The Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is one of the most commonly performed procedures at Mia Aesthetics. The popular fat grafting procedure uses liposuction to remove unwanted fat from the waist, back and sides, and re-inserts the fat back into the patient’s buttocks and hips to create an appealing, hourglass shape.
Many women seeking out a BBL and seeing the incredible before and after results other patients obtain from the procedure often ask us: How long does it take to recover from a Brazilian butt lift?
The short answer is, it should take approximately one month for patients to return to most day-to-day activities. But below we will detail the recovery stages a patient typically experiences after a BBL.
Initial Recovery
Immediately following a BBL, patients can expect to have bruising and swelling in the hips and buttocks. Pain can be managed with medication prescribed by your surgeon. Every patient recovers differently from surgery, but most can expect to be up and walking a day or two after the procedure. During this time, you may find you are draining fluid from the incision sites. This is completely normal and can be managed with post-surgical massages.
Compression Garment
After the surgery, your plastic surgeon will put you in a special compression garment to treat the areas where liposuction was performed. The compression garment will also help maintain the shape and contour created via during procedure. The patient should wear the garment for at least eight weeks to ensure proper healing. The garment also helps to minimize swelling, decrease discomfort and help the skin retract.
Sitting
One of the most important recovery tips after a Brazilian butt lift is to avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for at least eight weeks after the procedure. Patients are often advised to sleep on their stomach or sides. If you absolutely do have to sit, it is recommended to use a special BBL pillow, which you can purchase at your cosmetic surgery clinic. This is very important to achieve long lasting results from your surgery, as sitting directly on the buttocks can affect blood circulation in the area. Reduced blood circulation could destroy the fat cells transferred to the buttocks. It should be noted that up to 40% of the transferred fat may not survive, regardless of whether or not the patient has sat down. After the first eight weeks of recovery, it is important to still use a cushion when sitting, and to avoid sitting for prolonged periods of time. It is also advised to continue to avoid sleeping on your back for the first eight weeks after your surgery.
Physical Activity
Because the Brazilian butt lift centers around a high-movement area, recovery involves significant activity restrictions. Patients should plan to take up to two weeks off of work, and possibly more if their works involves a lot of sitting. Patients should also avoid strenuous exercise or activities for at least four weeks, and avoid pools, the ocean and hot tubs for at least four weeks. Patients should stretch their legs frequently and move as often as possible to reduce the risk of you developing blood clots.
Final Results
Generally speaking, you can expect to see the permanent results of your Brazilian butt lift four to six months. That is to say that the volume you gain within four to six months after the procedure will be permanent and long-lasting. Unlike other options, a BBL will provide as much fullness as you had at the six-month mark even 10 years after having the procedure.