Tummy Tuck and BBL in Medellín

Tummy tuck and BBL, tummy tuck with lipo and BBL, lipoabdominoplasty with BBL or, in Spanish, lipoabdominoplastia con transferencia glútea: they're all names for the same combination of three surgeries. A tummy tuck removes the extra skin and fat on the abdomen. Liposuction defines the waist and back. And a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) moves that fat, once purified, to the buttocks. It isn't a fixed package: what gets combined depends on your body and your test results.

Each part has its own goal. On the abdomen, the extra skin is removed, the muscles are repaired if there's diastasis, and the scar sits low, covered by underwear. In the buttocks, the fat is placed above the muscle, never inside it. The difference is how big the surgery is: on its own, a tummy tuck takes 3 to 4 hours and a BBL 3 to 5 hours; together, it takes longer. Recovery also means caring for two areas at once. Plan ahead for time off work and for who will take care of you in the first days.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a good tummy tuck candidate is in good health, at a stable weight, has realistic expectations and doesn't smoke. For fat transfer to the buttocks, the ASPS adds being close to your ideal weight. It's better to wait if:

• You plan to lose a lot of weight: that comes first, with a medical weight-loss plan.
• You want more children.
• You have little fat elsewhere: there may not be enough to transfer.
• You smoke and won't quit beforehand.
• You expect to erase cellulite or all your stretch marks.

Here the risks of three surgeries add up. For a tummy tuck and liposuction, the ASPS lists, among others, infection, poor wound healing, fluid buildup, deep vein thrombosis and heart or lung complications. In the buttocks, the most serious risk is fat embolism, which can happen if fat is accidentally injected into the muscle. Reviewing deaths after cosmetic surgery, the CDC identified obesity and having several procedures in the same operation as risk factors for embolism. That's why we don't operate until your pre-op tests are in order, and you sign an informed consent form.

Beforehand, you get pre-op tests, stop smoking and review your medications: according to the ASPS, aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements can increase bleeding. We tell you what to stop taking. An adult stays with you from the first night. The first week, you walk slightly bent forward, in a compression garment. Through week 3, you avoid direct pressure on your buttocks, as your surgeon directs, and for sitting, the ASPS recommends a cushion under the back of your thighs. If you have shortness of breath, chest pain or an irregular heartbeat, get medical care right away.

You don't always need all three. Depending on what bothers you, other options include:

• Just your abdomen, if you aren't looking for volume in your buttocks: a tummy tuck, often with lipo.
• Just your buttocks and waist, if you don't have extra skin: a BBL.
• A little extra skin, only below the belly button: a mini tummy tuck.
• Breasts and abdomen after pregnancy: a mommy makeover.
• Loose skin in several areas after losing a lot of weight: body contouring after major weight loss, in stages.