The popularity of the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) has soared in the past 10 years as many celebrities chose the procedure to improve the size and shape of their rears.
The BBL involves removing fat from a problem area, such as the abdomen, and injecting it into the buttocks. This is a natural way to enhance the size and shape of the buttocks without butt implants.
But why has the Brazilian butt lifts become so popular with so many Americans? Let’s take a closer look below.
Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery Overview
A BBL or Brazilian butt lift is a fat transfer cosmetic procedure that enhances the size and shape of your buttocks without silicone implants. Instead, extra fat is removed from the abdomen, lower back, thighs, and sides with liposuction. This fat is washed and processed, then injected into the buttocks.
Many people want to improve the look of their rears because the shape of the posterior can be difficult to change without surgical intervention. While eating right and exercising can help keep you slim and toned, it may not affect the buttocks you want.
BBL can help in these ways:
- Improve the curves of your lower body
- Eliminate stubborn pockets of fat on the abdomen and other body parts and increase fullness in your rear
- Make clothes fit better
- Provide a more pleasing shape and size if you have flat buttocks
The BBL procedure is usually done outpatient with IV or general sedation. This is because it’s common for some of the transferred fat to be absorbed by your body. But your surgeon will account for this by slightly overfilling your rear. After a few weeks, the buttocks will attain their final shape and size.
Reasons For BBL’s Popularity
The BBL and breast augmentation have been among the most popular cosmetic procedures for years. Some of the reasons this is the case include:
It’s Simple
Doing BBL well takes great skill and an artistic eye, but it’s a relatively simple procedure. Undesired fat is removed from where you don’t want it, then it’s cleaned and processed, and injected into the buttocks.
This is a simple procedure for people to understand, and people are comfortable with it because they know its their own fat. There is no chance the fat will be rejected.
BBL is a simpler procedure than buttock implants, which is an invasive procedure that requires at least two months of BBL recovery time.
It’s Minimally Invasive
A BBL only requires a few small incisions on each buttock and there are almost no scars. Because there isn’t a major procedure with a large incision, the chances of major complications are reduced.
The BBL isn’t as invasive as other procedures so you will usually have a faster recovery. Most patients are fully recovered from this procedure after three or four weeks.
It’s Affordable
The BBL is extremely popular because celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and others have promoted it in social media for several years.
This has led to more surgeons offering the surgery, which tends to lower the price. Also, some surgeons run specials to offer the procedure to more people, and it’s possible to pay for cosmetic procedures with Care Credit and other credit cards.
It Looks Natural
Many patients note that their body looks transformed but natural after the BBL procedure. Many family and friends cannot even tell that they had a procedure.
This is because the BBL relies on simply moving your fat from one part of the body to the buttocks. It gives you a natural look without making it obvious that you had work done.
The calling card of the BBL is that it keeps your natural curves and beauty while providing a subtle enhancement to the rear.
It’s Flexible
There are many options with the Brazilian butt lift procedure. You can add a lot of fat or a little, and change and shape the buttocks in many ways, depending on what you want and the skill of your surgeon.
Your plastic surgeons will consult with you before the procedure and learn how you want your rear to look. They can tailor your BBL to your needs and desires and give you the exact look you want.
Fast Recovery
You will need time to recover from your BBL, like any cosmetic procedure. But because the procedure involves only liposuction and fat transfer, you will get over the procedure faster than a facelift or tummy tuck.
You’ll have soreness and mild pain where the fat was removed, and there will be some bruising and swelling in the rear for the first week.
Yet most patients can go back to light activities after a few days. And most can perform their regular routine in the home after a week. Most only need about a week off work, too.
Quick Results
Your results may vary, but you should see your BBL results when you glance in the mirror after a few days. Also, you’ll notice quickly how much better your clothes fit and look. The changes in your shape and contours will be very different from what you would get from exercise alone.
You can only do so many squats, and the difference you will see from having your BBL will be tremendous.
If you decide to have a BBL, your results should last many years. Fat that is removed from one area won’t grow back. And fat cells that are transferred to your rear will last for 10 years or more.
However, it’s important to maintain a steady weight so you can maintain your plastic surgery results for a long time. If you do that, you are sure to enjoy impressive results from your BBL surgery.
FAQS
When did BBLs become popular?
The BBL gained popularity in the 1990s after New York City plastic surgeon Sydney Coleman published a series of papers standardizing the complex procedure.
Today, the Brazilian Butt Lift is one of the fastest-growing cosmetic surgeries in the U.S.
Why did BBL become popular?
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the popularity of surgical procedures like Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) and the body type they promote had permeated U.S. and global cultures.
This trend was driven by the sexualization of megastars of color like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez, along with celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, who adopted this image to build their own fame.
Why does everyone want a BBL?
Women opt for a aesthetic plastic surgery like BBL to enhance their figure, achieve a better fit in their clothes, and reduce unwanted fat in specific areas of their body.
What is the point of BBL?
A Brazilian Butt Lift is a rapidly growing cosmetic procedure that enhances the size and shape of the buttocks while removing fat from other areas of the body and using that inject. Ideal candidates are those in good physical and mental health with realistic expectations.
Request a Houston Brazilian Butt Lift Consultation
Interested in a Brazilian butt lift in Houston? Please set up a cosmetic surgery consultation with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ashley Steinberg today. She’ll talk to you about the benefits and risks of this popular procedure.
References
- Purpose Of The Brazilian Butt Lift. (2020). Accessed at https://www.verywellhealth.com/brazilian-butt-lift-purpose-5085904
- The $5,000 Quest For The Perfect Butt. (2021). Accessed at https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22598377/bbl-brazilian-butt-lift-miami-cost-tiktok
- Why Has The BBL Become So Popular? (2020). Accessed at https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/audio/2021/mar/02/why-has-the-brazilian-butt-lift-become-so-popular