The Brazilian butt lift (BBL for short) is a popular plastic surgery procedure that involves fat transfer from one area of the body to another. Here, Dr. Carlos Chacon of Divino Plastic Surgery shares what makes a patient a good candidate for a Brazilian butt lift procedure.
According to Dr. Carlos Chacon of Divino Plastic Surgery, a Brazilian butt lift procedure creates a fuller, rounder buttocks. This look is achieved by removing fat from another area of the body through liposuction, then transferring the fat to the buttocks.
Good candidates for a Brazilian butt lift procedure have extra fat in other areas of the body that can be removed and transferred, according to Dr. Carlos Chacon of Divino Plastic Surgery. Generally, a plastic surgeon will remove fat from other areas of the body (including the lower abdomen and flanks) to reposition it into the buttock and hip area.
Patients who are at a healthy weight or who are overweight typically have enough fat available in other areas of the body to have a successful BBL procedure. Sometimes, plastic surgeons work with patients with lower body weights to still make a significant gain or achieve their particular goals for a BBL, so it’s important to ask.
Often, patients who have a low body fat percentage are told they may not be a good fit for the procedure, even before they’ve been asked what exactly their goals are. While a BBL is not a good fit for some patients, their plastic surgeon should be open to listening to goals prior to making the conclusion on candidacy, and provide alternatives to achieve their desired aesthetic result.
After having a BBL procedure, it’s important that patients avoid sitting directly on the buttocks for a period of time (usually a couple weeks) following surgery. This can be tricky but manageable for people who work in jobs that require computer work or driving.
Following a BBL, the newly injected fat cells can be lost if patients do not carefully follow their surgeon’s post-operative instructions, including to avoid putting pressure on the buttocks area, according to Dr. Carlos Chacon of Divino Plastic Surgery.
After two to four weeks, BBL patients may be able to begin sitting on a special pillow, allowing them to resume many of their normal activities while still keeping direct pressure off of the buttocks. After about six weeks, most patients are cleared to return to their normal activities.
While many patients notice a significant change in the shape of their buttocks immediately after surgery, it takes time to see the final effect take shape. As swelling subsides, patients are able to see their new curves, according to Dr. Carlos Chacon of Divino Plastic Surgery.