Will I be ok to sit, lay on my sides and back at 5 weeks post liposuction/ fat transferred to buttocks and hips?

You should follow your PS's advice.There are no hard and fast rules on when to drive or travel.  Most plastic surgeons would recommend limiting your driving the first 6 to 8 weeks following the BBL.  If you have to sit, it is critical that every 30 minutes or an hour you stop, you get out of your vehicle, and stand for a few seconds to take the pressure off. Driving is much worst than sitting as pushing on the accelerator or brake involves pushing back against the buttocks and lower back.I recommend that my patients minimize sitting at work or elsewhere, even with a pillow (boppy or BBL), 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.  

Thank you for your questions. Only your surgeon can answer this question. You should defer to his expertise and preferences in regards to your recovery. Hope this helps!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery

Dear leona33,I instruct my patients not to sit for 2 solid weeks. We provide them a specialized pillow that our patients can sit on during that time. They can sleep on their stomachs or sides. Fat viability depends a lot of surgeon technique. The fat has to be placed back into the buttocks as soon as possible so that it has a greater chance of survival. It has to be placed carefully so that not too much fat is placed in only one area.But every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello dear!!
Thanks for the question and provided information as well.
You should be ok sitting at week 4. Try walking around for 2 minutes, every 2 hours. If you have any concerns, I suggest you to follow up close with your plastic surgeon.
Hope this is helpful. Good luck :)

You can not follow any of our recommendations since your surgeon is the responsible decision maker. In my private practice - travel within 1 week, sitting 6 weeks. 

Thank you for your question.  Reducing the pressure on the site where the fat was transferred (hips or butts) is important for the first 4 weeks.  That is the time that fat cells will need to survive.  After that period it makes no sense to take those conservative steps. Have a great day. 

I do not recommend sitting first two weeks after surgery. Then, a special BBL pillow can be used for sitting for short durations. At 6 weeks, sitting is allowed with no pillows. Each surgeon has a slightly different post op protocol so, in general, I would recommend consulting your surgeon.

I usually have my patients sit after two weeks. 
Some experienced surgeon in Brazil, have their patients sit on the buttocks immediately after surgery
Sincerely
GD

The concern about sitting after a BBL has to do with the potential disruption of the establishing new blood supply that is supporting the grafted fat. 
 This process is called neovascularization it occurs between the second and 10th day after the procedure. After this vessels continue to grow until sufficient to support the grafted tissue. 
 Tissue grafts like fat transfer are extremely sensitive to losing this new blood supply during this time.  Probably the most important time when pressure could break the ingrowth of the new vessels is postoperative day 5 to 12.
 There is little science behind the decisions of when patients should be allowed to sit after a BBL.
 The decisions of each postoperative protocol is based on experience and basic principles of tissue grafting.
 In my personal opinion patients are safe to put full pressure on the buttocks after three weeks.  At three weeks it would require deep pressure like massaging to break the connection between the new blood vessels supporting the grafted fat.
 In my practice we asked patient to avoid putting direct pressure or having excess of movements on the grafted areas for the first three weeks. After that patients can engage in any activity they choose.
 I believe at four weeks it would be very difficult to cause any damage to the grafted fat from your BBL.
 Still, I would follow the recommendations of your provider. 

  Best, 
Mats Hagstrom M.D.