Brazilian Butt Lift

Conveniently located to serve Seattle and Bellevue

SHOPPING LIST

• One Compression Garment (provided to you by RP Plastic Surgery)
• Prescriptions: Fill prescriptions prior to your surgery date.
• Stool Softeners or Mild Laxative: (Colace is preferred) to help with constipation associated with narcotic pain relievers.
• Arnica Supplement for bruise healing (optional)
• BBL Pillow
• Plastic shower curtain or tarp (this will protect your bed and/or couch after liposuction)
• Tylenol: alternative to narcotic pain medication if pain is not severe. Do NOT take NSAIDs.

 WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY

• Obtain Medical Evaluation and Clearance. Make a visit to your primary care doctor to complete your medical evaluation and laboratory testing. Your surgeon may request for you to also be evaluated by a specialist prior to your procedure. Please ensure any preoperative requests are completed 2 weeks before surgery. If you don’t have a primary care doctor no problem, we can do the laboratory testing from our office.
• Work and Recovery Arrangements. Make any arrangements to be off from work or other strenuous activities while you are recovering from surgery. Have extra help available, particularly if caring for small children.
• Smoking. Tobacco, cigarettes, and nicotine consumption will cause poor wound healing, longer healing times, and excessive scarring. We advise discontinuing these products more than 4 weeks prior to surgery.

3 WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY

• Surgery Preop Appointment. You will come in for your preop appointment where you will review the surgery plan with your surgeon and go over logistical surgery details with your patient coordinator. Bring your questions as well as any individuals that will be part of your support and healing.
• Diet/Supplement Restrictions. Avoid foods, drinks and herbal supplements than can increase risk of bleeding and bruising. Avoid aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Motrin, blood thinners, vitamin E, omega-3, fish oil, and alcohol. Also see medications to avoid list in your pre-op packet. Use Tylenol in place of other over the counter pain medications.
• Fill Prescriptions. These may include antibiotics and/or pain medication for after surgery. Make sure you understand how and when to take all medications. We suggest keeping a note pad to keep track of the medications you have taken.

WEEK BEFORE SURGERY

• Review Instructions with Caregiver. Confirm who will be driving you to and from the surgical center and who will stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery.
• Arnica. (optional) start your Arnica tablets two days before surgery. One in the AM and one in the PM and continue until the bottle is finished.

NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY

• DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT OR SURGERY WILL BE RESCHEDULED. 
• Set Up Home Recovery Area. This may include pillows, blankets, books, television, and anything else to assist with a comfortable recovery.
• Bathing. You can shower with plain anti-bacterial soap (Dial, Dove, etc.) but do not apply lotion, perfume, hair product, etc.

DAY OF SURGERY

• Dress Comfortably. Dress in comfortable, clean, and loose-fitting clothes. Shirts that can be buttoned or zipped up are preferred and slip-on shoes.
• Arrival to Facility. Arrive to your designated surgery location at the time stated in your pre-operative packet. Remember to bring a form of identification.
• Do NOT wear any makeup, jewelry, cosmetic creams, hair products, deodorant, sunscreen, and remove all piercings.

POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR BBL (BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT)

NIGHT OF SURGERY

• Sleep. You must sleep on your stomach for the first 10 days (Fat Transfer BBL) Gluteal Implants, for 14 days (2 weeks) after your surgery. Putting a few pillows under your pelvis to allow your hips to be flexed may help with further comfort.
• Movement is Important. Make sure you are up and walking around immediately after your surgery. When lying down in bed or on the couch, make sure you are moving your legs and ankles. Take deep breaths frequently to keep your lungs clear.

MEDICATIONS

• Pain. You will be prescribed a pain medication for post-operative pain control. If your discomfort after surgery is not strong you are welcomed to take Tylenol in place of the prescribed medication. Do not take the Tylenol with the pain medication, as most often the medication you are prescribed will have Tylenol in it. Do not exceed 4,000 mg of Tylenol in any 24-hour time period. Take medication with food to minimize risk of nausea.
• Nausea. If you are experiencing nausea, which is common after general anesthesia as well as a known side effect of some stronger pain medications, we advise that you take your nausea medication. You may have been given Scopolamine patch that is placed behind your ear. This will deliver anti-nausea medication for three days after its placement.
• Constipation. You will experience constipation if taking narcotic pain relievers. Miralax or other over the counter laxatives are recommended. Do not wait to take until you are constipated. Begin treatment with narcotic use.
• Medications to Avoid. Take only those medications approved or prescribed by your surgeon. 

NUTRITION

• Diet. A light low-fat diet is best after surgery. You may start a regular diet the day after your surgery as long as you are not feeling nauseated or vomiting. Start with liquids for the first few hours after surgery and then slowly advance to more solid foods.
• Hydration. Stay hydrated by drinking 8 -10 glasses of water a day. Avoid alcohol while you are still taking pain medications.

ACTIVITY

• Physical Activity. Normal daily activity can be resumed a few days after surgery. Avoid lifting more than 5lbs, bending, straining, or intense cardio activity for the first 2 weeks.
• Sitting. Sitting is to be absolutely avoided for a full 10 days after your Fat Transfer Brazilian Butt Lift, Gluteal Implants, for 14 days (2 weeks) after. Thereafter, it is advised to use an extra cushion when sitting (BBL pillow, doughnut cushion, rolled up blanket under your hips, etc.). This will help disperse and minimize direct pressure on the site. Avoid sitting for extended periods of time.
• Exercise. You can resume a light exercise regimen in approximately 4-5 weeks after surgery, though start easy and build back up to your previous exercise levels. Just know that swelling may transiently be worse with exercise.
• Compression Garment. A compression garment must be worn 24 hours a day for two weeks following your surgery. The garment should fit snug but not too tight that you have trouble breathing or you develop wounds or blisters from the compression. Wear your garment at all times except for when you are showering or to wash it. This will help with minimizing swelling and help in contouring the body. You may be asked to switch to a waist trainer after a few weeks of wearing the garment that we have provided you.
• Driving. Do NOT operate a vehicle or make important decisions until you have been off pain medications for 24 hours. 
• Massage. Light massage to the liposuction areas will help with recovery. It will feel odd initially but will get better the farther you progress from surgery. You may find it helpful for a Lymphatic Message (completely optional) after your surgery this can be done after your first postop appointment and when you are ready.
• Travel. Personal operation of an automobile is restricted for two weeks after your surgery. If necessary, you may be driven by another person. Airline travel is restricted for 2 weeks postop. You will notice increased swelling with airline travel, and this can happen even 6-8 weeks postop related to the pressure changes that occur.
• Return to work. Most patients require approximately 2 weeks off work depending on their job responsibilities. Returning to work with a light schedule initially or even part-time can be beneficial as well.

BATHING

• Showering. You may shower with assistance 72 hours (3 days) after your surgery. Remove your garment and any compression foam. Incisions are covered with steri-Strip dressings and require no attention. Replace garment after your shower.
• Hot Tubs/Baths/Swimming Pools. No tub baths or Jacuzzi until your incisions have healed, and approved by your surgeon, which is usually around 3 weeks. It is best to wait one month for hot tubs as they tend to have more bacteria than regular chlorinated swimming pools.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR INCISIONS

• Incisions. Your incisions are covered with a waterproof dressing. No dressing changes or incision care is required. After your first postop visit, the dressing will be removed, and tape will be applied. Additional tape is provided so you can continue a planned scar regimen.
• Stitches. All stitches are dissolvable. 
• Avoid the Sun. Direct sunlight to the incision needs to be fully avoided the first month after surgery. However, scars may take up to a year to fully heal. Sun damage to the area during the first year can cause permanent pigmentation changes. Always use sunscreen on the scar to ensure proper protection.
• Scar ointment. Scars are small. When you are told it is safe, you can begin to use silicone-based ointment or strips (Silagen preferred) on your scars to improve healing. 

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Drainage. Drainage can occur from the incision sites for the first 24-72 hours. The drainage will be blood tinged. You may use gauze or a light pad to reinforce post-op dressings if this occurs.
• Discomfort. Pain, stiffness, and soreness can be expected in the buttocks and areas of fat harvest while the body recovers.
• Bruising. You can expect to have bruising. The bruising can be impressive depending on the extent of liposuction and fat transfer performed. Most bruises will heal after about 2-3 weeks. The bruise will go from a purplish color to a yellow/green shade as it starts to resolve.
• Results. It is important to remember that only a percentage of the fat cells transferred to the area survive and remain permanent. You can expect to see more of a final result after 3-6 months.
• Swelling. Swelling is to be expected for weeks and sometimes months. The swelling can improve with intermittent rest and compression garments. Exercise and physical activity can transiently worsen swelling but is encouraged.
• Asymmetries. Areas of the body may heal at different rates. This means that bruising, swelling, and discomfort may not be uniform and could be greater in some areas. Once the body has healed, these asymmetries will even out.
• Itching. Itching at the incision sites is normal for a few days. You may take Benadryl to help with this.
• Sensory Changes in Skin. You may notice numbness or tingling sensation around your incision sites and throughout the affected areas. This is normal. You can expect return of normal sensation after a few months.
• Scarring. Scars may take up to a year to fully heal. Tape is used for scar management though a topical silicone gel or sheeting (Silagen preferred) can also be used if desired.

DO NOT’S

• DO NOT sit on your buttocks and/hips area for a full 10 days after your Fat Transfer Brazilian Butt Lift, Gluteal Implants, for a full 14 days (2 weeks) after. 
• Do NOT apply hydrogen peroxide and/or anything else to incision sites. Keep postop dressings in place until follow-up.
• DO NOT soak in baths, Jacuzzis or hot tubs until all incisions have fully healed.
• DO NOT take Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, or other blood thinners until your surgeon advises you it is safe.
• Do NOT apply heating pads or ice packs to the treated areas unless otherwise instructed by your surgeon.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

WHEN TO CALL DR PARIKH @ 206-963-6724

• Signs of Infection. Spreading redness, worsening swelling, increased drainage, or drainage of pus, worsening pain and warmth at incision site. Temperature over 101 degrees Fahrenheit
• Excessive Bleeding. If the dressings are saturated with bright red blood and you are having to make very frequent dressing changes.
• Other Emergency Situations. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chest pain, lightheadedness that does not quickly resolve, severe vomiting, pain, or asymmetric swelling in your legs.

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