i'm an athletic almost 50 year old 5'4" 148lbs who cannot get rid of the 'menopot' and the start of gravity on my face! i do have to be honest, i'm very excited, but the more that i read of people's experiences - not seeing results, lumpy/hard spots, etc. i'm starting to freak out. also, my surgeon told me i would be fine to go back to work after a week of 'chill' and then i could gradually start to work out again, and again, from all i'm reading here, that's not sounding realist. hoping to hear that it's not as bad as i'm reading, that the pain is not crazy insane, and that this is not the biggest vain mistake of my life. looking for reassurance. Updated on 8 Oct 2014: Here are my before pics- surgery is on wed oct 15- getting more and more anxious... Updated on 10 Oct 2014: Filled my prescriptions today. After reading all the reviews and experiences that i could on this site, i decided to call my PS nurse and ask a few more questions. She was successful at putting my mind more at ease! as to my procedure, they are doing tumescent liposuction on upper and lower abs and my jowls. i asked about rimples and dimpley skin after...they combine a laser with the tumescent lipo to heat the fat and to also tighten the skin (is that normal?). i'm happy to hear that they do not have much issue with those types of problems. as to the compression garment et al, they provide everything i need. YAY! i asked about downtime, as i'm reading some people bounce back quickly and others it is a couple of weeks. they said that the first few days for sure i will know how many muscles i have in my stomache...lol. they said that within 4-5 days, i should be good to go back to work. i asked about working out, and they said definitely not before the 2 week mark, and really, a month of not working out would be best. they encouraged walking, etc, but LISTEN TO MY BODY and take the time to heal. they did say i will have some 'lumpy bumpies' but those WILL go away and if i follow their directions and wear the garment, that about 6 months i will be thrilled with my results. i shared concerns that in reading some experiences here, that some people did not feel that they had enough fat removed. i was told that they take 60-70% of the fat out, i will have a flat stomach but not to expect 6 pack abs. they have to leave some fat in those areas or i will look odd. is 60-70% average to what others do? i forgot to ask about arnica...to be honest i'm not even sure what that is. do you all think it is something to search for and get? ok...that was a lot, but i thought i would share what my PS nurse shared with me! 5 days to go, trying to get all housework done, get work at work settled and then wednesday is surgery! 10 am in the morning... Updated on 12 Oct 2014: it's not bad when i smile, but i'd look like an insane individually smiling all the time like a fool to avoid the stupid jowls! so, here is my before. i just want a jawline again!! 3 days to surgery-flat stomach and a jaw line, i'm hoping that's what i get!! Updated on 14 Oct 2014: truth be told, i'm really nervous. i have my bag packed with prescriptions in it, protein bars, ipod and headphones, shower curtain for the car seat. i slept like crap last night and i'm sure it is the stress and worry of tomorrow, but dang it, i need some good sleep...maybe this will cause me to sleep through the procedure tomorrow, one can hope! i think i have everything else ready for coming home and my husband will be there to bring me back, so a great support system. i am going to sleep in my daughter's old room, her bed is lower to the ground, after reading advice of others here. picked up arnica gel and arnica spray (goes under the tongue 3x's a day) to help with bruising, again, thanks for the great advice. wish me luck, wish me good results, wish me minimal pain and bruising, and i'll catch up with you after it's all done! Updated on 15 Oct 2014: Surgery startedcat 10:17 and finished just before 2. They took 300cc,s from my face and 1400cc from my abs. He did upper and lower and mons pubis. Everything went fine except one area of stubborn fat that he really had to work and work and work. I am definitely feeling the pain now. Not much drainage so far and pain is a 5-6. He doesn't give heavy pain mess so working with extra strength Tylenol . Binders are fine but the face bandage/ jowls is annoying and hurt to badly I was getting an ear ache and teeth hurt. Signing off hoping for goood sleep- everything just hurts Updated on 16 Oct 2014: Well- sleep was hardship to come by- as any movement reminded you of the work they did- and sneezing- DON'T! Lol I would sleep in 2 hour blocks. Got up with husbands help and too off bandages and took brief shower. I do see great progress but lots of bruising and some swelling. My lady bits are an amazing shade of purple and swollen. Jowls look great! Anyone know how to get the marker lines off?! I'm uploading two not so great images- but will share more as I can. Going to just lay very low today and sleep when I can. Updated on 17 Oct 2014: Got a bit more sleep and a shower- does a girl good! I'm really happy with my results so far! Little drainage, some pain, but more bruising on my stomach than I expects. My girlbits are almost black! Looking forward to feeling better each day. Updated on 20 Oct 2014: Overall, i'm very pleased with my surgery results. my jowls are a bit swollen still, i'm anxious for that to go away! i'm not wearing the facial garments as he advised only 2 days. My abdomen, mons pubis and lady bits are not quite as bruised, but mons pubis and lady bits are still quite swollen and purple bruised. i'm wearing the compression garment and the 2 binders non stop in the hopes that that will take down the swelling and give me great results. i'm starting into the itchy period of recovery and man it feels weird to scratch/rub and have it be numb. the biggest thing for me is that by about 1-2pm i'm exhausted. i need a nap. i'm not thinking that is going to work out well at work, so i'm hoping that a night of great sleep will help me to make it through my full day back. Updated on 1 Dec 2014: I have NOTHING negative to say about my experience! i love my jowls and my flat stomach and am so excited that if i'm this happy now, that 6 months will thrill me even more! the pin prick sensations have minimized significantly and i did have a couple of lymphatic massages with my favorite massage therapist to help break up the hardness in my abs. My appointment with Dr. Hansen went well, he was pleased and i will go back and see him in January. NO REGRETS!! Updated on 29 Apr 2015: 6 months results. i love what Dr. Hansen did! I do have some saggy skin in my upper ab area, but I'm also not 20!! i do work out 5 days a week with extra abs and eat a paleo lifestyle. Updated on 29 Apr 2015: easier to see progress with before/after next to each other.

Procedure is booked originally went in for cool sculpting but Dr. Hansen recommend lipo which I appreciated and I’m so excited about he answered all my questions and gave me real expectations. I plan to meet with him again before my pre op just to go over what I want again . Did I mention the ladies are the best at lazerderm I recently got my laser treatment done on my face and it was amazing I have 80% hair gone in one treatment I’ll be going back for my second treatment in 6 weeks