11 common questions after BBL procedures
Have you decided to have a BBL surgery?
You should take into account that it takes almost 4 weeks to come back to a normal daily life. The recovery period is long and needs very special care. First of all, you need someone to help you. Make sure you have someone to take you home and take care of you during the first 3 days.
A bbl procedure is one way to increase the size of your glutes, you cannot lift heavy objects and you should avoid doing strenuous activities during several weeks, that’s why you need someone to assist you with some tasks. Remember that, you can’t smoke 4 weeks before and after the surgery; if possible, don’t do it at all. Smoking causes blood clots and bad wound healing.
Do not take any herbal supplement, vitamins, Aspirin, or over the counter medicines 2 weeks before and after the surgery. They can cause bleeding.
Let’s start with the 11 most common questions people ask at our clinic
1. What can I do to have better BBL results?
-Avoid sitting on your buttocks
You must not sit or lay on your buttocks at least for 8 weeks after surgery. Sitting directly on your buttocks could affect blood circulation in the area, and transferred cells could die. For sitting use a special pillow (donut pillow, boppy pillow, original bbl pillow); even when you use it, try not siting for long periods of time. Avoid sleeping on your back too; this puts pressure on your buttocks.
-Have a healthy lifestyle
During and after the recovery time, you should try to keep your weight stable and have a healthy diet. Avoid losing too much weight because it affects the volume of your bum. Once you get recovered, the number of fat cells does not increase or decrease.
It’s the size of the cells what changes according to your weight. In other words, if you gain weight your bum will have more volume, but if you lose weight, you bum will have less volume. For this reason we recommend you to keep your weight stable.
-Avoid tight clothes or elastic bands in the buttocks area
Don’t wear tight underwear; if possible don’t wear it at all. The elastic bands can leave marks on your buttocks. Avoid wearing tight clothes in the buttocks area; remember, direct pressure is bad for blood flow.
2. How can I rest after a BBL?
No matter what, you must avoid sitting, sleeping or resting on your buttocks. Fat cells need time to integrate with the rest of the tissues and receive a good blood flow, if not, fat cells cannot survive.There are some tips about how to rest:
-Sitting
If you want to sit in a traditional position, you can use a special elevated cushion; place it underneath your thighs. This way pressure is going to be on your legs not on your buttocks. Remember, sitting directly on your buttocks can cause the fat cells to shift and complicate the results of your surgery.
To sit on a chair, you can use rolled towels, place one under your knees and place the other one behind your back. It allows you sitting without putting pressure directly on the buttocks.
Another way to sit on a chair is placing the back of the chair in front of you, place your legs on either side of the chair, rest on your thighs and leave your bum out of the chair.
-Sleeping
To sleep, do it on your stomach; try to use towels or pillows as obstacles to avoid turning while sleeping. Never put pressure on your buttocks, that’s why some doctors recommend no side sleeping.
3. Should I have a Lymphatic drainage?
Yes, you should, and do it as soon as possible (ask your surgeon for more details). It is recommended for the areas with liposuction, however, massage on your buttocks are not recommended; remember you can’t put pressure on them.
Some of the benefits of Lymphatic drainage are: it makes faster the healing process, helps to avoid fibrosis, improves skin smoothness, prevents lumps, strengthens the immune system; stimulates blood flow and drains excess fluids reducing swelling. It’s the best you can do after surgery.
4. How long does the BBL result last?
Outcomes are as permanent as the work you put in it. This means that, you have to follow your surgeon’s instructions and work hard to have healthy habits. During recovery time your body will create a new blood supply to keep the new transferred fat cells alive. It is possible, no all cells can survive; but those which do will be permanent.
5. When can I see final results?
It can take almost 12 months to see them. This procedure is very complex. Good outcomes will be the result of a well performed surgery and good self-care. After the surgery, you will observe a big change in the volume of your buttocks; it is due to the post-op swelling.
You have to take into account that this volume is going to reduce. In areas with liposuction, swelling is going to reduce to 6 weeks after surgery, you will get an idea of how your bum is going to be. By that time, your body will absorb part of the transferred fat and swelling will be gone.
6. How much transferred fat can I lose?
Your body can absorb between 20% to 50% of the transferred fat; that’s why surgeons inject more fat that you really need. If you lose more fat, the surgeon may inject more to compensate what you lost.
7. When can I take a shower?
Wait 24 hours before taking your first shower and avoid hot water. Ask your surgeon before going to the beach or use a hot tub, these can cause infections in the incisions.
8. When can I return to my normal daily activities?
All patients are different; some of them need 6 to 8 weeks to continue with their daily routine. For high impact activities, ask your surgeon before starting them.
Surgeons recommend walking the same day of the surgery; it stimulates blood flow and avoids blood clots. After 8 weeks of recovery, the fat cells are going to be fully established, so you can have long walks, but avoid high burning activities like running or cross- fit.
Remember, if you lose weight fat cells will reduce their size.
9. Does BBL recovery hurt?
For a few days, you may feel pain in the areas with liposuction. The pain is caused by the swelling and the bruising. However, you shouldn’t feel so much pain in your buttocks, because the incisions are too small to produce bruises. If you are experiencing much pain ask your surgeon about it or visit the nearest GP.
10. What else may I expect after the surgery?
Few days after surgery, you will have fluid leakage; it is due to the excess fluids that need to rain out of your body. You shouldn’t be alarm if the fluid is tinged with blood, it is completely normal. When the incisions heal, the leakage will stop.
You can help your body to drain all these fluids and heal faster with lymphatic drainage. You may have sensations of pins or itching; they are normal. They are part of the healing process. Superficial nerves are slightly traumatized during the liposuction and when they began to regenerate they produce these sensations.
After surgery, you may experience nausea, dizziness or faint; they can be due to many things including dehydration and medications. You should check with your surgeon.
11. How long do I need to wear the garment for?
After the surgery, you will have to wear a special compression garment. It treats the areas where liposuction was performed (it helps them to heal properly). It is necessary to minimize swelling, decrease discomfort, and help the skin retract. Some surgeons recommend using it all day long during 8 weeks; even when sleeping. Then, wear it during the day (12 hours) for 6 months.
The garment must have good adjustment to your body. It must be flexible in the buttocks area or have the rear end cut out, so will ensure good blood flow and no pressure in your buttocks.
You can use an abdominal board. It provides more compression to the abdominal area. The board also helps to achieve optimal results and a flat tummy. It also helps to avoid the formation of fibrosis, seromas and bruising.The garment could cause blisters or burns due to the friction of the garment against the skin. You can wear a cotton T-shirt under your garment to prevent friction.
Conclusion
As a conclusion, BBL recovery is a long process. A well performed surgery (find the best surgeon in the field), your own self-care, keeping in mind all your surgeon’s recommendations, and continue having a healthy life; even after the recovery time, will be the recipe for great outcomes.For more detailed information feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help. Remember you can book a video consultation on 02079932720.
You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington.