Lipo vs BBL: recovery and risk comparison?

Question

Hello! Considering lipo vs bbl procedure — aside from the results (fwiw,I’m mainly concerned about the ab and more butt projection would be a nice add on, though my butt is responsive to workouts so I’m hesitant about the fat graft portion): from purely a recovery / downtime perspective and risk perspective, how would Lipo alone vs bbl compare? Secondly, the 1 in 3000 mortality rate for bbl has been thrown around a lot. What do you think about the accuracy / representativeness of this number?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

I suggest you consult to go over all the risks and benefits of all liposuction and fat grafitng procedures.

my whole practice is doing lipoabdominoplasty, or at least liposuction with internal heating (which is not the gold standard for skin tightening with body contouring).

the smaller you are before liposuction the more contouring you can get from the procedure. most of my liposuction patients get pre and post surgical optimization with hormonal therapy (see link to help boost their weight loss before surgery and help them heal after).

You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a Brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Luminous32939,
I instruct my patients not to sit for 2 solid weeks after liposuction. We provide them a specialized pillow that our patients can sit on during that time. They can sleep on their stomachs or sides. Regarding the death rate, as long as your surgeon follows recommendations the complication rate is very low.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Removing excess fat in your flank area will help the appearance of your buttocks. If you are satisfied with your buttocks, just do liposuction. There is less downtime with liposuction because you have not restrictions on how to lay or sit and are back to full activities quicker.  Any surgery has risks, including death, so please go to a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in doing fat transfers.

Lipo vs BBL: recovery and risk comparison?

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