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POSTED UNDER Smart Lipo Reviews

Smart Lipo - The Importance of Wearing Compression Garments! - Seguin, TX

UPDATED FROM shestarr

It has been a year and a half since my procedure.....

shestarrMarch 4, 2011
$8,000
It has been a year and a half since my procedure...

Looking back, I regret spending so much money for smart lipo, because they don't suck much of the fat out and instead rely on your body to flush it out..

I have just discovered Dr. Rhoads in Austin, TX (www.rhoadtobeauty.com). She offers water-assisted lipo (google it), which sucks out all of the fat and power sprays the inside area with the jets. The machine simultaneously shoots more anesthesia into the area being worked on, during the entire process.

I was referred by a friend and she and her staff are wonderful. She offers water-assisted liposuction for $500/per area and does anesthesia in-office, cutting your normal astronomical typical lipo in half. So, I totally wish I would've known about her before I waisted so much mula for the 'smart lipo'!

I scheduled to have my procedure done on March 9, 2011 and I a sooo excited! I will be sure to post proper before/after pics this time :)

shestarr's provider

Dr. Melanie Carreon

shestarr ratings

Overall rating

Professional and informative, but the smart lipo procedure was simply not thorough enough because that machine leaves so much of your fat in your body, leaving your body to flush the rest out (which happens either very slowly, or not at all).

Replies (5)

meme777
March 5, 2011
Im on my way in for smartlipo today. and im soooo happy . Could not sleep last night. I'll let you know. Thank you for you info..
hope2<3it
March 12, 2011
I sorry to hear that you've had a not so great experience with your previous doctor. I am looking into smart lipo with Dr. John Bergeron or Dr. Raul Rodriguez but after reading your posts I am not sure if I want to spend so much "mula" on something that might not show much results.

Hopefully this time around you got the results you wished for...please let me know how the water-assisted lipo went cuz $500 per area sounds way better than $3,500!! I live in Houston but I am willing to drive 4 hours to save a lot of mula lol. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon:)
shestarr
March 12, 2011
Hey there, Cyndy. How many areas are you doing with that quote?

OMGoodness! I had the water-assisted procedure done with Dr. Rhoads this past Wednesday (March 09, 2011) and I must say that even though I am still very swollen, the results were noticeable that VERY SAME DAY! I haven't posted pics yet, because they want me to stay in my garment until I see them again this upcoming Tuesday. But I catch myself looking in the mirror at ever given chance and I am in awe at the results.

If I already look this good post-surgery WITH the swelling, there's no telling HOW good I'm going to look after the swelling goes down!

OMG! The most annoying part of my body were the bat-wings (fat surrounding the shoulder blades touching your arm pits. I paid the previous Dr. to get rid of them, but they were still very prominent. Until after my water-assisted lipo last Wednesday. This is the part that the garment is not covering and I can already see that it is no NON-EXISTENT! omg!

I can't wait to post pics. I will post as soon as I can!

Good luck to everyone.

~Kia
hope2<3it
March 13, 2011
I'm glad to hear back from you and to hear that your results are much more promising with the water-assisted lipo:) That quote was with Dr. B for my love handles only and any additional area was between $2,500-3000! I wanted my abs done but my main concern are my sides. Dr. R was about $500 more for the love handle area and about the same for additional areas. I'm still confused on what to do--I can't stop thinking about it lol--it gets annoying daunting on it so much.

Oh yea did Dr. C do your smartlipo with suction or without suction?? cuz i heard that without it takes a long time to see results.

I can't wait to see your pics--of course when you are able to take your garment off:)
shestarr
March 21, 2011
Good morning, Cyndy!

Im sorry for the delay. I supposed i need to change the email notification settings if in order to receive my messages right away.

Its taking me a little longer to post pics because i turned around and got some lipodisoolve shots in my lower back area, this past Wednesday. It did make tgat area swell a bit. But I'll c if i can take/post some pics this evening after work, anyhow!

~Kia
hope2<3it
March 23, 2011
Hello Kia:)

It's okay--I know we get very busy at times!! I don't even know how to change those email settings lol. Well I hope the results are even better by now!! I have an appointment for smartlipo on Tuesday with Dr. James Kern in Houston. He will be doing my abs and flanks. I've heard good things about him but I am still really nervous and scared of the pain/swelling. I don't mind going through that if I get the results I'm hoping for!!! I will let you know how that goes:) TTYL
shestarr
April 1, 2011
Hey, Cyndy!

I will post 2 pics for now, but then I will create a whole new review for Dr. Rhoads later either today or over the weekend!

~Kia
Nyrie
September 17, 2011
I was just going through all your comments. i have considered smartlipo but now after all the reviews i dont know now.....so how is things with the water lipo. please let me know
Pekpek
March 11, 2012
Hi Kia,

Did you have to get prior approval from your military primary care (or Tricare) to get elective surgery done? I saw a reg that said active duty military will have to get prior approval and go through the chain of command. I had a friend who got lipo done but I know she didn't get approval...she just went and had it done. I'd like to get the smart lipo...so in your opinion, should I get it or not? Thanks for your time! :)
shestarr
March 12, 2012
That is so weird. Who said anything about a military? Hahaa hmmm ok, but to answer your question, I didn't use any insurance and paid out of pocket. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.
f33fee
February 13, 2014
Were you satisfied with Dr. Kern? I have a consult with him on 2/17/2014
hope2<3it
April 1, 2011
Sounds great!! Thx:)
meme777
September 17, 2011
Had shart lipo soooo happy i did it .. changed the way i feel about my self. Flat belly now.
UPDATED FROM shestarr

UPDATE: 2011FEB20:::::::::::::::: So now,...

shestarrFebruary 20, 2011
UPDATE: 2011FEB20::::::::::::::::

So now, it's been over a year and a half since I did this... The most noticeable are my rolls. Although, my upper abs, I notice no difference at all... Neither do I notice any difference on my right arm. My left arm shows difference, though and is actually noticeably smaller than my right arm...

My suggestion would be to not do too many areas at once. This way, they Dr. can focus more on your desired areas (as opposed to spreading his/her time between the areas before the anesthesia wears out...

If I were ever to do this Smart Lipo again, I would not ask Dr. Carreon to do more than 2 areas at once and most importantly, I would ask her to use more of the vaser and to actually suck more of the fat out.

Replies (2)

lLondaS
September 8, 2016
What is the vaser, or laser do we have a choice.
shestarr
September 7, 2018
Baser is the traditional regular (and bigger) liposuction tool.
shestarr
September 7, 2018
Yes, you have a choice.
UPDATED FROM shestarr

OK, I've finally had the chance to take pictures...

shestarrNovember 25, 2009

OK, I've finally had the chance to take pictures. A little a$$-backwards, I will post my before pics as soon as I retrieve them from my doc, sorry. But I forgot to take some B4 pics with my phone prior to procedure.  I had my arms, upper/lower back and thighs done on 09NOV12 and then I had my upper/lower abs and love handles done on 09NOV19. I'm in the Army, so this helps A LOT with my tape. I normally work out, but after I had my daughter 3 yrs ago, it's been seemingly impossible to work off these areas in a decent amount of time. 

Dr. C and her staff are the sweetest to deal with. Mary the consultant is also a joy, as well as Lindsey and the others. They answer all of your questions and even the Doctor herself comes in to greet you and answer any more questions you may have.

During the procedure I felt absolutely NOTHING but a comfortable massage feeling... However, after the local anesthesia and drugs wore off I was in a world of pain until I controlled it with Percocet (I have a high tolerance and Tylenol just wasn't cutting it for me).

I cannot stress how much better I feel with the garments on (as opposed to off).  It certainly feels as though the garments are supporting me and holding me together. But at the same time I cannot WAIT to be able to take them off and KEEP them off.

I am still swelling, but feeling much much better than a week ago and two weeks ago. I can see immediate results but I am expecting my back and arms to look way more sculpted than this. Also, I am waiting for my waist to shrink a LOT more than it has so far. I will keep you posted!


Replies (5)

jplily
December 1, 2009
Hi.. I just read your blog.. I just had my consult today in Boston.... I am planning to do this procedure in January.. not to nervous but I am curious to see how much your tummy goes down.. I am planning upper and lower abdomin...I had a c-section with my 11.6oz daughter so I am assuming the recovery pain is similiar? Can Anyone confirm that?
shestarr
December 3, 2009
Not at all. With the C-Section; keep in mind that a KNIFE cuts through more than 5 layers of tissue to get to the fetus. And besides depth, the cut is about 8 or more inches wide. With the smartlipo, they take a long but needle-sized thing ONLY aiming toward the FAT cells between the layer of skin (dermis I believe) and your muscle... HUGE difference trauma-wise, so naturally I would imagine the recovery to be far less painful than a C-section. If I were to to describe it, it feels like a HARDCORE "muscle-failure" workout for the first week or two and after that, the pain begins to subside, making it possible to go on without any more pain meds.
Luna1975
April 24, 2010
I have had two c-sections....all I can say is that from my experience, pain depend on the area you are getting done. There were times that I felt that the pain was worse than my c-sections-on my lower back and butt. It hurt while sitting, standing up, and while laying down. Could no sleep, etc....
jplily
December 1, 2009
How much was your surgeory? I was quoted $2965 today..
shestarr
December 3, 2009
Hi, Jplily. I had my arms, inner thighs, upper back, lower back, upper abs, lower abs and last but not least, I had my love handles done. That was 7 areas for a total of 8500.00 and some change...
Baddie loading
December 5, 2009
I posted side pics up! Maybe they well be approved by tomorrow!
MorenitaLuvlie
December 13, 2009
Hi. Do you have any updated picks now that the swelling has gone down? Did you have any darkening of skin in certain areas? My complexion is brown and I too am considering taking on this procedure. I have read articles that talk about possible burning from the inside out. It makes me a lil scared. None the less, I see its way safer than lipdissolve where some ppl nearly died of staph. Now I really want to know how effective results can be. I used to weigh 340pds. My doctor has me on suppliments, hunger suppresents, and b12 shots. From this I have developed a change in eating habits (low carb) and regular exercise, 5days a week. I now weigh 214pds. with a desire to be 170pds at 5'7. I am hoping this procedure will get me where i want to be. :)
shestarr
February 21, 2011
Hi, Morenita. I did have some dark marks from the needles. These can be prevented by using hydroquinone 4% Obagi's 'Clear' does the trick. Apply as soon as your spots heal.
texandude
February 1, 2010
I also went to Dr. Carreon and had great results. My swelling came down even More in 3-6 months. She takes her time during the procedure and very compassionate. The staff is the best also. You look great!
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