Liposuction: My Personal Experience
Liposuction: My Personal Experience
I didn’t know whether to start out being primarily positive about my experience so those of you who are looking into liposuction 
surgery would feel more at ease. But, as it is I am on the fence about the procedure itself. Granted, there are many, many wonderful results out there. There are many skilled surgeons and happy patients wandering around patting each other, or themselves, on the back. But the truth is, if you do have genetically predispositioned fat accumulation that will not go away no matter how hard you truly try, fat removal procedures are the only way you are going to rid yourself of it.
Now when I say ‘truly’, I mean it. I am Queen Diet, The Starvation Diva From Hell. However, truly trying means cardio every day, weights 5 times a week, a sensible diet and no cheating on said diet more than once a week. You absolutely must not take in more calories than you are expending. We all know this, but obviously a lot of us don’t realize it as the day goes on. Keep a food diary and you will see what you are taking in every day. It takes about 3,500 extra calories to gain a pound and not everyone is going to naturally require 1,800 to 2,000 calories a day just to survive. If you are gaining, you are either not expending enough energy, you are taking in too many calories, or you have an underlying medical issue. But, I digress, this article is not about dieting, it is about liposuction surgery, specifically my own experience.
As I mentioned in the Liposuction entry last week, a production company to film a documentary about plastic surgery for the Discovery Channel, approached us. We spoke with a long-term friend and plastic surgeon about being featured on the program and started building our surgical plan. I had gained a bit of body mass over the recent years of starting a business and it was really weighing on my self-confidence. I was a very busy person, and honestly worked about 10 to 12 hours a day on the computer. Liposuction surgery was mentioned by the production company as well as by my partner. I thought to myself, why not? How hard can it be? I went in mainly wanting a breast implant exchange and breast lift, as well as some lip augmentation and fat grafting and came out with a brow lift and liposuction to boot. So liposuction it was…
A representative for a liposuction machine company that had recently begun carrying a Power Assisted device approached my surgeon. This liposuction machine is supposed to be easier on the surgeon (with less fatigue) due to the vibrations of the liposuction wand. This lessens the physical strain of working through the fibrous tissue and compact fatty areas and reportedly loosens the fat cells from their connective tissue so that they may be removed more easily. It can also cause more scar tissue if you ask me. But I didn’t know that at the time.
So surgery day comes and I am actually quite excited. I am more discontent with being put under General Anesthesia for such a very long time than the surgery itself. Surgery time was tentatively 7 hours, but possibly 10. It was 10. Yay me.
I woke up with the feeling I could not breathe. I panicked. I swear to you I felt I could not get enough oxygen. I kept repeating outloud, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe!” My surgeon showed me that the oximeter reading was fine and I was, indeed, getting enough oxygen. He told me that the local anesthetic to my abdomen was causing me not to be able to feel my breaths and that was causing the sensation of suffocating. I now know that although this may be true, my post-surgical liposuction garment was unbelievably tight and I felt like an anaconda was constricting me. I complained to the patient coordinator and they called up Richard Boggs from Design Veronique to get me a replacement ASAP. They overnighted it and I was way better off the next day. Except for the bloating. My whole body had so much extra fluid I looked like a pumpkin head. I didn’t even remotely look like myself whatsoever. Thank goodness three days later I was normal looking again, but I was so sore! I felt like I had the tar beat out of me and then went back for thirds.
I was instructed to have post-surgical lymphatic massage, which I did once. I should have had Endermologie twice a week but could not afford $300 per week extra. I massaged it myself although it hurt very much. I had to be very careful of how the surgical garment folded across my abdomen as well as I was told this could cause a ridge of scar tissue. It did, regardless. I developed internal scar tissue on my saddlebags and lower abdomen as well. You can plainly see it. I do recommend that you not have your surgeon touch the superficial fat in your abdomen and know that you may need a touch up. Liposuction is not a flawless procedure; I don’t care what they tell you.
Do I look better in clothes? Yes. Do I feel more self-conscious in a bathing suit? Yes. I have pics (that I might share eventually) of me a few years before the procedure, perfectly thin and bump-free. Then I gained weight which could have been gotten rid of via diet and exercise but chose to use liposuction to get back down to my pre-company starting weight. I suppose I did take the “easy” way out, but I didn’t get off very easily. I seem to have to maintain a certain weight to have fewer bumps, but look in proportion than I did naturally before surgery.
I am not knocking the procedure; I am just telling you that you might notice contour irregularities post-operatively. Just know the risks, weigh the risk versus reward, do your research and make your choice with confidence. Good luck to you!
M
Marianne
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Reader Comments (34)
I agree wholeheartedly. Although you see many great-looking results in your doc's Before and After portfolio, this does not mean that this is the norm. You can look at all the celebrities in the news now with lumpy lipo'd stomachs (the stomach being a very difficult place for lipo, in my opinion), and you know they had the money for the very best docs. I, too, look better in clothes, and this was my highest priority. As you grow older, it is very hard to maintain the body you had when you were 21. I won't wear a bathing suit in public now, but I'm glad my saddlebags are gone-- I always wore long shirts before and now I have more clothing options. Just weigh your priorities. I'm glad I did it, but I expect I'll be going in back (when I can afford it) for some touch-up work.
I am 44 years old, and 11 days past my procedure. I had 5.8 liters of fat removed from my back, abs, love handles, butt, inner and outer thighs. The procedure took 3 hours.
The pain and leakage was grossly underestimated. I took the pain meds every 4 hours pretty much remained in bed for a week. You must purchase the disposable mattress pads. The fluid will ruin your clothes, sheets, etc. The fluid will also make you have to get up to use the bathroom every 2 hours. Please get pads for the toilet seat (and remember you will ooze while sitting).
Nine days after the procedure I had the stitches removed. I was bruised but my shape looked very good in clothes. I was able to move around (in flats) and have my first normal day without fatigue.
I am glad I had the procedure! I was so unhappy about my saddlebags and loss abs and how I could not fit into trendy clothes. I always had a cute shape and exercised and ate well, but starting at 43 years old, fat pockets emerged that just would not reduce no matter how much I went to the gym and starved myself.
The bruising is starting to fad, I am still numb on by lower back, abs, and exterior thighs. I can see my improved shape and smaller size. All in all this experience was worth it. I feel better about myself already.
I'm a 47 year old male who had liposuction in my love handle and flank areas two months ago, and I'm very disappointed. Like the person above, I've developed very prominent scar tissue, and I now look worse than I did before the procedure. It's located on my left side, and it looks like a thick rope embedded under the skin. The doctor is trying to act like it's no problem and that it will resolve itself, but it's not going away and I don't think it will. I went into this hoping for the best, and now I have serious regrets and wish I had never had the surgery.
I too feel that I had a better body "before" liposuction than after ... I had four liters of fat taken from my buttocks and thighs ... I always had a big round butt ... now I have a saggy flaccid butt with, worst of all, obvious dents on the sides as if someone had tied a rope around my Pillsbury Dough butt, squeezed and then left a permanent depression. I am now looking in to fat grafting and Brazilian butt lifts to repair this. I know I shouldn't care so much about my appearance but I am horrified.
Paul,
This happened to my ex-boyfriend. He has has ropey scars on his abdomen and one flank. It never went away. I believe his doctor told him to massage but the massage never left a dent in the damage. He massaged it like crazy from the first time he noticed it and it is still harder than ever.
He has another doctor possibly going in and removing some of the scar tissue but I am not sure that is even going to work. I am sorry you are going through this, I know how it feels :( I won't even get undressed in front of my boyfriend if the lights are on, If I do't have a 'tan' and I am not underweight you can REALLY see the scar tissue.
Babs,
I know exactly what you are going through. I regret it...
Paul and Babs --
Sorry to hear that you did not get good results from your liposuction procedures.
Paul, you are still only 2 months out from your surgery. That sounds like a long time, but it really isn't. Your body is still healing. The ridge of scar tissue will probably resolve at least somewhat.Have you asked your surgeon what the tissue is? If it is a seroma, these do resolve in time, but we are talking many weeks. Even if you wanted to have a revision liposuction (a touch-up) or some other surgery, you would probably have to wait a while longer to give your body a chance to completely heal from the first procedure. Age is a factor here, too. I am older than you are and know that I don't heal as fast as I did back in the day. Talk to your surgeon again and pin him down as to how long it might take for the ridge to go away or when you might need revision work.
Babs, you don't say how long ago your surgery was.If you are within three or four months of your surgery, you may still be healing, too. You mention that your butt is saggy. Is this loose skin? Depending on your age, your skin may still be in the process of shrinking down to your new size. However, you should also get a definite answer from your surgeon as to whether your results are as good as they are going to be. Then ask that surgeon about revision liposuction or fat grafting.Remember that the results of fat grafting may not last.
This is a good time to note that anyone who is going into a consultation with a plastic or cosmetic surgeon should discuss the possiblity of revision procedures. Any surgeon who says he does not have to revise his work occasionally is lying through his teeth. Ask how often does this surgeon need to do revisions? Will the costs of a revision be covered by the surgeon or by you? Bring these topics up during the consultation.
I hope this helped.
Valerie
PS: Thanks to Michele for an earlier post with an excellent description of the recovery period for liposuction. Not everyone has as much pain as she did, but some do, and leakage from the sites where the canula was inserted can be a bit messy. You can't go into liposuction thinking that you will be up and in a bathing suit scampering down the beach a week later.
V
I am very, very disappointed with my lipo on my abdomen. I am 10 weeks postop and there isn't a noticable difference. I don't seem to have fluid retention, I take water pills the doc gave me. I have hard lumps on my upper abdomen under my skin and my lower abdomen is just as prominent as before. I was told to only wear compression garments for 24 -48 hours. Has anyone else had failed lipo? He did under my chin also and I have irregular contours now. It is horrible. I am 46 years old and now look older because of my neck.
You more than likely have swelling present, even if you don't feel as though you do. But from experience, my lumps did not get better. I would discuss your options with your surgeon on how to deal with scar tissue formation.
Honestly, although I do not discount your judgement at all, you really have to be fully healed before forming a factual opinion. I had swelling for a while, and honestly the swelling made it look better, but this is because he was aggressive under just my skin.
Hoenstly, if I had to do it over, I would not have done it.
I can sympathize with everyone who regrets lipo. I had it too. It was a mistake. I look better in clothes because saddle bags are gone but I think my surgeon was overagressive and I have dimpled skin (much worse than before) on my right butt cheek. I can't get rid of it, its scar tissue under the skin. I think I looked much better naked before. It really sucks. I wish I knew then what I know now. You see all these great pictures in the Dr's offic and you just dont think it could be worse. It can.
I had lipo two years ago and bitterly regret it. I'm 40 and have always had an 'apple' shaped body, holding all my fat above the hips. My instructions to my surgeon were to contour my bra roll, belly and hips. Unfortunately, the surgeon used an 'assistant' who was left to work on one side of my body while the surgeon worked on the other. The sugeon's work was flawless but the assistant's was shocking. I now have deep divets on my hips and the stitching done by the assistant was amateurish to say the least (I still have the stitch scars two years later thanks to him). Do I regret it? Yes. Do I look better in clothes? Yes. Do I look better naked? No. The problem with lipo is that it is an aggressive method of fat removal, when what we really want is slight fat removal and contouring. The problem for women is that we look better with a little fat on us. Now, I have no hips (like a man!) and a washboard stomach (again like a man) and because I am a woman in her 40's it looks decidedly odd not to have a bit of a stomach pooch when clearly I am 10 or 12lbs overweight. Would I do it again to improve on my results? You bet! I have to conclude by saying that lipo is best suited to men who naturally have now body fat and muscular phisycs. Last but not least, I still have my bra roll as he did my thighs instead by mistake!
I had smart lipo 12 days ago stomach and hips around to a small portion of my back. I am feeling areas where my skin is feeling hard. I am hoping this will pass. I did have a friend who had lipo and had the rope or chord under her skin her doctor injected something into it to break it up. There is also a treatment called dermsonic which uses ultrasound to break up these masses they even claim they can fix lipo problems years after they had lipo. I plan on getting massages when the doctor gives the ok. I am surprised that these smart lipo ads tell you that you will back to work in three days. I have a small child I could barely bend to pick her up on the third day I think doctors tell you things so you will get the surgery.
Jan, I feel ya! I know exactly how you feel. I never want to wear a bathing suit again. I am sorry :(((((((
It's been exactly one month after my surgery. I had the brazilian butt lift procedure done. The Doctor used the Liposuction method and Liposculpting method...took the fat from my back above and below the bra-strap, fat from my abdomen, sides, and made a back indentation (liposculpture) to give me a more natural curve...did the fat graffting (fat injections for butt augmentation).
I started off at 190 lbs / size 14Wide 4/16/08
Day two after surgery I was more like an 18 nothing fit...
Day one was the hardest.I didn't expect to look twice the size I started with..lots of drainage...day two I got up and went to the restroom....day three and the rest of the week I got really sore and just wanted to sleep...sleep...sleep...the pain pills were wonderfull...lol...
By the 14th day....I was getting a lot of compliments and I haven't told anyone about my surgery...it's been my secret...now its 30 days exactly and I am a size 11...170 lbs....and still shrinking...yes there is numbness on my lower back, some hardness on my thighs....yes I have a smaller waist line and I'm Loving That...but....yeah.....Were is my Brazilian Butt Lift???? I don't see much growing back there!!! Wish someone else who has had this procedure done let me know when i'm going to see some results....
To everyone else still worried about the procedure....the pics at the doctor's office look good but where are my results???
Lumps here and there from the lipo....yeah...but from the blogs above thank you for letting me know that i am still in the early stages of recooperation....
Was it worth it...yes and no....but yet too early to tell completely...
I wish I saw this site *before* lipo. I am really scared. I had abdomen, back, luv handles done only on Thursday. I too think the way this is described by doctors and cosmetic sites no where near prepares you. I would say today is first day pain is bearable for me. I had to come to work, had no choice. I know they say you have to wait for results, I can already see one side is done much more agressively than other. From te side view of my stomach there is clear line of deep fold where fat is out. I do not have this on other side of me. What am I going to do? It can't be swelling as the part of lipo is much lower than part under my bra line. Ugh. My boyfriend has not seen me without garments yet and I am afraid to let him see. I had second thoughts the day of surgery and should have listened to my gut instincts. Now it is too late. I sure hope this clear line on my right side fades. I also fear all the potential problems like scarring, etc., that I have see on the web. I thought that was all uncommon and now I see it is more common than I thought. :-(
Information has been helpful but, I think I would have still had my procedure. I'm 68 and had a necklift and lipo of abdom and stomach. It's been 4-weeks and I'm still burning and sore. I do have some lumps in my neck area. I use a heat messager and have been working on them. Getting better but not completely happy. Dr. assured me they will even out. I go to dr. again this coming week. Will see what he thinks. I do have indentions in my neck that he said he cold not get rid of. Would think about botox in the ring looking indented area's. This procedure cost me a total of 6,000.00 and have to keep remarks to myself because of my husbands remarks!
Lori,
I am sure you are still very swollen. I wouldn't worry just yet. You have months to go before you will even begin to see your true result. I am sure it is just the swelling :) I had definitive demarcations simply from the compression garment pushing on the swelling. However, where my stomach folded (like a roll) afterward while I as on teh computer, scar tissue did develop, so I would make very sure you aren't sitting this way. Sit up straight! My doc warned me but I didn't adhere to it every time. The line where I did NOT get lipo has scar tissue, as does where I was sitting and there was a roll of swollen skin. Be careful.
Is your doc having you get massages or massage yourself or anything?
Keep your chin up, there are tons of people out there with great results. :)
Bea,
I am so thrilled for you! :) I always love a success story. Lipo isn't perfect, but if one can walk away better off than going in, good for us!
Trish,
How is your swelling? I am so glad to hear you are doing well. As you know, you are so early in the game. I wouldn't worry at all. Once you heal, you can always discuss revisions IF you need any. I am sure you will be fine :)
Will you keep me up to date on your progress?
M
I had lipo done to my outer thighs on May 2. I'm 38 and in good shape - I weigh only 105 pounds, but I had terrible mushy saddle bags. I'm only 4 weeks post op, and I don't regret it for a second. My procedure was a piece of cake - I had a very small amount of drainage, and no bruising at all. I did faithfully wear my compression garments for 3 weeks day and night, and I continue to wear it in the evenings. So far, my saddlebags are just about gone. I told my surgeon that I absolutely did not want dimpling or sagging skin, so he said he would not remove all of the fat. Currently,I am very happy with my results - I "think" I may have a little more swelling, so my results may get even better. Only time will tell. I go back to my surgeon in two more weeks. I would definitely do it again.