A brazilian butt lift (BBL) is a type of cosmetic surgery procedure that includes a specialized fat transfer to augment the size and shape of the butt without implants. The board-certified plastic surgeon removes excess fat from the hips, abdomen, lower back, or thighs and injects it into the buttocks.
In 2019, U.S. plastic surgeons performed 35,880 buttock augmentation procedures, where 5% accounted for implants, and the remaining 95% involved fat transfer. Buttock lift was performed 7,780 times.
As with other surgical procedures, there are several things patients can do to support the recovery period and speed up the recovery time. In this post, Alamo Plastic Surgery has collected seven important BBL recovery tips to make this procedure the most effective.
Probably the most common question that patients ask is how they’ll be able to sit after Brazilian butt lift surgery. You should avoid it. Temporarily, of course! Try not to sit directly on your butt for two to six weeks post-surgery.
If you need to sit, then you will need a BBL pillow, which allows a small cushion to go under the lower thigh while taking the pressure off the buttocks. In case you don't have a BBL pillow, a towel can help.
Another thing you can try is sitting backward on the chair.
When in the bathroom, don't sit directly on the toilet. Instead, you should squat or hold onto rails. Again, avoiding sitting for two to six weeks or any period of time advised by the surgeon is crucial. Dr. Azad in Orlando recommends not sitting for at least the first week after surgery.
A healthy lifestyle is always important, but we often take it for granted. It’s never too late to start making some wiser lifestyle choices, especially after the Brazilian butt lift procedure. If you have a habit of eating junk food, try to make a healthier switch, and eat a well-balanced diet.
After surgery, the body is getting used to the new changes and vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other nutrients that are important for recovery. Try to add fruits, vegetables, lean protein, low-fat foods onto the menu.
If you’re a smoker, try not to smoke after the BBL procedure. Smoking can interfere with the healing process because it narrows down blood vessels and impairs blood flow. Additionally, you should stay hydrated throughout the day.
Compression garments are tight and compressive clothing items that fit firmly around the skin to provide much-needed support for people who stand for long hours. A compression garment is also suitable for people with weak blood circulation. What many people don’t know is that compression garment supports recovery after surgery. Ideally, you should wear the compression garment for three to six weeks after surgery.
Remember, you should avoid uncomfortable and restrictive garments because they can harm transferred fat cells. Also, uncomfortable clothes can irritate the skin, which is the last thing you want after surgery.
Not all fat transferred into the butt will survive the plastic surgery long-term.The fat survival rate depends on a couple of factors, including the techniques used by the surgeon while removing fat and a patient's recovery progress. Generally speaking, the survival of fat is between 50% and 80%. The best way to ensure a high-fat survival rate is to focus on the recovery. Follow the surgeon's recommendations and don't do anything that may impact the integrity of fat cells or compromise the affected area.
If you're an active person who loves to work out, then you're probably anxious to start exercising again. While remaining active is not forbidden after BBL, you need to be wise.
Patients must avoid all types of high impact physical activity until their surgeon approves. Engaging in vigorous exercises can impair the healing process and compromise the transferred fat.
In most cases, patients are allowed to take part in low-intensity physical activities within two to three weeks post-op. The low-intensity physical activities are those that don’t put too much pressure on your body, especially the butt area. For example, you can start fast-paced walking then.
Six weeks post-ops, pending everything’s okay with the treated area, the surgeon may approve engaging in more vigorous activities such as cycling and running. This depends on whether the transferred fat cells are stable enough to withstand the pressure caused by strenuous activities.
An important part of recovery after BBL is to understand what’s safe for you to do or not. Make sure to stay away from baths, pools, beaches, and hot tubs until you are completely healed. In the first few days after the operation, you can take a shower.
Massage works by promoting blood flow in a specific area, which can help accelerate the recovery process. When it comes to the Brazilian butt lift, you should consult the plastic surgeon about massages. Some plastic surgeons recommend lymphatic massage, which promotes healing and improves the appearance of the skin. In most cases, the massages are performed in liposuction areas.
Recovery after a Brazilian butt lift is demanding, but the final result is amazing. You need to be patient and do your best to stick to the recommendations provided by the plastic surgeon. Consult the health care professional for all concerns you may have during the recovery. Always keep in mind that the more you’re proactive about the recovery, the better the results will be.
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