Catherine's Smartlipo diary

After having my two children (my youngest is 8) I was left with a pouch of unsightly fat on my abdomen. I now unfortunately understood the term 'jelly belly'! No matter how many sit-ups I did, or what I weighed, I just couldn't shift it. I couldn't wear the sort of clothes I'd previously worn, I had to choose baggy styles. Not good for a girl's self confidence. Then came the research.

I went to two different clinics and I was told that liposuction with a tummy tuck was pretty much my only option. If I had the liposuction by itself, I would be left with loose skin. I have a friend who had a tummy tuck, and her scar stretches from one hip to the other, so I didn't fancy that. I also wasn't prepared to undergo the risks associated with a general anaesthetic, or a stay in hospital with the risk of MRSA. The other option I unearthed was fat busting injections. After further research I discovered there was no FDA approval for this injection, and a whole lot of controversy surrounding it. So this got crossed off my list!

Then I unearthed the revelation that Jade Goody had undergone a 1 hour procedure called SmartLipo to remove the last few bumps of fat she couldn't shift prior to flogging her exercise DVD last year. I had to know more! I discovered Dundrum Medical Cosmetic Clinic in the medical centre in Dundrum Town Centre was offering the procedure. I called the clinic and made an appointment for an assessment for the following week.

ASSESSMENT

Sue explained what was involved with the procedure, that it would take about an hour and a half, and would involve only a local anaesthetic. I would need to take a short course of antibiotics, and Solpadeine for any discomfort I would have afterwards. There would be a tiny scar measuring only a couple of millimetres. I would need two procedures, one to treat my upper abdomen, one for the lower abdomen, and I wouldn't see the full results for a few weeks as the body naturally breaks down the fatty waste that's been left behind after the suctioning. The best part for me was hearing that the laser has a tightening effect on the skin, and I wouldn't be left with saggy skin! I could go back to work the next day if I wanted. Sue assured me that their surgeon is the most experienced surgeon in the country performing this procedure, and Sue herself had first hand experience as she'd had her lower abdomen done. When she showed me the before and after pictures (including her own), I had to book in! Sue also told me I would need to wear a compression garment for up to six weeks after the procedure.

PROCEDURE DAY!

When my appointment came around two weeks later (they're so busy I couldn't get in any sooner), I was a little nervous, but really looking forward to finally getting rid of my jelly belly. The surgeon greeted me warmly and noted down all of my medical details, explaining every step of the procedure. After I was given an antibiotic and two Solpadeine, a lovely friendly nurse took my 'before' pictures, took some measurements before bringing me into the procedure room, showed me where to hang my clothes and helped me onto the bed. I was given a nice comfy eye pillow to protect my eyes from the laser. Next the nurse told me to expect the wet sensation of the cold antiseptic solution being painted on my skin. The surgeon told me he was going to give me a little local anaesthetic in my tummy before he made a tiny incision to introduce a small cannula beneath the skin containing a mixture of the local anaesthetic and saline solution to numb me up for the work ahead. This felt a little scratchy and lasted about 5 minutes, but was quite bearable. The nurse held my hand thinking I might be a bit nervous, but I really wasn't too bothered by this at all. Then I could hear the low beeping sound of the laser, the only sensation I could feel was a slight dragging on my skin. Before I knew it, I was finished. I was shown a bag of fat that had been aspirated from my abdomen, it was amazing! After a nice glass of cold water I put on my compression garment, and after paying I made an appointment to come back in a few weeks to see how I was getting on.
Two hours later I'm back home making the tea for the kids - Life so goes on….

NEXT DAY

This morning I woke up feeling a little sore around my ribs, but a couple of painkillers has sorted that out. I have a bruise on my left side, but I was warned about this, so I' not too bothered. The puffiness I had leaving the clinic yesterday has gone. I'm glad it's Saturday and I can just relax today.

TWO DAYS LATER

Out walking the dog in the AM, feeling perfectly comfortable!

ONE WEEK LATER

Sue called me to see how I was getting on, and to make sure I'm wearing my 'big knickers' (my compression garment). I'm delighted to have nothing to report to her.

SEVEN WEEKS LATER

Finally its 7 weeks after my procedure, and I'm quite keen to see how well I've done overall. I can definitely see (and feel) a difference in my clothes. I have to say the whole experience has made me more aware of my lifestyle and what I eat, I've been walking the dog most evenings, and I've managed to lose 5 lbs. Sue measures me up, takes my 'after' pictures, and takes my 'before' pictures out of my file for comparison. So here they are:

You can really see the difference in the 'after' pictures.


Ok, so I'm not Kate Moss, but the improvement is considerable.
When I go on holiday I'm not going to feel like a middle-aged frump, the boost to my self confidence has been enormous! Sue has suggested that I can improve on my result by doing some abdominal exercises. That makes perfect sense to me as the SmartLipo works on the fat, but it’s up to me to work those muscles.

TWENTY WEEKS LATER

To complete my transformation I decided to treat myself to some new clothes, so I booked a stylist in Dundrum Town Centre (only €55 for nearly 2 hours, very good value). Sinead was fantastic, giving me lots of new ideas and got me to try on clothes and colours I haven't really gone for before. I came away with 5 new fabulous outfits that fit me so much better than they would have before my SmartLipo procedures. At 45 I now feel more confident and stylish than I have done in years.

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