How will I know if I've caused a depression in my butt from sitting or if it's a naturally lumpier area?

Brazilian Butt Lift is quickly becoming one of the most popular procedures in the United States because it can give patients a total body transformation.  The combination of the liposculpting and fat transfer can give patients the hourglass or A frame figure they have always desired and has led to the popularity of the procedure! 

One of the most common questions that I get during the consultation is about sitting.  We never realize how much we sit until we can’t sit anymore.  I currently recommend to my patients that they cannot sit for six weeks after surgery.  This is so important because the fat transferred needs to “take” so that you can have the best results possible from their Brazilian Butt Lift.

The fat that is transferred survives by having new blood vessels grow into it so that it can last for years to come.  Any pressure (such as sitting) can disrupt this process and decrease the amount of fat that survives and ultimately your results. 

My current protocol is:

No sitting for six weeks
No laying on your back for six weeks
After two weeks, you can use the BBL pillow if you have to sit to travel, meeting or such.
The BBL pillow fits on airline seats
This is the BBL pillow that we currently use:
bblpillow.comThis should be used as little as possible as the more you can avoid sitting all together the better.
After 6 weeks patients, can start sitting for an hour at a time.
I believe that not sitting is so important that a BBL pillow is included in every butt augmentation surgery that we perform.  We see a dramatic difference in the patients that are meticulous about not sitting and using their pillow versus those that put pressure on the butt. 

We have been fortunate to have some amazing results in our practice and that in part is due to how meticulous our patients are about not sitting or lying on their back for the first six weeks.  If they have to sit, they will be using their BBL pillow. 

The Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery is a big investment in time and money so I want all of my patients to get the best result possible.  I am writing this blog to stress the importance of not sitting after your surgery so can get the best possible result.

Please discuss your Brazilian Butt Lift (Butt Augmentation with Fat Transfer) with your board-certified plastic surgeon.  Every surgeon has their own sitting protocol after surgery and you should discuss it with them so that you can follow their instructions to get the best possible results from your Brazilian Butt lift.  

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. After about a month you will be mostly healed and you can get a nice idea of the results after around six months.

Offloading is crucial. Excess pressure can affect the viability of the nascent fat grafts. in my practice we provide garments from Design Veronique this is combined with Reston foam and a custom tailor to ensure appropriate fit. With regards to pillows, the "Booty Buddy" is most popular. However, the best pressure is no pressure. I have found that pillows are often times taken as license to sit. I recommend patients strictly avoid direct pressure for at least 2 weeks followed by progressive incremental increases (with a goal of 1 hour uninterrupted by 1 month post op).As always, discuss your concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Thank you for question. Every surgeon has a different recovery protocol so it is best to talk with your plastic surgeon about what he/she recommends for you. With that said, I advise my patients not to sit on their rear ends at all for the first week. After then they may sit for short periods of time with a pillow under your legs above the knee for 8 weeks and some patients use a special BBL pillow to alleviate pressure on the buttocks. I would not recommend sitting normally without a pillow for 8 weeks. Good luck!Kamran Azad, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

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.

Thank you for your question! I do not suggest sitting on your buttocks for 2-3 weeks post BBL, you will suffocate the newly placed fat cells.  Best of luck!Dr Dhaval PatelDouble Board CertifiedPlastic SurgeonChicago Hoffman Estates Oak Brook

Thank you for the question. Sitting after Brazilian butt lift surgery places pressure on the fat that has been transferred. Too much pressure can cause the fat to be reabsorbed by the body.In my office, I recommend that patients refrain from sitting for prolonged periods of time for the first four weeks. Pillows are used under the thighs and allow people to sit without placing pressure on their buttock. After four weeks, there are no specific restrictions.Congratulations on your surgery!

Congratulations on your new curves!  You pose a very common question that patients have after having a Brazilian Butt Lift surgery.  While there is no standardized post-operative protocol, many board-certified plastic surgeons would recommend that patients avoid sitting for prolonged periods of time for the first 2-4 weeks.  With that said, I always recommend that patients defer to their operating surgeon to discuss their specific sitting and recovery recommendations.Fat reabsorption and fat survival rates are variable, but most surgeons would agree that the amount of fat transferred that remains after the first 3-6 months should be stable and permanent.I hope you find this helpful!

Thank you for your question. I would not recommend prolonged sitting for at least 2 weeks after surgery. 5 minute rides are fine, My patients use the boppy pillow/booty buddy for 2-3 weeks. Sit upright when going to the bathroom. Review with your Surgeons your post op instructions and follow his recommendations. Best wishes

It’s important to realize that fat cells are very fragile in
the immediate post-operative period.This situation doesn’t improve until these fat cells have re-established
blood supply with the surrounding tissue.In most cases this takes about two weeks to occur.At this point, fat cells become less
sensitive to the effects of pressure and are less likely to be damaged by
sitting or lying on the buttocks.For
these reason, we limit sitting or lying on the buttocks to one hour intervals
for the first two weeks following surgery.This routine places obvious limitations on physical activity for
post-operative patients.Unfortunately
failure to comply with this recommendation can result in fat cell death from
pressure.This can result in the
flattening and contour irregularity that you’re concerned about.If
you’re concerned about sitting in the post-operative period, consultation with
your plastic surgeon is appropriate.Your plastic surgeon should be able to clarify the issue.