Sleeping on back after BBL?

Thank you for your question! I suggest listening to your first surgeon and do not lay on your back for the first two weeks.  Best of luck!Dhaval Patel
Double Board Certified 
Plastic Surgeon
Chicago 
Hoffman Estates
Oakbrook
Orland Park

With Brazilian butt lift we transfer fat from one area of the body to the other. These fat cells are transferred in microinjections throughout multiple planes in the buttock tissue so that they can gain new blood supply and live in their new home, providing increased volume and shape to the buttocks.Postoperatively, no specific position is indicated and we do not have any restrictions.  The pressure caused by sitting or sleepingon your back is not sufficient to affect viability of the fat cells and so the postsurgical position depends basically on comfort and any other operations that have been performed.

Every plastic surgeon provides post-op guidelines for BBL recovery.  It's always best to follow the advice of the surgeon who performed your BBL as he/she knows what would be best for your recovery. 
I allow patients to sleep on their sides. My patient coordinator recommends a plastic inflatable with a hole in it (called a lilo), where instead of your tummy, you place your butt, so you can sleep on your back with pillows propping up your neck and head.

Dear Smlove101,
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.
Daniel Barrett, MD

I do believe that there is nothing wrong with sleeping on your back, sides or stomach after fat transfer to buttocks. Your weight is equally distributed between your shoulders, back, buttock, thighs and heels and there is no direct pressure over grafted areas. It is different with sitting after BBL; we advice our patient to avoid sitting directly on the buttock for longer than 30 minutes for 4-6 weeks after surgery. When sitting in chair or car, all the weight of your upper body is is applied to the grafted areas of buttocks. However, it is always best to follow schedule recommended by your surgeon. Good luck.  

There actually are no studies/scientific data that says that sitting or laying on your buttocks after a BBL changes your overall outcome. We know that 30-50% of the fat volume dies over 3-6 months no matter what - even if you follow all of our recommendations. Always follow your current doctor's recommendations. I personally ask my patients to stay off of their buttocks/hips after a BBL for 10 days. This is just to preserve shape but again has no scientific backing. If my patient does a combined BBL and tummy tuck, then they cannot lay on their stomach. Also, if the patient does a combined breast lift and BBL, they cannot lay on their stomach as there would be pressure on their breasts.