I've been sitting since my BBL. Have I damaged the cells already? What can I do now?

Hope you have recovered well from your procedure you had a little over a month ago. You should have been given post-operative instructions that state the importance of not sitting directly on the buttocks the first two weeks after the Brazilian Butt Lift procedure. The reason you are instructed not to do this is because the fat cells injected are delicate and sitting on them could damage their survival.

Given that you had surgery on 7/30, you should be able see your final results in about another month to month and half. It takes some time for bruising and swelling to heal, and once the body has had an appropriate time to heal, you are able to see if your results have been compromised by sitting down post-operatively. Wish you the best of luck with your recovery.
 

Brazilian Butt Lift recovery time is dependent on how the patient’s body reacts to the procedure. Patients usually return to work after a week but you should not sit without the use of cushions for at least two weeks and you must wear a compression garment for several weeks after the procedure. You should wait until at least 2 weeks after the procedure to engage in sexual activity. Swelling and discomfort normally fades at six weeks. After about a month you will be mostly healed and you can get a nice idea of the permanent results after around six months.

Thank you for the question.  Recovering from a Brazilian Butt Lift is a little more demanding that some other liposuction procedures. It is important to avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for at least 10 days after treatment. This is extremely important as it can affect blood circulation to the area and potentially destroy the transferred fat cells.

A Brazilian Butt Lift is a transfer of a person’s own fat from one area of the body to another to improve the overall contour. To ‘harvest’ the fat we use liposuction to vacuum out the excess tissue, process it with a centrifuge type system to remove the impurities and excess fluid, and then we inject it back into the areas we want to enhance. Typical areas for lipo are the abdomen, flanks or love handle areas, back and thighs. In a BBL the receiving site is the buttocks area. The sore part of this surgery is the liposuction. The areas we harvest from are tender and swollen for a few weeks afterward, and are not fully back to normal for a couple of months. Expect that it will be at least 2-3 months before you see all of the changes in your contour that will happen. After the surgery I usually recommend patients plan to take about 5-7 days off of work, and 3-4 weeks off of vigorous exercise (i.e.: jogging/aerobics), but it is okay to walk and do lighter things almost right away. One specific restriction with a Brazilian Butt Lift is that we want to avoid prolonged pressure on the buttocks area for the first 2 weeks after surgery. Too much pressure will cause the transferred fat to die, and we will not get the enhancement you are looking for. This means sleeping on your tummy for 2 weeks, and using a cushion to sit on for 2 weeks. You also have to get up frequently, or shift the pressure every 10 or 15 minutes while sitting during that time. You and your plastic surgeon need to review these issues before surgery and make a plan specific to your situation in order to maximize your results successfully.

Great questions. Here are some tips to ensure a great recovery and result from a BBL.Make sure you drink a lot of fluid and bed rest for the first week. Also, no sitting directly on your buttocks for about three weeks, which also includes no driving. Always schedule follow up appointment after surgery. I can't stress enough, wear a compression garment for 24 hours/day for the first 2 weeks. Wearing the garment control swelling. It may not be comfortable but it is so important if you want to achieve amazing results. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double board certifiedPlastic surgeonHoffman EstatesBarringtonOakbrookChicago

Congradulations on your recent surgery. My advice would be to follow the directions your surgeon has recommended. I tell patients it is okay to sit on your butt, just not for long periods of time.

Ideally you should avoid sitting for about 2-3 weeks after a fat transfer to the buttock (brazilian buttock lift). The pressure of sitting can decrease the survival of the fat cells and decrease the overall volume of the buttocks. The longer you avoid sitting, generally, the better the outcome.Discuss this in detail with your surgeon and follow the instructions closely.

Best wishes,

Dr.Bruno

Hello dear!!
Thanks for the question and provided information as well.
Each doctor has their own protocol It is very important that you talk to him about your concerns and goals. I recommend my patients not to sit for more than 30 mins. every two hours, for the first 2 weeks, and always with the help of a boppy pillow. If you have any concerns, I suggest you to follow up close with your plastic surgeon.
Hope this is helpful. Good luck :) 

Thank you for your question. Here are what I feel are some of the most important aspects of the recovery from a Brazilian Butt Lift. 1. Do not sit on your buttocks for 2 weeks. 2. Wear your full body garment for the first 3 months. I often find that this helps maintain the shape of the buttocks and help contour the waist after a full torso liposuction. 3. Follow your plastic surgeons orders. 4. Any issues contact your plastic surgeon. Best of luck in your recovery. 

I recommend that you refrain from sitting down for more than 30 minutes in the first 1-2 weeks. Please follow up with your doctor as these issues require the attention of a plastic surgeon.