Brazilian Butt Lift Recovery Period

Thanks to celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, a fuller and rounder backside is now considered somewhat of a status symbol. While it is possible to achieve fuller glutes in the gym, it takes numerous hours of weight training, and some people's natural build can still hold them back from reaching their goals.

This leads many patients, both women and men, to seek a surgical alternative for butt augmentation. Dr. Aric Aghayan at Après Plastic Surgery in Portland, OR, offers a Brazilian butt lift, or BBL, to improve the contour of the buttocks. To determine if a Brazilian butt lift may be right for you, read on to learn more about the procedure.

What is a Brazilian butt lift?

This highly effective surgical procedure uses liposuction and fat grafting — also known as fat transfer — to extract a patient's own fat from one area of the body and move it to the buttocks. This results in a round, contoured backside with the added benefit of fat reduction elsewhere that is permanent.

For Portland area patients who are slow to see results in the gym or who don't want to have implants placed, the Brazilian butt lift can be an ideal option.

How does a Brazilian butt lift work?

Though a BBL is an intricate procedure that should only be performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, the process itself is fairly straightforward. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and typically lasts about 2 – 3 hours, depending on the amount of fat being extracted and transferred and whether any additional procedures are being performed.

The first stage involves using liposuction to take a moderate amount of excess fat from the patient's body. The surgeons at Après Plastic Surgery may obtain this fat from the abdomen, lower back, or hips and thighs. The fat is purified, separated, and prepared for transfer. Next, the surgeon will carefully inject the fat into the targeted areas of the buttocks.

When performed properly by a skilled plastic surgeon, a Brazilian butt lift can produce natural-looking yet dramatic improvements. To finish the procedure, the incisions will be closed with sutures.

What is Brazilian butt lift recovery like?

One of the most commonly asked questions by patients considering a Brazilian butt lift is what they can expect from BBL recovery. While the recovery and healing process can vary somewhat between patients, there are some fairly consistent aspects of the postoperative period.

Immediately following the procedure, patients can expect to experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort, all of which can last for about a week. Pain can be controlled by medication prescribed by your doctor, and you will also be given instructions on how to control swelling. One crucial thing to remember about Brazilian butt lift recovery is that you are healing from two procedures in two locations: liposuction and the actual fat transfer. Incision care will be needed in both places, and there are unique postoperative guidelines for each individual site,

Arguably the most important part of healing from a BBL is avoiding pressure on your butt for several weeks. It is often recommended that patients sit on their backside as little as possible and that they use a nursing pillow or inflatable donut pillow when they must sit down. Excess pressure on the newly plumped butt can cause the freshly transferred fat cells to die. Patients will also need to sleep on their stomach or side for several weeks following the surgery.

For the areas that were treated with liposuction, it is essential that compression garments be worn at all times for up to eight weeks. This helps to control swelling and allows the areas to heal properly and with an even contour.

The knowledgeable team at Après Plastic Surgery will give you full written and oral instructions on what you can do to make your recovery as quick and easy as possible, but it is important to remember that BBL is a major surgery and that healing should not be rushed. Following your doctor's postoperative guidelines carefully is the best way to ensure a full recovery and beautiful results.

How long is recovery from BBL surgery?

Patients are generally able to return to routine daily activities about 1 – 2 weeks after a Brazilian butt lift, though compression garments and pillows will still need to be used. After 2 – 3 weeks, most of the swelling and bruising will have subsided, and patients can begin doing a moderate amount of walking and other activities.

Strenuous exercise should be avoided until you have been cleared by your doctor. Most patients will be able to see their full results within about 4 – 6 weeks, but your postoperative care routine should be continued for at least eight weeks.

Questions and Answers

How long does a Brazilian butt lift last?

The results of a Brazilian butt lift are typically semi-permanent, with an expected duration of several years, and in some cases, they may extend beyond a decade without requiring additional treatments. Nonetheless, the natural aging process can gradually impact the longevity of these results.

How painful is BBL recovery?

How long after BBL can I walk?

How long are you on bed rest after a BBL?

How long can you sit after BBL?

Book Your BBL Consultation

With multiple options for achieving a round, lifted butt, choosing the best treatment plan can often be overwhelming. To find out if you are a good candidate for a Brazilian butt lift, or whether an alternative procedure like butt implants, a butt lift, or injectables may be more effective, schedule a consultation with one of our board certified plastic surgeons at Après Plastic Surgery Portland.

Call our convenient Portland, OR and learn more about how a Brazilian butt lift can give you the bum you have always wanted.