Factors that Influence a BBL and Ogee Lipo: Vectors and Pelvis Shape (Part3)
Diving into the third and final blog of Factors that Influence a BBL and Ogee Lipo, readers should have a good understanding that dozens of factors make each of these procedure unique. Each body worked on in the operating room is different, and therefore will have different results.
Part three will go over vectors and pelvis shape and expectations, significant topics to understand before surgery because both factor heavily influence BBLs and Ogee Lipo.
Vectors and Pelvis Shape
Vectors are significant to a BBL because they can limit what can be done in the operating room and even decide whether a patient is a suitable candidate for surgery. Understanding these different parameters before surgery is crucial because it will help align your expectations with more realistic results.
Based on the butt, pelvis and spine, patients will fall into one of three categories of vector – negative, neutral and positive. During a consultation, a plastic surgeon will examine your body from the front, back and sides to determine the correct category.
A neutral vector is the most common, and it’s when the spine comes down very straight, and the butt comes out just a little. This vector is considered a normal relationship between the spine and butt.
People with a positive vector tend to be a bit curvier and often appear more athletic. They have more tilt to their pelvis, and their butt pokes out a little more than someone neutral. The positive vector is seen less frequently than neutral.
Patients with a negative vector are the most challenging patients to operate on, and they are also the rarest - instead of the butt coming out in a positive or neutral vector, the top of their butt projects out more than the bottom. It’s almost like the pelvis tilts inward, and there is little to no volume.
If a patient starts in a negative vector and does not have soft tissue – those are red flags for surgery. This combination creates a big challenge, and sometimes these patients are even better off not having a BBL because there won’t be a significant change.
How Are Vectors Created?
As mentioned above, vectors are created by the interaction between the spine and the pelvis. Consider the spine and pelvis as two separate but connected components.
First, the spine can tilt in all directions (and 100% of the time, there is often at least a slight tilt forward, backward, side to side, or even on the angles), and it can also be bent or arched.
Next, the pelvis (what the butt sits on – the bony pelvis) connects to the spine, and it can be straight or bent based on how it interacts with the spin. Further yet, the body isn’t symmetrical, and the pelvis can also interact with the legs. Sometimes surgeons even see patients with one leg a little longer than another, so they have a specific tilt to their pelvis. The way fat is deposited is mainly based on pelvic shape. Fat is used around this area to trick the eye.
The ultimate goal for anyone coming in for a BBL is volume and projection. That’s understandable, as it’s the whole point of the surgery. However, results will depend mainly on your vector category. That’s why understanding your vector is so vital before surgery.
Your plastic surgeon will likely go over these areas during your consultation. Still, if you understand what category you fall into ahead of time together, you’ll better understand what can be accomplished during surgery.
Expectations
It makes sense that patients want to know what they’ll look like after a BBL, but dozens of components make us individuals and can alter the results of the surgery – a larger or smaller waist, different heights, more or less fat, soil level, pelvic shape and so much more.
It’s common for patients to bring in wish pictures of people who have gotten a BBL or even images of themselves that have been photoshopped or altered during their consult. However, it’s highly recommended not to base your expectations on wish pictures. Realistically, even the slightest difference can produce a very different shape.
During your consult, your doctor will look at your body and determine what’s best for you. You’ll discuss things like hips, soil, maximal projection, fat and hip height to paint a picture of what you’ll look like after surgery. Evaluating your fat, tissue and soil will help you and your doctor determine the fullness of your hips and butt.
