Are Brazilian Butt Lifts Permanent?

Posted July 09, 2024 in Brazilian Butt Lifts

Brazilian Butt Lifts are a great way to reshape the body and add volume for a curvy backside, but is it considered permanent? This blog discusses how the BBL procedure is performed, what happens during autologous fat transfer, and how to maintain the results of a BBL.

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Hourglass Results with a BBL

Since an hourglass figure has long been an ideal feminine form, Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) are rapidly becoming one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. In the body contouring category, a BBL is renowned for its ability to transform the entire figure in a single procedure.

This impactful procedure is more impressive because it is not an overly invasive procedure, resulting in very little scarring. But how long can BBL results last? We’ll discuss this and more below.

What Is a Brazilian Butt Lift?

A BBL represents a remarkable advancement in body contouring procedures that increase the volume of the buttocks. Previously, methods required some form of implant to be inserted into the buttocks, which grew somewhat out of fashion as patients were met with various complications and unsatisfactory results.

The BBL is the safer, more effective alternative to butt augmentation via implants, with a high success and satisfaction rate when performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. The primary aim of a BBL is to increase the size of and reshape the buttocks to create a dramatic, rounded backside. This is routinely performed as an outpatient procedure, with a two-part technique using liposuction. The BBL procedure is as follows:

• Your surgeon will harvest fat from a donor area (wherever you have excess fat, usually the abdomen, for an hourglass result) using liposuction.
• The fat is then treated, purified, and carefully injected into the buttocks.
• Your surgeon will gradually reinject the fat into the buttocks, creating the desired shape and size.

While this is an abbreviated version of the procedure, this is generally what you can expect from a BBL procedure. So, does fat stay consistent when transferred to another body area? And does that mean a BBL is permanent?

How Autologous Fat Transfer Works

The answer to the above question is that a lot of a BBL can indeed last for years and years.  Fat transfer is a complex cosmetic procedure, even if it doesn’t require large incisions or sutures. That’s because adults generally don’t fluctuate fat cells: what you have is what you’re stuck with.

The good news is that when fat cells are removed via liposuction, they don’t grow back. So, in a way, any removal is permanent. The surrounding fat cells, however, can expand, which is why we don’t simply say that liposuction is a permanent procedure; patients can gain weight back, but it’s just not with the same fat cells.

Now, when we transfer fat from the abdomen to the buttocks, like in a BBL, the transferred fat cells require a specific environment, including appropriate blood supply, in order to survive as viable cells. In addition to this, there is always some small percentage of transferred fat cells that are absorbed by the body, so your initial BBL result will be a little larger than the end result.

How to Maintain the Results of Your BBL

If you’re looking to make the most of your BBL and want to keep as much transferred fat as possible, here are some tips!

During your early recovery, be sure to follow your instructions to the letter. This means avoiding putting pressure on your butt for as long as your surgeon recommends. Too much trauma and pressure can result in cell reabsorption.

Avoid strenuous exercise (yes, that means squats). It may be tempting to try and build your glutes, but you need to protect the fat first. Your surgeon will supply instructions on when you’re cleared to engage your glutes.

Feed the fat. Yep, you need to eat well and eat a lot. Healthy fats like avocados, olive oils, fish, and nuts–these are all great ways to nourish and maintain your results.

If you take good care of yourself during recovery and are careful to maintain a steady weight, you can enjoy your BBL results for years to come.

Want to Learn More About Brazilian Butt Lifts in NYC?

Dr. Erik Cha is a New York board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience performing complex plastic surgery procedures, including BBLs.

If you would like to see how this procedure can increase your confidence and give you that hourglass figure you’ve always wanted, call Fifth Ave Plastic Surgery today at (212) 717-2222 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cha.