Vaser Lipo of Upper and Lower Abdomen and Flanks--also Some Practical Advice for You! - Little Rock, AR

Well, I already made a very long, detailed post about my experience so far, but somehow it was lost and I am not up to writing it all again. But I will summarize: I am 36, a size 12-14, had stubborn abdominal fat after having a baby four years ago. I opted for vaser lipo and found a great doctor and staff (these days nurses and other support staff are just as important, so let's give them props). I went home with a little more pain than I expected (I'll tell you why in a minute), and for the first 48 hours I felt very fragile. I would call it tenderness more than pain, because it doesn't hurt all by itself, only if touched or while moving. So you just have to move very slowly and carefully at first. The compression garment is a mixed blessing--it makes you feel secure but adds to the pain too. Now here's something I wish I knew ahead of time, so heads up if you're considering abdominal lipo of any kind, especially if you won't have much help. Go around your house and assess all the things that are below waist level, and consider if they need some kind of attention BEFORE you go to surgery. Empty your wastepaper baskets, put down some extra large bowls for your pets' food and water and fill them up, put a new roll of toilet paper on the roller, consider any items you may want to use in the next week--if they are down low, put them higher. Bottom line, you will be unable to bend over or squat for at least a few days. Even if you aren't in much pain, the compression garment will make it extremely difficult. That thing is no joke--it's not like gauzy bandages, but more like a Victorian corset. Also, prepare to leak lots of bloody fluid, maybe even on your floor (I did). I am now nine days post-op, and pretty impressed with my results, although of course I still have some swelling. I am most pleased with the flanks. --I didn't even go to my consultation intending to have them done, only the abs, but when the doctor suggested it would be much better to do the whole "tire" (my words, not his), I considered it, and then the billing employee informed me it would only cost an additional $200 I was like "heck yeah"! My hands can still remember the big hunks of hip flesh I could grab.....and now they're just gone! I do have areas of the hard, ripply kind of swelling that I've read many people complain about, but I am confident it will get better with time, compression and massage. Today I realized a lot of the numbness is gone, which is a relief. Two days ago I had my first follow-up and here's why I had such extra pain the first few days: the doctor says I had some of the toughest fat he's ever had to deal with, in fact he had to get out extra equipment. It doesn't surprise me at all, I've always been extremely densely built, both muscle and fat, which is why I weigh much more than most people guess (presently 193 but not that big and no sagging whatsoever, even before the lipo). So, since he had to jab extra hard, that explains the bad tenderness. But that started getting notably better on the third morning, and on the fourth I went to the gym and walked on the treadmill for a full 30 minutes (only 2.5 mph, but better than sitting on the couch, aye?). One final note--when the doctor noted my hard ripples the other day, he said I needed to wear my garment even TIGHTER! Then he and the nurse proceeded to put it on me as tight as it could possibly go. Oh man, I'll be so glad when this is all over, but so far I'm quite sure it's worth it. I will submit before and after photos asap.