Liposuction & BBL: Former Employee’s Flank Sculpting Story

Liposuction with Brazilian Butt Lift Success Story Series by Dr. Sam Sukkar, MD | Case Study #728

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This is part of our series featuring real patient transformations at The Clinic for Plastic Surgery. Each case study provides an in-depth look at actual procedures, recovery experiences, and results from Houston patients who’ve undergone liposuction with Dr. Sam M. Sukkar.

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When a member of your own surgical team books a consultation, you know she’s seen the process from every angle. She’s witnessed the pre-op preparation, heard the recovery stories, and studied hundreds of before-and-after results. Yet despite all that insider knowledge, 34-year-old Brittany* still felt stuck, her flanks refused to respond to countless gym sessions, and she wanted the fuller buttock contour that exercise alone couldn’t deliver.

*The patient’s name was changed to protect their privacy. All medical details and photographic before and after results are from actual Patient Case #728. Individual results may vary based on body type, surgical approach, and adherence to post-operative instructions.

What Led Brittany* to Choose Liposuction & Brazilian Butt Lift

Brittany’s* Concerns and Expectations

Working alongside me gave Brittany* a unique perspective, she understood that VASER liposuction wasn’t about weight loss, but precise body sculpting. At 5’6″ and 125 pounds, she maintained an active lifestyle and healthy eating habits, yet her flanks (love handles) held stubborn fat deposits that disrupted her body contour. She wanted targeted removal of that resistant fat while simultaneously adding natural volume to her buttocks through fat transfer. Her expectations were realistic: she sought balanced proportions, not dramatic size changes. She knew recovery timelines, understood surgical limitations, and recognized that Brazilian Butt Lift results depended on careful post-operative care to preserve transferred fat cells.

Pre-Surgery Worries

Even with her medical background, Brittany* expressed familiar concerns during our consultation. Brittany worried about symmetry, would both buttocks receive equal volume and maintain matching shapes? She questioned whether 240 cc per side would provide noticeable enhancement without looking overdone. Also, she asked about scarring from liposuction incisions, placement of access points, and how visible they’d be long-term. Like many liposuction candidates, she wondered if fat would return to treated areas or redistribute elsewhere. Her biggest concern? Balancing her professional responsibilities with adequate recovery time, she needed to know exactly when she could return to work without compromising her results.

Customized Liposculpture & Fat Transfer Strategy for Brittany*

The Combination Approach

Brittany’s* surgical plan combined two complementary techniques to address her concerns comprehensively:

1. VASER Liposculpture to Bilateral Flanks

• Ultrasonic energy emulsified fat cells in love handle areas for gentler removal
• Preserved surrounding tissues, blood vessels, and nerves compared to traditional methods
• Created smoother contours with reduced bruising and faster healing
• Allowed precise sculpting to enhance her natural waistline definition

2. Brazilian Butt Lift (Fat Grafting to Buttocks)

• 240 cc purified fat injected into left buttock
• 240 cc purified fat injected into right buttock
• Strategic placement in multiple tissue layers for maximum survival rate
• Natural augmentation using her own harvested fat cells

This dual approach solved both problems simultaneously, eliminating unwanted contour irregularities while using that same fat as natural filler for buttock enhancement. The combination of liposuction with fat transfer creates harmonious results because we’re simultaneously reducing one area while augmenting another, achieving better overall body proportions in a single procedure.

Why This Approach Worked

Brittany’s* anatomy was ideal for this combination. Her flank fat was excellent quality for harvesting, dense enough to provide adequate volume for bilateral buttock augmentation while responsive to VASER technology for smooth removal. Her 125-pound frame meant we needed precision rather than aggressive volume removal, making VASER’s targeted approach perfect for her goals.

After performing over 20,000 procedures across 25+ years, I’ve learned that successful body contouring isn’t about removing maximum fat, it’s about sculpting strategic areas to create balanced proportions. Brittany’s* case exemplified this principle: we removed just enough flank tissue to eliminate bulging while harvesting sufficient fat for subtle yet noticeable buttock enhancement. The key was maintaining her athletic build while refining specific contour concerns that exercise couldn’t address.

Brittany’s* Recovery: From Surgery to Final Results

The First Two Weeks Post-Op

Brittany* experienced the typical post-operative sensations, tightness in her flank areas, soreness throughout her midsection, and the unique pressure sensation in her buttocks from the transferred fat. Compression garments were mandatory from day one, and she couldn’t sit directly on her buttocks to protect the newly grafted fat cells. She managed discomfort with prescribed medication and found sleeping on her stomach or side most comfortable. Swelling peaked around day three, which she anticipated from her professional experience.

Critical Recovery Rules for Fat Transfer Patients:

• No direct sitting for 3 weeks (standing, lying, or using BBL pillow only)
• Continuous compression on liposuction areas to reduce swelling and support skin retraction
• No strenuous activity to prevent fat cell displacement
• Stay hydrated to support healing and fat graft survival

By week two, Brittany* noticed significant improvement. Swelling decreased, mobility increased, and she could walk comfortably for longer periods. She returned to light desk duties using her BBL pillow, though full sitting remained restricted. The liposuction recovery timeline was progressing exactly as she’d witnessed with other patients.

Weeks 3-8: Progressive Transformation

Brittany* gradually resumed sitting without restrictions after week three, though she continued using her BBL pillow for extended periods as a precaution. Her flank areas showed dramatically improved contours, the persistent bulging was gone, replaced by smooth curves that flowed naturally from her ribcage to her hips. She began light cardio exercises and noticed her clothes fitting better through the waist and hip areas.

Final Results Phase: Months 2-3

At three months post-operative, Brittany’s* transformation reached its full potential. Her final weight stabilized at 121 pounds, a four-pound reduction that reflected pure fat removal from her flanks. More importantly, the transferred fat had survived the critical integration period, maintaining the enhanced buttock volume. Her back profile showed remarkable improvement: the flanks that once protruded now created an hourglass effect, while her buttocks displayed natural-looking fullness with 240 cc per side providing subtle but noticeable projection. The before-and-after comparison demonstrated precisely what she’d envisioned, athletic definition with feminine curves, achieved without implants or dramatic weight changes.

Brittany’s* Transformation: Three-Month Results

At three months post-procedure, Brittany’s* results validated her decision to undergo surgery at the practice where she worked. Her flank liposuction created the smooth back contour she’d pursued unsuccessfully through exercise, while the Brazilian Butt Lift added natural volume using her own tissue, no foreign implants, no synthetic fillers. Most significantly, these improvements came from a single surgery with one recovery period.

Her satisfaction extended beyond aesthetics. As a former employee, she understood the surgical process intimately, yet experiencing it as a patient gave her newfound appreciation for proper post-operative care. She became an advocate among friends and family, explaining how body contouring procedures work and what realistic expectations look like.

What Made Brittany’s* Liposuction with Brazilian Butt Lift Results Stand Out

Five Factors That Contributed to Her Success:

First, her realistic expectations set the foundation, she understood liposuction’s capabilities and limitations from her professional experience. Second, her excellent candidacy mattered tremendously: at 125 pounds with localized fat deposits, she was an ideal patient for targeted liposuction rather than weight-loss surgery. Third, her commitment to post-operative restrictions protected her fat transfer; those three weeks of modified sitting weren’t convenient, but they were essential for graft survival.

Fourth, her healthy lifestyle supported healing: she maintained proper nutrition, stayed active within restrictions, and avoided factors that compromise recovery. Finally, the customized surgical approach addressed her specific anatomy, we sculpted her flanks to complement her frame rather than following a template approach. When these elements align, realistic patient, precise surgical plan, and dedicated recovery adherence, transformations like Brittany’s* become not just possible but predictable.

Common Questions About Liposuction & Brazilian Butt Lift

Can liposuction and Brazilian Butt Lift be safely combined in one surgery?

Absolutely, and Brittany’s* case demonstrates why this combination is so effective. The fat removed from unwanted areas (her flanks) becomes the natural filler for buttock augmentation. This approach offers multiple advantages: single anesthesia exposure, one recovery period, and harmonious results since we’re simultaneously reducing and enhancing complementary body regions. The key is having adequate fat in donor areas and maintaining realistic expectations about transfer volumes. Most patients find this combination approach more cost-effective and convenient than staging procedures separately.

Why is the “no sitting” rule so critical after Brazilian Butt Lift?

Direct pressure on newly transferred fat cells can compromise their blood supply during the crucial first three weeks when they’re establishing connections with surrounding tissues. Think of grafted fat like transplanted seedlings, they need time to “take root” before they can withstand stress. When patients follow sitting restrictions properly, we see 60-70% fat survival rates on average. Those who sit prematurely often experience uneven resorption, asymmetry, or reduced volume retention. Using a BBL pillow distributes pressure to the thighs rather than the buttocks, protecting the grafted fat while allowing necessary sitting for work or dining.

How long before final liposuction with Brazilian Butt Lift results are visible?

Brittany* reached her final result at three months, which is typical for VASER liposuction procedures. Initial swelling subsides within 2-4 weeks, but residual fluid and tissue settling continue for 8-12 weeks. Skin retraction, especially important for maintaining smooth contours, progresses gradually over this timeframe. Patients with good skin elasticity like Brittany* see optimal results sooner than those with reduced elasticity. That said, most patients notice dramatic improvement within the first month, with continued refinement through month three.

Ready to Write Your Own Liposuction Success Story?

Brittany* walked into my Houston office frustrated by stubborn flank fat that wouldn’t budge despite dedicated gym efforts. Three months later, she had the sculpted back contour and enhanced buttock volume she’d been pursuing, achieved through targeted liposuction combined with natural fat transfer.

Your story might be different. Maybe you’re concerned about multiple problem areas, wondering whether liposuction is safe, or trying to understand if you’re a good candidate for fat transfer procedures. But the common thread is this: You deserve to feel confident and comfortable in your own body. Your body deserves the same dedication you give to fitness and health.

If stubborn fat deposits are affecting your quality of life despite diet and exercise, transformation is possible.

Schedule Your Personalized Consultation here, or call us today at (281) 940-1535 and discover what’s possible for your unique body and goals in Houston!

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About the Author – Meet Dr. Sam Sukkar, MD

Dr. Sukkar earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in 1992 after graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. He then completed an intensive General Surgery Residency at the University of Texas Hermann Hospital before being selected for a highly competitive Plastic Surgery Fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago, one of the most prestigious training programs in the country.

With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Sukkar is a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He is also an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Houston Society of Plastic Surgery (HSPS). His dedication to innovation and continuing education has solidified his reputation as a leading expert in aesthetic surgery, specializing in breast surgery, body contouring, facial procedures, and non-invasive treatments.

Dr. Sukkar’s expertise has been recognized by Houston Magazine, naming him one of Houston’s “Top Docs for Women,” and he has been featured among RealSelf’s America’s Top Doctors. Committed to his patients, he prioritizes personalized care, ensuring every individual feels informed, comfortable, and confident in their aesthetic journey.

Contact Dr. Sukkar today to schedule a consultation, visit DrSukkar.com to learn more, or call us directly at (281) 940-1535.

Cover Image Illustration by: Dr. Sam Sukkar, MD, The Clinic for Plastic Surgery.