UPDATE: Reserved the Date - Milford, MA

Thank you, thank you! I bought a massager (just a three prong one made of hard plastic that I plan to use) - I would consider mine mild at this point but I want to do whatever I can to alleviate it or to help speed the recovery process! I do have an ultrasound massage scheduled for the 25th and I'm told that helps a lot too! I'm also wearing the compression garment again because I noticed it really does help regardless of how uncomfortable it is!

Great!  I think it also makes us feel better when we can do something actively to help ourselves.  I am not putting my garment back on no matter what, cause it's 94 degrees right now *groan* and of course there is no air conditioning.

That scares me! Mine has started to subside at about 10 days and I'm praying it stays this way!! Did you do any massages or anything? I've been massaging any hard pockets that I feel while in the shower then using arnica gel all over my stomach when I get out and I really see a difference, I've also been drinking a ton of water And bought a detox tea to help me rid my body of all the excess fluids! Combined with using the elliptical for about 45 minutes for the last three days, I've noticed a drastic difference. I know everyone's different, but so far it's been working for me so hopefully if you haven't found relief from the swelling you could try one of those options :/ I hope you start seeing permanent results soon!!! It would be just terrible to go through all this and not have the end result we are all hoping for :( good luck!!!

Hi Befab, no need to be concerned yet, as i read it takes 6-9 months for the true results to show. Thats good that your massaging those lumps, i did the same... i had breast augmentation aswell so i guess the double surgery is what caused my swelling to stick around longer.I also used arnica gel, and bromelain (in a powder form, but is from pineapple) to reduce swelling, and used an ultrasonic massager aswell as a back vibrating massager in circular motions, i started this 2 days after surgery, was bloody painful but when i did it, i could see some awesome results, but within 15min the swelling would come back again lol but my body has always stored excess fluid in general so it was something i was prepared for. Im glad your able to see your results already but dont be disheartened if over the next few months lumps and bumps form, as these will reside...well mine are anyway, just VERY slowly. I can tell that the lumps and bumps i have now are not permanent as they still feel tender and brusied to massage, and if it was left over fat A) it would have been visible after doing the massage on myself, aswell as soon after surgery before swelling takes place & B) if it was left over fat it wouldnt feel bruised and tender like it does. I had buttock, breast implants, and given birth to a child but in regards to pain, that doesnt come close to about the 3 week mark after vaser, i think (im not sure) its when the numbing slowly disappears and the nerve endings and skin reattaches itself to the diaphragm/muscle layer, my god does that hurt, like a stabbing, stretching, burning, slicing, bruised feeling, it comes in for about a week, and you will feel it "here and there" when you do certain movements. I would just try not to stretch as much as possible during that time. I will say i can see some results, and perhaps its because iv been "taking it easy" that iv lost my muscle definition in my tummy after lipo, but on the areas/lines where the muscle indentation grooves are, i can still feel fibrous scar tissue, so its obviously still inflamed in these areas, which may be what they mean when they say you dont see the true results until months after surgery as the scar tissue has to settle and flatten. I went on a rollercoaster, at times i loved my results, at times i hated it and panicked. I guess im just impatient and expected to see the outcome straight away, but after reading about the healing after vaser, it became clear that its a long road....but if your seeing results already, then you are going to LOVE the outcome!!

hey i just noticed you have incisions on your upper abs... what type of lipo did you get?

At this point, I definitely would have to say yes! I was waiting for all the swelling to go down but I'm fairly confident I'm going I have the body I wanted with all the stubborn fat gone once I'm fully healed! I'm psyched and my doctor has been wonderful and I just feel relieved to have my pre-baby body back! I had completely lost hope!

I know how that is. Having 4 kids it can be hard to loose baby weight.

Yes! And my doc said I can switch to one of those if I want!

Thank you!!

Did you have your procedure yet!? I'll have to check your updates later!

no :( not until December 1st. My surgeons a busy guy! Glad to hear your recovery is going good, will keep checking your updates!

Thank you! I appreciate it! I feel really good, even if the swelling continues to fluctuate, I'm just excited to even see a glimpse of my pre-baby body!! It should be part of post-partum care that mothers should receive one abdominal reconstructive surgery of her choice after bearing children!!

Ha ha I agree- it should just be part of the birthing experience.  I always wonder why they didn't go ahead and put my abs back together for me after having a c-section (I mean they were already in there!).

Just read your updates and I think you are smart to ease into the workouts- listen to your body and don't over exert yourself yet!

I go tomorrow for my one week checkup! I pray I only have to go another week!! Did the doc tell you that you were a special case or any reason for only doing two weeks? I've read a lot of reviews saying after two weeks it really doesn't make a difference

He didn't.  I think every case is a little different.  I mean, someone who gets 2000 cc's removed, like some of our community members, is not going to be in the same situation as someone who gets 200 cc's removed (me).  You're somewhere in between there, but I don't know where.  I've definitely seen others stop wearing their garments at two weeks who are in the 1000 cc range.  On the higher end, I think all the cases I've seen have worn longer.  But that could be from anything.  It could just be that doctors who are willing to do more aggressive lipo are also more keen on compression garments.  Or maybe it has some relation to how many areas you have the fat taken from at once.  I have no idea :).  But I have hope for you at any rate!  You look great and if you say you're not swelling so much, that's a good sign.  My doctor told me that I could stop wearing it as long as I felt comfortable and not too swollen.