Lipedema stage 1 - Is it possible to use lipedema fat as a donor for Brazilian Butt Lift?

Question

Is it possible to use the lipedema fat in the calves as a BBL fat source or would it be dangerous?

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Calf lipedema fat is usually not an ideal donor source for a Brazilian butt lift. Lipedema tissue can be more fibrous, sensitive, swollen, and prone to bruising, and the calf/ankle area has a higher risk of contour irregularity, prolonged swelling, lymphatic irritation, and worsening symptoms if treated aggressively.

If lipedema liposuction is needed, it should be planned primarily as a medical or functional contouring procedure by someone experienced with lipedema, not simply as a way to collect BBL fat. For buttock fat transfer, safer and more predictable donor areas are usually the abdomen, flanks, back, or thighs when anatomy allows. The BBL itself also has important safety requirements: fat should be placed only in the subcutaneous plane by a surgeon experienced with modern gluteal fat-grafting safety techniques.

Geuris Cruz Quiroz, MD · Answer

Thank you so much for your question. Definitely I will not recommend that procedure if you was one of my patient, the fat to be transfer to your buttocks (BBL) needs to be good quality of fat.

Hope this helps
Dr. Quiroz

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Using lipedema fat for grafting.
Confirming the diagnosis of mild lipedema as a condition is almost impossible in comparison to simply having an unfavorable fat distribution.
There’s no diagnostic test and the diagnosis is simply one of exclusions.
Most people with lipedema have the condition affecting the lower half of their body and I’ve never had anyone in my career ask to have fat transfer to their thighs or buttocks who have the condition.
Calf and ankle Liposuction or Liposuction below the knees is technically very difficult and so is the recovery.
I have performed over 8000 liposuction procedures in my career and I’ve done calves and ankles six times.
I do them I’m very select patients who truly have bad genetic fat distribution.
They are technically difficult and their recovery literally takes three times longer than any other area.
Some patients will not be able to wear certain shoes or boots for many months after the procedure.
Getting quality aesthetic outcomes absolutely demands having someone who is mastered the procedure.
Patients should expect needing to do leg elevations intermittently throughout the day for many months after surgery.
It’s not a good area to harvest fat for the purpose of having a BBL if other areas are available.
I suggest including photographs to get an assessment.
All of the sad delivering consistent quality Liposuction and fat transfer results is more difficult than most people believe.
All of the sad delivering consistent quality Liposuction and fat transfer results is more difficult than most people believe.
Most plastic surgeons are not as good at these procedures as they think.
The number of plastic surgeons who can deliver consistent quality results with both Liposuction and fat transfer is quite small.
Anybody interested in these procedures should have multiple in person consultations and be very careful and provider selection vetting each provider thoroughly during in person consultations.
Avoid virtual consultations and whenever possible avoid traveling long distances for elective surgical procedures.
During each in person consultation ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures.
An experience provider should have no difficulty showing you at least 50 sets of before and after pictures of commonly performed procedures.
Like I mentioned earlier it’s unlikely you’ll find a lot of plastic surgeons who have significant case numbers for calf and ankle liposuction.
Being shown a handful of preselected images which most likely represent the best results of a providers career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider.
Patients often lack skill and experience when it comes to consulting with plastic surgeons and how to vet providers.
Having multiple in person consultations allows each person to get better at the process.
Liposuction is a permanent and irreversible operation. When done poorly he can leave people disfigured.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Lipedema stage 1 - Is it possible to use lipedema fat as a donor for Brazilian Butt Lift?

Answers (3)

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