Fluffing is a term which I believe started here on RealSelf several years ago referring to a BBL patients buttocks getting larger during the post op recovery period at a time when we expect it to be getting smaller. After surgery, the areas operated on will typically swell for the first few days, then the swelling will progressively go away over the next 3 months (approximately). However, usually around 6 weeks, I have noticed that most patients buttocks actually gets bigger! I usually take measurements of the waist and hips regions prior to surgery then again at each follow-up appointment. During the first few weeks, everyone shrinks in their waist as well as in their hips. However, at 6 weeks, many patient have a larger measurement of their hips than they did at 3 or 4 weeks, while their waist is still getting smaller. This is in spite of the fact that their weight is usually still decreasing at this time. My explanation for this is.... When we do "Fat Transfers" we are not only transferring fat cells, we are also transplanting "Stem Cells" It has been shown that these stem cells are not only helping to make the new blood vessels to keep these new fat cells alive, but they can also produce new fat cells. These new vessels and fat cells add to the volume of the Buttocks/Hip area, creating this "Fluffing" effect! It probably begins early after surgery, but early after surgery is when a large percentage of the swelling goes away and the volume of production of new cells by the stem cells is overcome by the volume of swelling that is going away. Later, (around 5-6 weeks) as the resolution of the swelling slows down, we can then see the increase in size due to the stem cells. This of course is all dependent on the technique used by your surgeon as well as you as the patient following the instructions strictly as given by one of these surgeons!
