
It’s not uncommon for people to struggle with excess fat that simply won’t budge even with a top-notch eating plan and exercise routine.
With this being said, curves are definitely in, and there are ways to put the excess fat to good use.
The Brazilian butt lift has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures around today. Designed to enhance the size and shape of the buttocks, the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) uses the body’s own fat to create a shapelier appearance. The surgery is completed by using liposuction to remove excess fat from areas such as the abdomen, love handles, or thighs. Once the fat has been processed, it is injected into the buttocks where it is molded to achieve the desired result.
In essence, if you want to gain some curves in all the right places, BBL surgery is definitely an option you should consider.
Many patients who want to lift and contour the lower half of the body will actually combine the butt lift with an entire lower body lift to achieve the most favorable results.
Can I Still Undergo BBL Surgery If I’m Overweight?
This is a common question amongst BBL and lower body lift patients. Plus-sized patients are still good candidates for BBL surgery but just how overweight you do play a role. Overweight patients may also experience slightly different results from those who are at a stable weight.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is the best tool to use to determine whether you are a good candidate for any type of plastic surgery procedure, including a Brazilian butt lift.
BMI is a calculation that uses your height to determine whether your weight is within a healthy range. Knowing your BMI is helpful for understanding whether you are a suitable candidate for surgery, but it is only an estimate.
While it is effective, BMI has its limitations and doesn’t look at aspects such as age, body composition, muscle mass, or gender, all of which play a role.
Any BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered to be in the normal range. Patients who are considering BBL surgery need to have a BMI of 30 or less. A BMI that’s lower than 18 also wouldn’t be acceptable for cosmetic surgery.
Why Weight Matters in BBL Surgery
So, why is it that BMI is important to BBL surgery? Studies show that patients with a BMI of 25 or more have a higher risk of developing post-surgical complications such as deep vein thrombosis, subpar wound healing, inflammation, and slower recovery times.
According to Dr David Sharp, if your BMI is over 30, you will need to lose the excess weight before your BBL surgery can be scheduled. In most cases, patients will also be encouraged to maintain a healthy weight for at least six months.
The same applies to patients who have a BMI lower than 18 – they will need to gain some weight before they can be considered for a butt lift.
Regardless of whether you need to lose or gain weight before your surgery, it needs to be done in the healthiest way possible. This means you can’t rely on fad or crash diets to achieve results because it won’t be possible to maintain a healthy and stable weight this way.
If you aren’t great with being patient or need some guidance, rather get the assistance of a dietitian or nutritionist for this process. Hiring a personal trainer to assist you with an exercise regime will also go a long way. You could even get a friend or family member to start training with you for some additional motivation.
How Weight Changes Your Results
If you are slightly overweight but have been cleared for a lower body lift or BBL surgery, it’s important to understand that your results may differ from someone who is smaller.
During your procedure, your surgeon will start by making the waist, stomach, and love handles smaller using liposuction. Once these stubborn fat cells are removed, it naturally creates an hourglass figure without the need for extensive buttocks fat grafting.
Basically, if you are overweight, you probably won’t need as much fat to inject into the buttocks to create your new shape.
The average surgeon needs to inject about 1,000 MLS of purified fat into each buttock cheek to achieve a desirable result. This is also keeping in mind that some of the fat is reabsorbed by the body, which is why such large volumes are required. In some instances, your surgeon may deem it necessary to inject much more fat into each cheek, with some surgeons going up to 1,800 MLS.
As mentioned previously, in the case of plus-sized patients, not as much fat will be required to achieve the desired outcome.
Is a Lower Body Lift a Better Option?
The best way to determine whether you would benefit more from a lower body lift or a Brazilian butt lift is to speak to a qualified surgeon.
In general, a lower body lift addresses more issues, including sagging skin, excess fat, and cellulite. If achieving a shapelier butt is only one part of what you want to achieve, you may want to consider a lower body lift instead of just BBL surgery.
A lower body lift is ideal for patients who have experienced dramatic weight loss or pregnancy and want to lift the areas of the body that have been most severely affected.
During a lower body lift, an incision is made along the circumference of the body, which will allow your surgeon to tighten and lift the lower half of the body. If necessary, fat grafting can be used to give the butt a shapelier appearance before the incisions are closed up.
Regardless of the type of surgery, you choose, achieving a more stable weight will have far-reaching benefits that extend beyond the results of your surgery. Leading a healthier life will ensure you can enjoy the results of your BBL surgery and experience an overall better quality of life.