Realistic advice on recovery time for BBL & BA implant swap?

Hi, It is not unusual for patients to have simultaneous breast surgery and a BBL. Simply removing and replacing breast implants is fairly straightforward and there is usually a week to 10 days of discomfort for most patients at most. If additional work is performed this could increase the discomfort. In regards to a BBL I don't have my patients sit directly on their buttock for 3 weeks. They are sitting on a pillow which is placed in the middle of the thighs. It also depends on how many areas are going to be liposuctioned. Best of luck.

Thank you for your question. First we need to evaluate if you are a candidate to do those procedure at the same time.

To provide a valid medical opinion I will need to see pictures of you body from different angles. I would suggest to be treated by board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.

Respectfully,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Your recovery time would very much depend on what do you do for living. It is enough to have one week for both surgeries if done at the same time, in particular since you have implant exchange. In person or virtual consult with a board certified plastic surgeon familiar and capable to perform both procedures, is recommended. Good luck.

Hi @nad2010. Doing a BBL together with a BA with implants exchange needs to have the same care as if you do the procedure separate. Every doctor has their own protocol, always follow YOUR doctors protocol. The major care you need to have with this combination is your breast doing your regular activities can affect the healing of them your BBL procedure with a month is good enough to be back to normal activities, but having a breast surgery as well your healing time can be until 3 months. Hope this helps.

Dear nad2010,
I understand your concern. It is best that you consult your plastic surgeon regarding post operative care and management (i.e including massage techniques and timing) specific to your case. Your surgeon knows your condition well and has preferences on when and what to use for faster healing and recovery. Post operative care and management depends on the type of surgery performed and the technique used during surgery among other factors.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Dear nad2010,
Many plastic surgeons would indeed perform a breast augmentation and simultaneous BBL. Especially if the breast augmentation is just an implant exchange. My personal restrictions on BBL recovery are just 2 weeks of no sitting directly on the buttocks. This can be circumvented with the use of a BBL pillow or other such device. Good luck!

Very simple:
Swapping out implants (without much capsule of breast pocket adjustments) requires only a day or two of recovery.
BBL recovery is more dependent on the areas liposuctioned and the size of the BBL (full buttocks, hip dips etc.). If you are having your abdomen, sides (flanks) and lower back suctioned for the BBL procedure, plan on a week off.
There is very little additional time added for the implant exchanger.
Best wishes,
Dr. Taranow

If the implant replacement does not involve any other manipulation then recovery from implant exchange should be minimal. You probably won’t even be aware of it. if it includes procedures like capsulectomy or changing the implant pocket then you may be a little sore in your pectoralis muscle or over the ribs.
The recovery from the BBL depends in large part how aggressive the surgeon is during liposuction.
Most people are good in store for 2 to 3 days at which point it gradually gets easier. most people say it’s worse in the mornings with significant feeling of stiffness and discomfort with movement. Working through the pain and getting your body moving helps significantly and the pain should not be beyond what you can manage using Tylenol and ibuprofen.
By five days you’ll still be tender and certain movements may still be uncomfortable but you should be in minimal discomfort if you’re just resting. they’ll be some lingering tenderness with the pressure on certain areas or with certain movements that will continue on for 3 to 6 weeks. some people go back to lobby impact daily activities in 2 to 3 days. five days is probably a very reasonable amount of time to take off work.
I’ve had patients tell me three weeks was not enough time to recover.
Are there individuals who are more motivated manage to get back to normal activities in a few days.
The two most important things you can do is to get moving with gentle stretching exercises despite being uncomfortable especially after the first couple of days. The second is to keep up with appropriate dose ibuprofen if directed by your physician.
The perceived recovery varies quite a bit depending on who you’re asking so you should really ask yourself if you find physical challenges to be overwhelming.
Individuals who are accustomed to doing aggressive exercise or have been involved with competitive sports usually find surgical recovery to be easy.
Those who are not physically active may find the physical recovery after this type of procedure to be much more challenging.
It’s not so much the procedure as the person who is having the procedure and their perception of what recovery is like.
For most people it’s definitely tolerable but the swelling and stiffness can be a bit annoying but doable.
If you compare the recovery to a procedure like a full tummy tuck it is relatively easy. A full tummy tuck is a highly invasive operation that most people find overwhelming.
If the recovery from your breast augmentation was easy then most likely this will be easy as well but it involves much more of your body. it doesn’t necessarily make it more uncomfortable just a little more overwhelming.
There can be a significant amount of fluid drainage especially if incisions are left open.
This usually settles down after 48 hours.
I typically review recovery with each of my patients during the consultation or during a preop visit.
The most important variable is choosing as efficiently skilled and experienced provider.
I know that your question was focused on recovery.
There are only two variables that determine what liposuction and fat transfer results look like.
Those two variables are patient candidacy and skill of the surgeon.
Delivering consistent quality liposuction and fat transfer results is more difficult than most people believe.
The number of providers who do liposuction and fat transfer well on a consistent basis is relatively small.
I recommend anybody considering this procedure have at least five in person consultations before scheduling surgery to confirm they found the best provider in their community.
If you have questions then I suggest you follow up with your provider.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD