Butt dimples and bbl - how can I avoid this?

Question

What are all the things I can do to avoid absorbing too much fat and to avoid getting butt dimples or having other unwanted outcomes during healing time when getting a BBL????

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Some fat absorption and small contour irregularities can happen even with good surgery and good aftercare. The biggest controllable factors are choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs BBL safely, uses conservative fat placement, keeps fat above the muscle, and understands your skin quality, cellulite, and donor-site anatomy. Dimpling can come from pre-existing cellulite, aggressive liposuction, scar tethering, uneven swelling, or limited skin elasticity, so it cannot be completely prevented by aftercare alone.
Your part is to be at a stable weight, avoid nicotine, follow compression and sitting instructions exactly, eat enough protein, stay hydrated, and avoid early pressure on the grafted areas as directed by your surgeon. Avoid chasing an extreme size increase, because overfilling and aggressive liposuction can increase the risk of irregularity and complications.

S. Alexander Earle, MD, FACS · Answer

You avoid it by controlling where fat is placed, not just how much fat is placed. This is why real-time ultrasound is so important — I’m literally watching exactly where the fat is going. Technique precision matters more than volume. Having said that, if the issue is cellulite, it is important to remember that a BBL is not a cure for cellulite.  Other procedures, such as Aveli, are needed to treat cellulite.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Exciting766012,

there is not much you can do to avoid dimples, but your surgeon can. Finding the right Dr. is extremely challenging especially with the number of online platforms and resources available. There a lot of great Dr's available. Make sure he/she is a board-certified plastic surgeon. Definitely check to make sure your choice specializes in the procedure you want and spend the time to read through patient testimonials. There is a number of different sites where you can check for reviews (Realself, yelp, google, etc.).
You can always pick up the phone and call around also, find an office you feel comfortable with and set up a few consultations.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Mustafa Aydinol, MD · Answer

Great question&mdash;most of your result happens in the first 6–8 weeks. You control a lot of it with prep, surgeon choice, and how you protect the grafts while they “re-plug in.”
Before surgery (sets the stage) • Stable weight for ~3–6 months; avoid crash diets after surgery. • Absolutely no nicotine/vaping 4 weeks before and at least 6 weeks after&mdash;nicotine chokes the tiny vessels your fat needs to survive. • Control diabetes/thyroid/iron issues; high-protein diet (about 1.2–1.6 g/kg/day) + hydration. • Stop meds/supplements that increase bleeding per your surgeon’s list.
Surgeon/technique (the biggest safety & shape factor) • Choose an experienced plastic surgeon that uses right techniques. This improves accuracy and safety and helps avoid deep, uneven pockets that can dimple. • Micro-droplet, layered placement with small blunt cannulas → smoother take and fewer lumps. • Reasonable volumes. Overfilling looks great day-1 but resorbs more and can create oil cysts/irregularities. • Blend “transition zones” (sacrum, lateral hip, banana roll) to prevent step-offs that read as dimples.
After surgery (where you make the result stick)
Pressure & positioning • No direct sitting on the buttocks ~2 weeks (follow your surgeon); use a BBL pillow under the thighs for 2–6 weeks. You can only sit on your buttock for very short durations for the first 2 weeks • Sleep prone or side-lying with a pillow behind the back to keep pressure off grafts. • Avoid tight seams/elastic that dig in&mdash;those create compression creases → dimples.
Garment game • Wear your faja/compression for liposuctioned areas exactly as instructed, but do not compress the grafted butt (cut-outs or soft foam to offload). Smooth, even support only&mdash;no folds.
Activity & nutrition • Walk daily; avoid heavy workouts/HIIT for ~4 weeks. • Keep calories and protein up; avoid weight loss in the first 8–12 weeks. • No smoking/vaping; limit alcohol; stay hydrated.
Massage & treatments • Lymphatic drainage can help the lipo areas; be gentle over the buttocks&mdash;no deep kneading on the fat early on. • If a lump/indent appears, notify your surgeon early. Small issues often settle; persistent dents after three months may need subcision + micro-fat touch-up. Hard nodules may respond to steroid or needle release after evaluation (often with ultrasound).
Normal vs. not • Expect 30–50% fat resorption by 3–6 months; shape stabilizes around month 6. • Call sooner for: increasing pain, fever, sudden swelling/asymmetry, redness, or shortness of breath.
Five questions to ask your surgeon 1. Do you inject strictly above the muscle and use ultrasound during grafting? 2. What volume per side do you recommend for my frame to balance survival and safety? 3. How do you blend transition zones to prevent step-offs/dimples? 4. What is your pressure/garment protocol and sitting timeline? 5. How do you manage early dimples or nodules if they occur?
Bottom line: Avoiding dimples and maximizing fat survival is a team sport&mdash;your prep + your surgeon’s technique + your first 6–8 weeks of protection. Follow the plan above and you’ll give your BBL the best chance for a smooth, lasting result.

Butt dimples and bbl - how can I avoid this?

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