What to Expect: Types of Scars After a BBL
BBL is a surgical procedure, and as such some degree of scarring is inevitable. Although your scars will be small and somewhat hidden, they will be present. It’s good to know what to expect before deciding if a BBL is right for you.
Small Liposuction Incision Scars
Liposuction involves removing unwanted fat, which requires an incision through which a cannula is placed and fat removed. Where your surgeon makes these incisions will vary based on what areas of your body you wish to have liposuctioned. Common areas are the lower abdomen, lower back, and thighs. These incisions are typically only two to three millimeters long.
Fat Injection Entry Points
Fat injected into your buttocks during a BBL is placed there through a needle. Naturally, your plastic surgeon will use the smallest needle possible so that the entry points for the fat are as small as possible. There can be scarring since the needle does break the skin, but any wounds caused by the needle’s point are almost invisible.
Healing Phases of BBL Scars
About four to eight weeks after your surgery, the scabs should be falling off of your incision sites and scars will begin to form. At first, these scars may be raised. They may also be red or darker than the surrounding skin. In three to six months they should begin to soften and fade, being flat and blending into the surrounding skin color in about 12 months.
It’s important to note that sometimes people do experience abnormal scarring. Some people, for example, are prone to keloid and hypertrophic scarring. Keloid scars are those that continue to grow and may extend beyond the original wound. Hypertrophic scars are thick and red but stay within the wound boundaries and can take years to fade on their own. If you have experienced abnormal scarring in the past, be sure to tell your plastic surgeon.
How a Skilled Plastic Surgeon Minimizes BBL Scars
A good BBL with minimal scarring doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon like those at Mia Aesthetics. The ways that surgeons reduce scarring include:
- Positioning scars in the body’s natural creases to make them less visible
- Reducing the number of incisions needed by planning for optimal fat removal while keeping the wounds small
- Using advanced suturing techniques for clean wound closure and better healing
- Working with state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical tools to minimize skin trauma
- Creating customized recovery plans for patients to enhance healing and minimize scar visibility
Scar Treatment and Management After BBL
There are two common ways to treat and manage scars after your BBL, and you may opt for one or both. The first is topical treatments. Silicone-based gels and creams are widely available as are silicone sheets. Silicone helps scars by providing an ideal environment for skin healing. It keeps the scar hydrated, protects it from the outside environment, and regulates collagen production. Too much collagen can lead to raised and keloid scars.
Scar massage is another popular way to treat scarring. Massage helps to break down collagen fibers as the skin heals so that it remains flat, soft, and flexible. Massage also increases blood flow to the area, ensuring a good supply of oxygen and nutrients while the skin heals. There are several massage techniques, and your plastic surgeon can show you what is best for your particular scars.
Scar Prevention: Tips for a Better Recovery
Although a good plastic surgeon will do their part to prevent scarring, it’s imperative that you do yours as well. Taking care of yourself after your BBL will help to greatly reduce the visibility of scars. Be sure to do all of the following:
- Keep your incisions properly cleaned and dressed as they heal to prevent infection.
- Wear your compression garments as instructed. They reduce swelling and promote skin retraction.
- Protect your incisions and scars from sun exposure to avoid hyperpigmentation.
- Eat a nutritious diet so that your skin has all of the nutrients it needs to heal properly.
- Avoid drinking and smoking. Alcohol impairs the immune system, making it harder for the skin to heal. Cigarette smoke reduces circulation, potentially robbing your skin of vital healing nutrients.
How Long Do BBL Scars Take to Heal?
Because every patient is unique, your scars may not heal according to a rigid or specific timeline. In general, however, you can expect the following:
- One to three weeks: Your incisions should be scabbed over and your scars will start to form beneath them.
- Four to Eight Weeks: Any scabs should now have come off naturally. The scars are now exposed and likely to be raised and red.
- Three to Six Months: Now your scars will start to soften and fade. They will gradually become flatter and lighter in color, although they may still be slightly darker than the surrounding skin.
- Six to 12 Months: Your scars are now mature. They will be flat and should blend in with the surrounding skin, making them barely noticeable.
You do need to give scars adequate time to heal and fade, but if they don’t you should see a specialist. If your scar is staying very dark, raised, or extending beyond the parameters of your original incision, it’s time to seek help. You may need additional treatment such as microneedling, laser therapy, or other advanced scar treatments.
Emotional Impact of BBL Scars
A BBL can be a truly transformative experience, giving you a brand-new booty as well as a sleeker silhouette thanks to the liposuction component. It’s important to understand, however, that some minor scarring is a price you’ll have to pay for the transformation. Knowing what to expect and being realistic about it will help you embrace all of the changes your body undergoes after your BBL. Educating yourself about how scars form and fade can be extremely beneficial by helping you know exactly what to expect.
It also helps to view scars as evidence of how far you and your new body have come. Remember that the scars will fade, but your new look will easily last a decade or more with proper care. If your scars really bother you despite their largely temporary nature, consider joining a BBL support group or speaking to a therapist while you’re waiting for your scars to fade.
What to Expect with BBL Scars at Mia Aesthetics
At Mia Aesthetics, we combine experienced surgeons with state-of-the-art equipment to speed healing and minimize scarring. You can also count on us to provide detailed aftercare instructions so you know how to help yourself at home. With a great care team in the clinic and good self-care when you get home, you can expect the scars from your BBL procedure to fade over time and be all but invisible in about a year.
We understand that you may still have questions about scarring or BBLs in general and we would love to answer them for you. To that end, we encourage you to sign up for a free virtual consultation with us. This will allow you to speak with a surgical coordinator directly and get the answers you need. Doing so doesn’t obligate you in any way and is a great step towards making an informed decision about whether a BBL is right for you.