Very swollen 2 weeks post op BBL and not seeing results, is this normal? (photos)

Hello and thank you for your question!You are still in the very early stages of healing. Swelling can last up to six months. While based on your pictures you seem to be healing normally, be sure to bring up all concerns with your surgeon. Best of luck!

Most of the swelling subsides at 6 weeks in most patients, but this may require 6 months or more.  After 6 weeks the fat has revascularized, and you have a very good idea of your final results.Continue to wear your compression garment if required for four more weeks; limit your salt consumption, and drink no alcohol.  I recommend that my patient take 100 grams of protein (protein shakes work well) per day in the healing phase for the first 6 weeks after surgery.  

Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles, CA

Hello jessaw,
I appreciate your pictures and questions! Two weeks is too short of a time to assess your Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) final outcome. Maximum results will take up to 6 months to show. After BBL surgery, pain may occur and should be relieved with analgesics (Aleve, Motrin, Tylenol, Advil, Ibuprofen, among others). These pain medications are usually prescribed by plastic surgeons to help with general discomfort. Some amount of bruising, and tightness are common occurrence during the healing process, but will decrease with each passing day. Your body may look swollen for months, but after 6 months you might appreciate your new and amazingly contoured figure. I typically recommend my patients wearing specialized compression garments for approximately 6 months and getting a minimum of ten lymphatic drainage massage sessions in order to eliminate excess lymph fluid, completely alleviate the swelling and discomfort, and also prevent complications such as seromas (fluid collection) and contour irregularities (indentations, and/or fibrosis). Based on my experience, after performing BBL surgery you must avoid sitting or sleeping on your back for at least 8 weeks or else the desired outcome will be negatively affected. Putting pressure on your bottom by sitting down or laying on it during the recovery period can stiffen, deform and even cause the transplanted fat cells to reabsorb. I would recommend you waiting at least 8 weeks for the swelling to recede and evaluate the results. If you are still dissatisfied with the outcome, consult with your aesthetic plastic surgeon about your concerns and improvements’ options. Best wishes! Dr. De La Cruz.

Thank you for your question. Swelling in the first couple of weeks after liposuction is quite common. It's best to follow your surgeons specific advice post-operatively. We typically have our patients wear compression garments on the areas we did liposuction to help the skin and underlying tissues re-adhere as well as reduce swelling.  There is a process of swelling and bruising that peaks at 3 days after surgery and then undergoes the first stage of major resolution in the first 2 weeks after surgery.  The later phase of healing takes place over the 2-3 months after surgery where everything really settles and softens.  It is after this time that we are getting close to the final result, though this varies patient to patient. I have my liposuction patients wear a compression garment (faja) covering all treated 24/7 except to shower for 4 weeks post op.  This helps ontrol swelling as the compression on your tissues helps your body to reabsorb the edema fluid that accumulates in the tissues after any procedure. This can take quite some time to happen without help from the compression garments.  It also helps improve  contour.  Compression helps to keep the tissues adherent to the underlying structures while healing, this can help prevent the wrinkled skin appearance that can happen when the tissues heal in ways we don't want them to.

After an extensive liposuction and fat transfer patients may swell in different degrees.  It is not uncommon to have inflammation 2 weeks after the procedure. Continue the guidelines given by your surgeon. As time passes inflammation improves, but 2 weeks after patients may still have considerable swelling. Hope this helps