Within weeks, I had a consultation at the Edina, Minnesota, Sono Bello location. I had an estimate in hand to have my waist, upper/lower abs, hips, pubic, and inner/outer thighs done. A question that is often asked is about cost. The cost of each area at Sono Bello is based on your BMI. I had a BMI of 30 at the time of the consultation. Therefore, each area costs $1,945.00.

 

In addition to cost, people often wonder about pain. The consultant assured me many times the pain was manageable and that within just a couple of days, I could return to work without any restrictions. It sounded too good to be true, which should have been a red flag for me. The procedure was excruciating for me. However, you can find other people who slept through the entire procedure.

 

PRE-OP APPOINTMENT: I scheduled my procedure at Sono Bello at the Denver Technology Center in Denver, Colorado, due to scheduling conflicts. I met the doctor conducting the procedure for the first time at my pre-op appointment on July 1, 2021. He was kind and forthright and complimented me while assuring me the procedure would be painless, and the results would be outstanding.

While I had the opportunity to ask any question, the medical team proceeded in a manner that made me feel this was an extremely routine procedure. Instead of being forthcoming, I had to pry information from them. I left the appointment feeling confident and ready for the procedure.

 

DAY OF PROCEDURE: I arrived on the day of the surgery rested and not as anxious as I anticipated. I was led to a room where I changed into the infamous black paper bra and panty, had an IV inserted just in case of an emergency, and was given a combination of medications to help me relax. I selected Sono Bello because the patient isn’t entirely put under, which is supposed to assist with a shorter recovery time.

Right after I had swallowed the pills, the nurse was informed the doctor was ready in the operating room. She led me into the operating room, and I was told to lie on the table. The doctor started by numbing the areas that would be worked on. This was supposed to be the most painful part of the procedure. True. It was excruciating. Once the numbing medication had been placed in my body, I lay on the table for 20 minutes, waiting for it to take effect, as well as waiting for the concoction of relaxation medication to kick in.

 

After 20 minutes, the doctor reappeared, and I was thankful the nurse told the doctor the relaxation medication hadn’t kicked in yet for me. Or I thought I would be grateful as I was hopeful I would receive more medication to relax me, but that didn’t happen. The doctor started the procedure, and I was in the worst pain of my life. I remember being so loud (while wearing a mask) and crying so uncontrollably that the doctor threatened to quit twice. He thought I was having a panic attack and started to feel uncomfortable continuing with the procedure, which would have left me looking lopsided as only one side of my waist was done at that time. The nurse started to whisper in my ear how great I would look this summer and how all the pain would be worth it. I asked her to stop as I wasn’t buying it then.

 

I have no idea how I got through the procedure, but I did. At the end of the procedure, the nurse asks you to stand up, clean you up, and place you in a compression garment for the next 24 hours. Side note: My nurse specifically told me not to look at the operating table, but of course, I had to look. Oh. My. Gosh! Who was just murdered on this table, and how did I miss it? Oh, wait! All that blood is from me! It wasn’t perfect. Approximately two hours after I arrived, I was in the car’s passenger seat on my way home.

 

AFTER PROCEDURE: The next 24 hours were challenging. You take pain medication every few hours and are encouraged to walk 10 minutes every hour. For the first 12-16 hours, I slept a lot. I needed assistance getting to the bathroom and changing my pads due to excess bleeding.

 

At the 24-hour mark, you can remove the first compression garment and shower. I was hopeful the shower would feel amazing. Instead, I almost passed out in the shower. The removal of the compression garment caused a rush of blood flow, and instead of jumping in the shower, I should have laid on the bed for 30 minutes before showering.

 

After the shower, you move into the second compression garment you are expected to wear until it no longer compresses your body like a double layer of skin. Putting the compression garment on requires acrobatic-like skills and the help of a friend. It is exhausting to put on. Fortunately, for the first week, you can only remove the compression garment for one hour a day to shower and wash it.

 

After a few days, I was finally able to move more freely, yet I was bruised and swollen. The swelling lasts for months and varies daily based on what you eat, how much you stand, etc. While I was hoping I would automatically shrink from a size 12 to a size 8, it hasn’t happened yet, nor will it.