I am one week post smart lipo surgery. I had my upper and lower abs done along with my flanks. The surgery itself was a total breeze. I have been in almost no pain and only took pain meds the first day. I can already see some improvements even with the swelling. My pants are about 1-2 inches too big for me already. I was in pretty good shape going into the surgery (only about 5-10 lbs over ideal weight) so I only had one liter of fat removed. My doctor says it will keep improving from here! I would highly recommend this surgery and my doctor. If you have any questions please email me!
I am scheduled to have smart lipo on my upper and lower abs on 07/15/2016. I wanted to do my flanks and love handles but was not financially able to do that at this time so I am hoping I will be able to work out on my own to reduce fat in those areas. Has anyone ever had smart lipo on just the abs and found it farely easy to lose weight/contour those surrounding areas? **i will add my before pics later** Updated on 2 Jul 2016: Posting my Pre surgery pics. Surgery in 2 weeks!!! Updated on 26 Jul 2016: I'm wondering if anyone has been slow to get results like I have. I have seen people with stomachs similar to mine who seem to have had much better results. I've drank nothing but water and an occasional Gatorade since my surgery. My eating habits are way better. I've controlled my portions, watched my calories, and eating clean for the most part which is a dramatic change for me. Why are my results so slow? Updated on 31 Jul 2016: It's officially been 2 weeks. I was beginning to feel discouraged because my change is happening slowly but I have to remember everybody is different. I notice a difference when my pictures are aide by side. My stomach is no longer hiding my vagina. Updated on 16 Aug 2016: This is my comparison photo, my before surgery and 4 weeks after
Today is the big day for me to get my smart lipo done on my abdomen. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. I had a c section with my twins and it just seems like all my fat just go to my mid area and I'm just tired of it... No matter how much aI excercise or eat right it just want go away...so smartlipo im praying I get good results...Surgery is 1 hr away.. I will post more pictures once I am able too Updated on 15 Mar 2016: Well procedure done...I was awake the whole time,it didn't hurt at all...now I can't stay awake... Just a little sore only when I get up to use the restroom... I'm have to keep my garment on but will post pictures tomorrow Updated on 15 Mar 2016: My surgery was today and so far this us what I look like with my garment on Updated on 22 Mar 2016: So far this is my results after one week .... I still feel swollen and also were he sucked the most fat I feel just a mild pain there and it feels hard there but other than that I feel fine...
After three pregnancies, I was able to return to my pre-pregnancy weight and lose most of the extra belly fat, but I was left with loose skin hanging under my belly button. After extensive online research, I thought I'd need a tummy tuck for sure, but I was scared of the severity of the surgery and the recovery time - as the primary caregiver to our three children (ages 6, 4, and 2), I couldn't see how I would manage a 6-week recovery. I came across information on the VaserShape and SlimLipo procedures and was attracted by the promises of skin tightening. So I made some consultation appointments with various practitioners around town. The first doctor took one look at my belly and said that all I really needed was to have the extra skin removed - a skin excision. He warned that I would be left with a hooded belly button, and that the solution to this would be a full tummy tuck. The second doctor only does non-invasive procedures, which the VaserShape is considered to be, and though I didn't speak with the doctor directly, her nurse looked at my belly and said that the Vaser wouldn't fix my problem - it only tightens skin where it has removed fat. While she was perfectly willing to take my $3,000 and put me through 5 sessions with the Vaser, she warned that I would probably still have the same problem. I declined the procedure (though they have very attractive pricing for laser hair removal which I may be taking advantage of later this year.) The third doctor sent me a letter reminding me of the $50 consultation fee and I cancelled the appointment. The fourth doctor did a more thorough medical-type exam to ensure I was a healthy candidate for surgery (which made me wonder if maybe the first doctor ought to have done the same thing), and then said that I was a very good candidate for a tummy tuck. After he explained all the magic he could perform, leaving me with a perfectly sculpted abdomen, I asked about skin excision, and he assured me that I would not be happy, as I would not benefit from the muscle tightening he would do, and my belly button would be hooded. I confess that I could have been more honest with him and told him I was scared of the 6-week recovery, but I didn't. The next week I called the office of the first doctor and scheduled my skin excision. Although originally told that the Friday I wanted was booked (that's what I get for waiting until the last minute), the nurse was very friendly and incredibly helpful, and I was blessed to be able to take advantage of a cancellation and got a spot in the afternoon of the day I wanted. I'm really looking forward to this extra skin being gone!! I realize that my belly button will look a little different, and I still have a little bit of a fat bulge, but to have this weird bread dough stuff gone will be great. I'm expecting that having the skin gone will be motivation to work off the last bit of fat and get back my completely flat tummy. I haven't been motivated before because I didn't see the point in working for a flat tummy that looks so hideous. Three weeks after my procedure I will be flying to Hawaii to join my husband on a business trip. I fully intend on wearing a two-piece bathing suit (that's not a tankini) and enjoying myself. I discussed the trip with the nurse before scheduling the procedure and the doctor said I may still be a little sore, but his main concern was that I keep the incision site out of the sun. Updated on 3 Mar 2014: The procedure went very well and I'm recovering nicely. I was apparently more sensitive to the sedative and pain medication I received, as I was incredibly drowsy, and later nauseated. The procedure was performed on Friday afternoon. After the doctor took pictures and marked the area where he would be working, I received an IV and chatted with the nurse while waiting for final preparations. During final preparations on the operating table I was extremely cold and visibly shivered. Once the sedative started to take effect and I was under the drape I started to warm up. I didn't realize that my head would be under a drape, but as I was so drowsy and just wanted to sleep, I appreciated not having the bright lights in my eyes. I was "awake" during the entire procedure, but it was like the half-conscious state before falling asleep. I could feel where the doctor was working, but once the local anesthesia took effect there was no pain. My arms were secured to the table, and my legs were supported by a firm pillow, and I found the position sufficiently comfortable to dose throughout the procedure. When the doctor was finished, I found it a little difficult to wake up, and my vision was extremely blurred. After resting in the pre-/post-op room for a few minutes, the nurse walked me to the room where my effects were so I could get dressed. Before I could finish, I felt extremely nauseated and emerged from the room asking for help. I was steered back to the post-op room where I spent several minutes dry-heaving (having not had anything to eat since dinner the night before, there was nothing in my stomach to come up). This only came to an end after the nurse encouraged me to lean back in the reclining chair and I quickly fell asleep. Sometime later, I was woken up and told that my husband had arrived. They had asked him to wait while I napped a little longer, explaining to him that I had gotten sick from the medication. I was fine walking to the car, though my vision was still very blurred, and I appreciated that the doctor came out to see me off. The nurse sent with me a small pill to take if the nausea returned. We went through a drive through for dinner and at that point, though still mostly asleep, I was very hungry. I enjoyed the fries and Dr. Pepper in the car, and looked forward to the hamburger, but walking from the car into the house apparently did me in and I spent the next several minutes in the bathroom, rejecting the fries and soda. When my stomach was empty, I took the anti-nausea pill went straight to bed. At some point later that evening I woke up feeling some pain, so I took the Rx pain meds and went back to sleep. The next morning my head still felt like it was swimming and my vision was still a little blurry. I took another pain pill at some point, and spent most of the morning in a half-awake state. I wasn't hungry and still felt a little nauseated. By the evening, I was feeling much better, and after speaking with the doctor on the phone, determined not to take anymore of the Rx pain pills, and only rely on Tylenol, which I took that evening (Saturday) and haven't taken since, discovering that I am not in very much pain at all. In retrospect, I have learned that I am sensitive to the opioid medications I received: the fentanyl I received through IV for the procedure, and the hydrocodone Rx I took later for pain management. I think I would have had a less traumatic recovery if I had received either a smaller dose of these, or perhaps a different medication altogether. This afternoon is my follow-up with the doctor, after which I will add another update and include at least a "before" photo. Updated on 3 Mar 2014: I got the tape removed today and permission to remove the "compression garment" for showers. I need to wear it full time for 3 weeks. I've had little to no pain, except if I twist, in which case the ends of the incision protest. I try not to twist. Transitioning from sitting to standing is arduous, and I have to make sure to stand up fully, as the tendency seems to be to stay bent over. I have a better understanding of a friend of mine with chronic abdominal pain who walks slightly bent over all the time. The worst part is probably trying to get comfortable at night. Between not being able to sleep in my usual, twisted-up-like-a-pretzel position, the compression garment presses into my skin if I'm on my side; I can't even process the thought of sleeping on my stomach; and sleeping on my back leaves my tender abdomen vulnerable to cat paws (cats have no understanding of "personal space", especially at night). These are temporary, however, and I know they will pass. My next appointment isn't for 2 months when Dr. Lappert will check the scar. I was a little surprised that he wouldn't want me to come in sooner. I kinda feel like I'm on my own, though I know I can call with any questions. After my shower I tried on my swimsuit bottom, and sure enough, the scar will be below the waistband. I'm pleased with the initial result. Dr. Lappert explained that the incision will look like a ridge for several weeks yet, so I'm not concerned (yet) about how the scar will look. I'm happy that my tummy is finally rid of that droopy skin! So I've still got a little fat under the belly button area, and it's covered in stretch marks, but those don't bother me - I had three babies and those are my war wounds. So far so good! I'm attaching two selfies with self-explanatory captions to this post.
