Miami is the home of hundreds of plastic surgery offices, with some of the world’s top surgeons. It’s no secret that men and women from all over come to Miami to get cosmetic procedures done, whether it’s breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, or the coveted Brazilian butt lift. 

What’s a Brazilian Butt Lift?

The Brazilian butt lift, simply put, is buttock augmentation. It combines liposuction and fat injection to reshape a patient’s body. The main concept is that by adding volume to the central and lateral compartment of the buttocks, an expansion of the whole anatomical area can be created, and so a firm lift. 

Liposuction can be performed in many areas like the lower face, neck, arms, thighs, knees, calves, the anterior abdominal wall of the flanks, as well as even the full back. The fat then needs to be purified from blood, water, local anesthesia, and also from oil that comes from damage to fat cells. Finally, the surgeon injects the fat in the areas where the patient wants it to stay.

The procedure can be performed under general anesthesia or sedation, but neither of these options allow you to be awake during the procedure. Most of the procedure time is spent doing liposuction. It’s incredible how accurate this body sculpting can be when we select the appropriate technology such as the VASER and the power-assisted. 

The overall time for the BBL surgery can be anywhere between one hour and a half to four hours. During surgery, the patient is rotated continuously on the surgical bed to understand how the body is shaping by reducing the volume. 

This is critical to optimize the level of symmetry and to reduce the chances of irregularities that will usually show when we look at the body from precise angles. Towards the end of the surgery, the surgeon may use drains to reduce the incidence of seromas. It is uncommon that the surgeon uses sutures because the incisions are so small that they usually fade in one year or two.

Risks of Getting a BBL

Just like with any other surgery, your doctor will perform a detailed and careful assessment as well as a surgical plan to reveal different types of risks. Ultimately, the severity of complications will change from patient to patient. Some complications are specific for liposuctions, such as perforation of the abdominal cavity or the chest wall, seromas, tissue indurations, irregularities, and asymmetry. 

To reduce the chance of complications and also reduce the risk of horrible results, early management of swelling is critical. The fat injection is associated with a different pattern of complications like lumps, cysts, and recently, fat embolism is also being reported. Indeed, fat can be reabsorbed partially. 

To recognize the complications in an early stage and to treat them accordingly, it’s imperative to have a good collaboration between patient and doctor. Patients are invited to follow the prescription strictly and the follow-ups scheduled. Patients can stand up, eat, and drink straight after surgery, but it is recommended for them to stay one night in the hospital to be safe. 

However, there is an agreed no-sitting policy for two weeks. During that time, patients have to sleep on their side or their tummy. If there are no complications, patients will be back to their very full activity within four to six weeks. Choosing the right surgeon is imperative to getting a Brazilian butt lift, as is with any other cosmetic surgery. At Nip Tuck Aesthetics, we have two highly qualified plastic surgeons who always keep your health and safety as the number one priority.

BBL Recovery Process

For BBLs, recovery happens in three stages: the first few days, the first several weeks, and the first several months. During the first few days, you can generally go back to work, although you are not allowed to sit down on your buttocks. During the first several weeks, most of the swelling reduces and the bruising starts to heal. 

This is when you can go back to the gym and are approved for travel. The last stage is the first several months after the procedure, where any remaining swelling will resolve and the transferred fat has pretty much settled.

During the recovery process, you’ll want to avoid pressure on areas where there is grafted fat. If you’re a back or side sleeper, this means you’ll need to sleep on your stomach. It’s also crucial that you avoid strenuous exercise for several weeks. You should also keep in mind that the results of the surgery are only semi-permanent. Usually, up to 80 percent of the grafted fat survives, so you will likely need to revise some aspects of the surgery in the future.

In most patients, 70 to 80 percent of the grafted fat will survive while some of it absorbs. Because the fat is living tissue, it will change with any weight fluctuations you go through with your body. If you lose weight, the fat can shrink just like anywhere else on your body. Likewise, if you gain weight, the fat can expand just like anywhere else on your body when you gain weight.

Searching for plastic surgery in Miami will lead you to Nip Tuck Aesthetics, one of the area’s highly respected practices. At Nip Tuck Aesthetics, our patients are fortunate to enjoy the care of highly qualified plastic surgeons. Our top-notch surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Schedule your free consultation today!