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POSTED UNDER Smart Lipo REVIEWS

My Recovery from SmartLipo for Extra Skin and Abdominal Ponch

ORIGINAL POST

I'm 48yrs old, slim at 122lbs, 5'1"....

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HockeyMaMarch 16, 2010
WORTH IT$3,000

I'm 48yrs old, slim at 122lbs, 5'1". I've had 4 children over the course of 26yrs; my last two after 31yrs old. My 1st two babies were LARGE and I had extra skin and a ponch that was bugging me. At 48yrs old, love handles and ponch getting worse. So...I did smartlipo 2 wks ago.

I didn't find the procedure very painful until the sculpting part started. Then it got worse, I received more 'drugs' and my blood pressure dropped VERY low and I don't remember anything after that till I woke up. I had to stay a couple hours extra because of my blood pressure issue.

The idea of returning to work the day after is ludicrous and I can't believe people do it. I have a high pain tolerance, but glad I took time off. The burning and discomfort is worse then the medical sites let on. I had significant bruising and fluid build up. This got much worse a week later and concerned, my doc gave me anti-inflammatories, diruetics and antibiotics. This helped significantly.

I have small little lumps that have formed and my belly button looks like an anus its so constricted. My GF had this done too 8mths ago and she said hers did the same thing and at the 2mth mark, she noted significant improvement in that regard. I don't know why, but I intuitively started massage on my own and do it every day. After reading this site, I see that this will help.

I'm hopeful I'll be happy with the results. My ponch is gone, but the hopes of wearing a bikini are tainted with this cellulite look and tightness of my belly button. I had a smooth belly with no stretch marks and this looks awful to me. Ya, in clothes the ponch and waist are smaller, but I was semi-comfortable in a bikini prior to this procedure and hope I will be again in a few months.

I'm still experiencing some discomfort to the touch, but all in all after 2 weeks the pain has subsided considerably. Hoping for great results at the 3 mth mark.

HockeyMa's provider

Dr. A Kriel, Medicine Hat AB

HockeyMa

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Replies (16)

angie66
March 18, 2010
I have had a very similar experience. 4 kids, 44 had procedure 1 mo. ago today. I also had significant swelling and bruising. It is all gone now. I had 19 places where he made holes, ugh. Originally, he said around 8 would be needed. This going back to work the next day is baloney. I still have more crepiness of the skin than I had hoped. My upper abs have wrinkes now. He is supposed to do refractionated laser resurfacing as part of the price we agreed on. I am going on a cruise next month, and hope to see more improvement by then. Overall, I am happy, but it is not quite as good as I had hoped:(. You will see more improvement. Try drinking Trader Joe's 100% cranberry not from concentrate. Water in down in a 2 quart container 1/2 juice, the rest water. Add stevia(a plant based sweetener). Drink a container(32 oz) a day. it will help flush the toxins out of your body as well as improve your kidney function. I started on one of the well known diet plans the same week I had the procedure. I am down from 128 to 121 in 4 weeks. i am 5 ft. 7 1/2. The Doc said he took about 2 lbs of fat out. EEEW. My lumpiness has improved SIGNIFICANTLY in the lastr week. My biggest complaint is one area to the side of my belly button where it is a little poochy. i am going to ask him again about it next week. Keep the faith! It will look better.
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HockeyMa
March 26, 2010
Thanks for the feedback! At the 4 week mark and I still have a little fluid sitting at the lower right hand side of my belly. The belly button is starting to loosen up and the 'cellutite' appearance (but NOT cellulite)is also improving but not completely gone. Pain is less but the upper abs feel very tight when I try to reach or stretch. Starting to feel more confident that things will get better and better. Still on water pills and anti-inflammatories. Little bit of burning sensation at end of day as swelling gets worse towards then. I still am hoping my tummy appearance will improve even more as I was happier with the smoothness of my tummy PRIOR to this procedure. I was 125lbs the morning of my procedure and holding fast at 121-122lbs since. So I lost about 3lbs of fat. Mine is frozen in case I want it injected into my face one day! ACK!
nienie
March 19, 2010
You look good! I hope you have a speedy recovery and get the results you are wanting. I'm getting smartlipo done in 2 weeks and am nervous about it. I asked my doctor if people really are able to return to work the next day and even he said he doesn't prefer they do. Stay positive and don't get discouraged!
dillydally72
March 20, 2010
perhaps the procedure you needed was a tummy tuck with lipo. It would have streched your upper and lower tummy and would have gotter rid of the cellulite.
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HockeyMa
March 26, 2010
I thought about that, but after viewing the scar; no way. I don't have cellulite in my tummy! That's strictly from this procedure and already that is improving and my belly button is loosening up too. Apparently it is from the collagen starting to work again and is tightening and there will be some scarring underneath too. This is supposedly how it looks after this long with significant improvement over the course of the next 2-4 mths so I have to be patient.
2553anon
March 21, 2010
Hi. I'm 48 years of age and have the same build as you. I'm considering Smartlipo and have had a consultation with a board certifited surgeon. I was told during my consult that I was the perfect candidate for the Smartlipo procedure. After reading your posts and viewing your pics, I'm thinking that your skin will smooth as your body builds more collagen. Please keep me posted with your progress. I'm very concerned with your outcome. You will be helping many of us that are considering Smartlipo with the information that we need to make a very important decision. Thank you so much for sharing.
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HockeyMa
March 26, 2010
My GF who is at the 9mth mark since hers, said her tummy looked just like mine for the first couple months and she wore a bikini in the Dominican Republic at the 2 mth mark and she hadn't in 20 yrs! She still had a small pocket of fluid too in her side abdoment at that point, but NOW...well she looks amazing with definition in her abs! So I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Go for it and good luck! I'll take more pics at the end of this weekend and post.
2553anon
March 27, 2010
Hi = ) Thank you for your reply. I'm so glad to know that you are feeling and doing better. You have restored my convidence in my up coming Smartlipo procedure on my abdomen. I'm scheduled for April 19th. I'll keep updated on your future posts. Thank you so much for sharing. P.S. If you have any special tips that will help...please let me know. = )
2553anon
March 27, 2010
confidence...is spelled this way.... typo... = (
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HockeyMa
April 25, 2010
I'm at the 2mth mark and I STILL have a big pocket of fluid on the lower right hand side of my abdomen. It's squishy like a sponge and the other side has fluid but more spread out. The dimpling seems to have improved but gosh I want this fluid to go away. Spoke to my GF today that had it done about 10 mths ago and she said that at 3mths post, she STILL have fluid and dimples and I can assure you, she looks great today. I'm keeping the faith. It's so hard with summer approaching I question my decision, but know that in clothes I look much better. I just need to see a smoother naked belly! This fluid is a big pain in the rump and it's my biggest concern.
UPDATED FROM HockeyMa

Had the touch up June 9th. Added photos from the...

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HockeyMaJune 25, 2010
Had the touch up June 9th. Added photos from the Day after and then a couple weeks later. Much more bruising, but not near as painful afterwards. Some swelling still by end of day if I don't wear spanx. But still wear them at night for sure. I think I'm going to be much more pleased with the results. Time will tell!

Replies (22)

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HockeyMa
June 25, 2010
Had a touch up and so far the tummy looks much better, but I fear I'm still going to have a bit of loose skin. But all in all I'm happy with the results. I hope there will continue to be improvement as it's been only a couple weeks since touch up.
spoiled girl
March 23, 2011
how do u get a touch up and how much does it cost? i want one!
spoiled girl
March 23, 2011
how do u get a touch up and how much does it cost? i want one!
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HockeyMa
March 25, 2011
I sent photos to my doc and he suggested i come back for a touch up as he's not satisfied with the results. Prob is this might be as good as it gets unless I get a mini tuck. 4 kids stretched the skin too much.
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HockeyMa
March 25, 2011
At no charge....
koonie
June 28, 2010
Awww, see you got touched up! Looks great...how long did you have to wait?
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HockeyMa
July 8, 2010
To get touched up? I had the original done end of February and had the touch up June 9th. After a month since touch up, I'm still not entirely happy with the results. Loose skin. Doc says to wait and hopefully the skin will continue to tighten. We'll see!
spoiled girl
March 23, 2011
my doc said u cant get rid of loose skin with out tummy tuck but you still look great!
notactive
August 5, 2010
you look great and as you said loose skin looks like the only problem now,but never the less you look amazing, im 6weeks post op and im absolutly not happy with my results, i see you said u waited about 4mths to get a touch up, if you dont mind me asking, how much did you pay to get a touch up?
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HockeyMa
August 6, 2010
Thank you for your compliments! I'm much happier and each week I see the skin tightening up a little bit more. A little lumpy in places but all in all it's better than the gut I had. My Dr. gave me the touch up for FREE because he said clearly it wasn't the results I was looking for. So he did it again. But, he's a small town Dr. and we seemed to have a good relationship. Not sure if that is the norm...it SHOULD be! Feel free to contact me again if you have any other questions.
K2066
December 15, 2010
Hello Hockyma...in the end..how do you like the results. Did the wrinkly skin go away? Do you regret doing that rather than a tummy tuck? I am thinking of doing smart lipo, but i have some loose skin already. Any advice would be great. Thanks.
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HockeyMa
December 16, 2010
I don't regret doing it. I've lost 3 inches off my waist! It's been 5mths since my touch up and yes, I have loose skin but it's still better then the ponch I had. I've been working out too so as my abs tighten, maybe some of the skin will too. I have booked 6 velashape sessions so I'm hoping that will help tighten up some of the loose skin. I'll let you know! I haven't taken a pic in a while so maybe I'll have my daughter take one and post it. I do hope it tightens as there are a few saggier parts then others so it's a little uneven naked. But in my clothes, I've had to take in all my dress pants and people at work are complimenting me so I'm happy!
K2066
December 16, 2010
Thanks for taking the time to answer. I would love to see a recent picture. I am deciding if I want to do it but I am concerned about the wrinkly skin. I am weighing flatter stomach vs. wrinkler skin in the end. I am glad you don't regret it! 3 inches is great!!!
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HockeyMa
December 23, 2010
The skin is wrinkly on ME, but my GF who had it done, is tight and smooth. I don't know why I have such loose skin. She had twins so she stretched too! Same doc, so just different body types react differently I guess. I'm still happier with my appearance now then before the procedure. MUCH!
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