Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) technique has undoubtedly been the most defining trend in the cosmetic surgery world over the last ten years. This body-contouring procedure that offers nothing less than an amazing “two-for-one” deal: firstly, it performs the removal of excess fat from problem areas such as waist or abdomen, and then it reuses the very same fat to give your back side a fuller and rounder look. On the other hand, a BBL is a totally different concept from a silicone implant that will keep the exact size forever. It is essentially living tissue that is involved in BBL. This is why the common anxiety of potential patients is: “Will the fat be keeped? Is a BBL a lifetime surgery or my money is going to be wasted?”
In Lin Europe Clinic we are keen on giving our clients knowledge about the facts of biology rather than the ones from marketing. The truth is, yes, a BBL is a grown-up procedure, that is the term used here. However, the catch is that the ultimate outcome is solely dependent on the fat survival rate. By taking a fat cell along the route from your stomach to your glutes, you will be able to grasp the concept of how some BBLs keep their perky look for decades whereas others look deflated.
The Transplant Concept: Seeds in a Garden
If you want to fully grasp the longevity of BBL, you ought to stop referring to it as “a filler” and start thinking of it as a tissue transplant. Liposuction is a procedure through which we get hold of the living cells (adipocytes). And subsequently, when we put these cells into your buttocks, this is equivalent to us planting seeds in a new garden.
These “seeds” have to be able to produce a new blood supply, in order for them to be able to live. The source of their energy and nutrients has to be happening immediately. During the initial few weeks post-surgery, the transferred fat cells are in a somewhat hypoxic state. Actually, they are living off of surrounding plasma until your body can grow new blood vessels to feed them. However, not every cell makes it. The ones that fail to get a blood supply die off and are naturally metabolized (absorbed) by your body.
The Numbers Game: The 30% Rule
So, how much fat actually stays? The general consensus, among medical professionals, is that 60% to 80% of the injected fat can be expected to survive if it is in the hands of an experienced surgeon. This is roughly 20-40% of the initial volume that gets lost.
This is the main reason why highly skilled surgeons at Lin Europe Clinic always overfill a bit. We consider this as a losing battle. When you first come out of surgery, your butt will appear as if it has been swollen and even bigger than you expected. It can be very necessary. The swelling will go down gradually during the next 3 to 6 months and the body will take in the dead fat cells. What is left after this stabilization period is your permanent result.
The “Fluffing” Phase: Don’t Panic
The BBL procedure timeline is psychologically a rollercoaster.
- Week 1 – 3 (The Swell): You look enormous. But this is mainly due to inflammation and fluid, not just fat.
- Week 4 – 6 (The Shrink): Swelling disappears very fast and patients often panic, thinking that they are losing all their results. This is the “drop” phase.
- Months 3 – 6 (The Fluff): It is indeed a magical phase. The skin gets softened, the rest of the fat cells get settled and slightly expanded as they become healthy, and the buttocks relaxed and naturally tissue-like. This is called the “Fluff and Drop.”
Can It Last Forever?
Absolutely. Fat cells that are able to survive after 6 months will be permanently stored. They act just like the fat cells in the other parts of your body. They just do not have an expiration date.
Nevertheless, “permanent” does not imply “unchanged.” These are living fat cells, so naturally, they will respond to your lifestyle:
- Weight Loss: If you dramatically reduce your diet and lose 10kg, your butt, like your breasts or face, will get smaller.
- Weight Gain: If you put on more weight then your butt will become bigger.
- Aging: Fat is influenced by gravity. In a span of 2 decades, a BBL butt will undergo the same sagging as a regular one; however, it will still have more volume than if you had never done the surgery.
The “No Sitting” Rule: Protecting Your Investment
While the surgical method is indeed a very big aspect, a patient is the one who has the biggest influence on the survival of the cells during the healing period. The biggest enemy of a fat graft that is still fresh is pressure.
When sitting on your buttocks during the first several weeks, you actually are physically forcing the blood out of the area and thus starving the new fat cells of oxygen. As a result, cell death (necrosis) occurs. This is the reason why Lin Europe Clinic has a very strict 2 to 6 weeks “no sitting” policy. You must sleep on your stomach and use a specially designed BBL pillow that keeps your weight on your legs and your butt off the ground. Yes, it is a hassle, but that is the price you pay for a long-lasting result.
BBL Surgery in Turkey
Moreover, it depends a lot on how the fat is handled at the time of its extraction, whether the survival rate is good or not. It would be the case if the surgeon killed the fat cells while sucking them out.
Advanced techniques are utilized at Lin Europe Clinic, in the heart of Istanbul, Turkey. We have Vaser Liposuction and pure-grafting systems available. Vaser employs ultrasound energy to handily free the fat cells without damaging them thus the cells remain suitable for a transfer. Afterward, the fat is treated so as to extract blood, oil, and water, and the resultant injection of highly concentrated and very healthy ‘liquid gold’ is guaranteed. By making Istanbul your place of BBL, you are going to be benefiting from high-tech fat processing that ensures the maximum percentage of survival of the cells during the transplant, which ultimately gives you the best chance of a long-lasting curve.
Frequently Asked Questions About BBL Survival
Yes, conceptually. Fat cells that are alive after the first 3-6 months healing period will stay with you forever. They won’t melt or disappear at a later time.
On average, a satisfactory operation results in a survival rate of 60% – 80%. In other words, as much as 40% of the injected volume may be lost as the body heals.
In some cases, a BBL may get ‘ruined’ if the patient sits down on their buttocks quite early, (the fat gets killed due to pressure), if they lose a lot of weight after surgery, or if fat harvesting was done aggressively and cells got damaged.
Seriously stay off your butt for at least 2 to 6 weeks, it depends on your doctor’s instructions. Use a BBL pillow to avoid putting weight on the fat graft by your sitting.
Silicone implants keep their shape despite weight changes, however they have a greater risk of complications such as infection and flipping. Fat is safer and more natural-looking but requires a bit of lifestyle maintenance.
Del Vecchio, D. A., & Bucky, L. P. (2011). Breast augmentation using pre-expansion and autologous fat transplantation: a clinical series. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Hoyos, A. E., & Millard, J. A. (2007). Vaser-assisted high-definition liposculpture. Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
Mendieta, C. G. (2009). Gluteal reshaping. Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
