If you desire results that are long-lasting from your BBL surgery, it is important to closely follow your post-op instructions and ensure you are providing yourself with the highest level of BBL aftercare. Today we are going to share ways that speed up your BBL recovery.
What Is BBL and Why Is It So Popular?
BBL stands for Brazilian Butt Lift and is a fat transfer procedure designed to enhance the shape and definition of the buttocks. In recent years BBL surgery has been gaining a lot of popularity. When looking at statistics from The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, it is noteworthy that there has been an increase of approximately 20% in the number of Brazilian Butt Lifts performed year over year.
The medical term for BBL is “gluteal fat augmentation” and is done by extracting fat from a patient’s own body and injecting it into the subcutaneous tissues of the buttocks to enhance shape and size. The fat is extracted through liposuction, and well-performed it will contour the areas where the fat was removed as well as enhance the butt. A definite win-win!
Find out more about Fat Transfer Procedures at SurgiCare Arts & Aesthetics.
The pros of the surgery are obvious, however, the most articulated con of having the BBL procedure is the BBL aftercare requirements. The final results of your surgery will depend on how well these requirements are met. It is very important to know what is involved and ensure you are ready and willing to commit 100% to your recovery.
What to Expect During BBL Recovery?
Below are the top five things that are crucial to be aware of following your Brazilian butt lift.
1. You Will Have Some Pain and Discomfort
The areas where you have had liposuction will most likely be uncomfortable and pain levels can range from mild to moderate varying from person to person. Your surgeon may prescribe you some medication or in some instances, your pain may be alleviated using over-the-counter pain relievers.
2. You Will Experience Fluid Drainage
It is perfectly normal to experience drainage due to excess fluids after your BBL Surgery. Although you may notice your incisions leaking blood-stained fluid, there is no cause for concern and it normally stops by the end of the second day. It is important to follow your surgeon’s instructions on taking care of your incisions. For about 4-6 weeks, you will not be able to take baths or use pools or hot tubs, etc. until your surgeon tells you it is okay.
3. You Will Experience Some Swelling
After your Brazilian butt lift procedure, it is very normal for some of the fat that was injected into the buttocks to disappear as it is “digested” by your body. It is for this reason that surgeons, as they plan for the enhancement goal, compensate by adding more fat than is actually needed in certain areas. Do not panic, you will probably notice some swelling or asymmetry right after your BBL surgery but not all the injected fat will remain. Everything should even out in about six weeks with no more fat loss and everything should stay in place.
From the six-week mark, your recovery should be fairly smooth. It can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months for you to see the complete results of your Brazilian Butt Lift.
4. You Will NOT Be Able to Sit After BBL
You have just had fat moved from one part of your body to your buttocks. Fat cells do not have their own blood supply and it will take your body about 6 weeks to create a blood supply for these new fat cells. If you attempt to sit on these fat cells before they are incorporated, you will damage or destroy them. After a blood supply has been generated for them, they can better withstand and survive the pressure of having someone sit on them. Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on when you can sit using a BBL pillow.
Dreaming about an hourglass body shape? Consider combining BBL with Lipo 360!
5. Recovery From BBL Surgery is Different for Each Person
As no two people are exactly alike, the recovery process will be unique for each person. You may recover a bit faster or slower than someone else, the recovery timeline will be unique to you. Some of this is based on your overall health and some of it will depend on your level of aftercare. You must follow your surgeon’s BBL aftercare instructions during your recovery as it will determine how well you reach your aesthetic goal.
Your Role In BBL Aftercare and Recovery
Finding Proper Ways to Sit and Sleep after BBL Surgery
You probably never thought a lot about how much you sit or the position in which you sleep, but it is going to play a big part in achieving the desired results from your Brazilian Butt Lift surgery. We sit down and eat, we sit in cars, we sit at our desks at work, we sit to watch movies or take a bath, etc.
After a BBL ANY sitting is taboo for the first 14 days except for using the toilet.
If you sit and put pressure on the newly transferred fat cells they will not survive. These newly grafted fat cells need to settle in and get comfortable in their new home. Once an established blood supply moves in to nourish them, then it is safe to sit on them.
Just like sitting, sleeping on your back causes the same issues, you will have to sleep on your side or chest until given the “all clear”. Some patients sleep with a backpack on with golf or tennis balls to avoid accidentally rolling onto their back in their sleep. Keep this in mind when planning your BBL aftercare and recovery.
Wear Your Recommended Compression Garment Consistently
Your surgeon will instruct you to wear a compression garment to promote healing in the areas where the fat was removed. The garment should fit snugly but not too tight. If the garment is preventing you from sleeping, leaving indentations, or causing the skin to ripple in the liposuctioned areas, it is too tight or does not fit properly.
The compression garment’s job is to help the skin contract, keep the swelling down and help lessen your discomfort level. You will have to wear this garment around the clock at first, except for showering, and then you will be put on a schedule by your surgeon. Follow the schedule exactly as this will be a huge factor in obtaining your desired results!
Take A Break From Exercising And Strenuous Activity
After you have had a Brazilian Butt Lift, your doctor will advise you to limit your activity. You have just had fat moved from one part of your body to another and it needs time to settle into its new home. As we mentioned before, these fat cells will eventually have a blood supply to nourish them and will become stable, but until this happens, they are very vulnerable.
Activities that involve any type of bouncing are strictly off-limits. After about a month, light activities can be resumed. Your surgeon will advise you when you can resume jogging, workouts, or any other strenuous physical activity.
NOTE: When you are allowed to resume an exercise routine, your surgeon can instruct you in some good exercises that target specific areas to maximize your BBL Surgery. For example, lunges, squats, donkey kicks, and various leg raises.
BBL Aftercare: Help Yourself Heal From the Inside Out
Your body was created with the remarkable ability to repair itself but we need to give it the right materials to use. In addition to the external wound care and properly following the surgeon’s instructions regarding activity, you can feed your body the things it needs to repair itself faster and more effectively.
It is important to eat well-balanced meals, watch your consumption of fat, sugar, and salt as these all have their associated issues. Eat “whole foods” as they are the healthiest with no preservatives or additives. Pay very close attention to the sodium content you are consuming as this will adversely affect your body with unwanted fluid retention. Your surgeon can assist you with dietary dos and don’ts after your BBL surgery.
Pay Close Attention for Any Adverse Symptoms
Your surgeon will provide you with a list of possible side effects resulting from your BBL Surgery that are causes for concern. If any of these symptoms should arise, you are to contact your surgeon immediately, these signs might include, fever, excessive swelling or redness, foul odor from incision sites, swollen glands, or increasing amounts of pain.
It may take up to 6 months to see the final results of your Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery. Living a healthy lifestyle (eating healthy, exercising, etc.) will help maintain and ensure long-lasting results of your BBL surgery.
Enjoy, but Take Care Of Your New Figure!
Angelina Postoev, MD, FACS, a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon, and Christopher Ibikunle, MD, FACS, offer Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) to patients in Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Johns Creek, Buckhead, and other surrounding areas of Atlanta, Georgia.
