Is a BBL more painful than a breast augmentation?

Question

Hi I'm researching into having a bbl and have seen reviews saying they wake up in severe pain which continues for weeks after.....I've had breast augmentation and the pain and recovery was completely bareable, I wouldnt say it was bad at all, so I'm trying to make a comparison of the two to try and mentally prepare myself beforehand

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

It is difficult to answer your question as every patient will have a different tolerance level for pain, soreness, swelling, and healing.  In general, after performing hundreds of BBLs, the average pain or discomfort period lasts from 3 to 7 days.  This largely depends upon the amount of fat injected into each buttock.  In most patients, I liposuction the abdomen, flanks, and back for 5 liters and inject 1200 cc to 1500 cc per buttock. The pain is well managed with oral pain meds, so I would not let this issue deter you.  According to my patients, the few days of discomfort are worth it. Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question,This will depend on where and how much liposuctioning is done to achieve your goal. Your surgeon should be able to prescribe you with pain medication to keep you comfortable post-op. Please consult with your surgeon if you are concerned.Regards,

Carolina Restrepo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Pain during recovery will depend the amount of areas treated with liposuction. To give you an example of what most patients experience, imagine that you’ve just returned from a hard work out at the gym for the first time in several months. The day after that workout, you would feel deep aching and throbbing sensations. This is what patients experience after undergoing a liposuction procedure — usually a throbbing or aching feeling that is easily tolerated with moderate oral pain medications. Your recovery starts day one after surgery. Pain medications are usually only necessary for the first few days. On days four through fourteen you will still feel sore, but significantly less than you experienced on days two and three. Patients can return to light activities almost immediately after surgery, normal activities 2 weeks after surgery, and vigorous exercise 4 weeks after surgery.  We usually experience a slow steady improvement for 3 months or so after surgery.

Yily De Los Santos, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question, there is no absolute answer to your question as patients have different tolerance levels for pain. It will also depend on the amount of areas you have liposuction done for the BBL and the amount of fat injected. Usually patients start slowly going back to their regular activities after a week or two.

Lawrence Scott Ennis, MD, FACS · Answer

Pain tolerance can vary patient to patient. Following surgery, patients are placed in a compression garment to assist with swelling; this garment needs to be worn for four to six weeks, depending on their rate of healing and the individual person. There will be swelling and soreness of the buttocks area, and any discomfort the patient is feeling during this time can be relieved using prescribed pain medication. Brazilian butt lift patients can usually return to work after two weeks, and resume exercise after four weeks. I recommend giving yourself a good recovery window and always listen to your body before you push yourself too soon. Good luck!

Jon Ver Halen, MD, FACS (license suspended) · Answer

Hello and thank you for your excellent question. In my experience, a BBL is not MORE painful than a breast augmentation, but rather the pain is different. It involves aggressive liposuction from multiple areas of the body, and also injection into the buttocks.  However, patients' pain is WELL managed with our current pain control regimen. It is not an unbearable amount of pain, or even close to this. Of course, you will need an in-person consultation to evaluate you for this procedure. Preoperative visualization and surgical simulation with the Crisalix system may help with your decision. I suggest that you find a board-certified plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of patients who have had similar procedures. Good luck!
Best,
  
Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS
  
Harvard educated plastic surgeon
  
Texas “Top Doc”

Is a BBL more painful than a breast augmentation?

Answers (6)

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