Baby at 38, 4 Abdominal Surgeries - I'm a Mess! - Saint Louis, MO

I decided to give this a shot before I take the plunge and do lipo and a tummy tuck. I turned 42 yesterday and I'm not expecting the body of a 20 year old me, but I would like to see some difference if possible. Had my first two treatments yesterday on the lower abs. Started with a variety of before photos, and lots of sharpie marker on my stomach, all while wearing a paper thong and bra. If you are modest in any way, you might want to skip this procedure. Next they applied a cold gel like substance to the area to be treated and then hooked up the machine and SUCKED the fat up! It wasn't painful, felt like a pinch - took about 5 minutes for me to get over it, and then I really didn't feel much for the hour. I laid on the table, took a conference call, checked my email, played Trivia Crack, etc. Once it was done, that was probably the worst part. All of that fat that was sucked up is now crystallized into what looks like a brick of goo on your stomach. They said it looked like a stick of butter, I don't know what to make of it, but it was nasty! And then they have to massage all of that goo back into place... and it is NOT pleasant. It's not painful - if you think this is painful I would advise against having a baby - but it's not joyous either. And my skin felt like I had a really bad sunburn. It was red and it hurt. They started the second side and about 15 minutes later the first side didn't burn anymore, but I ended up taking some Aleve anyway just because I was going out for Mexican and margaritas afterwards and didn't want to be a party pooper. An hour later the second side was done, I cleaned off the goo, got dressed, took my Aleve and went home. I immediately put on a compression garment and it felt great to wear. I went out, had my dinner and really didn't feel any pain. Wore my compression garment all night - I think that makes a difference in the soreness.

This morning I look like a train wreck. I can't get the purple and blue marker off of my skin so that doesn't help. Plus my stomach is all distorted and swollen. Now the compression garment is a MUST if I am going to fit into anything and not look horrible! No real pain day after, maybe a bit tender but I didn't even need an Aleve this morning.

I go back in a week to do the upper two sides of the abdomen. Right now I don't recognize my body and I'm not sure what to think, but I really don't think I will have good results... guess we will wait and see!!!

I have to advise everyone that tries this - wear a compression garment for a few days!!! If you are doing this procedure I would be willing to bet you already have a few in your closet, at least some spanx or something - well, wear it! Its makes all of the difference between pain and no pain. Again I would not call this pain - I've felt pain and this is more uncomfortable. But the compression garment is a key piece.

I wore mine all Thursday night and all Friday, Friday night and into Saturday. I ran a 5K on Saturday with the compression garment on. I still felt little to no pain - a little tenderness but nothing significant. That afternoon I came home and showered and decided to give myself a break from the compression garment. Went to the mall and BIG MISTAKE! First, don't try to clothes shop a few days after this!!! I'm still a bit swollen and everything looked horrible! Second, without the compression garment on I finally started to feel the little pangs and soreness others talk about. I don't think it helped that I had run the 5K in the morning either. Trying on pants was just about the silliest thing I have ever attempted to do! I came home and took a hot bath and just went to bed. Sunday was pretty much more of the same - I did wear the compression garment again and then tried to take a break in the afternoon but that was again not a smart idea. I ended up in a hot bath and took some Aleve and all was well.

I feel like the swelling is making me eat less than normal. I am trying really hard not to change my habits because I want to see if this works for real, and not because I modified my diet or increased my exercise. But I just don't feel like eating as much as normal because I feel bloated. I am really thankful that I have some elastic waist pants for work and that the weather is nice enough for dresses right now!

I found a super cute tankini at the mall though and it covers my bulge and makes me look almost skinny! :-)

Thursday I go back for the upper abs... I am still thinking this isn't going to work for me unless I do more treatments...