Your Experiences with Lipo

[Anonymous]

So, I'm 5'9" and 150lbs. I'm very athletic and just had my body fat % done at the gym on one of those scales with the handle bars and came in at 18%-which is very good (who knows if that test is accurate). I do an insane amount of exercise, heavy lifting 3xs a week and running 5xs a week. I also eat gluten free and avoid rice and potatoes. I do not regularly eat sweets. I'm not sure how much weight I can lose considering I already have a lot of lean muscle. I feel that if I restrict my calories, I'll just start cutting into lean muscle and I like my body shape other than this annoying belly fat.

Given my low body fat, I still carry all my excess in my belly. It is so discouraging to work so hard at the gym and be so militant with my diet and still have these fat reserves in my belly. I'm seriously considering lipo. After doing research, it seems that traditional lipo yields better results than the smart lipo, as the lasers can really do some tissue damage.

Anyone been through this process? Please share.

[Anonymous]

I will share.

When I was 23 (13 years ago) I had a tiny amount of lipo done on my lower abs, below the belly button. I was in great shape but genetically predisposed to have fat there. I was very happy with the results.

A month ago I had lipo done on the upper and lower abs and flanks. I am 5'7 and 150, not in the best shape of my life but not horrible. Need to lose 10 lbs overall and get leaner, I do work out and just started seeing a trainer for more weight-based training.

I had laser lipo because I was told it would tighten the skin as well as reduce the fat, and I needed that after 2 kids.

Am I pleased with the results a month out? I think so. I definitely look much better in clothes. There were shirts I wouldn't wear anymore because my belly pudge made me look pregnant.

I'm not planning on wearing a bikini this summer, though....I feel like my stomach is a little lumpy. Apparently that may go away in the next month or so but we will see. Would I do it again? Yes. But I do not have the bikini model abs I was hoping for...

[Anonymous]

I had real lipo for the same reasons OP, my only mistake having both my tummy & love handles done at once. I wish I would have done them at different times, I couldn't sleep or get comfortable for a couple of weeks.

[Anonymous]

Interesting thread. Can anyone share information about the costs? Anyone do thighs? Tell us about recovery time, day of pain etc. thanks

[Anonymous]

PP here
Real Lipo
Around 5k
tummy & love handles
Hurt less than child birth, dental work etc.
One week of real down time, two weeks before I was back to normal

[Anonymous]

My plastic surgeon would not do stomach and love handles at the same time. Too much trauma to the system. And I wound up back in the hospital from being discharged too early because the nurse at Sibley wanted to leave at 6:00 p.m.. I went home and collapsed at 9:00 and wound right back at Sibley for three days. And I had to pay for those three days. I would never do it again. And not happy with the results either. Yes, he's a big name surgeon here in town. 6K plus 3K for unnecessary recovery time because I was not stable when they released me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My plastic surgeon would not do stomach and love handles at the same time. Too much trauma to the system. And I wound up back in the hospital from being discharged too early because the nurse at Sibley wanted to leave at 6:00 p.m.. I went home and collapsed at 9:00 and wound right back at Sibley for three days. And I had to pay for those three days. I would never do it again. And not happy with the results either. Yes, he's a big name surgeon here in town. 6K plus 3K for unnecessary recovery time because I was not stable when they released me.

What are the surgeon's initials?

[Anonymous]

I am about 2 weeks post smart-lipo which is less traumatic than regular lipo and allows one to get back to work much faster with less pain, etc. I also liked that I could do it without going under-- took a pain pill and valium and was awake but comfortable throughout. I wasn't aware of the trauma that the laser can cause.....It was surprisingly easy-- I had about 2 days of some discomfort which was totally manageable with tylenol. The next day I was at a birthday party, could pick up my kids, and socialize just fine. I'm still swollen so it's hard to tell what the "final results" will be. My surgeon said it can take up to 6 months for the full benefits due to swelling. I have been wearing a compression garmet essentially 24-7 for the past 2 weeks which is one of the less appealing parts. I've started to do some massage of the area as well to decrease swelling. Why I did it: I had been struggling with my ab/flank area for years and was ready to do something about it when it was clear that exercise wasn't going to take care of the issue. And I'm done with kids and felt like this is something that will make me feel better. Total cost- 6K for the 2 areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am about 2 weeks post smart-lipo which is less traumatic than regular lipo and allows one to get back to work much faster with less pain, etc. I also liked that I could do it without going under-- took a pain pill and valium and was awake but comfortable throughout. I wasn't aware of the trauma that the laser can cause.....It was surprisingly easy-- I had about 2 days of some discomfort which was totally manageable with tylenol. The next day I was at a birthday party, could pick up my kids, and socialize just fine. I'm still swollen so it's hard to tell what the "final results" will be. My surgeon said it can take up to 6 months for the full benefits due to swelling. I have been wearing a compression garmet essentially 24-7 for the past 2 weeks which is one of the less appealing parts. I've started to do some massage of the area as well to decrease swelling. Why I did it: I had been struggling with my ab/flank area for years and was ready to do something about it when it was clear that exercise wasn't going to take care of the issue. And I'm done with kids and felt like this is something that will make me feel better. Total cost- 6K for the 2 areas.

Wow, you just spent $6k and you won't see the full results for 6 months, as in December???

[Anonymous]

What is "smart-lipo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am about 2 weeks post smart-lipo which is less traumatic than regular lipo and allows one to get back to work much faster with less pain, etc. I also liked that I could do it without going under-- took a pain pill and valium and was awake but comfortable throughout. I wasn't aware of the trauma that the laser can cause.....It was surprisingly easy-- I had about 2 days of some discomfort which was totally manageable with tylenol. The next day I was at a birthday party, could pick up my kids, and socialize just fine. I'm still swollen so it's hard to tell what the "final results" will be. My surgeon said it can take up to 6 months for the full benefits due to swelling. I have been wearing a compression garmet essentially 24-7 for the past 2 weeks which is one of the less appealing parts. I've started to do some massage of the area as well to decrease swelling. Why I did it: I had been struggling with my ab/flank area for years and was ready to do something about it when it was clear that exercise wasn't going to take care of the issue. And I'm done with kids and felt like this is something that will make me feel better. Total cost- 6K for the 2 areas.

Wow, you just spent $6k and you won't see the full results for 6 months, as in December???

New poster here, but this is pretty common with invasive cosmetic surgery. I got breast implants and it took 3 months for them to look normal and a full year to see the final results. Even with nose jobs is takes a long time for the swelling to subside and to see the final product. Until you are fully healed the body keeps the defenses up. THis is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is "smart-lipo?

It uses a laser and burns the fat away, rather than suck it out.

Regular MDs can do Smart Lipo...they don't have to use a surgical center. My friend works for a "doctor" who does botox, fillers, fraxel and (gasp!) smart-lipo. He did NO fellowship and is not a board certified PS. He mainly runs a hair salon and high end spa with some smart lipo thrown in for good measure.

[Anonymous]

15:29 here.

Cost 8k. I was running and playing tennis again in 4 weeks. Real sore for 4-5 days after surgery.

[Anonymous]

My experience with lipo, if you have kids lipo will not work alone. You will def need a partial abdominal platy or a full depending on how bad it is. Lipo only gets rid of the fat but will not tighten anything.

I had csections and 3 babies so my stomach was left with this extra skin that just would not tighten up. I got a partial abdominal plasty and a lip of the abs and flanks. Would I do it again...totally! However, my doctor told me i needed a full but because of the cost i got the partial. With the partial they can get you 85% to where you wanna be and with full he could have gotten my closer to 100%. I still love the way I look in clothes, would I wear a bikini...no.

I used Dr. Singh, he is located in Tysons/McLean/Bethesda. Highly recommend him!

[Anonymous]

to 21:51. Does "smart lipo" actually work? Can you give me a link?

and to 22:01, I still have great abdominal muscles but due to c-section and age I'm getting "that flalp". I've asked the P.S. if he could just cut the flap out in his office surgery. No. I have to do the whole routine in the hospital. Has anyone else had just the flap of skin and fat and what did they do?