Thread: Lipo

I've come to the determination that no matter how much I exercise and eat properly that I have to much belly fat and it will not go away. So I am considering Liposuction.

Does anyone have any experience with this and if so were you happy with the results. Pro's and con's on this procedure?

one of my surfing gal friends did it and loves the results, she was sore for six weeks and couldnt get in the water..she did mention to make sure you get in the contract with your surgeon that they will cover the cost of touch ups if necessary

also do a LOT of reading, some people complain of having skin that feels ropey afterwards or if their skin elasticity is poor, they don't shrink back right away. but it seems to have 'helped' a lot of women who can't lose the weight after diet and exercise (i'm in the same boat but am going to be surfing three times a week in late april and if THAT doesnt take the stomach pooch off then i'll go with you!)

check out the surgeons thoroughly, they should offer FREE consults and be able to advise you what to realistically expect. bring photos in and discuss what you are after. (i'd love a mini TT but may pop out another jellybean) / get opinions, second opinions, talk to women who've done it

be prepared to miss some time at work and feel sore for a long time after..you may heal quickly but be prepared to give up dance for a while. some folks don't see results for up to a year. i understand there is a LOT of swelling after lipo, they give you a compression band to wear, it is very important to wear it despite the discomfort (i had to wear one to help my boobs drop) also follow the diet and exercise guidelines to a T

depending on who you talk to some people are thrilled and some arent. the biggest complaints we hear about are ropey feelings under the skin (may be due to a large cannula being used) and saggy skin. both CAN go away over time. and both may not bother someone if they are willing to put up with that for the price of losing the extra baggage .

i could recommend an excellent surgeon in Kona if you want to travel :) he hasn't lipo'd me but i believe i have the most excellent tits in his portfolio :) ..l;,..l;,

and if you decide to do it, GO for it dont let others' opinions about 'going under the knife' affect you. do it because it's what you want. i think you are absolutely gorgeous but i completely understand the want to rid things that exercise doesnt

email me if you like
xx

and be prepared to form a thick skin because people will inadvertently make comments about those who go under the knife. not all of us are the blond bimbo with inflated boobs like on Bret Michaels shows..there are extremes :)

how are you going to feel when someone makes a comment about those who do surgery for cosmetic purposes? whether out of mean-ness or just casual comment? (i don't personally let it bother me and am very open about the surgery, once women know my tatas are surgically enhanced they open up and ask a lot of questions and they aren't catty at all :)

If you are considering it I would schedule a few constultations with board certified surgeons in your area. When going in for a consultation a good doctor should listen to your concerns and assess the situation as a doctor and not as a sales person. If you feel like your getting the "hard sell" or if your doctor starts talking about procedures you did not mention first high tail it out of there.

Lipo is an invasive procedure, it isn't simply sucking fat, there is a very long and thick needle involved and often times the surgeon will have to violently thrust the needle into the area they are working on. Be prepared for pain, soreness and mobility issues after the procedure.

Also it's good to know that when you get lipo if you gain weight it will never re-distribute to the operated area and often this creates an odd looking shape.

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

Also it's good to know that when you get lipo if you gain weight it will never re-distribute to the operated area and often this creates an odd looking shape.

I know someone who had lipo and then gained between 50 and 75lbs a few years later. She looks really weird because she has a small waist and everything else looks huge. Doesn't seem like that would happen to you, since you maintain a fit and athletic body, but I think it is important to remember....

You only live once...do what you want...but do it for you.

Originally Posted by jesennia

how are you going to feel when someone makes a comment about those who do surgery for cosmetic purposes? whether out of mean-ness or just casual comment? (i don't personally let it bother me and am very open about the surgery, once women know my tatas are surgically enhanced they open up and ask a lot of questions and they aren't catty at all :)

Oh I don't have a problem with what others think. We use to talk about cosmetic surgery casually in class with my previous instructor. It was actually quite up lifting. I have openly expressed that I do botox. I think there is nothing wrong for wanting to look your best. Especially as a professional dancer where looking your best means work or no work.

I have a lot flaws with my body IMO, but I can live with most of them. I thought about breast enhancement cause mine are to small for my build, but I really do enjoy having small breast. As an old lover once said to me more than a mouth full is a waist.

Thank you for the invite to email you. I will most likely take you up on that.
I would love to return to Hawaii. Miss it so much and it brings me much happiness when I recall memories of living there. It was there that I had my first and most likely last Wedding. The only thing that keeps me from returning is the cost of living.

Gees, our surgeon here charges $95 for a consultation!

95 for a consult!!!!! that's outrageous. imo consults should be free because prudent 'shoppers' will consult with multiple surgeons. I agree if someone is trying to sell you on multiple procedures, walk out.

Angela i just blogged yesterday about cost of living in Hawaii. The Morning Bleat: no we are not rich to live in hawaii :)

If someone wants to maintain a mainland lifestyle, house, car, then it is indeed expensive but if you are really budget minded and don't mind living in a closet and the beach and weather are the most important things to you, (and if you surf or enjoy water sports 'cuz the beach is FREE ) you can live on min wage here. May require roommates and taking the bus but it's give and take. We are buying a large 2200 sq ft house in Arizona but are choosing to live in 550 sq ft with loud neighbors so that we can be walking distance to the worlds most perfect surfing beach again :)

big island is much cheaper than waikiki but i'm going nuts from too much rain, our beach is being torn up, and i can get a better nursing job on oahu..but right now we rent a two bedroom with playroom outside of Hilo for 1100 and it's a pretty decent house acc. to hawaii standards :)

I would get lipo in a new york minute if I could afford it.

Angela, did I miss something? Weren't you just talking about maybe shutting off your power so you could afford makeup and a hairpiece for a competition? I thought you were as broke as me... is there some secret to getting lipo done cheap, or some insurance that pays for it? Tell, tell!!

Hi Angela and ladies, my very first post here, although I have been lurking for awhile. I am a brand new baby bellydancing student(at age 41, woohoo!).

Three years ago I had a mini TT, liposuction to the upper abdomen and waist, and a breast lift/augmentation. One of the cosmetic surgeons at the hospital where I work gives good discounts to employees, anyway I LOVE THE RESULTS!!!!!!

My problem was "Tenting" of the abdomnal muscles( 4 babies), some belly fat I could not lose, and a little "apron". You know that fold of skin on your lower belly, not matter how much weight I lost those things would NOT go away.
After the surgery I went from a 31" waist to 28", and that post pregnancy pooch is gone and the skin now looks firm and smooth, on my lower abdomen anyway. The liposuction on my upper abdomen I don't really think helped ME so much. I do have a little ropey appearence to the skin there, which is not so noticeable with massage and Jergens Skin Firming Lotion.Also, if I know I going to be in a bikini, I will wear a neoprene belt to sweat excess fluid out of the fat cells there(looks better for about 1 day) Probably should have had the full tuck, but I am pleased with my results overall.

I was very sore for awhile, but the miniTT and liposuction was NOTHING compared to the Breast augmentations.I would say I was doing some light house work after a couple of days, really couldn't bend over but that was more from the TT than the liposuction. I did wear a surgical binder for 6 weeks, which at first is uncomfortable, but now I still like to wear a binder sometimes. it is good support.

I think it is very important to get a couple of consults (mine was free) and also to have very realistic expectations of the results. I was pleased with my results because I did not expect to get my 18 year body back. Actually, I think my results were BETTER than I expected. Research online, there are many sites that have before and after pictures.

The thing I thought was most of my problem before was not so much fat as it was loose skin and tented muscles. I don't know if you have children or not, but if those things are part of the problem, liposuction probably won't be much help. A consult with the cosmetic surgeon will help you determine, of course you have to be careful he( or she) does not want to run up your bill for something you don't need(as in TT, they are much more$)
Also, before you get liposuction, I would suggest a very good moisterizer with intense massage to the fat pockets you are concerned with. I have found this helps me lose more fat in those areas that are stubborn, I suppose it increases circulation so your body can carry the toxins away.

Now, I am 15 pounds heavier than I was when that surgery was done, but I still think I look a lot better, I would do it all over again.
If you have any specific ?"S for me, please ask, and good luck!

If I were to have my tummy done, I'd really only want the skin tightened and a little fat removed from between the skin and the muscle below the navel. In other words, I wouldn't want the muscle cut (again - 2 C sections already!)

Not that I've given it much thought or anything! ..l;,

I do have a question -- where are your scars and how do you feel about them?

I suggest some serious reading - anecdotes are fine but limited. There were some ugly possible side-effects a few years back (ugliest being the patient died!) These may now be addressed. Also, make sure your surgeon is properly trained and certified - not an area to save a few bucks.

The scar from the TT are very low, I could wear,say a low rise moderate bikini bottom from Venus swimwear. Actually it is the same place as a previous hysterectomy scar, but some wider. The scars from the breast lift are in an inverted T underneath. I had some trouble with the scars under my breasts and the cosmetic surgeon offered to revise them, but they don't bother me at all, so I chose to love and live with the scars instead of undergoing ANOTHER risk of surgery and infection. No one sees them but me and my husband.

As far as cutting the abdominal muscles...it is my understanding that the muscle are not cut, the incision is made to the muscles and they are repaired with permenant sutures, the the skin is pulled taut and excess cut away, then the incision is closed. A full tummy tuck involves some cutting underneath because the belly button must be raised.

Yes it is definitely a risk to undergo any type of surgery, and very important to consider especially if a cosmetic surgery worth that risk. I DID get a nice discount with the surgeon I went with and that is why I was able to have several proceedures done. But I also knew of this surgeons reputation since I work in the same hospital he practices in, also I knew quite a few of his other patients and was able to see his work in person. It was three years from the first consult I had till I actually had the proceedure done. I researced very, very carefully and thought long and hard about whether to do these things.

can we really determine how fast a new york minute is ..l;,

I hear as a common 'wish I'd done the entire TT not just mini" is the mini-TT not enough removal for some?

sorry my hub walked in..cgoltry welcome !!

yes the scars are very low for TT .

i've just had boobs done but thought i was going to die from the pain of recovery but would do it again in a hawaii minute. my surg went thru the armpit, i have small scars under the arms and no loss of sensation. they are playboy boobs (hehehe) . now just need the stomach to boot.

go watch Dr 90210 or youtube a TT and you may change your mind, pretty gruesome. lipo is violent the way the surgeon has to work the cannula..it scares me. boobs no prob but sawing away to suck out the extras is scary, just cut me and zip me tighter..l;,..l;,

I also understand a true flat tummy cannot be achieved with lipo (well depends on the patient) but lipo contours and shapes whereas a TT will flatten

ps my surgeon is hiring right now but it's a full time nurse position, if my baby were in school i'd jump on the job, his employees get discounts too and they all look marvelous. hahahaa maybe if i work part time he'll just do one sided
TT :)

A person I knew a few years ago got it (lipo) and she said she got some body fungus with it, then later gained all the weight back. I can't verify the fungus (it was internal like a yeast or athlete's foot, but inside her body...I can't remember specifically what it was...does this sound crazy?), but I can verify that she looks just the same. She didn't diet or exercise though either before or after. She had good intentions, but she was very inconsistent.

Anyone hear of anything like that?

Is there a doctor in the house?

KS

Yes, the lipo was particulary scary for me. I've seen enough stuff on t.v. that I knew what would be happening in the O.R., and since I am in healthcare I knew alot about the risks.

I do think a mini TT is enough for some, maybe even most people who are a reasonable weight and fit. Before the surgery, it was hard to tell that my upper abs needed MORE than lipo, but really, the thing is the lower abs look so good now the uppers don't look so hot. I think I am the only to notice though.

Since the lipo (and other proceedures) any weight that I gain goes other places, mostly to my BUTT, which I find as I get older that is not such a bad place for it to go.(I've got a big round booty!) Also have some more weight in my arms and legs and I needed that, they were bony and out of proportion to the rest of me.

HeHe, I've got playboy boobs, too. DD's...to match my big ole booty. I have probably permanently damaged my four teenaged sons but their daddy is happy. How do I get a smiley in here?

I've heard of systemic staph infections but I'm going to google yeast / fungus re: lipo. Sounds pretty scary. What kind of treatment did they have to give her? And they linked to the lipo? I would have pressed charges.

Cgoltry on the right side of the box are a bunch of emoticons and you can click on more for a full list, just click the one you want :)

Do you think any kind of ab workout would firm up the upper abs (yea I personally wouldnt worry about it either, I dont mind being cushiony just not doughy)

do you work as a surg tech ? Im fascinated by all of it even the lesser forms of surg-n-repair like botox and stuff.

Mini TTs are about half the price too aren't they? about 3 to 4 k?

big booties rule. i like ..what do they call..badunka dunk and big boobs go with big butts

your teenagers ..do they die of embarrassment? mine 13 yo was here with me during recovery, he was very chill about it, very helpful with the baby. he brags to his friends now that mama's got D's (but depends on what company he's in :) my baby LOVES them..he stares at them and then likes to put his face between them and cuddle ..l;,(so does his daddy)

Originally Posted by cgoltry

How do I get a smiley in here?

You'll only see the smileys if you hit the 'reply' button or the 'go advanced' button. I usually use 'quick reply' and there are no smileys there.

Once you see them, you can just click on the one you want and it'll insert. Or click on 'more' to see more smileys. There are some fun ones. :fg:

will post a longer post in the am about the boys and other things, but too tired now to write,
this is insane! I can't believe I am up this late posting on BHZ!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by cgoltry

will post a longer post in the am about the boys and other things, but too tired now to write,
this is insane! I can't believe I am up this late posting on BHZ!!!!!!!

Welcome to your new addiction. heh heh

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I would get lipo in a new york minute if I could afford it.

Angela, did I miss something? Weren't you just talking about maybe shutting off your power so you could afford makeup and a hairpiece for a competition? I thought you were as broke as me... is there some secret to getting lipo done cheap, or some insurance that pays for it? Tell, tell!!

ummmmmmmm no. I have no money for it ,f::, I am broke as all #$LL, and I have shut off my heat once again. ..cr.: but it doesn't mean I can't consider it. It may take a few years to save for it. but it doesnt hurt to start the research and hope for the best.

Originally Posted by AngelaDiCaprio

ummmmmmmm no. I have no money for it ,f::, I am broke as all #, and I have shut off my heat once again. ..cr.: but it doesn't mean I can't consider it. It may take a few years to save for it. but it doesnt hurt to start the research and hope for the best.

gotcha. ,f:: Dang it, thought maybe you knew some secret. Like those websites where girls try to get rich guys to buy them new boobs. Aren't there any rich guys who want to buy us flat bellies?

I wish I could just find a normal guy to buy me a ring..... and I'm not talking nose ring...

dang i married for love instead of money. if you stay at Hefners playboy mansion I think he buys all the bunnies new boobs and stuff.

I'm not an advocate for getting loans on anything other than houses but cosmetic surgery can be financed. my rule is to not buy anything i can't pay for with cash (again our house is exception) ...i saved for the boobs. paid off the student loan then immediately saved for boobs

Ya right now I'm just trying to pay off my debt. I'm considering on moving to a smaller place with lower rent to increase my cash flow. If I paid off all my debt and moved to a smaller place then I would have about 600 month to save for cosmetic stuff. Right now I'm just paying off one credit card at a time.

My sister is an audiologist and the ENT she works for also does facial plastic surgery. We have this familial chin thing going--not really a double chin but a tent of tissue under the chin connected to the neck. All of us girls in our family (my mother, sisters, nieces, great nieces) have all had and it is not age related). '

So my sister asked for a consult on plastic surgery to correct it thinking that maybe some lipo would be all that was needed. Turns out this lovely facial feature is not surgically correctable because the "tent" is actually muscle and ligaments with a thin fat layer. We all have heart shaped faces with high cheeckbones, width at the jawline, and pointed chins. None of the men in our family inherited this face shape or chin/neck thing.

Here my sister had been hoping to arrange for a family discount so we could all have the same procedure done. No such luck.

Souzan

Originally Posted by jesennia

dang i married for love instead of money. if you stay at Hefners playboy mansion I think he buys all the bunnies new boobs and stuff.

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,

That cracked me up Jesennia.
Hef is so just....ugh!

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,

That cracked me up Jesennia.
Hef is so just....ugh!

i read a book written by a previous 'girlfriend' definitely an interesting book., according to her don't believe everything you see on the Girls Next Door (but yes he buys surgery, cars and dogs for his girls )

Originally Posted by jesennia

...check out the surgeons thoroughly, they should offer FREE consults and be able to advise you what to realistically expect. bring photos in and discuss what you are after....

Hi, I'm new here but I just had to pop in to say that many fine surgeons charge for consults; their time is money afterall. However, it may depend on your market - many charge $100 and up in Manhattan.

Also make sure that s/he is board certified. Anyone can call herself a plastic surgeon even if her training was in general surgery. You may want to seek out a local weight loss surgery support group - they will know about all the plastic surgeons in your area.