A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is a highly sought-after body contouring procedure known for enhancing the shape and fullness of the buttocks using your body’s own fat, a procedure known as fat grafting.
A BBL delivers natural-looking, transformative results that can boost your confidence and body image. Recovery is an important part of the process, as how you heal determines the quality and effectiveness of your results.
The team here at Lansdowne Aesthetic Center and our surgeon, Yaqub Baraki, MD, offers the following need-to-know facts so you can make the most of your BBL results and heal safely and smoothly.
The initial days post-surgery are all about rest, gentle movement, and careful implementation of our office’s post-surgical instructions.
Swelling, bruising, and discomfort are normal. We send you home wearing a compression garment to help control swelling and support the new shape of your body.
During these first hours, avoid:
Consider setting up a recovery space before surgery. Have a place where you have access to a TV remote, books, pillows, and water. Enlist a friend or family member to help you during this time.
One of the most unique aspects of BBL recovery is a restriction on sitting. To protect the fat cells that were transferred to your buttocks, you’ll need to avoid direct pressure on the area for at least two weeks. Dr. Baraki sometimes recommends you refrain from sitting for longer, depending on your particular case.
As an alternative to sitting normally, use a specially designed BBL pillow to shift weight to your thighs when sitting. We also encourage you to take frequent standing breaks to minimize pressure on your backside.
This restriction on sitting is often one of the hardest parts of recovery, but it’s a critical part of getting positive results.
You definitely need to avoid intense workouts for several weeks, but we encourage light walking soon after surgery. Gentle movement promotes circulation, reduces the risk of blood clots, and helps the healing process.
As you begin walking, start slow and avoid stairs and overexerting yourself. Follow our prescribed schedule for ramping up intensity and distance.
We recommend a post-surgical compression garment that supports your lower body and reduces swelling. Wear it as prescribed after your procedure so minimize fluid accumulation, shape your new contours, and support healing tissues.
Although it may not feel glamorous, it’s important to stick with it for six to eight weeks, or as long as Dr. Baraki feels is best in your case.
It’s normal to lose some volume during the BBL healing process. As you heal, your body naturally reabsorbs a portion of the transferred fat, often up to 30–50%. Post-operative care is a time to care for the new fat to maximize its survival.
We recommend that you do the following to promote the health of transferred fat:
Don’t apply ice to the area because it can harm the newly transferred fat cells.
Even though you'll notice immediate changes, final results can take three to six months to fully appear. This is how long it takes for swelling to subside and your body to adjust to its new shape.
Routine post-operative visits allow us to monitor your healing, answer questions, and provide guidance based on your progress. Don’t skip these visits — even if you feel fine. They’re also a good time to ask about scar care or additional body contouring options like a tummy tuck or breast surgery.
If you’re thinking about a BBL or have questions about recovery, call or text Lansdowne Aesthetic Center today at 703-844-3811 to book an appointment. Feel free to schedule your consultation on our website.
