Back in our August Health, Fitness and Wellness Issue, two Instinct staffers chronicled their experiences using two relatively new forms of cosmetic procedures. As promised, we're following up four months later to see how they are doing...

Sono Bello SmartLipo Four-Month Follow-Up

It’s been just over four months since I underwent the SmartLipo procedure at Sono Bello in Beverly Hills. (The original article can be found in the August 2011 issue of Instinct and here) And I must say that things have proceeded pretty much as the doctor and the Sono Bello staff had promised.

At just about a week after surgery, my swelling was mostly down and my bruising was already fading. Discomfort was minimal, but the compression garment you are required to wear for (10 days to three weeks) can be uncomfortable because the scabs do itch under there—but don’t scratch them!—you don’t want the scars to be any bigger or deeper.

Sono Bello staff followed up with e-mails about once a week for the first month, and then once a month thereafter. It was in the form a newsletter that was likely e-mailed out to all patients, but the information included in the e-mail pretty much summed up what my body was going through and what I was experiencing (any bruising, swelling or discomfort) and how to deal with it. Everything I was told before the procedure went along pretty much as they said, and thus, these e-mail newsletters proved quite helpful and informative.

The fact of the matter is I had very little, if any, discomfort at all. I did have some significant swelling on one side of my body but not so much on the other. Bruising was minimal. All of these elements vary according to patient and how much fat is removed, so everybody’s results could vary. And while fat was removed from my love handles—actually, all of my love handles were removed—my actual weight loss after the procedure was less than 3 pounds (2.4 lbs) to be exact. This means that in order to reap the benefits of this sculpting procedure you really must exercise and stick to healthy eating habits in order to maximize the results. I’ve done well with this and can see the significant results of using the procedure to be the catalyst for a more committed exercise schedule.

In terms of lasting results—that’ll be up to me, and my eating/exercising. Physically, I do have four small, circular scars on the sides of my torso, and they have been lessening as time passes. I wish they were getting smaller faster, but they are becoming less noticeable with time. The nurse at Sono Bello recommended two different scar creams which I am now using twice daily to try to minimize these scars’ appearance even further. In two months’ time, I am told they will be as small as freckles. That has yet to be determined, but so far so good.

In terms of my overall appearance, the shape of my torso looks great. The love handles are completely gone and clothes look better on me now. If I continue to lose weight (or maintain my weight) and exercise, the results will become ever more dramatic. It’s clear that this procedure has left me feeling inclined to want to keep what the procedure has given me and not undo the results, so I am at the gym three to four times a week. In another two months (which will be six months post-op), Dr. Rollins says I should be at peak benefit from the surgery. This gives me two more months to really kick my fitness regimen into high gear and make the most of this innovative SmartLipo procedure.

Sono Bello Contour Centers are located across the country. Visit sonobello.com for more info on doctors and procedures in your area.

Ultherapy Four-Month Follow-Up

It’s weird looking at yourself so closely in the mirror every day and wondering how much your face has actually changed. Sure, you see a little pimple here or a stray hair there, but when you want to look at the subtle transformation of your jawline and your cheekbones, it can be difficult to do with a mirror alone.

I guess that’s why they utilize “before and after” photos for procedures like Ultherapy. I had this relatively new procedure back in June (the original article appears in the August issue of Instinct and can be viewed here) and it is supposed to lift and tighten your skin from underneath. No scars, no downtime and minimal pain.

All of this is true (no scars, no downtime and the pain was bearable if not minimal). And the results? Well, four months later I can see that my skin does seem more firm around my jawline and under my chin. There is improved elasticity, but to be perfectly honest, it’s really hard to see just how significant the difference is from my pre-procedure profile. At six months, when I return for a follow-up visit, the good doctors will take pictures, and then I’ll really be able to see what has changed with the shape and contours of my face (sorry, we don’t have those pictures now to accompany this follow-up just yet).

The interesting thing about Ultherapy is that the changes to my face’s shape are so subtle they’re difficult for me to notice by sight. But one difference I’m sure of is the feel of my skin–it’s definitely been lifted and tightened because it feels that way from within and that may just be worth the investment itself.

For more info on the procedure or doctors near you who may offer Ultherapy, visit ulthera.com

(Main image source)