Is 3 weeks enough time if I spend majority of my work days (8-12 hours) on my feet, lifting but not anything too heavy?

Many of my patients return to work after 7 to 14 days if that work is sedentary or nonstrenuous. A week is probably OK with a conservative buttock augmentation of 600 cc to 800 cc per buttock. If you are going in the 1200 cc to 1800 cc per buttock range, you may need 10 to 14 days. For most patients strenuous activity can be resumed in 6 weeks. I recommend that my patients minimize sitting, even with a pillow, 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.

Hi, thanks for your question. Three weeks sounds like a reasonable amount of time, especially if your job requires you to be on your feet for most of the day. We typically recommend that our patients take at least one week off work, but if you can take more time off, that's great. We also ask our patients not to sit on their bum or lie flat on their back for two weeks, and then not too sit for long periods of time for a few weeks after that. We recommend not resuming any strenuous physical exercise for at least 4 weeks. That being said, every surgeon will have his or her own post-operative guidelines that you should follow carefully. I highly recommend that you discuss any concerns about your recovery with your surgeon

Dear sharilynr,
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. I understand your concern. It is best that you consult your plastic surgeon regarding post operative care and management (i.e including massage techniques and timing) specific to your case. Your surgeon knows your condition well and has preferences on when and what to use for faster healing and recovery. Post operative care and management depends on the type of surgery performed and the technique used during surgery among other factors.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery