14 Facts You Should Know about Brazilian Butt Lifts
The Brazilian butt lift is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures, and for good reason. Not only can it create amazing results that look and feel very natural, but it is also a relatively simple and straightforward procedure. Whether you’re looking for a boost of volume or are unhappy with lumps and bumps, a Brazilian butt lift could be a great option for you.
Before you jump right into you procedure, though, there are a few facts about BBLs that you should know to help you prepare and plan. This guide can help you navigate your way through your BBL, from your initial consultation to seeing your beautiful results.
1. An Experienced Cosmetic Surgeon Should Perform Your BBL
Even though Brazilian butt lifts are fairly simple and easy procedures, they still need to be performed by an experienced cosmetic surgeon who focuses on BBLs. When choosing a cosmetic surgeon for your procedure, look for qualifications like extensive medical training and education and memberships or affiliations with accredited organizations such as the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.
During your first visit to your cosmetic surgeon’s office, it can also be a good idea to take note of your overall first impression. Pay attention to aspects of your visit like the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, how clean and organized the office is and how well you are able to communicate with the cosmetic surgeon. It’s crucial that you feel comfortable explaining your needs and goals with your cosmetic surgeon to help you get the high-quality results you’re looking for.
2. A Brazilian Butt Lift Is a Two-In-One Procedure
Many people don’t realize that a Brazilian butt lift is actually a two-step procedure. First, your cosmetic surgeon will perform liposuction in another area of your body. The most common areas for this portion of your BBL are the abdomen, waist and the back. In slimmer patients, extra fat can be collected from the arms, inner and outer thighs. In order to perform the liposuction, your cosmetic surgeon will need to create very small incisions through which he or she can insert small tubes called cannulas. Through these cannulas, excess fat cells can be removed from the targeted area.
These fat cells will can then be processed and carefully injected into your buttocks in precise locations in order to achieve the desired fullness and shape.
An added benefit of getting a BBL is that the liposuction component of this procedure can help to enhance the hourglass figure you’re looking for even more.
3. A BBL Can Offer Very Natural-Looking Results
Because of the unique technique involved in a Brazilian butt lift, which uses your body’s own fat cells to provide your larger, better defined look, a BBL can offer very natural-looking results. Additionally, using natural fat cells also provides the added benefit of allowing your results to feel and move in the same way that your natural tissue would.
This is one of the many benefits of choosing a Brazilian bitt lift over butt implants, as butt implants involve inserting a synthetic material under your natural tissue, which can create an unbalanced look and awkward, unnatural movements.
If you’re considering a BBL or another butt enhancement procedure, your best bet is to schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon to discuss your specific goals and the pros and cons of each different type of procedure.
4. Brazilian Butt Lifts Can Address Both Volume and Shape
Contrary to popular belief, getting a Brazilian butt lift doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to end up with a massive amount of extra volume. Instead, most women who opt for a BBL want a subtle boost in size, along with a smoother texture and a more symmetrical shape.
In the hands of an experienced cosmetic surgeon, your Brazilian butt lift can help you achieve both of these goals very beautifully. Just be sure to discuss your wish list with your cosmetic surgeon during your consultation to make sure you’re both on the same page about what you’re looking to get out of your BBL procedure.
In some cases, a Brazilian butt lift can help to improve the appearance of cellulite, although it is not guaranteed that the procedure will remove the look of cellulite altogether.
5. People with Virtually Any Body Type Can Be a Good Candidate
While it is true that a Brazilian butt lift will require you to have some amount of excess fat in order to perform the procedure, nearly everyone stores a bit of stubborn fat in their abdomen/waist, love handles, back/bra bulge or thigh areas. Because of this, even people with very thin or petite body types can be a good candidate for a BBL.
No matter your body type, your cosmetic surgeon should be able to design a surgical plan that takes into account your body’s natural proportions in order to create the balanced silhouette you want without appearing “done” or fake.
Keep in mind, though, that while liposuction can help to enhance the curves of your body, this procedure isn’t meant to be used as a method of weight loss, so it’s still generally recommended that you reach your fitness and weight loss goals prior to getting a BBL.
Another consideration is that because your BBL will use your body’s own fat cells, it is still possible to lose and gain fat in your buttocks after your procedure, so significant fluctuations in weight can impact your results down the road.
6. You Should Get a BBL for the Right Reasons
A Brazilian butt lift can offer excellent, natural-looking results, but it’s important that you’re getting this procedure for the right reasons. As with any cosmetic surgery, a BBL shouldn’t be used as a magic wand for solving body image issues or other underlying psychological problems that may be pushing you towards this procedure.
Instead, you should choose to get a Brazilian butt lift to help highlight your natural curves because you want to for yourself, not for anyone else. A BBL also shouldn’t be thought of as a way to completely change your appearance, but rather to enhance your already beautiful body shape and feel more confident in yourself.
Don’t let others influence your decision one way or another to get a BBL or any other cosmetic procedure. Do it for you and only you.
7. Squats Aren’t Going to Give You the Same Results
While maintaining an active lifestyle and performing certain exercises like squats to help enhance the tone and shape of your body can be helpful, no amount of working out can offer the same kinds of results as a BBL can. This is especially true for women who are looking for a more dramatic boost of volume, which just can’t be obtained through exercise alone.
It is a good idea, though, to have a realistic picture of what you want your final results to look like and how they might be able to fit into your active lifestyle. These are things that you can discuss with your cosmetic surgeon during your consultation to help him or her custom-tailor your procedure to best match your needs and goals.
8. A Brazilian Butt Lift Is Typically an Outpatient Procedure
In most cases, your Brazilian butt lift will be performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning that you can expect to go home the same day as your cosmetic surgery. While the exact amount of time that your procedure will take can vary depending on your unique situation, you can expect your BBL to take 1 to 4 hours to complete, depending on the amount of work needed to achieve the desired results.*
Because you’ll be going home on the same day as your BBL, you’ll want to have a few things prepared ahead of time to help make your transition home as smooth and easy as possible. For instance, you can choose a relaxing recovery space for yourself and stock it with plenty of fluffy pillows and blankets, movies, crossword puzzles and other entertainment.
You may also want to go grocery shopping a few days in advance and prepare and freeze individually portioned meals so that you don’t have to worry about cooking or meal prep during the first stage of your recovery. This is also a great way to make sure you’re eating healthy meals to give your body the nutrients it needs to maximize its healing process.
9. You’ll Need to Use a Boppy Pillow while You Recover
Another aspect of your Brazilian butt lift recovery that you’ll need to consider is that you won’t be able to sit directly on your buttocks for the first several weeks* after your procedure. This is to minimize the chances that the newly placed fat cells don’t take in their new location.
If you need to be in a sitting position during this time, make sure you get a Boppy Pillow or other similar cushion to help take the pressure off of your buttocks while you sit. Even while using this special pillow, though, you should still try to keep the amount of time that you’re sitting to a minimum until you get the green light from your cosmetic surgeon.
The same advice also goes for any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise. Always check in with your cosmetic surgeon before reintroducing a new level of physical activity to your regular daily routine.
10. Schedule Your BBL and Tummy Tuck Separately
Brazilian butt lifts and tummy tucks are both very common cosmetic surgeries, but because of where they are located on your body, these procedures are best to schedule separately rather than have them done at the same time. That’s because during your BBL recovery, you’re going to want to sleep on your side or stomach and stay off of your backside as much as possible in the first few weeks*.
A tummy tuck, on the hand, is performed on your abdomen, so your recovery should be spent primarily on your lying on your back or sitting down. Because of this, these two procedures don’t generally make good simultaneous combinations, but you can talk to your cosmetic surgeon about a good timeline for spacing these two treatments out.
You can add other areas of liposuction to your BBL in addition to the area that will be used for your fat transfer. This can enhance your final result if you have other trouble spots you’d like to address through liposuction.
11. Plan Enough Time off Work
Don’t forget that a BBL is a still a surgical procedure, so you will need to schedule some time off of work to give your body a chance to relax and recover. Everyone will heal at their own pace, so recovery times can vary. That said, many people choose to take about 7 to 10 days* off of work to recuperate after their Brazilian butt lift.
During your BBL recovery, your cosmetic surgeon will most likely ask that you wear a special compression garment to help minimize swelling and promote healthy blood circulation for an optimal healing process. It’s important that you try to stick to his or her guidelines as closely as possible to help reduce the risk of complications and ensure that you get the smooth, beautiful results you’re hoping for.
In addition to wearing a compression garment, your cosmetic surgeon may also provide you with recommendations to manage any discomfort you might experience. While he or she may prescribe you pain mediation, many people find that over-the-counter options like Tylenol work well after the first day or so*, but this is something you should discuss with your cosmetic surgeon prior to your procedure.
12. BBL Results Don’t Happen Overnight
Although you’ll probably be anxious to see your lovely BBL results immediately, know that they’re not going to develop overnight. You may notice a difference in the contours of your body shortly after your procedure, but it can take several weeks* for your final outcome to reveal itself. Once all swelling completely diminishes, you should be able to see your new body shape and tone.
Remember that you’ll get the best results if you try to sit on your buttocks as minimally as possible during the first few weeks* of your recovery, as well as refrain from strenuous exercises until your cosmetic surgeon gives you the okay.
Be patient with your BBL results, and don’t rush your recovery. You’ll get the best results if you give your body the time it needs to properly heal and for your fat transfer to completely take.
13. Scars Are Typically Small and Should Diminish Over Time
Since a Brazilian butt lift also includes some amount of liposuction, small incisions will be needed in order to insert the cannula. However, your cosmetic surgeon can take great care to make these incisions as least noticeable as possible. As your body continues to heal, you should notice the appearance of any scarring beginning to fade away on its own. Keep in mind, though, that scars can take up to 18 months* to fully mature and diminish.
If, after you’ve completely recovered from your BBL, you’d still like to reduce the appearance of residual scarring even more, there are numerous treatment options that can help, including silicone sheeting, laser treatments and topical skin care products.
14. A Touch-Up Procedure May Be Needed Down the Road
Most people can achieve very long-lasting results from their Brazilian butt lift. However, there are a few reasons why you might consider a touch-up procedure in the future to help you maintain the same smooth, voluptuous results.
Women who experience a pregnancy after getting a BBL, for example, may find that their curves aren’t quite the same as they were prior to having kids. It is also still possible to gain weight in the areas that were treated with liposuction, so significant changes in weight may also require a touch-up of liposuction or another procedure like a tummy tuck or mommy makeover.
*This information is for education only, courtesy of www.mayoclinic.org, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.
