While genetics and exercise will get you halfway to the derriere you’d like, Brazilian butt lift can help you achieve a full, round backside. But once you have it, how do you maintain your Brazilian butt lift results to enjoy the long-term benefits of BBL?
The body contouring experts at Ann Arbor Plastic Surgery specialize in creating natural-looking BBL results. In this article, they’ll explain common mistakes to avoid, foods to eat, and when to consider touch-ups to maintain your BBL results and enjoy their long-term benefits.
What Is a Brazilian Butt Lift?
For patients with a sufficient amount of fat, a Brazilian butt lift, or BBL, is a procedure that aims to enhance the fullness and appearance of your backside. This two-part procedure removes excess fat from an unwanted area and redistributes it to the buttocks where increased volume is desired.
The first part of the procedure is fat extraction from a donor area—typically the hips, waist, or thighs. The extracted fat is then purified and prepared for transfer. The fat is strategically injected into the buttocks to create additional fullness and shape, creating the desired size and shape.
BBL long-term benefits may include:
- Enhance appearance of the lower body
- Reduce unwanted fat and transfer it to the buttocks
- Increase contours and added shape to flat buttocks
- Improve fit of clothing
- Balance proportions of upper and lower body, including an hourglass figure
What Should You Expect in the First 48 Hours Post-Procedure?
Your surgeon will provide you with a strict BBL post-procedure care protocol to thoroughly follow. In the first 48 hours following your BBL, you may experience slight swelling, bruising, tenderness, and soreness in both the buttocks and the donor area. However, you may be prescribed pain medications to alleviate discomfort.
Sensory changes like numbness or tingling are normal. Normal sensation should resume within a few months. Drainage from the incision sites is also normal.
Following your BBL, you will be dressed in a compression garment. You’ll need to wear this garment as instructed to minimize swelling and support the new contours for at least six to eight weeks.
Avoid putting pressure on the buttocks for at least two weeks. Pressure on the newly grafted fat can affect circulation and impact its survival. Other than using the restroom, you will not be able to sit or lie down normally for at least six weeks.
How and When Can You Safely Resume Exercise After BBL?
Following BBL, you can resume many normal activities in a few days. However, it’s important to avoid lifting more than five pounds, stretching, bending, or participating in strenuous exercise for at least the first two weeks. Typically, light walking is recommended to improve circulation.
In approximately two to three weeks, it’s okay to resume safe exercises post-BBL. It’s important to start slowly and build up to your previous exercise levels.
Generally, patients can resume low-impact exercise in four to six weeks. For two to three months, avoid strenuous physical activities like heavy lifting or running.
Which Foods Can Help Enhance and Maintain Your BBL Results?
It’s important to provide your body with a healthy, nutrient-dense diet with essential vitamins and minerals to support recovery. Adopting healthy diet habits prior to your BBL will help to maintain a healthy weight and your optimal results.
Good choices of BBL-enhancing foods include:
- Healthy, unsaturated fats, and Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, and eggs
- Fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts
- Lean proteins, including salmon or other fish, poultry, beans, tofu, and limited red meat
- Milk and cheese in moderation
- Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary beverages, alcohol, or caffeine
- Avoid foods that are processed, high in sugar or fat, or have low nutritional value
Why Is Weight Stability Crucial After a BBL?
A BBL doesn’t significantly reduce weight; rather, it redistributes weight from undesired locations to where more volume is wanted, enhancing your overall figure. It is important to note that the transplanted fat reacts to weight fluctuations like any other body fat. Losing or gaining weight can impact your overall results. For this reason, it’s important to be close to your ideal weight prior to your BBL procedure.
To maintain weight stability after BBL, it’s important to continue your healthy diet and exercise habits.
Which Garments Should You Wear, and How Should You Sit to Protect Your New Shape?
Following your BBL, you’ll be dressed in a compression garment to minimize swelling and support your new contours. It’s essential to wear this garment per your surgeon’s instructions to improve healing. Other post-BBL garments include loose-fitting clothing that reduces pressure on your newly grafted fat cells.
For at least six to eight weeks, avoid wearing tight or restrictive clothing, such as leggings or jeans, or until approved by your surgeon. Tight clothing negatively impacts the survival of the fat cells and affects your results.
What Common Mistakes Should You Avoid to Ensure Lasting BBL Results?
It’s essential to thoroughly follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions to ensure your optimal results. Here are a few important mistakes to avoid in order to enjoy long-lasting BBL results.
- Sitting. For at least two weeks after a BBL, it’s crucial to avoid sitting. Even sitting on a cushion can create too much pressure on the newly grafted fat cells.
- Exercise. Take at least two to three weeks off of strenuous exercise, including squats or stretching, as these increase pressure to the transferred fat.
- Sleeping. It’s important to avoid sleeping on your back and putting pressure on the buttocks. Instead, sleep on your stomach or sides.
- Smoking. Quit smoking, vaping, or using other nicotine products at least a month prior to and following your BBL. Nicotine is detrimental to your health as it reduces circulation and prevents the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to newly grafted fat.
- Ice. It’s common to experience numbness. Avoid using ice as it may be hard to tell when skin is too cold. Use ice or cold packs only according to your surgeon’s instructions.
Do You Need Touch-Ups or Repeat Procedures After BBL?
By maintaining a healthy, stable weight, your BBL should provide long-lasting results; however, there are signs that may indicate that BBL touch-ups are necessary to sustain results. To ensure lasting results, many patients have a touch up procedure in approximately a decade.
Other factors that may suggest a BBL touch-up include:
- Asymmetrical results
- Decreased volume
- Body weight fluctuations or redistribution
- Dissatisfaction with the initial outcome
- Natural effects of aging
Choosing Ann Arbor Plastic Surgery for Your BBL
In the Ann Arbor area, we’re lucky to have skilled board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Pramit Malhotra and Dr. Tiffany Ballard. With their unique education and experience, Dr. Malhotra and Dr. Ballard allow their patients to feel comfortable and confident in their choice of BBL surgeon. Your BBL journey starts when you partner with Ann Arbor’s best BBL providers. Contact us today or call us at (734) 436-2186 to learn more!
