Smart Lipo: Was worth it
Cost: $12,750
Pain: Uncomfortable
Satisfaction: Excellent
BACKGROUND:
I had always had a hereditary fat deposit on my abdomen that is completely unresponsive to diet and exercise. I work out 6 days a week, 2 hours a day and eat pretty healthy (i.e., lean meats, whole grains, organic fruits and vegetables, etc.). Even when my body fat has been as low as 16%, people asked how long ago I had my baby—however, I have never had children. This was a constant source of embarrassment to me, and was partly due to a very noticeable scar (over 6” long by ¼” wide) from a bad appendectomy surgery 23 years ago. As I grew older, the scar collapsed almost to my muscle and the skin stretched, leaving a deep indentation and noticeable lumps of fat around the edges. I’d been to 5 other doctors over the years to see what could be done about the scar. However, there was no procedure to revise it that would make it look better. When I heard about SmartLipo and the laser’s ability to rebuild collagen, I decided to go for a consultation. I was very impressed with my doctor, and decided to give the procedure a chance.
PROCEDURE:
I had SmartLipo on my upper and lower abdomen, flanks, upper buttocks, mons pubis, and chin. The doctor removed 2 LITERS of fat from my upper and lower abdomen alone, 1 LITER of fat from the other areas of my body, and 30 CC’s from my chin. The doctor noted that he was surprised by how much fat he had to remove from my abdomen, as he would have expected only 1 liter of fat in that area due to my BMI and body fat. Note that on the day of my surgery, I weighed 125.8 pounds, 24% body fat, BMI 22.6. I am 5’ 2 ½”. Others have this procedure under local anesthetic, but mine was performed under general anesthesia due to a medical issue with the local. Additionally, 1 incision had to be stitched closed rather than cauterized due to skin stretching on that side of the upper abdomen.
RECOVERY:
Someone had to drive me to and from the procedure, and I needed friends to stay with me for 4 days total. For the first 2 days, I ate only crackers and small amounts of soft foods, as I didn’t have much appetite. I also took painkillers and needed help to get up and lie down due to pain and stiffness in the abdomen. This may not be typical, though, because my doctor had to work on the scar area very extensively. The first 24 hours were a bit scary, as there was a great deal of drainage and blood from the incisions in my body. My friends had to change the pads and towels at least 5 times that I remember. However, the doctor said this amount of drainage is normal and good because it is only superficial bleeding and the fluid needs to continue draining. After the first 24 hours, a friend had to help me shower and put on the compression garment, as I couldn’t do it myself. I needed to lie down before we finished due to lightheadedness. About 30 minutes later, I was fine again. At 48 hours, I showered and dressed myself, but needed to lean on my friend to stay steady. I had to make sure not to look at my stomach on those first 2 days, as it looked pretty ugly: wrinkled, swollen, bruised, and like I’d just given birth. My chin had minimal swelling, and one area on my neck had some bruising. By days 3 and 4, I ate solid food, didn’t take any painkillers, did everything myself, and was able to make coffee and walk around the house for a good part of the day. My chin and neck still look about the same, but I am amazed to see that my stomach is already looking flat and tight! I’m really excited to see how this comes out, and will post the “after” pictures at the 1-month mark.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Patient and not of this website!
Original review from realself.com
