was doing well. Reminded me that I can call him directly on his cell if I needed anything (WOW!!). Around 9pm the pain started to kick in so I got settled in bed, took a pain pill, and slept for about 3 hours. Woke up, emptied the drain, and went back to bed. Had trouble going back to sleep but managed to rest comfortably for a few hours. Finally got up around 7am and was able to get myself out of the compression garment, take a shower, get dressed, and drive to my follow-up appointment. At the appointment, they removed my tube and stitches. I was also helped into my compression garment. This sucker is tight but man does it feel good once you get it on. It helps keeps everything in place, which minimizes some of the discomfort. Follow-up appointment for a month later was made and I was sent on my way. I elected to take the day off, however, I could have gone to work if needed. I just wanted the extra day at home in the event I was sore or not feeling great.
Week One
Fairly uneventful but definitely felt soreness throughout the week. Used pain meds for the first two nights and then didn't need them any longer. I have a love-hate relationship with the compression garment (love it when it's on, hate putting it on). I am wearing it literally 23 hours a day (only taking it off when I shower) and throw it in the laundry every couple days. Going to the restroom is easy thanks to the openings . Definitely soreness with anything sitting or resting on my abs, especially around my belly button. Significant bruising on my lower abs and pubic bone area. Not surprised at this given that I bruise easily, but it was a little startling to see all the deep bruise colors. For work, I've been wearing a lot of loose fitting skirts and dresses so that I was comfortable and nothing was pressing on my stomach. At home, it is loose fitting leggings or yoga pants pulled up high so the waist band was not on my tender areas. Able to move and sleep pretty well, with the occasional reminder of tenderness when making certain movements. Not a lot of changes in my appearance as I am still very swollen and carrying fluids.
Week Two
Still feeling 'bloated' at times and swollen, although I believe I see some changes in my body. Hard spots under the skin around my belly button and lower abs, but have been told those will go away. Loose fitting clothes are still the way to go, although I did wear jeans one day and immediately noticed the new extra space in the waistline. Compression garment is still really helpful and am surprised at how well it really holds everything in tightly. Bruising has faded substantially and the tenderness primarily remains around my belly button and lower abs. Sleeping has become more restful and comfortable.
Overall feeling good and happy with how my body is recovering from the procedure. I am excited to see how my body continues to heal and change as I head into the next couple weeks and months. I will continue to update and post pictures.

Updated on 28 Dec 2017:
Starting to see some noticeable changes. Definitely still swollen in areas, tenderness remains all around, and some lumpiness is present. I am confident all of that will continue to diminish as the weeks continue on. This week was the final week of my compression garment, although I have continued with Spanx and the like under my clothes. They certainly help with tenderness, as they hold everything in place. Excited to see even more changes happen over the next couple weeks.

Updated on 10 Jan 2018:
Still having some tenderness in the mid-section and near my belly button. Feel like I am still swollen in areas and lumpy. Continuing to wear my Spanx compressing garments and definitely appreciate the support they provide. One month visit I Friday and hoping to be given the OK to get back to my HIIT workouts. Feeling good about the changes I am seeing and hoping the next several weeks continue to bring reduction in my abs and the swelling/lumpiness.

Updated on 15 Jan 2018:
Had my one month visit on Friday and doctor was very pleased with how I am healing. Changes for the first month are very good and I should continue to see my abs shrink and the skin tighten up. Plan is to continue to make good eating choices and continue with my workouts. Next appointment is in four months. I will continue to post updates here as well.

Updated on 19 Jan 2018:
Returning to my OrangeTheory workouts this week. Feels good to be back in the gym. Still experiencing some tenderness around my belly button and lumpiness all around. Doctor has no concerns about this and assured me both will improve and I will continue to see reduction in my abs, along with skin tightening. Weight remains down about 5 lbs from pre-op weight. Feeling good about the progress I am making and excited about what the next month will bring.

Updated on 27 Jan 2018:
Not a lot to update this week. Felt bloated and swollen The last half of the week and I think it shows in the pictures. I have started wearing my Spanx again this weekend bing it will help with the swelling feeling. I will say that even with the swelling, I am down a size in my pants!

Updated on 11 Feb 2018:
Struggling with feeling bloated and swollen the past couple weeks. Not sure if it is related to the procedure or not. Focused on increasing my water intake to between 80 - 100 ounces a day and more fiber rich fruits and vegetables. Changes seem to be helping and I am starting to feel better and seeing less bloating. Intermittent tenderness remains around my belly button. I am hoping my lower abs continue to shrink and the skin continues to tighten. Remaining optimistic since I still have several months to go before declaring my final results. Good news is that I am now consistently in medium or 8/10 pants depending on brand and M tops. Went shopping for new lingerie and pajamas this weekend. Was shocked that even at Victoria’s Secret I was a medium in tops and bottoms because their items typically run small. Had a non-scale victory at the lingerie store when I actually had fun shopping for body suits and lingerie and was pleasantly surprised by what now looked good on my body! Even had the personal shopper comment on my “cute” body type. When you look in the mirror and pick the reflection apart, it feels really good when someone else sees what you don’t see. Definitely motivation to keep working out and to stay patient for the final results from this procedure.

Updated on 4 Mar 2018:
Not much to report. Feeling as though the results I am seeing may be the ‘final-ish’ results, but holding out hope that I see some additional reduction in the lower abs. Bloating and swelling feelings are gone which i am so thankful for because that has been miserable. Still some random tenderness under my ribs and around my belly button. With spring coming here in Atlanta, I have been pulling out some clothing from last season and excited to say that they are too big! Still hitting the gym but really hoping to see some further reduction in the lower abs over the next 3 - 6 weeks.

I'll try to keep this brief. What's really important to me is not so much He procedure but whether or not it really works, and works long term. So I'll check I every few weeks or so.

I've been a sweater, big time, since I was about 14. My sweat doesn't smell, but can be voluminous at times. Mostly at work, I've been known to sweat through shorts and lab coats daily. This has been a constant irritation and source of embarrassment for over 30 years. I usually only wear black shirts, and have multiple lab coats to change into and out of every hour or so. It's been miserable.

So I had the procedure today. Dr Kulkan is a very personable practitioner and I was put at ease immediately during the consultation. The reason I chose to go with WIHI, besides he fact that they have done over 300 of these procedures (and that the procedure was on sale at $1995) is the technique used for local anesthesia. After researching the reports of failures for Miradry I came to the conclusion that in most cases the issue was in not being able to use the machine at its full power (which would be a 5) secondary to discomfort. Needless to say, I decided that If I was going to have this procedure done I wanted to try and go with the highest power to have he best chance to avoid a second treatment. What I experienced today was a single pinch in the armpit. This was followed by some mild to moderate deep boring type discomfort while the saline with lidocaine was infused, but no real pain. I did feel pushing and pulling during infusion - this may be a little unnerving to some. The tumescent infiltration gave a complete numbing and I didn't feel any pain on either side at the highest setting of 5.

During the procedure charlotte and I talked casually, she's very nice and calming. Again, I felt no pain during the procedure, and after about an hour it was done. Because they use tumescent saline with lidocaine, I believe that there is more 'swelling' under the arm immediately because of the volume of fluid that is directly infused. This is not swelling from trauma, but from the fluid itself. This is an important distinction because at least so far I've had no postoperative pain. There is still the 'swelling', again, what appears to be the fluid infused that has yet to dissipate. It's kind of a doughy consistency to the underarm tissues. I won't use any deodorant for the next three days as instructed. I have been icing on and off as well.

Overall, it really went well and if it works to even lessen my sweating I do believe it'll be worth it So, that's it for now. I'll be back with results.

So, yesterday evening, the day of the procedure, I did start to have some pain. As the anesthetic began to wear off, I got a very deep boring pain, probably a seven out of 10 in both armpits. I took a Motrin 800, which settled it down a little, but that first night of the procedure was kind of uncomfortable, I have to admit. The morning of postoperative day one, I had some twinges of pain, maybe a 3 to 4 out of 10, but this subsided in by noon after which I really had no pain. I still have a fair amount of swelling though, although this seems to be subsiding as well. I went running today on the track, 2 miles walking and running, and although there was a just very faint moisture under my arms, no sweating. I was sweating everywhere else on my body and then some, but no under arm sweat so far. More to come.

Ok, so now its 6 days post procedure. i still have some swelling under my arms, but I am bone dry. not a drop of sweat. I'm wearing any shirt I want and its wonderful. No uncomfortable moisture. Very happy at 6 days out.

Dr Kulkin and his staff are always great! They treat you like family. I had the miradry procedure done. Dr Kulkin was great I barely felt anything during the numbing process. The procedure went well and I got great results, basically no underarm sweat. What a great difference Miradry procedure has made. No more soaked underarm shirts. I highly recommend WIFH! They take care of you.