Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.

POSTED UNDER Smart Lipo REVIEWS

Hoping for a Great Result - Pearland, TX

ORIGINAL POST

I decided to undergo smartlipo on March 29, 2011...

hope2<3it
$3,500

I decided to undergo smartlipo on March 29, 2011 to reduce the size of my love handles and abdomen areas. I dropped a significant amount of weight after my second child was born. I went from 172 to 122 pounds which took 5 months to achieve—but I still had those annoying love handles that made me feel self-conscious of my body. I was not looking for a miracle after smartlipo but I wanted to get a good result—not a perfect one since that is not possible.

The day of the surgery I was given something to take my anxiety away, a pain pill, and also a lollipop which contained a medication to “help me forget”. I should have never taken the lollipop because it did exactly what it was supposed to do—I forgot the majority of the surgery went. I just remember bits and pieces. Though I remember the beginning of the surgery completely since that medication was not yet in my system.

I remember that was very uncomfortable and painful as they put in the tumescent fluid. It felt a lot of tugging accompanied with painful zapping pinches. After that, they lazered the fat and then suctioned it out—this is the part I don’t quite recall. I just remember seeing some fat going through the tubes and seeing the containers of fat/bloody fluid at the end of my procedure. I was told that they removed somewhere between 1000 to 1200 cc’s of fat. I was hoping for more though but I was too out of it to say so at the time. I paid $3,500 for my flanks and abdomen—they had a monthly special.

Night of the procedure:

I was in a good amount of pain even after taking the vicodin that the doctor prescribed. The medicine eased some of the pain and made me extremely drowsy. I was draining a lot that night and I was also so nauseated that I vomited like two times that night.

Day 1(first day after procedure):

I was still nauseated so I vomited once more but after that it stopped. I was finally able to shower that afternoon. I remember that my incisions on the back stinged when the water hit them so I had to hold gauze pads on them while showering to ease the stinging pain. Most of the drainage had stopped by that time. I remember that it was very painful to put the garment back on while trying to put pads on the incision areas. I was in pain and felt really sore on the areas that were worked on. Started taking bromelain for swelling and arnica to reduce bruising.

Day 2:

The drainage had completely stopped at this point. I took my garment off to shower and my body looked a lot better than before the surgery. At this point there was no swelling so this was probably why I liked the look of my body on this day. The only thing that worried me was that one flank was a bit larger than the other. But overall I remember being somewhat happy with the results so far—even though I knew this was not the final result. Same amount of pain and soreness.

Day 3:

On this day the swelling began which made my body look almost the same as before surgery which was upsetting. I just reminded myself that it was swelling and this is normal after any surgery. The pain eased up a bit on this day but not significantly. I was also getting weird pains when I was trying to get comfortable in bed. They are stitch like pains or like something got detached for a second or so. Very unusual pain!

Day 4:

Feeling a lot better in regards to the pain. It only hurts when bending or trying to get comfortable in bed. I am also very very sore to the touch. So sore that it even hurts to carry a purse since it taps me at times which is painful. I have to be very careful when getting in and out of my truck because of the soreness. The swelling is getting worse even though I am taking bromelain. The arnica pills have helped tremendously since my bruising is not bad at all.

Day 5:

The pain is much less today but the soreness makes up for that. I can’t even carry my two year old because of it. The weird pains are still there when moving around in bed. Today I started having difficulty breathing for some reason. I thought my garment was too tight because of the swelling so I took it off for a little while but I was still having trouble breathing. This was the most of my worries at this point since I heard that liposuction carries a risk of pulmonary embolism but that is really rare.

Day 6-7:

The swelling is horrible and is making me have doubts about having this procedure done since my body looks the same as it did before surgery—well at least to me it does look like before. I am still worried that one flank looks bigger than the other. Still having a bit of trouble breathing at times—mostly when I think about it haha. I am still really sore to the touch. My abdomen and some areas of my flanks feel really hard, numb, and warm to the touch. I was told this was most likely some tumescent fluid that was still in those areas and that I should drink lots of water to flush it out.

Day 8:

I went for my 1 week check-up today. I was told that I was healing properly and that my love handles should even out as the weeks go by. I just really hope that does happen! I also told my doctor about my breathing troubles and he told me that he never heard of that happening after smartlipo. I told him about the risks of embolism and he told me not to worry and that if that were the case then I would not be standing in his office since I would probably be in the ER instead(he was not rude about it lol). I am still swollen and sore to the touch.

Day 9-10:

I am feeling more mobile now and the soreness is not as bad but it is still bothersome. I am bending over without much pain at this point. My back incisions have finally healed. The breathing is still a problem but hopefully it is just because of the amount of swelling that I have. The weird pains are lessening now.

Day 11-15:

During these days, the pain has subsided significantly and so has the soreness. I can actually massage the treated areas without too much pain. Don’t get me wrong though—I am still somewhat sore to the touch but not as bad as before. The swelling varies day by day. Some days I am really swollen and some days I am not too swollen. I have my “I feel fat” days and my “I feel skinnier” days. Some days my love handles are even and some days they are not?? I am also still hard, numb, and warm to the touch in some areas. I was told that this should go away by the 4 to 6 week mark. My breathing issue is getting better now which I am relieved about. I still get the weird pains here and there.

The verdict is still out on seeing if “smartlipo was worth it”. I will update this just as soon as I feel that I have gotten the “final results”. I hope that I am happy with the results because I don't want to feel like I wasted that much money on something that didn't give results.

hope2<3it's provider

hope2<3it rating for Dr. Kern:

Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Payment process
Wait times

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM hope2<3it

Photo Update

hope2<3it

Replies (13)

April 17, 2011
I had smart lipo on the exact same day as you did. I have experienced alot of the same things as you have, including that very odd pain when moving around at times in bed--WIERD. Sounds like you are a little worried. I really like and trust my surgeon--have used him before for other procedures and so have friends. He assures me these are all normal (including asymetrical flanks). good luck.
April 17, 2011
I'm glad to know someone has experienced the same things that I have--those weird pains. That lets me know that it is normal to feel this way and to have asymmetrical flanks. Thank you for your comment and Good Luck to you as well:)
User Avatar
April 19, 2011
Wow, I had my surgery on the 5th and everything you're saying is the same for me.. My lower abs are still so hard and Im hoping it goes away soon! I guess it is really easy to get discouraged.. but stay focused on getting better! hopefully soon all of these things will go away!
April 20, 2011
Yes, you are right about easily being discouraged! I feel a lot better now about how my results are looking now and how I feel pain wise. I only feel a bit of discomfort when I stretch out for things but other than that I feel fine now.

Thanks for the words of encouragement!!
April 20, 2011
was your doc a plastic surgeon?
User Avatar
April 20, 2011
No, technically he isnt. Hes a reproductive specialist but is board certified in the smart lipo procedure.
April 20, 2011
tbr407 is right:)
April 20, 2011
Dr. Kern is not a plastic surgeon either but I was told he has a lot of experience doing the smartlipo procedure. He started doing it in 2007 when the procedure was first introduced in the US.
April 20, 2011
Im still not at were i want to be but i could see a big difference and my doc is doing a touch up to make it better. i would ask about that but make sure its free, mine is!
April 20, 2011
I feel the exact same way about not being were I want to be. I also see a big difference especially the love handles. It seems like at the three week mark they are beginning to shrink and look more symmetrical. They are smaller than how they were just a week ago so I am hoping to look even better at 6 weeks. My stomach is slowly getting smaller but for some reason I don't think it will get much smaller than it is now. Just my opinion lol. I hope that I am wrong about that though. You are so lucky that you are getting your touch up for free!!! Unfortunately, the touch ups are $500 with my doc which I don't have and I don't want to go through that pain again:( I just want to feel good with clothes on and I am slowly getting there:)
April 20, 2011
I will be posting my 3 weeks pics up tomorrow since I haven't taken them lol.
User Avatar
April 20, 2011
I definitely see a difference. Maybe its not exactly how i thought it would be but really anything is a miracle for me, ive tried everything to lose the weight but nothing worked. Im only 2 weeks in and i still have like lumps right by the incisions and my abs are still like rock hard and sore to the touch. I wanted to go back and get my love handles done but after going through it all i dont think I will. and there would have to be some serious damage for me to go in for touch ups.. my doc wont do it for free either (no charge for his time just pay for the room and materials).. Everyday is different. sometimes i feel like i made a mistake and i wont ever feel just normal again. and other days i have to remind myself that its only been 2 weeks and i have no idea what the future holds for me!

Trying to stay upbeat and trying to heal and get better : )
April 20, 2011
Yes, everyday is different for me too. I feel that it was worth doing my love handles because there is an obvious difference there but not my stomach. I would have saved 1500 dollars not doing my stomach but then again it is still too early to tell the final results. I am going to give it the 6 weeks and then maybe I will know if it was worth doing the abs or not. But they mention that you will see the final results in 4 to 6 months so I might have to wait until then:( Well either way it is already done so I can't go back lol. Like you, all I know is that I don't want to go for a touch up and go through all this pain again just for minor imperfections! I still feel a lot better about my body than before just because my love handles are smaller;) Well Happy Healing!!!
UPDATED FROM hope2<3it

I am now at the 3 week mark and feel a lot better...

hope2<3it
I am now at the 3 week mark and feel a lot better about the outcome of my results. I was hoping I'd look a lot thinner by now but that's not the case. My love handles seem to be smaller but I don't see a change in my abdomen. I still have 3 more weeks to finish healing so I hope that it keeps getting better. I still have some discomfort, numbness, and hardness in the areas that were worked on. The discomfort feels somewhat similiar to a pinch. I am still wearing the garment and can't wait to be able to stop wearing it. Weekly updates to come:)

Replies (9)

April 20, 2011
Just wanted to add that I know my stomach will never look the same as before pregnancy so that is why I am not expecting a huge difference in appearance. Maybe it has a lot to do with the underlying muscles being stretched with my two pregnancies. I just thought that I would have looked a lot better after having this done. I still have hope though:)
User Avatar
April 25, 2011

Thanks for sharing your experience so far, Hope. Your love handles look much-improved from the pre-op pics. Is all the swelling gone yet?

April 27, 2011
You're welcome. I am happy to share this experience because I know it is beneficial to others who are either deciding to have it done or have had it done. My love handles are slowly shrinking but one is still slightly smaller than the other. I think I am still a bit swollen because some of my pants that fit before still don't fit comfortably:( I hope it is swelling!!
User Avatar
May 3, 2011

Hopefully it's swelling. Do you tend to sleep on one side? That can make a difference with swelling.

May 4, 2011
I hope so too. I sleep mostly on the side that is slightly bigger. Would sleeping on that side make it swell more?

I purposely slept on that side more thinking it was helping:(
User Avatar
May 9, 2011

I think it would swell worse, because swelling gravitates downward. :-/ Maybe trying switching sides?

May 13, 2011
Thanks for your input!! I started sleeping on my other side and my back. Hopefully it makes a difference.
April 26, 2011
In June 09, I had smart lipo done on my upper and lower stomach. I had a scar from a previous surgery that could be compared to a c/section scar. My stomach was very large and actually hung over the scar. I absolutely loved my results. I went back in November and had my back bra area done. At the time of my first surgery, I weighed in at 162 lbs, at the time I did my bra area, I weighed in at 147. I was so excited, I actually had lost 7 inches off my lower stomach. I knew I would need a touch up because of the way my scar and abdomen hung. So, this past Friday, April 22, I went into have my lower abdomen retouched and my love handles. This time, even though I took the xanax and benadryl and phenergan and hydrocodone, I was semi alert. When I grimaced, they would give me more medicine. I would talk to them occassionally, but really don't remember alot. I will say that this time I feel more pain than I did either other time. Mainly in my flanks "love handles". The morning of my surgery I weighed 148 pounds and as of this morning, 4/25/11, I weigh 151. I know this is due to swelling and I realize it will go away. The first time I had the surgery I made sure not to get on the scale for a week, then weighed weekly. My goal is not to be 130 pounds (well I would love that) but I just want a smaller stomach and waist. My drainage stopped completely by the 2nd day post op. When I look in the mirror I think I see a difference, but know that it will take a good 6 weeks before I really see the difference. I am very happy with my surgeon and his office staff. His wife works with him in his office and they actually call to see how I am doing. The first time I had it done, it completely blew me away to have them call and check on me that night, the next day and a couple days later until my appointment. Even this time, they called on Easter Sunday to check in with me. I am a RN, so I basically know what to look for and how to take care of myself, so I was amazed that a doctor actually called. I am very impressed with Dr. Rene Jaso,his wife and office staff. If you live in the San Antonio area and are looking for this type of surgery, I recommend you go to him.
As for your pain, nausea and difficulty breathing, I am sorry you experienced this, as I have yet to have the nausea or difficulty breathing part. Pain is going to be expected as with any surgery.
I hope you will be happy with your results as I am with my prior results and I know I will be with the current one.
I have pictures of my first surgery, but did not take any prior this time, but the doctor did and if I can get a copy I will post them. Amazing is all I can say.
April 27, 2011
Thank you for sharing your experience:) I would love to see pics of your results if you do get them! I hope that you don't have to go through the nausea and difficulty breathing part because it was a bit scary.

Well hopefully I will be very happy with the end results too.