Dr. Pey-Yi Kevin Lin, MD

Fluffing is a phenomenon that occurs after a BBL where the butt gets fluffier. After the initial BBL, the butt shrinks as fluid and fat that won't survive goes away. Then, the fat starts to dry and fluff up.

Patients can usually start exercises two to three weeks after the BBL, once bruising and swelling are gone. Deep squats, lunges, and donkey kicks are recommended to stretch the skin, recruit blood supply, build butt muscles, and help the butt fluff up.

Dr. Lin recommends three butt exercises after a BBL: deep squats, lunges, and donkey kicks. These exercises stretch the skin, open the envelope, build the gluteus muscle, and increase blood flow to feed the fat. Patients should start with 30 repetitions of each exercise every morning using only body weight and increase the repetitions until they reach 100 of each exercise every day. Weights are not needed.

For the first month after a Lipo 360 BBL, only lipo foam should touch the skin. Compression garments must be worn religiously and as directed. Butt exercises should begin as soon as bruising is gone. Sitting is prohibited for four weeks or longer. Follow-up visits are important to ensure proper healing.

Sitting too early after Lipo 360 BBL can cause fat death. Gaining a lot of weight after Lipo 360 can ruin results and cause disproportion.

Lipofoam protects the skin and adds another layer of protection against the binder. It also provides another layer of compression. It should be applied skin to skin, with nothing in between, and should go over the incision. The practice usually tells patients to stick the lipofoam in the front, pushing it towards the pelvis and laying it flat. If the lipofoam is too tall, patients can cut it to make it shorter. Some patients may use lipofoam 360 degrees, in the front, on the sides, and in the back, and can cut the lipofoam into a triangle for use in the back. Lipofoam usually comes in a pack of 3 that you can reuse and wash.

The most common BBL style is the upside down heart shape, which is fuller at the bottom and blends into a snatched waist. The bubble BBL shape is rounded and has higher projection. The country club BBL is more natural and athletic-looking, with less projection. The practice can discuss any BBL style a patient wants.

BBL reduction involves removing fat via liposuction. Laser or other devices may be needed to break up scar tissue. Removing too much fat at once can lead to loose skin, so a serial reduction may be necessary. The practice is doing more BBL reductions these days.

Sculptra and Alloclae are non-surgical butt reduction options, but less dramatic.

Patients can get up and move around as early as the day after surgery. Buttock exercises can typically begin a week and a half to two weeks after surgery, once bruising is gone. Patients can drive when they are off narcotic pain medication and feel capable, usually around one to two weeks, while sitting on a BBL pillow for short distances. A compression garment and foam should be worn for at least one month, and up to three months. Full activity can typically resume after four to six weeks. The full recovery process takes about six months. The practice follows up with patients for about six months after the procedure.

The practice recommends BBL pillows to keep pressure off the buttocks for 4 weeks. Most patients are advised to wear compression socks for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. In the first week after surgery, patients may need to wear compression socks 24/7, except when showering. The faja should feel snug but not too tight. Fajas are specifically made for BBLs to allow the glutes to be supported but not squished.

It is okay to shower 24-48 hours after surgery. Patients are usually cleared to sit normally about 4 weeks after surgery.

The practice recommends patients stay in the area for surgery for a minimum of 5-7 days so they can be seen at their first post-op appointment.

Type 1 diabetics can get BBLs with medical clearance.

Patients should use steri-strips for the first two months after a tummy tuck, changing them once a week. After two months, patients can start using scar creams, such as Mederma, almost every day. Scar creams with SPF are recommended. Patients should avoid sun tanning after a tummy tuck, as tanning can cause scars to become dark or red.

After a tummy tuck, the belly button is recreated. A well-done belly button recreation should look natural, as if the patient was born with it. The goal for most patients is a natural, vertical oval belly button with soft edges, subtle shadow, and no harsh ring. A natural-looking belly button usually has a vertical oval shape, not a circle. Hooding, a small fold at the top, creates a natural shadow. The position of the belly button should be balanced for the patient's torso, not a one-size-fits-all template. Less tension during the technique and closure helps scars heal cleaner.

Skin has to be removed during a tummy tuck, so sometimes tattoos have to be removed too. A tummy tuck removes skin, so it only removes stretch marks that are on the skin being removed. Some stretch marks do improve as a result of the skin tightening from a tummy tuck.

The minimum time to wait after having a baby before getting a tummy tuck is 6 months, but 1 year is preferable.