Vaser yesterday (04.06.15) – my story

So I am just waking up after having had Vaser to my upper and lower tummy with Dr Kingdon at the London Mya yesterday. I got there at 12pm and was taken to my ‘shared’ room by my nurse. She was very nice but English wasn’t her first language and there was definitely difficulty in communicating. She also seemed like she was very new. She didn’t fill me with much confidence tbh.

I was told to change into a gown, sexy surgery knickers, and lovely foam slippers which I did. I also had to pee for a pregnancy test – however I had gone as soon as I got to the clinic because no-one had mentioned it – and having not had anything to drink for 2 hours this was easier said than done – so bear that in mind !

The nurse then came back and started asking me medical questions about my history ( all of which I had answered before at pre-op ). She then asked me fill out the consent form and just told me to sign in places, but obviously I took time to read it and found that all of the details were wrong – wrong surgeon etc. she said she would get another one. She then took my blood pressure and left me to it.

The anaesthetist then came in and had a chat. He was lovely and I had every confidence in him. He explained everything that he was going to do.

Then Dr Kingdon and a woman ( no idea who she was – kind of like his PA ) came in. He asked me to draw with my finger around where I thought I needed to lose the fat. He agreed that was right and drew around it – going a bit wider at points which was fine with me !! I then had pictures taken and he said we’d be ready to go shortly.

The nurse then came back and asked why I didn’t have my surgical socks on – mainly because she hadn’t given me any ! So I was given a pair to complete my look !!

The PA woman then came back with a new consent form – and again I was rushed to sign without reading it ! I don’t think so ! But all was fine and I signed ( although there were a lot of gaps that I filled in myself).

Then an HCA came in to take me to surgery – she looked for my wrist band to confirm my details – but I didn’t have one of those either so the nurse had to go and hand write me one. I then had to cover my hair with a sexy hair net type thingy.So then off to surgery which is just one floor up.

The team in here were lovely and clearly knew what they were doing. They made me feel much better than the nurse downstairs had. I got on the bed and was suitably covered up. The room is very small !! My left arm was put on a side part of the trolley and the anaesthetist put a cannula in my hand. My right arm was taken by a nurse out to the other side and I had a blood pressure monitor put on. I then had heart monitors put all over me.

I then heard Dr Kingdon come in, I couldn’t see as there was a curtain around me but at this point the anaesthetist said he was putting the anaesthetic in ( his actually words were “3 glasses of red wine going in now” !! ). I felt the cold going up my arm and then that was it. I reckon it was about 1.00pm at this point. The next thing I was waking up in the recovery room !

I thought that I was going to be wide awake and watching the surgery but that didn’t happen. I have had a lot of general anaesthetic before for other things and it felt just like that. Whether I was actually awake or not I have no idea but I didn’t feel or see anything until the recovery room — which was fine by me !!

The nursing staff were lovely, letting me recover a bit and giving me little sips of water. Once I started coming round I asked how much fat was removed and they said 800ml which was more than I was expecting but good ! I heard someone say it was now 2.15pm.

They then said it was time to put my garments on. The ladies did this with the curtain round me. I got a very quick glimpse of my tummy and I have to say I didn’t notice much difference which I was then really disappointed about. But I suppose there is swelling and I was drugged up so I’m telling myself not to worry. If they have taken 800mls of fat then I must look better, right ??

Anyway as everyone has said the compression vest is awful. It is very very bulky, like a bullet proof vest. It comes from your boobs down to your groin at the front and on the back, right up to the shoulder blades. Therefore you can’t bend at the middle. Then they put the compression garment on over the top which is like a shapewear suit with bra like straps and it also goes down to just above the knees. The ladies couldn’t get this on and so had to get a male nurse to assist ( I was asked if I was ok with this because pretty much everything was exposed apart from my tummy ) and he then used his strength to get all of the hooks done up from top to bottom. I was then taken up to my room on the trolley.

After a little while the nurse came in and did the only thing she seemed able to do – take my blood pressure !! She went to leave and I had to ask her for some water ( it was really hot yesterday and It was now about 3.30pm and I hadn’t drunk since 10am ) as she didn’t offer me any. She went and got me some. I wasn’t in any pain at this point – just uncomfortable from the vest. I was left in the room ( thankfully no-one else had appeared in the other bed ! ) and then realised I needed a wee. I was able to get up on my own and go ( there is a suitably place hole in the garment). I was already noticing the dreaded pubic swelling !!

I got back into bed and then about 30 mins later the nurse came back again and did my blood pressure (again!). I wasn’t offered any food so I had to tell her I was starving as I’d last eaten at 6am! She then went and made me some toast and a coffee. I was then starting to get some burning pain just under my boobs – which is where I assume the incision marks are. When she came back with the food, I asked for some painkillers which she was very reluctant to give me, but eventually did.

I was then left for an hour or so, at which point a doctor came in and gave me some pills to take away. He didn’t tell me anything about recovery – just did his bit and left, it was now about 4.30pm.

About 30 mins later the nurse came back again with a bag with huge pad things in it. I couldn’t see them properly in the bag and it was left right at the end of the bed so I couldn’t reach them. She then took my blood pressure ( yup again ), took my wrist band off and went to leave. I was like, errrr can I go or what? And what are those pads for ???
She then said they were for leakage and it turned out they were to sit on. But I asked what leakage and she didn’t seem to know. I had to keep asking questions like – what is going to leak. We managed to work out that it would be leakage from the incision points of the saline solution that was injected and maybe some blood. She didn’t tell me anything about not taking the garment off until my appointment with the nurse or anything at all about recovery. I’m not sure she knew anything about my procedure. There’s no other food or anything – just toast if you are a day case – but tbh that was ok.

So I was left to get dressed. I had bought some XL joggers to wear thinking they would be baggy – but they were tight over the vest. I had also got a size 14 vest top – and this looked ridiculous !! I looked huge and I was very self conscious about going out as I was getting the train home. Get something really really baggy to wear. Like 3 sizes bigger at least !!
I left and got the tube and train home – I had no issues walking or standing. Sitting was more of an issue because of the vest. I went to bed after a couple of hours of perching on the sofa at home and slept fairly well. I could sleep on my side with a little bit of discomfort.

So this morning everything is ok. Not too much pain, a bit more pubic swelling 🐪 !! I’m thinking of getting a v shaped pillow to give me some support while sitting but that’s about all I need. I’m back to work on Monday and I think that should be fine – although I have no idea what I’m going to wear. My vest is slightly angled as they were trying to get it on while I was in bed, but I am seeing the nurse tomorrow and she will take it off for the first time to show me how to put it on myself and check the incisions.

Overall everything was ok. The actually surgery part was excellent – the aftercare part was poor.
I think I’ve covered everything but please ask me anything else you’d like to know !!!

I had Vaser/ba in London and I had similar care whilst there esp with a nurse who didn’t speak good English ! Surgery was great the care could be better . Happy healing I’m now 7 weeks post op

Hi hope ur feeling ok I go in on Tuesday for upper/lower Abbs bra roll good to read ur story doesn’t surprise me about the nurse as they mucked my first blood test up had to have another which worried me lack of organisations
organisations. But my pre op nurse gave me all tje the information sounds like u have not. I have mixed emotions excited and nervous I can’t believe u got a train home I was told I was not allowed. How are u feeling xx

Hi,

I’m feeling good. Went to see the nurse yesterday for my 48 hour post op consultation. I was amazed at how small the incisions are. I’m still not sure that I can see any difference – but I’m telling myself that I’m still swollen. I did pass out on the nurse though after she took the vest etc off for the first time and the blood starting flowing round !! She said it’s very common. She also cut the vest down quite a lot for me, so it’s a bit more comfortable now – but it’s still very cumbersome. Sleeping is more uncomfortable now than the first night.

I was told not to get the train home – but because I live so close it was easy to do it. And it didn’t cause me any problems.
Thankfully my pre-op nurse had given me all of the info I needed, so when my surgery day nurse sucked it wasn’t too bad !!
I took it off myself this morning for the first time to have a shower. I’ve been told I shouldn’t take it off anymore than once every 48 hours – and good job really as it took me 45 mins to get it all back on again !! I haven’t taken any painkillers since yesterday morning so things are looking good – I have a bit of bruising around my pubic bone and on my sides from where the vest was so tight.

I was really worried before mine with people saying they couldn’t move for weeks and how painful it was – but I really haven’t found that to be the case – I’m back to work tomorrow and other than the fact that I look huge due to the vest I’m not too concerned 🙂

Ok that’s good to here not so good u pass out worrying I am really nervous though can’t wait to just av a nice stomach as I’m not going out at the moment just feel so self concuouis x

Good luck for tomorrow – you won’t need it and you’ll be just fine 🙂

Saw the nurse again today. She said I was healing well, but has advised me to start massaging it myself and also to get lymphatic drainage massage if I can. I can also take my vest off from the 2nd July – but will have to wear the garment for another few weeks after that. No bruising and no pain, unless I poke it, then it’s a bit tender. She said I was still swollen. It’s looking better every time I see it – still a bit worried about the bottom bit as I may have some excess skin where I used to be quite fat about a year ago and my skin stretched a bit – but only time will tell !!

Hi that’s good then I am really struggling with sleeping I feel as if I am.being crushed and wake up every hour that’s the worst for me I am bruised quite bad still any advice on sleeping glad ur healing ok xx

Thanks for the report – I’m booked in for 7th August. I had traditional lipo but I’m so nervous about vaser although I’ve heard it’s less invasive.

I am having the surgery on the Friday and I intend to go back to work on the Tuesday, do you think this should be ok? I’m having it on flanks and back, what’s this all about public swelling???

Hi,

I had my surgery on Thursday and was back at work on the Monday.
Pubic swelling – well, gravity takes over and the swelling goes to the lowest point – and that point is the pubic area – so your bits get very swollen !!

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