Brazilian Butt Lift Q&A - Dr. Hayes Answers the Most Popular RealSelf BBL Questions

Learn more about how a Brazilian butt lift improves the shape of the buttocks and narrows the waist. 

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What is a Brazilian butt lift?
A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) surgery refers to using your body's own fat to increase the size and shape of the buttocks. Liposuction is used to remove excess fat from unwanted areas. These areas typically include the upper and lower tummy, the bra roll (upper back), and the flanks (love handles). The harvested fat is then placed into the buttocks to give them more projection and shape. The liposuction narrows the waistline and helps create in hourglass figure by creating a smooth S-curve from the waist, to the hips, and down through the buttocks into the thighs.

What is the Brazilian butt lift recovery?
Brazilian butt lift involves using liposuction to remove fat from the abdomen, flanks, back, and sometimes the inner and outer thighs. Areas of liposuction are sore, for several days. Swelling from liposuction takes several months to improve completely. Final results of liposuction are not seen for 6-9 months.

Regarding the buttock area, the fat has to be protected for 3-4 weeks after the surgery. It's important to avoid sitting directly on the buttocks. Special pillows are used for the first three weeks after surgery. After one month, there are no restrictions.

How long do BBL results last?
The results of a Brazilian butt lift procedure are meant to be permanent.

During the procedure fat is transferred to the buttocks. About 50-90% of the fat will live after the procedure. So, some of the fat re-absorbs in the first 1-2 months, but after that the remaining fat is alive. It's important to understand that the size of the buttock fat will increase and decrease in size with fluctuations in weights, so it's best to be at your goal weight before a BBL surgery.

Will buttock exercises increase my butt size after a BBL?
Healthy living is an essential part of a beautiful body. Buttock exercises after a Brazilian butt lift surgery may increase the size of the buttocks as the muscles become larger and stronger. However, if exercising causes you to lose weight then the fat cells in your buttocks may decrease in size causing some of the size to be lost.

Are there recommended pillows for sitting after a Brazilian butt lift surgery?
A BBL pillow should be used when sitting for the first 3-4 weeks. It puts the weight on your thighs, and not on your buttocks. There are commercial products that can be purchased online. Booty Buddy is one that that works well.  

What are the potential risks of a BBL surgery?
It's important to understand the risks associated with any medical procedure.

A Brazilian butt lift combines liposuction and injecting fat into the buttocks.

• Risks of liposuction include under- or over-correction, contour irregularities, and infection.
• Injection of fat into the buttocks can be associated with bleeding, infection, asymmetry, or embolism of fat into the lungs.

Thankfully the most severe complications are rare, but it's important to understand that these complications do occur. It's important to have your body contouring procedures performed only by board-certified plastic surgeons.

What garment should I use after a BBL?
In my office patients wear a surgical garment for the first 1-2 days. This garment is relatively tight. After the first 1-2 days, patients wear Spanx (or similar) for an additional 3-6 weeks. Target sells garments that are similar to Spanx, and are cheaper. This style of garment is more comfortable and less compressive.

Can a tummy tuck and BBL be performed at the same time?
It is possible to perform these procedures at the same time, and there are surgeons who feel comfortable doing this combination of surgery.

In my office I separate these procedures and do not perform them together. Recovery from a BBL requires that you take pressure off of the buttocks, to give the fat the best chance of survival. A tummy tuck, requires that patients stay in a slightly bent position during the recovery process. Over 1-2 weeks, a tummy tuck patient will begin to walk more upright as their abdominal skin re-stretches slightly. So it can be difficult to relieve pressure on the buttocks, while also recovering from a tummy tuck surgery. Also, the combination of procedures increases the possibility of having a complication.

The most important thing when considering combination procedures is the comfort level of your board-certified plastic surgeon. Each surgeon has their own preferences.

How Much Does a Brazilian Butt Lift Cost?
The price of a BBL varies between surgeons and regions of the country. The cost of any cosmetic procedure is determined by three things. It include a surgeon's fee, an anesthesia fee, and the cost of the operating room (facility fee).  An in-person consultation is used to determine the exact amount of time that the procedure will take, which affects the total cost. In my office, the cost is typically $6,500-7,300 for a BBL.

Do you offer financing for BBL procedures?
In our office we offer financing through Care Credit. We walk you through the process of getting approved. However, there are many reputable lenders for cosmetic surgery financing. Some patients have a good relationship with a bank, and choose to take a personal loan.

How do I make an appointment?
To book an appointment, or for further information, contact us online or call (503) 297-9340.