Is it normal to already lose some volume 1 week post op from a BBL?

Question

I usually hear people saying they lose volume at 3 weeks, so I'm nervous if I lose a lot more than this. But I have lost a lot of inflammation all over my body (my body is healing fast I guess) I have barely to none inflammation on my back and just some on my waist and stomach. Could it be that I just lost inflammation quicker than most people or will I be losing more volume as time passes ?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The results immediately following surgery will be the largest due to swelling and lack of fat resorption.  The buttocks will continue to decrease in size for the first few weeks.   I have observed that between 4 and 6 weeks the buttocks tend to stabilize in volume.  Usually by 3 months, the swelling is minimal and totally resolved by 6 months.  
Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles, CA

Carolina Restrepo, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. Healing after liposuction and brazilian butt lift is usually pretty straight forward.  You are likely seeing changes as a result of decreasing swelling.  After surgery there is a predictable swelling process that mostly resolves over two months, when the final result really settles in.  The lateer 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.

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello dear!!
Thanks for the question and provided information as well. 
After a BBL, only about 70% of the transferred fat cells will survive, so it is normal to see a minor reduction in your buttocks. If you have any concerns, I suggest you to follow up close with your plastic surgeon.
Good luck :)

Raffi Hovsepian, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question.
Yes, you may be losing a lot more inflammation early than the average person which may contribute to the initial buttock volume loss. The standard loss is between 3 weeks (earliest) to 8 weeks (latest) for the buttock. Your surgeon will be able to tell you at your routine follow up visit if it is actual fat loss or actual inflammation reduction.

Wendell Perry, MD · Answer

In my patients I lose most of the volume in the buttocks in the first two weeks.   By three weeks I don't see the size of the buttocks change much after that.  At 2 to 3 months the volume is the same but the shape starts to change as the swelling goes down and the skins softens. 
In my patients I think I lose 20 to 30% of the volume in that first 2 to 3 weeks.  The fat transfer the breast I think I lose 50% of the volume.  For fat transfer the face I don't lose a drop of volume.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Areas treated with liposuction typically have maximum swelling at around one week after the procedure. Areas treated with fat transfer will typically be at their maximum swelling a few days after the procedure then gradually decrease in volume over the next month or two.  By four weeks the amount of decrease in volume slows down significant. Best, Mats Hagstrom M.D.

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

Volume following a BBL is lost due to compromised fat cells, usually as a result of a liposuction technique that damages them during extraction. VASER liposuction is much gentler to the tissues and helps to preserve the fat cells as they are extracted, leaving them 90% viable as they are injected back into your body.If you are an excellent candidate for a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), the optimal BBL outcomes are achieved with: 1) use of VASER liposuction to harvest the fat, 2) a closed looped system such as Puregraft to process the fat, and 3) strategic micro-packet transplant technique. These three processes have demonstrated over 95% fat graft take. This means that your results will be stable as long as you maintain your weight. As an official VASER trainer, I am routinely referred unhappy BBL patients. One of the most common reasons for disgruntled BBL patients is that patients are not able to accurately communicate their desired buttocks goals to their surgeons.  A buttocks assessment tool can be an invaluable tool to communicate to your surgeon the exact buttocks size and shape you are desiring. A Skype or Facetime consultation with a BBL specialist can help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing. 
Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Is it normal to already lose some volume 1 week post op from a BBL?

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