POSTED UNDER Smart Lipo REVIEWS
45YrOld Upper/Lower Abs & Flanks - Hampton, VA
ORIGINAL POST
Ladies, first... THANK YOU. Your reviews...
NASA_EngAugust 24, 2014
WORTH IT$4,900
Ladies, first... THANK YOU. Your reviews thoroughly prepared me for my procedure and post -op expectations. Everything you wrote in your posts were exactly the experiences I had. THANK YOU
Let me tell you a little about myself. I am a newly divorced 45 year old who has struggled with being "non-linear" her entire life. Ladies, I must confess, I am also an engineer who works for NASA and I have a PhD in engineering so I am quite the nerd. Being a nerd and working with predominately men, I have often downplayed my feminine side and have not always claimed my "voluptuous" body -- I often have hidden behind baggy clothes and "professional" suits. Well, after my divorce and taking a huge hit to my self-esteem, I decided to get healthy -- both inside and out. I began exercising much more purposefully, used my exercise time to reduce my stress and clear my head, and then began to own who I am and what strengths I have. After about 2 years I am finally very comfortable in my skin and proud of who I am! Feels good! Given that, I looked in the mirror one day and thought... gosh I wish my outside looked like how I feel inside and so my journey to investigate techniques to help me get there began and led me to RS as a predominate source of comprehensive, relevant, personal information.
I had my procedure performed by a certified PS Dr. Mark Kanter of Hampton, VA on Aug 14, 2014. I consulted with 3 PS in my area and chose Dr. Kanter for his ability to put me at ease. As most of you have posted, this is a HUGE step for us and the repore we have with our PS is invaluable. Dr. Kanter immediately put me at ease about his ability to give me the best results, his approach and knowledge about SmartLipo demonstrated his expertise and his staff are simply remarkable. I had a consultation with Dr. Kanter in which we discussed my problem area's, my options, and his opinion on expectations. He brought up photo's of before and after of patients he performed SmartLipo on so I could see his individualized results. I was able to make my appointment quickly with little wait time. I basically had a 4 week wait time and that was my choosing; I needed time to set up someone to be with me the first 24 hours and needed to get meetings at worked aligned to allow me to be off. Dr. Kanter performs surgeries Mondays & Thursdays and requires a 24 hours post-op appointment
The day of my procedure I was to report at 0700 for an 0730 procedure. My best friend and I arrived promptly at 0700 and I was immediately taken into the Pre-op room to get undressed, my vitals taken, and my IV started. My BFF was able to be in the room with me the whole time which definitely eased my mind. She and I laughed and joked most of the time because the staff thought we were sisters. We are actually, just not by blood. My surgical nurse, Lynn was a dream. She talked with me throughout the entire process, made sure that whenever possible/practical she was toughing me (holding my hand, had her hand on my arm, would sweep my hard back, etc). This was very comforting -- her way of letting me know everything was going to be OK and she would be there for me the entire time. I went in to an adjacent room which was the procedure room and was immediately sponged down with Betadine and then laid on the procedure table. Dr. Kanter arrived promptly at about 0745 and my procedure began. I did not have to take any antibiotics before my procedure because my IV drip had antibiotics included. No pre valium or antianxiety drugs because, again.... everything was put directly into my IV line. I was never really fully out but was feeling no pain. My abdominals were the first to get lipo'd and I did not feel any pain just some pressure from time to time. I had a total of 9 entry points (2 at the base of my hips, 2 at my pubic line, 2 at my upper flanks (my back area), 2 under my breasts, and my belly button). In order to get to my flanks, they did turn me over on my side to get better access. Again, I was semi-awake and had no trouble responding to questions or requests. During the entire procedure Dr. Kanter was either talking to me, talking to his staff, or discussing the readings on the SmartLipo machine to make sure we were getting the correct amps/joules/wavelengths desired. After the procedure, I was cleaned up, put into my compression garment and then helped off the table. That is when all the fun began....
After getting off the table, I was a bit woozy and immediately put in a wheelchair to go into recovery. Within a minute or two the nausea began and I started to sweat. Well, I did throw up about 3 or 4 times and remained woozy for a bit but was able to go to the bathroom without any assistance (as many of you have posted is expected) and was released to go home. Dr. Kanter estimated about a 5 hour procedure and I was 5 hours and 15 minutes. I had 5 liters of fluid injected and Dr. Kanter showed me the fat extracted from my body and indicated he had removed 2900CCs. Given the posts I have read on this forum and the before and after pictures, I felt good about the 2900CCs.... I was concerned he would not remove enough fat and I would be disappointed with my results. Not the case at all.
My BFF got me home, she said I was very funny in the car and told her the same stuff about 5 different times and then I went right to sleep on the couch. Slept for several hours and when I woke, I needed a bit of help getting off the couch and when I stood up, immediately began to drain. All my incisions had stitches but Dr. Kanter told me the bottom incision points would drain heavily--- and they did! I was dripping fluid all down my legs, all over the carpets and eventually I made my way into my downstairs bathroom where I just stood there and drained (tile floor). I don't mean a drip here or there, I mean like a water facet turned on with a small steady stream of fluid. My BFF went and got a towel and I just stood on the towel and let it finish draining. Yuck and Yah at the same time. You need to get all the fluid you can out of your system so your body does not have to process so much on its own. I had about 3 other bouts of heavy draining like this and then I was done. After about 24 hours the draining had stopped and I was good to go. I was sore like everyone here has posted but not so much that I could not move around and get myself up from a sitting or laying down position. Let me also add that my PS called me the evening of my procedure (Thursday night) to check on me and I had a follow up with him at 2PM the next day. I also had a 1 week post-op check up and then have another appointment at my 3 week point. Dr. Kanter is very careful to keep close check on his patients and to between he and his staff I have always felt extremely attended to and cared for.
My procedure was Thursday morning and by Saturday afternoon I was feeling well enough to be by myself so my BFF went home and I took it easy the rest of the weekend. I went back to work on Monday without issue or problems. I am still very swollen as my pics show but I am pleased so far with my results. I am very much looking forward to my 3 month point to see how far I have progressed. At the 10 day mark (pics shown) I still have a lot of fluid in my lower abdomen and hips but again, I am being patient.
I am a very active person (run about 4 miles 4-5 days a week) and so not being able to exercise just yet has been a bit daunting but I have been able to get out and mow my lawn without any difficulty and I have a very big yard (almost an acre). My compression garment is by best friend and I have just recently purchased a post-partum belly belt to help with the fluid pooling in my lower abs. That thing works like a charm. I also ordered a binder to use when I can get back to exercising. The only caveat to the belly band is that is moves the fluid from my lower abs to my pubic area so be prepared for that. I am also using the hand massagers many of you recommended to deal with the hard spots that are starting to emerge. Again, none of this alarms me because I am so well prepared due to all of your posts -- so again. THANK YOU!
I will post again very soon and try to keep you up to date on my healing. Thank you so much ladies for all the useful information you post. I became much more comfortable with my decision to have this procedure because of you and so far, I am happy with what I am seeing.
Let me tell you a little about myself. I am a newly divorced 45 year old who has struggled with being "non-linear" her entire life. Ladies, I must confess, I am also an engineer who works for NASA and I have a PhD in engineering so I am quite the nerd. Being a nerd and working with predominately men, I have often downplayed my feminine side and have not always claimed my "voluptuous" body -- I often have hidden behind baggy clothes and "professional" suits. Well, after my divorce and taking a huge hit to my self-esteem, I decided to get healthy -- both inside and out. I began exercising much more purposefully, used my exercise time to reduce my stress and clear my head, and then began to own who I am and what strengths I have. After about 2 years I am finally very comfortable in my skin and proud of who I am! Feels good! Given that, I looked in the mirror one day and thought... gosh I wish my outside looked like how I feel inside and so my journey to investigate techniques to help me get there began and led me to RS as a predominate source of comprehensive, relevant, personal information.
I had my procedure performed by a certified PS Dr. Mark Kanter of Hampton, VA on Aug 14, 2014. I consulted with 3 PS in my area and chose Dr. Kanter for his ability to put me at ease. As most of you have posted, this is a HUGE step for us and the repore we have with our PS is invaluable. Dr. Kanter immediately put me at ease about his ability to give me the best results, his approach and knowledge about SmartLipo demonstrated his expertise and his staff are simply remarkable. I had a consultation with Dr. Kanter in which we discussed my problem area's, my options, and his opinion on expectations. He brought up photo's of before and after of patients he performed SmartLipo on so I could see his individualized results. I was able to make my appointment quickly with little wait time. I basically had a 4 week wait time and that was my choosing; I needed time to set up someone to be with me the first 24 hours and needed to get meetings at worked aligned to allow me to be off. Dr. Kanter performs surgeries Mondays & Thursdays and requires a 24 hours post-op appointment
The day of my procedure I was to report at 0700 for an 0730 procedure. My best friend and I arrived promptly at 0700 and I was immediately taken into the Pre-op room to get undressed, my vitals taken, and my IV started. My BFF was able to be in the room with me the whole time which definitely eased my mind. She and I laughed and joked most of the time because the staff thought we were sisters. We are actually, just not by blood. My surgical nurse, Lynn was a dream. She talked with me throughout the entire process, made sure that whenever possible/practical she was toughing me (holding my hand, had her hand on my arm, would sweep my hard back, etc). This was very comforting -- her way of letting me know everything was going to be OK and she would be there for me the entire time. I went in to an adjacent room which was the procedure room and was immediately sponged down with Betadine and then laid on the procedure table. Dr. Kanter arrived promptly at about 0745 and my procedure began. I did not have to take any antibiotics before my procedure because my IV drip had antibiotics included. No pre valium or antianxiety drugs because, again.... everything was put directly into my IV line. I was never really fully out but was feeling no pain. My abdominals were the first to get lipo'd and I did not feel any pain just some pressure from time to time. I had a total of 9 entry points (2 at the base of my hips, 2 at my pubic line, 2 at my upper flanks (my back area), 2 under my breasts, and my belly button). In order to get to my flanks, they did turn me over on my side to get better access. Again, I was semi-awake and had no trouble responding to questions or requests. During the entire procedure Dr. Kanter was either talking to me, talking to his staff, or discussing the readings on the SmartLipo machine to make sure we were getting the correct amps/joules/wavelengths desired. After the procedure, I was cleaned up, put into my compression garment and then helped off the table. That is when all the fun began....
After getting off the table, I was a bit woozy and immediately put in a wheelchair to go into recovery. Within a minute or two the nausea began and I started to sweat. Well, I did throw up about 3 or 4 times and remained woozy for a bit but was able to go to the bathroom without any assistance (as many of you have posted is expected) and was released to go home. Dr. Kanter estimated about a 5 hour procedure and I was 5 hours and 15 minutes. I had 5 liters of fluid injected and Dr. Kanter showed me the fat extracted from my body and indicated he had removed 2900CCs. Given the posts I have read on this forum and the before and after pictures, I felt good about the 2900CCs.... I was concerned he would not remove enough fat and I would be disappointed with my results. Not the case at all.
My BFF got me home, she said I was very funny in the car and told her the same stuff about 5 different times and then I went right to sleep on the couch. Slept for several hours and when I woke, I needed a bit of help getting off the couch and when I stood up, immediately began to drain. All my incisions had stitches but Dr. Kanter told me the bottom incision points would drain heavily--- and they did! I was dripping fluid all down my legs, all over the carpets and eventually I made my way into my downstairs bathroom where I just stood there and drained (tile floor). I don't mean a drip here or there, I mean like a water facet turned on with a small steady stream of fluid. My BFF went and got a towel and I just stood on the towel and let it finish draining. Yuck and Yah at the same time. You need to get all the fluid you can out of your system so your body does not have to process so much on its own. I had about 3 other bouts of heavy draining like this and then I was done. After about 24 hours the draining had stopped and I was good to go. I was sore like everyone here has posted but not so much that I could not move around and get myself up from a sitting or laying down position. Let me also add that my PS called me the evening of my procedure (Thursday night) to check on me and I had a follow up with him at 2PM the next day. I also had a 1 week post-op check up and then have another appointment at my 3 week point. Dr. Kanter is very careful to keep close check on his patients and to between he and his staff I have always felt extremely attended to and cared for.
My procedure was Thursday morning and by Saturday afternoon I was feeling well enough to be by myself so my BFF went home and I took it easy the rest of the weekend. I went back to work on Monday without issue or problems. I am still very swollen as my pics show but I am pleased so far with my results. I am very much looking forward to my 3 month point to see how far I have progressed. At the 10 day mark (pics shown) I still have a lot of fluid in my lower abdomen and hips but again, I am being patient.
I am a very active person (run about 4 miles 4-5 days a week) and so not being able to exercise just yet has been a bit daunting but I have been able to get out and mow my lawn without any difficulty and I have a very big yard (almost an acre). My compression garment is by best friend and I have just recently purchased a post-partum belly belt to help with the fluid pooling in my lower abs. That thing works like a charm. I also ordered a binder to use when I can get back to exercising. The only caveat to the belly band is that is moves the fluid from my lower abs to my pubic area so be prepared for that. I am also using the hand massagers many of you recommended to deal with the hard spots that are starting to emerge. Again, none of this alarms me because I am so well prepared due to all of your posts -- so again. THANK YOU!
I will post again very soon and try to keep you up to date on my healing. Thank you so much ladies for all the useful information you post. I became much more comfortable with my decision to have this procedure because of you and so far, I am happy with what I am seeing.
NASA_Eng's provider
Replies (10)
August 26, 2014
Congrats!! Good for you,doing something for yourself. I used to work at Nasa when i was a teen in Mtn View CA.
I can't believe you went to work so fast,that gives me hope i can do my upper/lower abs with no problem because you had more done and now your mowing lawns,lol.
Jk
Do you have any ore post-op pics to share?
Thank You
August 28, 2014
Bella Besos -- so nice to hear from you. I have read your comments on several other profiles and I am always amazed at how caring and supportive you are. You are a blessing to this site and I truly thank you for being there for so many of us. BTW -- your arms look fantastic. Commenting on stamina..... I really felt good at day 3 (Saturday). I was tender and sore but as long as I did not twist my torso I was good. As I mentioned in my post I mowed my lawn at about day 6 or 7. I took it nice and slow and wore my compression garment and binder for added support but I did OK. At about day 10 my stomach was hard as a rock (just as my PS advised). Massaging and rubbing only helps a bit and does not totally soften the hardness. Right now I have an area of concern and that is right at the base of my lower abdomen. I have a very hard "ledge" that I worry may not soften and be absorbed into the body. I am trying not to worry too much since I am not even at my two week point. My abs are still pretty hard but my hips do not seem to have any hardness at all. Everything I read on RS indicates everyday seems to bring a new knot, more swelling, less swelling, hardness shifts locations, etc. Please feel confident in your decision to get your abs done. I hope your experience is similar to mine in that I was up and feeling good relatively quickly. I will post more pics this weekend. I definitely look better in the morning than evening....LoL.
August 28, 2014
Thank you :) you're are very kind. I believe RS is supposed to be positive,uplifting,encouraging&supportive. I know sometimes we are not happy with results or have other issues,emotions and life happens. But i still try to be positive,friendly,courteous and upbeat. It can tough sometimes. You might want to read ipearce review she has a shelf on upper abs. This will give you an idea if you are experiencing the same thing. Thanks again and i am very EXCITED about getting my 4 pack back soon :)
Have a Nice Evening.
August 26, 2014
Wow looks good! This is very interesting to me as I have very similar lower abdominal fat and wondered how effective the lipo would be. Not into the tummy tuck thing :/ Thanks for the interesting and detailed review and the pics, which are invaluable. Looks like it made a huge difference! :)
August 28, 2014
Hi StillSouthern... Thanks for the message. Interesting you should mention tummy tuck. One of the PS I interviewed was adamant that lipo would not work well for me and that I should consider a tummy tuck. He felt my skin would not tighten up and I would have loose or sagging skin. Of course the tummy tuck was a smidge over $1000 more. I have to say my skin is looking great... no crinkling, no sagging, looks healthy. Even though today is a bad swelling day my skin still looks resilient. I believe once all the swelling and hard knots subside I will have very nice results without a tummy tuck. I don't know if this helped me or not but for about a month before the procedure I rubbed Shea Moisture Olive & Green Team Body Oil on my abdomen and hips to condition the skin. I bought the oil at Target and I think I paid $8.99 or so and I still have about a quarter of the bottle left. I just started last night to apply the oil again to help with skin tone and resiliency. I will certainly keep you posted.
August 28, 2014
where did you get your belly belt and binder? My compression garment is just too bulky for this heat . But I do feel more comfortable when I have it on.
February 10, 2015
I live in the same area and have been doing countless research to find a good lipo surgeon who focuses on not only just lipo but creating curves! I will def be calling him, thank you!
UPDATED FROM NASA_Eng
17 days post
Day 17 PostOp
NASA_EngAugust 31, 2014
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Replies (6)
August 31, 2014
Looking Amazing!! Thanks for the update&pics.
I used olive oil but i didn't see a difference in my scars :/
I didn't try anything else,i am just letting time heal all wounds.
Have a Happy Sunday!
September 1, 2014
I think the results are great and very, very obvious. I'm not sure what you mean about the shelf, but if you mean the slight overhang at the bottom, that may or may not disappear, depending on your case. Some skin tightening will occur with Smart Lipo, but it cannot take care of large amounts of excess skin. But if you take a look at FTA2014's review, you can see that she looks fantastic even with that slight amount of excess skin she has left over. You might want to take a look at what all she did to get her results--she's very thorough :).
I'm going to PM you. :)
I'm going to PM you. :)
September 3, 2014
GIRL! I am so glad I found you! I haven't found anyone that had the shape I did until I found you, I'm on day 5 and I'm feeling a little down about what I'm seeing. Seeing your results gives me hope. :) Thanks for being brave enough to post. xoxox
September 4, 2014
Hi makeupjenkie. Nice to meet you. I have to admit I was reluctant to post on this site but after reading posts for several months before my procedure and learning so much from others on RS, I decided to post. I too did not find many with our shape so maybe we can help others.
Please do not get discouraged at this point... You are only 5 days post op correct? Your body is going through so many changes and the healing process is truly a roller coaster. One day you will swell terribly, the next you feel pretty awesome. Before long (abut day 10 - 14) you are going to hit what is classically called "brawny edema" which means your lipo site will become very hard. This is a good thing and signals the next stage in the healing. process. Tomorrow is my 3 week point and I just had my appointment with my PS and he said in the next week or so I should see some real changes as the edema begins to soften and resolve. He said the harder the area, the more results I will see as it begins to heal and be absorbed by my body.
You have done something wonderful for yourself -- be proud and patient. Your results will be fantastic and just keep thinking about all the wonderful clothes that will look so lovely on you. Try not to look in the mirror every day with a critical eye but for what is looking back at you -- a work in progress until about month 6....That's my philosophy and so far I am able to stay pretty positive. Wishing you warm hugs and healing thoughts. I am here for you!
UPDATED FROM NASA_Eng
21 days post
21 days Post_Op
NASA_EngSeptember 5, 2014
Hi everyone. Hoping today find you well and feeling positive. Just wanted to provide a quick update. Yesterday was my 3 week post_op appointment with my PS and he is thrilled with my results. Yesterday was a heavy swell day due to high humidity & heat as well as my menses was in full swing so for my PS to be thrilled with the results is a blessing. He was most impressed with the body contouring -- as he put it --the "hourglass" shape that was emerging. I am beginning to see it but right now I am having to fight through wanting to see more of a change.
My edema seems to be resolving because the hardness isn't quite as bad. I still have more hardness in my lower ads and around the belly button than anywhere else but as most of our RS friends attest -- this is typical. As the hardness begins to resolve however - it makes me feel fatter. At least when the abs are hard, they aren't jiggling...LoL. My hips are still very swollen also. My PS said that it would be OK if I decided not to continue with my compression garment and that he leaves it up to the individual whether to continue with the CG. His assertion is that the healing will take its time and every body is different on how it heals and at this point in the process the compression isn't speeding that along any. He reports most of his patients like to continue with the garment for self conscious or comfort reasons. Not sure what I believe but I had the nurse re-measure me and I ordered two smaller garments last night. I ordered the Marena Postpartum Bikini Girdle (PPGA) and the Ardyss BodyMagic Shaper. The Marena garment was recommended by the customer service person I was able to do a live chat with. She was great helping me maneuver through all the choices once she understood what I wanted, my problem area's, and where I am in the healing process (and my preference to have a closure in the crotch). Most Stage 2 or mid thigh CGs have an open crotch and that bothers me. After reading FTA2014's assessment of the Ardyss BodyMagic Shaper I was skeptical but decided to give it a try because the design of the garment and the way the panels are reinforced in particular areas seem like it would be comfortable and add compression to my target areas. I will keep you posted once these two garments arrive. For now -- what I wear at night consists of my Stage 1 CG (even though it is a bit big), all three post partum belts (which target the different sections of my torso) and then Spanx over all of that. It actually feels comfortable to have that much compression and I sleep better. It has reduced my backaches considerably. During the day I just wear my CG. Oh... forgot to tell you. The nurse said I Iost 2 inches in my waist already but she could not find my original hip measurements in the system so she could not verify any inches lost in the hips. Oh well... I will take 2 inches in the waist for now.
I'll post pictures over the weekend but wanted to say HI and Happy Healing to All
Good night.
My edema seems to be resolving because the hardness isn't quite as bad. I still have more hardness in my lower ads and around the belly button than anywhere else but as most of our RS friends attest -- this is typical. As the hardness begins to resolve however - it makes me feel fatter. At least when the abs are hard, they aren't jiggling...LoL. My hips are still very swollen also. My PS said that it would be OK if I decided not to continue with my compression garment and that he leaves it up to the individual whether to continue with the CG. His assertion is that the healing will take its time and every body is different on how it heals and at this point in the process the compression isn't speeding that along any. He reports most of his patients like to continue with the garment for self conscious or comfort reasons. Not sure what I believe but I had the nurse re-measure me and I ordered two smaller garments last night. I ordered the Marena Postpartum Bikini Girdle (PPGA) and the Ardyss BodyMagic Shaper. The Marena garment was recommended by the customer service person I was able to do a live chat with. She was great helping me maneuver through all the choices once she understood what I wanted, my problem area's, and where I am in the healing process (and my preference to have a closure in the crotch). Most Stage 2 or mid thigh CGs have an open crotch and that bothers me. After reading FTA2014's assessment of the Ardyss BodyMagic Shaper I was skeptical but decided to give it a try because the design of the garment and the way the panels are reinforced in particular areas seem like it would be comfortable and add compression to my target areas. I will keep you posted once these two garments arrive. For now -- what I wear at night consists of my Stage 1 CG (even though it is a bit big), all three post partum belts (which target the different sections of my torso) and then Spanx over all of that. It actually feels comfortable to have that much compression and I sleep better. It has reduced my backaches considerably. During the day I just wear my CG. Oh... forgot to tell you. The nurse said I Iost 2 inches in my waist already but she could not find my original hip measurements in the system so she could not verify any inches lost in the hips. Oh well... I will take 2 inches in the waist for now.
I'll post pictures over the weekend but wanted to say HI and Happy Healing to All
Good night.
Replies (5)
September 5, 2014
Sounds like you are progressing very nicely! Glad to hear you are going to continue the garments, after reading FTA's review I am a believer, and it also makes sense that it would work (so appeals logically to me). Thanks for your continuing updates, they are so helpful and after following someone's progress it's good to know they are doing well. Happy for you :)
September 5, 2014
Happy continued healing! Just had my procedure today so I'm having a little trouble focusing, but I wanted to thank you for the update and I'm excited to see your next pictures! So hard to wait for results!!!
September 5, 2014
Glad you are progressing so well. I am at day 10 and still have a lot of pain. I have been manually massaging. What type of massager do you have. Also, do the band leave dents? My ps had me switch out of the original garment because the seems were leaving indentations
September 9, 2014
With edema you can get dents ....I was in an accident and the edema with brace and surgery did that...butvit went down as the edema did..but I would call and ask your doctor....yoy just never know
Congratulations on doing this for yourself, and congratulations on taking your divorce and turning it into a positive experience! It would be easy to go the opposite direction, but you chose to move forward :D. I can already see a big difference in the three shots, which makes sense, given the amount of fat the doctor removed :). I don't think I saw a post-shot of your bra-rolls? I'm not sure, but I think the back shot was pre-op, since I saw no bruising nor entry points (though I also admittedly have bad eyes). It think it'd be helpful for other community members if you labeled the pictures (pre- post- etc.), since they're not in order.
Thank you again, and I look forward to following your results, and hope everything is smooth sailing! Happy Healing to you!