SmartLipo Lower Abs - Dearborn, MI

Ok, I'm eight weeks out, 2 months, and I have been meaning to add some update, so here we go.

The VelaShape treatments are all over with, and definitely helped. I've still got some loose skin that I'm really hoping will tighten up in the months to come, as Dr. Masri said it would continue to do so for up to 6 months. I am, however, definitely smaller. I've just returned to graduate school, so dont have the time I wanted to keep up the exercise I'd planned on.

He did, at our last meeting, give me a prescription for a weight loss aid, called Metformin. I've been taking it for one week, and eating about 9000 calories a week, a little over 1200 a day. Like I said, I wanted to exercise, and hope to pick that back up next week. I have, however, already lost about 5 lb on the pill with no side effects or discomfort.

There is one major bit of discomfort which was a real surprise, and I suppose could be linked to the drug, but I have no idea. This is that in the area in which the work was most focused, whenever I strain, or press on the area (or when my cat walks across it) it burns red hot. It really feels like the procedure all over again, but not with pain, just extreme heat. Weird, huh? I'm assuming that it's actually just the returning of feeling to areas that were previously numb, and that the uncomfortable burning will go away, but I would certainly like to hear from anyone that knows better!!

I'm very glad I had this done, it's given me some confidence back, and I feel good about it, but I really wish I'd known beforehand, just how long the pain and discomfort would last! I'll post pics again at three months, as I do look better (I think/hope) than my last ones.

At our last meeting, he still seemed very happy with the results, which makes me happier with them. I know I cant expect miracles. I can't be 25 lb overweight at the time of the operation, and expect a flat tummy. I see women on here who get flat tummies from their procedure, but they were not as large as I was to begin with. Part of me wishes I'd lost more weight before having it done, but Dr Masri said it wouldn't matter either way. I don't know that that is true though, I think the difference would have been greater if it was removing the end, instead of the middle of the process. And I don't think I'll do it again, for the pain and trouble it caused. It wasn't awful or disruptive, but it is a lot to go through for beauty!

Almost four weeks out, and three VelaShape treatments down! my stomach is still a little lopsided, but better than it was, and certainly smoother.

While I was in yesterday for a Vela treatment, Dr. Masri asked if he could see the progress, as he was so happy with it, which feels really good. They asked it they could use my pics when I was done for before and afters! I was pretty pleased with that too.

I'll add some new pics now, though I'm going to skip the red bars. Not at all worth the effort.

Yesterday was three weeks out from the surgery, and I need to update!

I'm going to put some images up, although the captions I gave the old ones seem to be missing, which confuses me. At any rate, the new pics that I will post really don't do it justice. So before starting the VelaSmooth last week, I was pretty swollen still, and very lumpy. The lumps varied in size, and density, and most of them were kind of numb.

I started the Vela, and have had two real treatments in a week. Lumps? Almost completely gone already. Which is great, except that it means I'm squishy again ;) I'm also a little more sore than I was last week I think, as my numbness is going away, and I definitely still have some unwanted belly. However, I have been constantly reminded by the staff at the Masri Clinic that I should not judge my results until I hit that three month mark.

I have three more Vela treatments, and then I get to see the Doc again. If I need more, the technicians tell me he will give me more vela. Right now my belly is lopsided, but I am reserving judgement about my results, as hard as that is, until that three month mark, or at least until after all of the Vela treatments. I recognize that the lopsidedness can be caused by internal bruising and lumps that will yet subside.

I read a lot before having my own surgery about the emotional roller coaster of the healing process. And here is what I have to say about that: For the first few weeks, you are not as good as you will be. It will look better, and gradually does. My pants don't seem bigger, and that would have been nice. But I realize that I did not do my back or flanks, so the only place my pants should fit better is my gut, and there it does already. Yes it does. And when I stand naked in front of the mirror, I feel a LOT better. And I think that means this was worth it.

As for the garment and the vela, which people have been asking about on here, I'm still going to wear it. The one they gave me is a velcro baby-band type thing, and it's not that bad. I slept without it for one night, and felt fine, but they assure me at the clinic that I will really get the best results if I wear it as much as possible through the first six weeks, or at least through the vela treatments. I'll see how I feel in two weeks when those are all done, but that will have been five weeks anyway :P

I don't mind wearing it, in fact, when I walk around without it, I notice the soreness, and with it, I dont!