Typically for a BBL, how many areas of lipo would I need to get?

Thank you for your question. The amount of liposuction associated with a BBL depends on how much volume the patient wants to add to the area, and how much volume they wish to reduce from their trouble areas such as the abdomen, waits, upper lower back, thighs, and arms among others. Patients who are very lean and have little fat to harvest may be wise to gain a good 10-15 pounds in order to give the surgeon plenty to work with. 
In my practice patients request to go big, which requires at least 600 cc's of fat per side. 
Best of luck to you!

The number of donor sites is dependent upon the goals and the available fat within each donor site (i.e. 2 large donor sites may be better than 3 small sites). With regards to your specific question, how many sites to treat will depend upon the degree of volumization you are seeking as well as the volume available in each site. Liposuction is one of the most common, as well one of the most commonly misunderstood cosmetic procedures performed by plastic surgeons. Liposuction, or suction assisted lipectomy (SAL) as it is also known, allows a surgeon to contour a patient’s shape and address those areas resistant to diet and exercise.
Although larger volume liposuction has grown in popularity as a component of BBL, patients should remember it is not a weight loss procedure and is best performed on patients who are at or near their target weight. A BMI of less than 30 is recommended as it imparts a lower overall risk profile. 
Common target areas include:
Abdomen/Flanks (“love handles”)Hips/Thighs/LegsUpper armsBackButtocksWhen considering large volume liposuction patients should remember that the liposuction limits often referenced are limits for procedures performed in the office setting. There are no limits as to what can be done in the hospital setting. Large volume liposuction, however, does carry higher risks and should be performed only at the discretion of a board certified plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist in a regulated hospital setting. That being said, the office OR limit is typically quoted at 4-5 liters of lipoaspirate. The limit for the state of Florida is 4 liters.

Potential patients should understand that lipoaspirate limits are not the limits on pure fat. The lipoaspirate is a combination of fat, blood, tumescent (numbing fluid) and other bodily fluids. Thus this is not a measure of fat reduction. Liposuction is a body contouring procedure, not a means to weight loss. Consider this, even if the lipoaspirate were pure fat, a 5 liter limit would amount to approximately 11 pounds.
With regards to your specific question, it is difficult to make predictions on liters of fat harvested as this is not an exact science. In the setting of BBL, we know that there will be some donor fat loss (as high as 50%). For this reason, I typically set a goal of at 500 cc per cheek (depending on patient goals). This would necessitate a harvest of at least 1 liter (some is lost in processing). If I do not believe this to be possible, I will encourage patients to consider other options or temper their expectations.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Fat can be taken from many different areas depending upon the areas of excess and what your goals may be.