What Will Happen To My BBL Results in 5 or 10 Years?

The Brazilian butt lift (BBL) has become very popular as celebrities, and Instagram personalities show off their larger, rounder rears after BBL surgery. This procedure is an effective way to get a more aesthetically pleasing butt.

You probably have some questions before you have a Brazilian butt lift BBL , including what your BBL will look like in five years. Below is more information about BBL surgery so you can decide if you want this procedure.

How long will my BBL last video

How long does a BBL last?

In the first two weeks after your procedure, your rear may lose up to 40% of the injected fat after a liposuction. This is normal, and your surgeon will overfill the site to compensate.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), it is estimated that anywhere from 20 to 40% of injected fat is absorbed by the body during the healing process. Surgeons account for this during the initial transfer.

After this initial period, your butt will regenerate and grow new fat cells, which will increase the size of the area. Your buttocks will stabilize after three to six months.

Most patients can expect the results of a Brazilian butt lift to last five years or more. In some cases, the results can last a decade if you treat the procedure to maximize the results.

Most BBL patients achieve excellent results for years after surgery. BBL after 10 years, you should have the same round, perky shape to your rear as you did after surgery.

As long as you don’t put on or lose a lot of weight, you should see pleasing results 10 or more years later. A large-scale clinical study published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery found that across a series of 3,000 BBL patients, 86% expressed satisfaction with their outcomes. Approximately 70% of transferred fat cells survived long-term in the buttocks. It’s also important to follow a proper diet to enjoy the best long-term results.

Fat survival is one of the first things patients want to understand in their consultation. In our practice, we overfill strategically and counsel patients closely on post-op positioning and lifestyle habits. These factors make a real difference in how much fat ultimately survives.

– Dr. Lahar

Remember that a Brazilian butt lift doesn’t address loose skin. If your skin becomes looser as the years pass, you might opt for a touch-up BBL. Adding additional fat to your bottom as you age can help to keep the shape the same in the long term.

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How to maximize BBL results

Most plastic surgeons will tell you that what a patient does after Brazilian butt lift surgery will affect how long fat survives in the buttocks, affecting long-term results.

After the fat is transferred, only so much fat survives in the buttocks. How much fat stays depends on several factors, including the volume transferred, the elasticity of the buttock skin, and your behavior during recovery.

You can improve your long-term BBL results if you follow these tips:

Don’t smoke

If you want your BBL results to last five years or more, you should not smoke and try to avoid secondhand smoke, too.

Smoking harms oxygen flow and the absorption of nutrients in the bloodstream in the treatment area. After the fat is transferred to the buttocks, cells need to establish a blood supply to survive in the treatment area. A review published in PubMed (NCBI) confirms that maximizing a patient’s oxygen levels and overall health before and after fat transfer is key to improving graft take and long-term engraftment.

Don’t drive

Surgeons recommend that you not drive for six to eight weeks after surgery. Sitting in the treatment area will damage the transferred fat, and some may even go on a diet.

Don’t sit on your butt

You should not sit on your rear directly for three or four weeks after surgery. If you need to sit, you should use a unique BBL pillow that protects the treated area as much as possible.

A BBL pillow places a small cushion under the lower thighs to reduce pressure on the buttocks if you have to sit. But you should not sit at all on the rear for at least three or four weeks. The ASPS advises patients to minimize the time spent sitting or applying direct pressure to the grafted fat during the recovery period to preserve as much of the injected fat tissue as possible.

The no-sitting rule is one of the hardest parts of BBL recovery for patients to follow, but it is also one of the most important. In our practice, we go over this in detail before surgery so patients can plan their home setup and work schedule accordingly.

– Dr. Lahar

Drink water

It’s essential to drink plenty of water after your BBL surgery to flush out toxins and give your body what it needs to speed the healing process.

Some surgeons recommend adding Himalayan salt to your water for a few weeks after surgery to give the body essential salts and minerals.

Eat a healthy diet

You should eat foods high in nutrients so your body gets the vital vitamins and minerals to recover from BBL surgery.

Some foods that can help the healing process include avocados, salmon, butter, olive oil, coconut oil, and walnuts.

Get enough sleep

Most surgeons recommend sleeping on the stomach after BBL surgery. You also may sleep on your side, but it’s vital to be sure you won’t end up sleeping on your back.

Sleeping on your rear is not recommended for at least two months after surgery.

Maintain your weight

You should try to maintain your weight after surgery and in the years that follow. Fluctuating weight can affect your BBL results.

Fat will probably grow in areas where fat was not removed with liposuction for the BBL surgery if you gain too much weight. For example, if your surgeon removes fat from your stomach for your BBL, you may gain fat in your thighs or arms when you gain weight.

Wear the right clothes

Your surgeon may give you a BBL shaping garment after surgery, and you should wear it as instructed. The ASPS recommends wearing a compression garment for up to eight weeks post-surgery to minimize swelling, reduce discomfort, and help the skin retract in areas where liposuction was performed.

Also, remember to wear loose-fitting clothing for about two months after the procedure. If you wear tight clothing during this time, it can kill the newly transferred fat cells.

Get exercise after 2 months

You should not engage in strenuous exercise for about two months after your BBL surgery. This will ensure that the transferred fat cells are not burned during physical activity. Light walking is fine, though.

After about eight weeks, the fat cells should have an adequate blood supply so you can begin to exercise again. More strenuous physical activity will pump fresh blood into the area, which will help achieve the best results.

As long as you follow the above recommendation, your BBL results should last five years or more. You also may want to consider having other procedures simultaneously, including a tummy tuck or a breast augmentation.

BBL Before and After Photos

Before and After Photos

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Request a plastic surgery consultation

Thinking about a Brazilian butt lift in Beverly Hills? Dr. Nicholas Lahar is proud to serve Beverly Hills patients in his plastic surgery practice. During your consultation, he will review the options and your goals to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for a Brazilian butt lift.

References

1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Seven Things You Need to Know About a Brazilian Butt Lift.
2. American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Recovering from a Brazilian Butt Lift.
3. Toma et al. Brazilian Butt Lift: An Experience Over 3,000 Patients. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2024.
4. Condé-Green A, et al. Fat Grafting: Basic Science, Techniques, and Patient Management. PMC/PubMed. 2022.