Ask Dr. Pane! I Had a Tummy Tuck Recently. When I Come Back for Round Two BBL, Can We Fill In Some of the Flat Spots with Fat Transfer?

It’s always nice to get a compliment, and at Atlantic Coast Aesthetics, the biggest compliment any of our patients can pay us is trusting us to take care of all their cosmetic surgery needs. During a recent Ask Dr. Pane session which was conducted live on Instagram, our Chief Medical Officer and founder, Dr. Thomas A. Pane, fielded an interesting question from a patient who had previously undergone a tummy tuck and wanted another procedure. The patient asks, “I had a tummy tuck with you recently and I look BOMB! I want to do a round two BBL with you now but just to fill in some spots that I lost fat. Can I do a round two BBL from bra roll and upper back fat?” Dr. Pane was happy to answer this question because it’s important for patients to understand what the abilities and limitations of cosmetic surgery are, especially when it comes to utilizing the patients’ own tissues for procedures.

It’s possible if there’s enough fat in the back area. Basically what we do in that situation is, we turn people prone [lying down on their face], lipo the area and then just reinject the fat into the areas that need filling. The operation is a little bit shorter that way, which is good, but it can take some time, especially if there’s existing scar tissue in the area that has to be worked around. For spot areas, small areas where you did need as much volume, then it shouldn’t be a problem.

For areas where you want more volume, I’d usually say let’s re-lipo the areas [we’ve already used to harvest fat before] and see what we can get.  Usually, we can get an indication of how much available fat there is to work with for harvesting and transfer by pinching possible target areas during the consultation. This will tell us how much adipose tissue remains after the first procedure, and thus roughly how much is available for transfer to other areas.

As with any procedure we do at Atlantic Coast Aesthetics, our number one goal is always patient safety. We achieve this by balancing the results they want and need against what it will take to get them and how well the patient is likely to tolerate these procedures. In some cases, a patient may benefit from a procedure or surgical technique they may not even be aware exists. This is why it’s important for patients to keep an open mind when it comes to evaluating their options for cosmetic surgery and not get too attached to any one particular method or type of procedure. There may be underlying medical history factors or conditions that take one procedure off the table but make a patient an ideal candidate for another!

Another important thing to remember is the importance of aftercare and compliance with surgical staff recommendations and directives. These are intended to aid the healing process and reduce the risk of complications arising from a given procedure while delivering the best possible results. Some examples might include the proper use of compression garments, when and how to check bandages, taking prescribed medications as directed, and avoiding potentially dangerous activities such as drinking, smoking or prolonged sun exposure. The best cosmetic surgeon in the world, using the best and latest techniques and technology, can’t help you if you don’t help yourself to get the maximum benefit from your procedure!

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about cosmetic surgery, we at Atlantic Coast Aesthetics are always happy to discuss the topics and procedures that you’re most interested in or concerned about. Simply call us at (561) 422-4116, email us at https://acplasticsurg.com or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook! Your question could help Dr. Pane help and educate others as part of a forthcoming “Ask Dr. Pane” segment, answered live in an upcoming Google Hangout or on Instagram Live. These questions are important because they help us give other patients factual information and straight answers while helping you choose what procedures might be best for your condition and overall goals Remember, at Atlantic Coast Aesthetics, we believe the only bad question is the one you DON’T ask!