The recovery of BBLs happens in stages and it is very important for patients to understand what to expect during each of those stages. One of the earliest stages during the recover process is swelling. And there can be a lot of swelling. Although keeping your feel elevated can certainly reduce swelling in your lower extremities, I tell most of my patient that it is important to walk early after surgery at least several times a day to prevent a bigger problem - blood clots. Blood clots can be dangerous and can cause very big problems unless they are prevented and early ambulation is something that can help prevent them in many patients. You should always discuss what to do postoperatively with your surgeon and their staff to minimize the risks of complications like blood clots. Alternatively, if you sit on your bottom the wrong way after a BBL for a prolonged period of time to keep your feel elevated that can compromise the fat graft and hurt your results. We often have our patients use specialized cushions, lay on their tummies, and turn frequently shortly after a BBL.So this is a very important question to discuss with your surgeon before the surgery.I hope this helps.Good luck and good health!
