A Brazilian butt lift is a hugely popular procedure that can produce lasting results. The recovery time for a Brazilian butt lift differs from one person to another. But in general, it takes about 4-6 weeks to feel like you are back to your normal self. For some people, Brazilian butt lift surgery and recovery can feel daunting. So, here’s what you can expect during your BBL recovery and our aftercare tips for a smooth recovery.
What is a Brazilian Butt Lift?
A Brazilian butt lift is a way to enhance your bum using fat transfer. The surgeon uses fat grafting techniques to remove fat from one part of your body and injects it into the bum. The surgeon uses only the highest quality of fat. The procedure is divided into three sections: harvesting, purifying and injecting the fat.
It’s important to know that a Brazilian Butt lift comes with its own unique risks. It’s a very complex surgery requiring expert knowledge and experience.
How Long is BBL Recovery?
Immediately following your procedure, you will be in some pain and discomfort. The severity of pain can vary depending on your BBL operation. You will notice fluid draining and experience swelling, bruising, inflammation, and itching.
After 3 weeks post BBL surgery, you should start to feel back to your normal self. The initial recovery is 3-4 weeks. A significant amount of swelling should have subsided after 5 weeks. Although your body continues to heal after this time, you still need to be careful about sitting on your bum for long periods.
Everyone responds a little differently to the procedure. Therefore, no textbook recovery time applies to every person.
BBL Recovery Week by Week
Your recovery timeline may differ, but here is a general guideline.
- 1 to 2 weeks – return to work as long as it’s not physically demanding.
- 3 to 4 weeks – you will feel more back to normal by this time.
- 6 weeks – you will start to see what the final results will look like.
- 6 to 8 weeks – you will return to the clinic for a post-op check-up to assess your recovery and make any personal recommendations needed.
- 8 weeks – you should be able to return to exercise after your surgeon gives you the go ahead.
- 6 to 12 months – your results will continue to finalise and become permanent.
What to Expect During Your Brazilian Butt Lift Recovery
How long is BBL recovery? Your BBL recovery time can take up to a year for the results to become permanent. Knowing what to expect following the procedure will make the recovery journey easier. Here are some things you can expect from your Brazilian butt lift recovery.
Pain And Discomfort
The surgeon harvests fat from one area of the body and injects it into your bum to complete the procedure. Because of the liposuction, you can expect discomfort and pain where you had liposuction. The pain varies from one individual to another and ranges from mild to moderate. Your surgeon will prescribe some pain medication to help relieve the pain and discomfort.
Fluid Drainage
After a BBL surgery, it is normal to experience excess fluid drainage. You might notice blood-stained fluid leaking from your incisions, but this shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. Usually, fluid leakage should cease by the end of the second day after your procedure. That’s why it’s advisable not to bathe or use hot tubs or pools until your doctor gives you the all-clear.
Swelling
After a Brazilian butt lift, it’s normal for some of the fat injected to be absorbed into the body. Because of that, your surgeon will inject more fat than is needed in some areas resulting in swelling and asymmetry right after the surgery. After a few weeks, all the fat should have settled, and your bum will be taking a more symmetrical shape.
You Won’t Be Able to Sit
With a Brazilian butt lift, fat is taken from one part of the body to your buttocks. Unlike other cells, fat cells don’t have their own blood supply. It will take your body about six weeks to create a new blood supply for the new cells. Sitting before the cells have been incorporated into the body will damage them. Your surgeon will give you specific post-op instructions on how to sit using a BBL pillow.
8 Tips for Brazilian Butt Lift Recovery and Aftercare
The main thing to keep in mind with your BBL recovery is that it will impact how you do your day-to-day activities. For instance, if you work at a desk, you will have to think carefully about how to sit. You will have to adjust your daily life, but only temporarily as you heal. For optimal BBL results, your recovery and aftercare are crucial.
1. Creative Sitting and Sleeping
You will need to avoid sitting and lying on your bum for 2 weeks. You may have to find some creative sitting positions as sitting exerts pressure on the area and impact the results. Whatever you do, avoid sitting. This is often one of the most challenging parts of BBL recovery. If you think about how much you sit down throughout the day, it’s a position that many people spend a lot of time in. Working at a desk, sitting in a cafe, or watching a movie involves extended periods of sitting. If you sit on the newly moved fat cells, it can shift the cells and even change the shape of your results.
2. Wear Your Compression Garment
Most cosmetic surgery procedures require patients to wear compression garments like breast augmentation and liposuction. Therefore, your surgeon will recommend you wear a specialised compression garment to minimise swelling and aid healing. The compression garment applies pressure to the area to prevent fluid build-up and support the recovery process. It may take a little getting used to, but you must wear your compression garment during your BBL recovery.
3. Follow a Healthy Diet and Stay Hydrated
Stick to a healthy diet following your surgery, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. After your surgery, follow a protein-rich diet to enhance your healing. Drinking plenty of water helps flush the anaesthetic out of your system and any toxins from the body.
4. Get Moving
While you should stay away from strenuous exercises for at least a month after your procedure, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t start moving. A walk in the garden or around your bedroom is enough. Remaining active will help speed up the recovery and improve blood supply and even the results of your BBL procedure.
5. Watch Out for Signs of Infection
Keep an eye out for any signs of infections. Contact your surgeon immediately if there is any possibility of an infection. Your doctor will tell you how to monitor your healing, so you know exactly what to look for.
6. Maintain Your Weight
Keeping your weight stable is crucial to enhancing your recovery and results. Often, patients come to their BBL surgery at a healthy, stable weight. Your recovery time is not the time to start a calorie-restrictive diet. It’s also not a time to jump into a workout routine to lose weight. Steer clear of any strenuous activities or the gym until your doctor tells you that it’s okay to go back to exercising.
7. Don’t Smoke
Avoid smoking after your surgery for at least 2 months. Smoking can increase your risk of complications, so it’s best to avoid it altogether. Smoking can also hinder the flow of nutrients in the body and impact the healing process.
8. Avoid Soaking
During your BBL recovery, avoid soaking in water. That means no baths, hot tubs, pools, or beaches while you’re recovering. You will need to avoid soaking until you are fully healed. However, you can start showering after three days if it is safe to stand.
How To Sit After A BBL Procedure
One of the biggest challenges following a Brazilian butt lift is avoiding sitting. Sitting is something that you do instinctively when you get tired, eat a meal, watch a movie, or even before bed. After a butt lift procedure, you will need to avoid sitting, especially during the initial healing period. Sitting while the fat is still settling can affect the result of your procedure and, in some cases, slow down your recovery.
But, there will come a time when you have no option but to sit down. The most important thing to remember is to keep the pressure off your bum if that happens. If you have to sit, consider the following:
- Minimise your sitting time to not more than five minutes, especially during the first two weeks following your procedure
- When you sit, make sure that you stand up between periods to enhance blood flow
- During the first six weeks of recovery, sit on a BBL pillow, a doughnut-shaped cushion
- To relieve pressure, sit backwards on a chair by turning it around, so your bum is off the seat
BBL Recovery and Aftercare Q&A
How long does it take to recover from BBL?
The first phase of healing often takes between three and four weeks. Expect to feel some pain and discomfort immediately after the operation. After five weeks, most of the swelling should have gone down. However, you should still avoid sitting in one position for too long, as your body will continue to repair even after this period has passed. Note that all patients have various reactions to the treatment, as your body can heal at a different pace.
How long are you in pain after BBL?
Many people report feeling ultimately better after six weeks. Your surgeon will likely give you the green light to get back into some of your typical daily activities. You will feel some pain and discomfort just after the surgery. The degree of pain can differ depending on your procedure. You will most likely observe fluid draining, bruising, and skin irritation.
What to expect after having a BBL?
- Discomfort and Pain – During a butt lift, the surgeon will remove fat from one area of your body and inject it into your bum. There will be some discomfort and pain in the treated area after liposuction.
- Drainage of Fluids – Fluid drainage is normal after BBL surgery, and it’s not something you should be alarmed about. After surgery, fluid leakage from the incisions should stop on day two. That’s why you shouldn’t bathe or use a pool until your doctor says it’s okay.
- Swelling – The body naturally absorbs some of the injected fat after a Brazilian butt lift. This will cause your surgeon to inject more fat than is necessary for some regions. After a short time, the fat should have settled, and your bum will take on a more symmetrical form.
- You will not be able to sit comfortably – The Brazilian butt lift involves transferring fat from another body area to the buttocks. After surgery, you will need to follow your doctor’s instructions on how to sit with a BBL pillow.
What can you not do after BBL?
- Long hours of sitting – For three weeks after your Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), you should try to limit the amount of time you spend seated.
- Squatting and stretching – Like sitting, these actions put additional strain on your buttocks, potentially displacing the fat transfer.
- Sleeping on your back – If you are concerned about rolling over in your sleep and accidentally applying pressure to your buttock, consider other sleep options and using pillows to prop yourself up.
- Smoking – Tobacco smoke can significantly constrict microcirculation, reducing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the transferred fat.
- Use cold compresses – Even if you have post-operative swelling, you should avoid compresses as they will impair the blood flow if your skin temperature is too low.
What happens 2 weeks post-op BBL?
During this time, most patients who have had a Brazilian butt lift report a reduction in their pain, swelling, and tenderness. You may be advised you can go back to work as long as your duties don’t require much physical exertion.
Brazilian Butt Lift UK at The Harley Clinic, London
Now that you know what to expect following a Brazilian butt lift, you can decide if the surgery is right for your transformation. To start your BBL journey at our Harley Street cosmetic surgery clinic, book a consultation.
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