BBL Recovery: A Week-by-Week Timeline & What to Expect

What to Expect After Your BBL

A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a popular procedure that enhances your curves by transferring fat from areas like your abdomen or thighs into your buttocks. While the results can be amazing, recovery is key. 

Right After Surgery: What’s Normal

After your BBL, some discomfort, bruising and swelling is to be expected as your body heals. The procedure involves both liposuction and fat transfer, so you’ll need time to recover in both areas.

Here’s what you might experience:‍

Swelling and Inflammation: ‍

• Your buttocks and areas where fat was harvested (e.g., thighs, abdomen) will be swollen and inflamed — this is normal.
• Compression Garments:
  • Help reduce swelling and support skin adhesion to underlying tissues.
  • Assist in shaping your body as it heals.
  • Note: Compression garments may not be worn immediately after surgery and could be introduced later based on your surgeon’s recommendation. Your recovery will be closely monitored to adjust the protocol as needed.

Bruising:

• Bruising is common around liposuction and injection sites and will improve over time.

Discomfort:

• You may feel tightness or heaviness in your buttocks.
• Pain is typically manageable with medication.
• IMPORTANT: Your pain should improve each day. If it worsens or does not improve, contact us immediately.

Numbness:

• It’s normal to experience numbness in the treated areas, which typically resolves within a few weeks.

Initial Appearance:

• About a week after surgery, your butt may look larger or slightly different due to swelling and the fat transfer process.

Fat Cell Survival:

• On average, about 50% of the transplanted fat cells will survive and integrate with a blood supply. The rest will dissolve naturally.
• At SixSurgery, our unique techniques increase fat cell survival, ensuring better, longer-lasting results.

Final Results:

• Swelling will gradually subside, and the fat will settle over time.
• Be patient — your new curves will become more defined and natural-looking as your body heals.

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Follow Your Surgeon's Instructions

The key to optimal results is carefully following your surgeon’s post-op care instructions. Guaranteeing a smooth recovery and ensuring that the transplanted fat grafts survive relies on diligent aftercare.  This will likely include:

• Diet & Hydration: Eating healthy and drinking lots of water.
• Medications: to manage discomfort and prevent infection.
• Compression Garments: These help reduce swelling and keep everything in place. While in general compression garments are used after surgery, in some situations we ask our patients to pause their use until they are further along in their healing process.

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BBL Healing Stages

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1 Week Post-Op

• Physical State: Expect swelling, bruising, and discomfort. You’ll need to rest and avoid sitting directly on your butt. You might need help with daily activities.
• Tips: Keep following your surgeon’s instructions. Short walks help circulation and prevent blood clot formation, but skip anything strenuous.
• Drink a lot of fluids, and keep yourself warm to ensure you’re well hydrated.
• You should check your body temperature using a proper thermometer daily (if your temperature goes over 37.5 deg Celsius, notify our clinic).

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2 Weeks Post-Op

• Physical State: Bruising and swelling should start to go down, but some tenderness might still be there (by this time it will be minimal).
• Mobility: You can start doing light activities, but avoid sitting on your butt. Use a BBL pillow for support if you need to sit. You may also be able to drive, but check with your surgeon first.

Tips: Keep wearing compression garments and stay hydrated to help your body heal.

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3 Weeks Post-Op

• Physical State: The worst of the swelling and bruising should be gone, though some discomfort could linger.‍
• Mobility: By now, you should feel more like yourself and can start doing light chores or walking. If your surgeon gives the green light, you can ease back into light exercise.

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Week 6 / Month 3 / Year 1

• Physical State: Most people feel nearly fully recovered by six weeks, with minimal discomfort. Swelling will have mostly gone down, and the fat transfer results should be more visible.
• Final Results: Full results take at least 3 months to fully settle as the fat cells establish a blood supply.‍
• Long-Term Care: To maintain your results, keep a stable weight. Fluctuations can affect the final shape of your BBL.

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BBL in Real Life: Everyday Photos

As you recover, take some natural, everyday photos. It helps to see how your BBL results enhance your body and fit into your daily life.

10 Tips to Maximize Your BBL Results

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1. BBL Pillow: Always use a BBL pillow for sitting during the first eight weeks. This avoids pressure on the fat cells in your buttocks
2. BBL Exercises: Once cleared (usually 6-8 weeks), start exercises like squats and lunges to help build muscle tone and shape.
3. Compression Garments: Wear them as directed to minimize swelling and improve the overall shape.  Many women wear postop fajas for several months after surgery.
4. Stay Hydrated: Drinking water helps with circulation and healing.
5. Eat Well: Focus on a balanced diet with plenty of nutrients to support healing. Avoid high-fat, high-sugar foods.
6. No Smoking: Smoking can slow down circulation and affect fat survival.  It is CRUCIAL you do not smoke for 2 weeks before surgery (not even a single cigarette) and at least a month after surgery to ensure your fat cells survive.
7. No Sitting on Your Butt: For at least eight weeks, don’t sit directly on your buttocks. Use a BBL pillow for support. Yes, that means avoid driving and try to sit on your thighs.
8. Avoid Weight Fluctuations: Major weight changes can affect the size and shape of your BBL results.
9. Lymphatic Massage: Never massage your butt, we’re trying to keep the fat!
10. Follow-Up Appointments: Don’t skip your check-ins with your surgeon to make sure everything’s healing properly.

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Speeding Up Recovery

To help speed up healing and improve fat survival, focus on:

• Rest: Give your body time to heal. Avoid strenuous activity for the first few weeks.
• Nutrition: Eat nutrient-dense foods to support tissue repair and healing.
• Hydration: Drink lots of water to reduce swelling and aid recovery.‍
• Lymphatic Massage: If your surgeon gives the okay, gentle massages can help reduce swelling and speed recovery.

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How Soon Can You Return to Work?

Most people can return to work 1-2 weeks after surgery. Be sure to use a BBL pillow when sitting and always listen to your body’s needs!

How Much Fat Survives After a BBL?

On average, 50% of the fat may be absorbed by your body in the first few weeks. Surgeons often overfill the area to account for this. After a few months, the surviving fat becomes permanent, but it will fluctuate with your weight.  Conditions such as diabetes, HIV, smoking, and age over 50 can decrease fat survival significantly.

Long-Term Care & Maintenance

To maintain your BBL results:

• Avoid Weight Changes: Significant weight gain or loss can change the size and shape of your buttocks.
• Stay Healthy: Regular exercise and a balanced diet will help keep your body in great shape.‍
• Check In With Your Surgeon: If you notice anything unusual, be sure to consult your surgeon

A BBL can give you amazing, natural-looking results, but the key to beautiful long-term results is a mindful recovery. Follow your surgeon’s instructions, stay healthy, and be patient. Taking care of yourself during recovery will help you enjoy your new curves for years to come.

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Why Choose SixSurgery for Your BBL?

At SixSurgery, we’re all about giving you the best results with a focus on safety, comfort, and care. Our experienced surgeons use advanced techniques to help more fat cells survive the transfer, so your curves look smoother, more natural, and last longer. From your first consultation to full recovery, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

If you’re ready to enhance your body and feel your absolute best, SixSurgery has your back — let’s make those dream curves a reality!

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