Got a small amount of hydrogel injected into butt over 13 years ago. How would you approach a BBL with a history like mine?

Dear BrookeyBaby,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question regarding how to approach your buttock for a BBL after having had a small amount of hydrogel injected. I would highly suggest that you remove the foreign body injections first. If you have a BBL done at the same time as hydrogel removal, or even in the presence of hydrogel, the fat could get infected. The transferred fat during a BBL can get infected. I do not advise having a BBL while the hydrogel is still present. I would highly suggest that you have all of the hydrogel removed first. Wait for four months of healing to make sure everything has settled and then in a second stage procedure, undergo a BBL. Even if an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in silicone removal and BBLs stays “superficial“, the fat could still get infected from the underlying hydrogel. I do not suggest undergoing BBL with hydrogel still in place. I hope this helps to answer your question with how to approach her buttocks for a BBL with hydrogel still in place.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Gel injection to buttocks and breasts is extremely dangerous and is banned in many countries. We have seen many patients who had these injections and had long lasting complications like chronic infections. So what I would recommend is don't get anything on the gel, let it stay while it doesn't cause any problems.

Was it me? That is exactly the method I would prescribe in cases as yours. Understand there are only a few boarded Plastic Surgeons even willing to accept patients as you, having foolishly injected illegal substances.

you need to use ultrasound guidance to ensure during your BBL to ensure that you stay superficial so that your fat grafting acts like a cushion of the hydrogels. The deeper you can keep your hydrogel the less likely it will migrate out and pus out of the skin.
Based on your pictures, 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

How’s your plastic surgeon going to know where the hydrogel tunnels are?

Maybe they are superficial too?

I’ve only managed one patient with this product previously injected and the tunnels went from her thigh to her back across the buttocks. The product was not particularly deep and the network of hydro gel fluid was quite extensive. Most likely you’ll be fine. You found a plastic surgeon you like who’s willing to do it so it sounds like you’re all set.

I will continue to say that delivering consistent quality Liposuction and fat transfer results is more difficult for people believe. In order to maximize having a quality outcome and minimize the chance of undesirable outcomes patients need to find the most experienced and talented providers in their community.

I recommend patients do this by having multiple in person consultations.

Finding someone willing to do the procedure is quite different than finding one who has a proven track record and can show you stack I’ve been present before and after pictures that reads like a telephone book.

In the end it’s a free world and each patient is free to make their own decisions about elective cosmetic surgery.

Bing board-certified in plastic surgery is the minimum baseline but it’s certainly no guarantee that somebody has experience or is a talented surgeon. being verified on realself doesn’t really mean anything other than that they Pay for advertising.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD