Your comfort and safety during recovery are our highest priority. This guide has been prepared to help you navigate each stage of your healing journey with clarity and confidence. Please read it carefully and keep it close throughout your recovery — our team is always available should any questions arise.
Preparing for Your Procedure
One Week Before
- Refrain from alcohol for at least 3 days before and after surgery.
- Confirm all required laboratory work and blood tests have been completed and sent to our office. Fax: 855-506-2309.
- Fill any prescribed medications so they are ready at home before your procedure date.
- Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Vitamin E, and any blood-thinning supplements unless otherwise directed. Tylenol is acceptable.
- Refrain from all nicotine and tobacco products. Nicotine impairs circulation and healing and increases anesthesia risk.
The Evening Before
- Our team will contact you to confirm your arrival time.
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight — this includes water, breath mints, and gum. Failure to fast may result in cancellation of your procedure, as a fasting state is required for safe sedation.
- The only exception is prescribed medication; take it with the smallest sip of water the morning of surgery as instructed.
Morning of Surgery
- Shower and shampoo thoroughly before arriving.
- Do not apply makeup, hair products, gels, or nail polish. Acrylic nails may remain.
- Dress in loose, comfortable clothing and flat, easy-to-slip-on footwear.
- Leave all jewelry, body piercings, and valuables at home.
- If you are currently menstruating, please wear a pad rather than a tampon.
- Please make sure you have a responsible adult picking you up when surgery if completed.
Protecting the Graft: Priority Instructions
No Sitting or Lying on Your Buttocks
- Do not sit directly on your buttocks for the first 2–6 weeks following surgery. Pressure on the treated area can displace the newly
transferred fat before it establishes a blood supply, directly compromising your result. - Use a BBL pillow or donut cushion when seated, positioning it under your thighs — not under your buttocks. Our team will advise you on when normal sitting can resume.
- Sleep on your stomach or your side. Do not sleep on your back during the initial recovery period.
What to Expect from Your Results
- Some fat reabsorption is natural and expected — Dr. Zuckerman accounts for this when determining graft volume. Your final result reflects the fat that successfully integrates.
- Allow 3 to 6 months for swelling to fully resolve and the surviving fat to settle into its final position.
Your Recovery at Home
The First 24-48 Hours
- A trusted caregiver must remain with you overnight and ideally for the first 1–2 days following surgery.
- Avoid major decisions or activities requiring clear judgment for 24 hours as anesthesia clears your system.
Activity & Movement
- You are encouraged to walk around the house on the day of surgery and thereafter. Move and pump your legs frequently while lying down. These help to prevent blood clots from developing in the legs.
- Take deep breaths often during the first 24 hours post-operatively. This helps prevent pneumonia and atelectasis.
- Resume activities slowly. Avoid any heavy lifting.
- Avoid baths, swimming, and hot tubs for 6 weeks following surgery.
Fluids & Wound Care
- Drink plenty of fluids — approximately one gallon per day.
- Avoid direct sunlight to the incision area.
- Take all antibiotics as prescribed until finished.
- Apply ice to areas of discomfort for no more than 5 minutes at a time.
Supporting Your Results
Swelling & Healing
- Significant swelling at both the donor sites and the treated area is normal in the first weeks. Bruising at the liposuction donor areas typically fades within 7–10 days.
Hydration, Nutrition & Graft Survival
- Drink 8–10 glasses of water daily. Hydration directly supports circulation and graft survival.
- Eat nourishing, protein-rich, anti-inflammatory foods. Limit sodium to minimize swelling.
- Avoid alcohol for at least 2 weeks post-surgery, as it increases swelling and impairs healing.
- Do not smoke or use nicotine products during your recovery. Nicotine severely impairs circulation and can significantly reduce the amount of fat that survives the transfer.
Scar Care
- Avoid direct sun exposure to all incision sites for at least 1 year following surgery.
- Once healed, apply unscented zinc oxide SPF 30+ sunscreen consistently to minimize scar visibility.
Contact Our Office Immediately If You Experience Any of the Following:
- Fever above 101°F
- Pain that is not adequately relieved by prescribed medication
- Increased redness, warmth, or swelling around the incision site
- Bleeding that saturates your dressings
- Foul-smelling or unusual discharge
- Persistent nausea, vomiting, or any other symptom that concerns you
When in doubt, please call. We would always rather hear from you.
