How Long Can Fat Last After a BBL?

One of the most common questions patients ask about Brazilian butt lift (BBL) surgery is whether the extra fat added to their backside will last forever. The answer is yes, it can. While this is fantastic news for most patients, it is important to carefully consider how BBL surgery will change your body. Additionally, patients should understand how losing or gaining weight after BBL surgery may impact their figure differently than it did before the procedure. Here, Houston, TX board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rolando Morales, owner of Morales Plastic Surgery, answers common BBL FAQ to give patients a better idea of what to expect after BBL surgery and how to best maintain their results over time.

How does a BBL work?

BBL surgery is a body contouring procedure that involves removing excess fat via liposuction from stubborn areas of the body — like the waistline, hips, flanks, or inner thighs — and transferring it to the buttocks to create a curvier, more desirable physique. Not only does BBL offer the opportunity to enhance the volume and shape of the bum, but it can also help patients achieve the “snatched waist” look that is notoriously challenging to get through diet and exercise alone.

Is BBL permanent?

When fat cells are redistributed from the hips, waist, or another area to the buttocks during BBL surgery, they can remain in the buttocks indefinitely. In addition, the patient will have fewer fat cells in the areas where liposuction was performed. Theoretically, this means that the results of a BBL can be considered long-lasting. However, weight fluctuation — either loss or gain — can impact the patient’s shape and size, and not necessarily in the same way it did prior to a BBL.

For example, if a patient gains 50 pounds after BBL surgery, they will likely notice that their backside becomes much larger, while they don’t notice as much of a change in the areas where liposuction was performed. This is because there are fewer fat cells at the liposuction site and more fat cells in the buttocks. At the opposite end of things is losing weight after BBL surgery, which can cause the fat cells transferred to the buttocks to shrink and diminish the overall size of the bum. Still, the patient’s butt will always be larger than pre-BBL surgery, thanks to the additional fat cells present in the area. Without a doubt, one of the best ways to preserve your BBL results is to maintain a stable weight and adopt healthy lifestyle habits.

Am I a good candidate for a BBL?

Patients considering BBL surgery should be:

• In good health
• Nonsmokers
• Within about 20 pounds of their goal weight
• Desire a fuller, rounder butt and/or a more hourglass-shaped figure
• Have enough excess fat available elsewhere on the body
• Committed to maintaining a stable weight after BBL surgery

No ifs, ands, or buts about it; a Houston, TX BBL is the way to go

If you’ve been trying your best to get a snatched waist and full bum without much success, a BBL may be the extra boost you’ve been hoping for. Take the first step toward elevating your look by scheduling your private BBL consultation at Morales Plastic Surgery with Houston’s premier board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rolando Morales today.