What is the magic number for sitting after a BBL?

Hello peachy4,

It’s a pleasure to answer your questions! Plastic surgeons have different post-operative protocols, customized for each patient, to achieve the best results. In my experience, patients who successfully avoid sitting or putting pressure on their buttocks or stretching for the first 8 weeks after their surgery are much more likely to have long-lasting results than patients who fail to follow this advice. Putting pressure on your buttock by sitting down or laying on it, especially for long periods of time, can stiffen, deform and even cause the transplanted fat cells to reabsorb. Hope this is helpful! Dr. De La Cruz.

Thanks for your question. In a Brazilian butt lift, fat is transferred from various parts of the body to the buttocks to re-shape and augment the buttocks. After the procedure, it is crucial to minimize or avoid sitting for prolonged periods. The reason is that the fat has not integrated to your tissues so the buttocks may flatten or loose projection. Further, sitting causes trauma to the newly placed fat so the process of blood vessel ingrowth, which is necessary for fat survival, may be disrupted. So I recommend that my patients minimize sitting for one month. If you have a sitting job, you can use a BBL or boppy pillow to minimize the trauma from sitting. But one should still minimize sitting if possible. After one month, I allow my patients to sit regularly although many continue to avoid it for several weeks. Hope this helps. Please always consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Take care, Moises Salama MD, board certified plastic surgeon.

Hello, thank you for your question! This answer would vary depending on who you ask as each surgeon has their own unique specific post operative protocols. I recommend patients do not sit for a minimum for two weeks however, I also let them know in my experience the longer patients do not apply pressure and sit seem to retain more fat on their buttocks. Some patients avoid it for 6 weeks. I usually tell patients after three months your results and fat loss is stable. For more information please click the link below. Best of luck! 

Thank you for your question. Every surgeon has their own post op protocol after this procedure. Sitting is not recommended for the first two weeks as this will cause pressure to the fat cells. Once the two weeks is over, I recommend using a special cushion pillow to sit on for an entire four weeks. Your surgeon will possibly provide you with that pillow. The entire recovery is about 6 weeks. Please see a board certified plastic surgeon for a detailed examination.

You should wait at least 2 weeks before sitting without a support cushion and sleeping on your back. Sitting with no support too soon can harm the newly moved fat cells.

Your question is a very good question and the answer may vary depending on the surgeon's protocol.  Six weeks appears to be an optimal number.  A BBL pillow should be used for at least six weeks along sleeping on your abdomen.  It is important for the fat to obtain optimal blood supply for survival.

No magic number exists; you PS's recommendations for sitting after a BBL are the most informed you can obtain.I recommend that my patients minimize sitting, even with a pillow, for the first two weeks.  If they must sit, every 30 minutes or an hour, they should get up and stand for a few seconds to take the pressure off.   This reduces the chance for fat necrosis. I usually recommend about 6 weeks before sitting without a pillow. After 6 weeks the fat has revascularized, and they will have a very good idea of their final results.  
The Brazilian buttlift results that are obtained after 3 months are permanent if the body weight and body fat percentage are held stable.  This is dependent upon the amount of fat transferred, the way in which the procedure is performed, and the way the patient is managed in the postoperative period.
In most cases of weight loss, the buttocks and other areas with stored fat will become smaller.  About 50% of the fat that is transferred lives and becomes a part of you.  This will hold stable as long as there is no weight fluctuation.  The fat will not move, but losses in weight will distribute differently.  The fat that lives in the buttocks from the procedure will get larger with weight gain and smaller with weight loss.
Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles, CA

During a BBL, fat from the flanks, abdomen, "bra rolls" and thighs are removed via liposuction, and then transferred to the buttocks to give you a slimmer waist and a rounder, fuller butt.  Once the fat is transferred, it requires six weeks with zero pressure being applied to it so that your new fat can develop the proper blood supply to keep that fat alive in its new home.  This means that you cannot sit or sleep on your back for up to six weeks following the procedure, which is why we recommend using a BBL pillow that allows you to sit without pressure on your bottom for at least six weeks after the procedure. Best wishes. 

There is no magic number as to how many weeks post BBL you can sit, the longer you can go without sitting the better your outcome. Beyond six weeks it's difficult to say if there's much advantage.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

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. 
Kamran Azad, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon