BBL
The Brazilian butt lift, also commonly known as a BBL, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that increases the size of the buttocks and adds flattering curvature to your body. With a Brazilian butt lift, you can flaunt a nicely rounded and symmetrical bottom that harmonizes with your own natural shape.
Unlike buttocks implants, a BBL utilizes fat from your own body. This will allow you to reap all the rewards of implants while still enjoying a butt that looks and feels natural- because it is! Plus, you’ll be able to get rid of stubborn fat deposits in your thighs, hips, or abdomen at the same time. With Dr. Ulvi Hasanov’s guidance and skill, you can get the body contours and curves of your dreams.
All About BBLs
During a BBL, fat is removed from other areas of the patient’s body via liposuction and then transferred into the buttocks. This process is also called autologous fat grafting, and so Brazilian butt lifts are often referred to as fat transfer gluteal augmentations. This process can help women achieve the optimal waist-to-hip ratio that is considered attractive. This procedure contours the body nicely, but it’s important that patients have enough available fat, so it is usually only recommended for people with a body fat percentage of 20-30%.
Surgeons have been developing fat transfer techniques for over a century. Facial fat transfers have been and continue to be a popular way to fight the signs of aging. However, about 30 years ago, surgeons also began developing techniques to use fat to augment the buttocks, and today, fat transfer is the most frequently performed technique for enhancing derrieres. In fact, the number of procedures of gluteal fat grafting has risen 61% since just 2014!
How Safe Are Brazilian Butt Lifts?
New surgical guidelines have greatly reduced the number of complications. A board of surgeons known as the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation has performed extensive research and developed safer surgical practices for doctors to follow. For Brazilian butt lifts, they recommend a rigid cannula with a large diameter, a specific angle for it to be used beneath the skin, and a specific speed at which fat is removed. Perhaps most importantly, they’ve also established the safest locations and depths to transfer the fat. Many surgeons, including Dr. Hasanov, take safety very seriously and stay informed on the best practices and techniques.
Benefits
With a BBL, you can enjoy your body like never before. The procedure utilizes your own body’s natural fat to build the rounded, beautiful shape you’ve always wanted! Liposuction is used to remove fat from stubborn areas that don’t respond to diet or exercise. And although a BBL is a surgical procedure, it is minimally invasive, so there’s no need to worry about large unsightly scars. Though the procedure only takes a few hours, the results can last for many years. Once stubborn belly fat, bra rolls, or muffin tops are treated with liposuction, the fat cells are permanently removed and won’t regenerate. However, it’s important to continue to lead a healthy lifestyle to maintain your results. You can look forward to achieving natural-looking curves; Dr. Hasanov takes careful measures to ensure that results are not over the-top and flatter your unique anatomy.
Candidates
Dr. Hasanov will need to assess whether you are a good fit for this procedure or not. It is important to consider all the aspects of your health and body features to ensure that a BBL is the right decision for you. You may be the ideal candidate if you:
- Are deemed healthy enough for the procedure
- Don’t have a condition that impedes your ability to heal
- Are a non-smoker, or willing to quit several weeks before surgery and for the duration of your recovery
- Maintain a healthy diet and incorporate exercise into your life
- Have realistic expectations for a BBL
- Are looking for a solution that doesn’t involve implants
- Have enough fat in your body to complete the procedure
- Have good skin elasticity
- Are willing to avoid sitting for a couple of weeks
- Are simply unhappy with the shape and size of your butt!
Personal Consultation
During your personal consultation, you’ll meet with Dr. Hasanov and learn more about BBLs, and whether the procedure is right for you. If Dr. Hasanov feels that you’re a good candidate for this procedure, your safety, comfort, and desires will be top priorities.
Preparation
Proper preparation is just as important as the procedure itself. A few aspects of your life and health need to be in order before proceeding with any surgery. First of all, a blood test may be required to get a more comprehensive review of your health. You may need to stop certain medications, especially those that thin blood and cause unwanted bruising. If you’re a smoker or regularly drink alcohol, you should try to quit at least a few weeks before surgery. You should also be at a stable body weight.
As far as your recovery lifestyle goes, you’ll need to plan ahead. You’ll need to set up your home so that you’ll be able to navigate with limited mobility and avoid sitting. Both sitting and lying down on your back should be avoided for at least two weeks. You’ll be able to use the restroom, but sitting, overall, should be avoided as much as possible.
You may find it beneficial to stock up on over-the-counter painkillers, extra pillows, loose-fitting clothes, and easy-to-prepare foods. You’ll need extra assistance for the first two weeks, so it’s important to designate a trusted friend or family member that can assist with aftercare and household tasks.
BBL Procedure
Before your Brazilian butt lift, you’ll be administered anesthesia to ensure your comfort. In certain cases, local anesthesia and a sedative can be used instead of general anesthesia. This aspect of the procedure is something that you and Dr. Hasanov will discuss during your pre-op consultations. Once you’re completely numb or asleep, small incisions are made so that the area to be treated with liposuction can be infiltrated with tumescent fluid. Tumescent fluid contains lidocaine to further numb the area and epinephrine to constrict blood vessels. It also contains saline, which makes the fat firmer so that removal is easier and safer.
A suctioning cannula is then inserted into the incisions, and Dr. Hasanov will gently suction fat from underneath the skin.
Once outside of the body, the fat is purified so that it can be injected back into the gluteal area. The fat is carefully placed in small amounts in the subcutaneous layer of existing fatty tissue in order to build the desired contours. Finally, all incisions are dressed and closed, and the patient is placed in compression dressings.
Recovery
With proper rest and aftercare, recovery from a BBL can be made as smooth as possible. As stated before, sitting and any pressure on the buttocks should be avoided for at least two weeks (with the exception of short bathroom breaks). You’ll be advised on how to modify your sitting and sleeping, and how to care for your healing incisions. This may include using a soft “donut” to keep the pressure off your buttocks when lying down or sitting on a specially designed BBL pillow, which focuses the pressure on the thighs rather than on the buttocks. Sitting normally can be resumed after two months.
Depending on the kind of job you have, you may be able to go back to work in about 10 days.
For sedentary jobs, you’ll want to incorporate a standing desk or ask Dr. Hasanov about when you will be able to sit safely. You’ll need to wear a specialized compression garment around the clock for the first month. Dr. Hasanov and his staff will be able to recommend the correct type of BBL garment and sizing. The right garment will minimize swelling, and ensure proper skin retraction after liposuction and the final shape of your buttocks. Keeping it on for as long as recommended is absolutely essential. And, keeping the swelling under control will prevent inflammation so that you experience less discomfort. While very light exercise can be restarted after one week, moderate and strenuous exercise should be avoided until at least 8 weeks after your procedure.
Other Procedures to Consider
While BBLs address several problem areas of the body, some patients find that it doesn’t quite fit the vision they have for their body. These are some other procedures that enhance other areas of the body and look well with the features of a BBL:
- Liposuction: For some patients, targeted fat removal is all that is needed to balance their proportions and improve self-confidence.
- Tummy Tuck: Patients that are troubled by loose skin on their abdomen after pregnancy or losing weight can have a smooth, tight abdomen restored with an abdominoplasty procedure.
- Vaser High Def Liposculpting: This form of liposuction allows for precise results, and surgeons can create defined contours that highlight the underlying musculature, like chiseled-looking abs.