I'm 2 months post op with built up scar tissue and hardened fat, any advice?

Question

Hi, thank you in advance for responding. I'm 2 months post op from my first BBL surgery and I'm schedule for round two bbl in two months. My surgeon believes I have a lot of built up scar tissue, also says I have "hard" fat which makes it hard for him to lipo. My question to you, is there anything nonsurgical I can do to soften my fat and rid myself of this scar tissue?

S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for this excellent question.  Two months after a BBL, your butt is hard because of swelling and inflammation.  Dr. Andy Kaczynski, of Sacramento, refers to this early post fat injection firmness as pre-scar.  This is very common after both liposuction and fat injection, and can be treated with a combination of DMSO and ultrasound (the kind physical therapists use for sore muscles).  The DMSO is compounded by a pharmacist and is a special formula which your plastic surgeon either knows or can easily find out.  Please do not try DMSO that is not prescribed to you by your plastic surgeon.  DMSO is the world's best anti-inflammatory.  It takes down inflammation in joints and in soft tissue.  It also brings blood supply to an area which helps carry away the breakdown products from fat injections or from liposuction.  DMSO opens up choke vessels, a redundant blood supply we all have all over our body, increasing the body's ability to get rid of bruising and, what you are referring to, as hardness.  With reference to the hard fat your plastic surgeon refers to, this very often means that your fat is held in more fibrous tissue, and therefore is more difficult to suction out.  This tissue can also be softened by putting DMSO on the area to be suctioned, 4 times per day for 4 days prior to the liposuction.  Ultrasound is a means of sending in sound waves from a machine often used by physical therapists.  The sound waves are converted to heat which increases the blood supply to an area, therefore increasing the body's ability to carry away breakdown products of fat grafting.   Also the sound waves tend to break up clumps of fat allowing more fat cells' survival (a bigger butt), and since you are decreasing the amount of cells that have to be carried away, you are decreasing the inflammatory process which makes your butt hard.Above are two useful post-operative, non-surgical techniques that I have used at the Mommy Makeover Institute of Hawaii for over 20 years.

Salvador Pantoja, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question, we recommend our patients to have lymphatic massages after the surgery with our therapist, she will work manually and with ultrasound treatment on scar tissue to soften it, and avoid hard areas. She is also certified to manually drain the liquid that creates pouches and swelling to avoid more scar tissue. This type of postoperative therapy's are important to ensure your good results after a cosmetic procedure.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Some firmness is common and this can often be massaged or treated with ultrasound to soften it.

Wendell Perry, MD · Answer

Two months still very early after surgery. It's not uncommon to have hard spots at this time. I have not seen any patient at two months who did not still have swelling. Massage is a good treatment for these hard spots. Give yourself time to heal and then reassess these areas. I have patients who have taken 4 to 6 months for all the swelling to go away.

I'm 2 months post op with built up scar tissue and hardened fat, any advice?

Answers (4)

Answer: Postoperative swelling

Answer: Postoperative swelling

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Brazilian Butt Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

I'm 2 months post op with built up scar tissue and hardened fat, any advice?

Answers (4)

Answer: Postoperative swelling

Answer: Postoperative swelling

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Brazilian Butt Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.