Wish I Knew About This.... A Long Time Ago!

At 11 months, I can honestly say that - although I am seriously displeased with the love handle crease-like lines - I am happy I went through with having this procedure. My clothes fit better and I do not have to continue collecting endless spanx-type garments to try to smooth everything out (the hip “dents”). I am much less self conscious about the dents and my love handle area. I no longer have low sitting fat on my outer thighs (saddle bags). I am pleased with the shape of my hips and saddlebag areas. I’m still hopeful that something can fix the creases, but I otherwise like my results. Basically, I can live with that and I’d take the creases over the hip dents any day.

Finally my 6 month appointment came. I was anxious to ask the doctor about the areas of concern and dissatisfaction, hoping I’d get some answers, reassurance, or suggestions for correction. When I arrived I put on the underwear and gown and took all the awkward pics. The nurse/assistant came and said everything looked great. I guess they don’t always have the dr do the 6 month follow-up appointments but they asked if I wanted to meet with him. Of course I did - so he came in a bit later. He said everything looked great. I pointed out the areas of concern and things that I did not like (lines down sides of abdomen and wrinkles/creases in love handle areas). Regarding the abdomen lines, he said this occurred due to the fact that he is unable to take fat out in the abdomen area as aggressively as in other areas because that area has a tendency to heal looking lumpy and not smooth when too much fat is removed. I had read similar info so that made sense to me. I asked what would help - like losing body fat or trying a laser procedure. He said Sculpsure might help with the extra stomach-area fat. Now - when I asked about the creases/wrinkles/folds, I was very disappointed with his answer!!! He said he could hardly see what I was talking about and said that it is only visible when I am turning my torso to look at it in the mirror. This is NOT true. It is obvious when I’m turned and when I’m not. He seemed to brush it over which was very disappointing. I had previously felt that all my questions and concerns were attended to urgently and with full attention, but at this point that was not the case. I couldn’t help but get the impression that he just didn’t want to acknowledge or deal with it, especially now that the procedure was done. I asked if it was possible that it would improve and he was quick to say that it might. I certainly hope that happens, but it hasn’t yet and does not seem likely. Anyway, I left my appointment disappointed and frustrated about this. I figured I will see where everything is at at my 1 year appointment and I can bring it up again then assuming it’s still an issue. Literally the next day I went for a Sculpsure treatment for the abdomen fat. I went to Blue Medi Spa (I also wrote a review on this) where it was $100 cheaper and much closer to my house than my dr’s office.

As weeks went by after my 6 week appointment when I still couldn’t work out like I was used to, I started noticing areas that looked strange. Certain places just LOOKED like someone had gone in and messed with things. Now, my goal was for a very natural, minimal change. I wanted it to not even raise questions about whether or not I’d had anything done (and no one that I didn’t tell noticed anything AT ALL - or just didn’t tell me. And I’m super ok with that since the surgery was more for my personal satisfaction). So given this fact I was super disappointed to see areas that looked odd and not normal. I am referring to the sides of my abdomen and the back of my love handle areas. You can see in the pics that there’s a very defined line on each side of my abdomen which marks the difference in the amount of fat that was removed in each area. I was very bothered by this and felt that it looked (and felt!) super weird. Then, in the love handle areas there is like a crease or indentation. It is on both sides, with the right side being worse. It definitely looks strange. I kept hoping it would correct itself (to no avail). I also noticed a flat part on my left but cheek - like there was a slight hole in the area. It’s even noticeable when wearing leggings (only to me probably). I’m assuming that was probably already there and since my butt wasn’t the focus of the procedure I’m not surprised that it doesn’t look all smoothed out. That part I don’t feel looks unnatural or would bring question to the area - just something I noticed.