Will a fat transfer from an area with hidradenitis suppurativa cause it to appear in the new area?

Question

I may not have enough stomach and back fat for a round 2 bbl so I'm considering using the fat from my inner thighs, which are huge, but I sometimes get boils there as I believe I may suffer from mild hidradenitis suppurativa. Is it possible that this may now cause me to have HS on my butt too? I also sometimes get HS in my armpits and under breasts.

Ryan A. Stanton, MD · Answer

Allow me to answer your question as best i can based upon your photos. However, please keep in mind that an in-person, or at least a virtual, consultation with physical exam is first necessary before any legitimate evaluation or final surgical recommendations can be made.

Although it is unlikely that the hidradenitis suppurativa will be transferred in the BBL procedure, you may still first want to strongly consider this. You are in good company with many others who had high hopes for BBL but instead received disappointing results (lumpiness, unevenness, lack of projection in the central and/or lower buttock, insignificant hip augmentation, post-deflation sagging, fatty necrotic cyst or scar tissue, etc.) as most of the fat melts away. It is not quite as much the quality of the doctor nor liposuction technique but rather the quality of the procedure that is a large part of the problem.  Thus, going back for additional rounds of BBL most often produces the same disappointing results but at another financial loss.   Beware, if a surgeon asks you to purposely gain weight (i.e. fat) before BBL, know that the fat you lose first as you get back to your baseline weight after surgery is that very same fat that was transferred into your buttock, hence your new buttock shrinks first, the fastest, and the most...so please do not fall victim to this recommendation.

Fillers, such as Sculptra and hyaluronic acids,  for augmentation of the buttock/hips are a rip-off, period!

Buttock/hip implants, however, provide a more reliable, predictable, relatively safe, and permanent result, especially for adding projection to the hips and central buttock, and often help smoothing out lumpiness. Occasionally a lower buttock tuck may be advantageous for lower buttock fold asymmetries and/or sagging.  When considering buttock implants make sure that the surgeon is going to be placing the implants within gluteus muscles , (a.k.a. “intramuscular pocket”), and that they are using anatomically correct, oval-shaped implants, such as Stanton Anatomic ®️ implants. 
Please keep in mind that an extremely few number of board-certified plastic surgeons specialize in these buttock implants so be sure to consult with one that is reputable and experienced. Unfortunately you may have to travel long and far away from home to find this particular surgeon. Glad to help.

John LoMonaco, MD, FACS · Answer

Because HS involves chronically infected skin with the boils or draining areas, any surgery in the area is at risk for infection.  If your skin has periods where it is clear of infections or draining areas, it may be safe.

Bruce B. Kadz, MD, FACS · Answer

You must not transfer fat from areas that have active hidradenitis. It's possible that when quieted down, you can harvest from below the area (mid inner thigh), and lateral and upper back aspects of your upper trunk and of course any area outside of hidradenitis elsewhere.

Kenneth R. Francis, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear Jenny,

You are asking for trouble, not by transferring the HS, but by transferring possibly contaminated, colonized, or infected fat to your buttocks.  This could ignite a severe infection and result in disaster.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Hidradenitis is a skin condition that will not be transferred from harvesting fat for fat transfer. It may potentially present an infection risk that is relative that each surgeon will need to individually assess.
Best 
Mats Hagström MD

Will a fat transfer from an area with hidradenitis suppurativa cause it to appear in the new area?

Answers (5)

Answer: BBL with contaminated fat

Answer: BBL with contaminated fat

Answer: Transfer HS

Answer: Transfer HS

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Brazilian Butt Lift Revision

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Will a fat transfer from an area with hidradenitis suppurativa cause it to appear in the new area?

Answers (5)

Answer: BBL with contaminated fat

Answer: BBL with contaminated fat

Answer: Transfer HS

Answer: Transfer HS

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Brazilian Butt Lift Revision

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.