I had smartlipo done 2 weeks ago. Except for the lidocaine wearing off too quickly and the doctor not being able to suction all the fluid out, everything went smoothly. However, I have had to go back 3 times to get the fluid manually suctioned out with a syringe. I still have more fluid....like a ziploc baggie full of water in my lower abdomen. It jiggles like Jello! Last time they made another incision to try and get the rest to leak out but it didn't. One of my original incisions still isn't closed after 2 weeks but I'm not leaking out of either the new or the old one much. I am still really bruised and swollen and itchy. I can see my whole stomach now though ...even my C-Section scars which were hidden beneath 2 rolls before....so I know the surgery did something for me! However, you can't tell a change in my overall size because I am so swollen. I look like I am pregnant in my upper abdomen. They said it would take up to 6 months to heal, so I am going to be patient. I don't like the extra fluid and the numb feeling in my skin. My stomach skin feels alien, like it doesn't belong to me either. I feel some lumps and bumps, but don't really care what I look like since I did it for health reasons. I plan on starting the South Beach diet and a regular exercise program (Winsor Pilates) tomorrow after I see the doctor again and they hopefully drain more fluid. I agree, I could have never gone back to work the next day, but possibly the day after. But I went back 5 days after just fine. You just have to watch out and not hit your stomach into something. I took off the garment for the first time tonight (other than the shower) in hopes of alleviating some of the itching, but I feel like I need to wear it longer than 2 weeks too like some of the other ladies mentioned. How long is the swelling and itching and numbness suppose to last?????? Has anyone else had complications with the drainage?