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River Of Data.com |
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SmartLipo for Dan In early 2007 I learned about SmartLipo and about Dra. Maria Lopez who performs the procedure at the Versalles Center in Tijuana. Since I'd not heard about the procedure or known anyone who'd had it, I did some research on the subject. Like the LapBand, it was done in Mexico long before it was done in the United States. It has been recently approved in the United States, but I was once again interested in having the procedure done in Mexico where the doctors were more experienced and the prices were lower. I was interested in SmartLipo for several reasons. First, it was much less invasive and traumatic than regular liposuction, and in some cases could be done under a local anesthetic. My original plan was to have the procedure done on my breasts and my groin area (below the area worked on by the tummytuck). I discussed the options with Dra. Lopez's coordinator, Robin, and we worked out a date, Monday, April 23, just two days after I was set to do the Robie Creek Half Marathon, with the general plan that the work could be done under a local. So, the adventure started. I went to airport early Sunday, flew to Seattle, then on to San Diego. Had a bit of a delay in airport in San Diego before Dr. Lopez's driver and I found each other, but no real problem. Quick trip down the 5 to the Lucerna, checked in, and then walked out by the pool (which is never heated and don't think I've ever seen anyone in, either). There were two ladies lounging, reading, and chatting. I took a risk talking to them and then asking "is there any chance you're down here for some surgery?". They said yes (and didn't seem offended). I asked if it was with Dr. Ortiz or someone else. They were patients of Dr. Ortiz so we spent a couple hours talking about what it is like being banded. I think I helped reduce some of their worries. I had supper at one of my favorite places, La Cantina de los Remedios, about five blocks down the street, watched some TV, and got some sleep. On Monday I was picked up at the hotel at 900 and brought over here to the hospital/clinic. For those who know TJ at all, the building is about six blocks west of the Lucerna, right in back of "the yellow restaurant" (La Coantina de los Remedios) where I'd eaten on Sunday evening. The clinic is on the sixth floor of a building that has signs in front for radiology and some other medical offices. Everything is very nice, clean, and beautiful, very first class. I met the staff, got a room, and filled out all the usual required paperwork. The nurse drew blood and the cardiologist came by to listen to my heart, take blood pressure (up a bit at 130/90, but that was due to stress I'm sure), and do an EKG. I've had a number of EKGs before, but in each case the leads were all fastened with "tape", meaning that they stick them on to you like a bandaid. This was different. He put big spring clamps on my arms and legs and the chest leads all were fastened on by suction. They were little metal cups with a bulb to squeeze to make the suction. I was told by a friend that this is the "old fashioned kind of machine", but it worked fine and he got good results. He assured me that there would be no pain (which I knew), and I wondered if it was because others have had the same weird thought I had...that the big metal clips/clamps on arms and legs reminded me of movies of somebody sitting in the electric chair. I actually liked the clips better, since he didn't have to peel the tape off, pulling hairs. Then Robin and Dra. Lopez came in and I got a picture of them. I talked for a long time with Dra. Lopez about what I wanted done (groin and chest) under local. However, she felt that it would be much safer to perform the procedure under a general anesthetic. She also thought that since a general was required, it would be good to do my flanks (love handles) that didn't go away in the tummy tuck, some of upper back, and the left side of my upper belly where the doc who did the tummytuck left way more fat around the lapband port than I would have preferred. The original plastic surgeon was way too concerned about damaging the port or tubing that runs to the band. I told her the idea of doing more was fine, but I was still very dubious about the general anesthetic. The three surgeries I had since getting an UP3 (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty) some ten years ago have all resulted in me getting aspiration pneumonia (band surgery and two tummytucks). I was so sick each of those times that I really did NOT want to have that happen again. She understood, but suggested I talk with the anesthesiologist about the issue. So, after a very long talk with the anesthesiologist I decided to do the whole thing. He assured me that before removing the tube I would be at a 45 degree angle so that I would have very little chance of having any drainage or vomit go into my lungs. He also assured me that I would not have any issues with nausea, further reducing any chances of a problem. I finally agreed to do the general. Doing the extra parts of my body made it more complicated, cost more money, and meant it would take about 4 hours knocked out. I finally etc, but I figured might as well do it right since I was there. It also was a set of procedures that could all be done with the same post-surgery garment. Dra. Lopez didn't pressure me or anything, and would have done less if that's what I had decided on. Then I got on my beautiful gown, a nurse put an IV in my wrist and the wonderful white stockings on my legs and I waited a few minutes before they were ready for me to walk the fifty feet to the OR. While I was waiting I called Gail to tell her about the change of plans, and she was very upset and concerned, since she was very afraid that I'd get the pneumonia again. I tried to reassure her, but didn't do a very good job. When I got to the OR I told Dra. Lopez about Gail's fears, and she said she would call Gail at work before the surgery began and at home when it was over, but before I was awake. She did indeed make those personal calls which helped to reassure Gail. I don't know of any US surgeons that would make the personal phone calls like that. Dra. Lopez took some pictures of me and then marked me up with blue magic marker. After drawing all over me, I made sure that she was really just going to use the little cannula and not cut any of those places, and she assured me that was the case and this just helped her to visualize what to do. I stretched out on the table and was out in less than a minute. No counting backwards or anything, just a nice little nap. About four or five hours later I woke up in a bed in a semi-reclining position, where I stayed for the next 16 hours or so. I had a catheter, of course. Over night a nurse checked on me regularly, but basically I just slept and watched TV. There was one other patient there that night. I didn't really have any significant pain at all. The incisions were a bit sore, and there was the beginning of what would turn into bruises in some of the areas where she had done her laser magic. In the morning I woke to the sound of loud swearing and yelling. It turned out that another patient, who was awaiting his surgery in a couple hours, was yelling about "the delay" and how he hadn't eaten in 16 hours and had to eat 8 times a day. He was the loudest and rudest patient I've ever even heard of, much less heard personally. Soon after, the nurse removed the catheter, IV, and bandages so that I could get a wonderful shower. Several of the very small incisions that were the points for insertion of the cannula had no stitches, and the rest had one stitch each. I was a little wobbly getting to the shower, but once I was in there a couple of minutes I felt fine in all respects. Next was breakfast, jello and oatmeal (kind of runny). Those were both fine for me in the morning when my band is tight. There were also cut pieces of apple. but I knew better than to try to eat that in the morning. After breakfast I sat in a chair and started recording some of what you're now reading. At lunch time I had an excellent chicken soup with big pieces of chicken and vegetables. Around noon Dra. Lopez had finished her first surgery of the day (the wife of the man who was swearing), and she came to me while the staff was getting the OR prepared for her to operate on the "gentleman" who thought he was dying of starvation as he waited for the work on his wife. While we talked he yelled that he was still waiting and she yelled that she was dying of pain. They were quite a pair. Anyway, we talked for quite a while about how the procedure had gone, what I should expect, and so forth. She also helped me put the "girdle" on the first time and told me the rules for it. She said that I could stay there for that night or I could go to a hotel. I told her I'd much rather go to a hotel; there was no problem with the clinic at all, but I could get out to walk if I was at the hotel and would have a broader choice of food. She said that with the yelling people who were going to be there overnight she particularly understood, so she arranged for the driver to take me to the hotel and told me she'd see me the next day before I left for the airport. Instead of taking me to the Lucerna again, the driver took me to the El Camino Real, another excellent hotel. I prefer the charm and smaller size of the Lucerna, but the El Camino Real is another excellent property, just much larger and full of people there for some sort of conference. After settling in I went back to the Lucerna by cab. I'm sure I could have walked it, but decided to be extra careful and ride. At the Lucerna I walked around, had an afternoon snack, and talked quite a while with the ladies who had their bands installed the day before. One of them seemed to be in more pain and discomfort than I had been after banding, but the other was fine. Actually, the pain from the SmartLipo was comparable to that from banding, just in different places. Later I went back to El Camino Real by taxi, had a great supper, and spent a nice evening reading email and watching television. More to come......
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