After undergoing cosmetic surgery, many patients are understandably anxious to get back into the gym to preserve – and show off – their gorgeous new physique. However, it is important to give your body enough time to heal properly and completely before resuming any level of physical activity, including exercise, in order to ensure the best possible results.
When it comes to Brazilian butt lift, which utilizes a patient's own fat to enhance the size, shape, and contour of the buttocks, maintaining a stable weight through diet and exercise is certainly important, though patients should understand when it is appropriate to return to their normal fitness routine after surgery. To learn more about what to expect from a Brazilian butt lift, including how long the recovery period is and what results are possible, schedule an appointment with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jaime S. Schwartz today.
WHAT IS A BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT?
Brazilian butt lift, often referred to simply as BBL, is a highly popular cosmetic procedure among both men and women that is designed to enhance the size, shape, and overall contour of the buttocks without the need for artificial implants. During a BBL procedure, the surgeon will begin by harvesting fat from the patient via liposuction. The fat is typically taken from the abdomen or flanks, depending on where the patient has enough excess fat available. Once the fat has been purified and separated, the surgeon will carefully inject it into the buttocks to sculpt a rounder, lifted, and overall more appealing shape. The BBL procedure is often used by patients who have a flat or sagging rear end due to aging, weight loss, or genetics.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT RECOVERY
Knowing what to expect during the postoperative period is an extremely important part of undergoing any cosmetic procedure and helps patients prepare for efficient healing and recovery. Immediately following BBL surgery, patients typically experience some level of discomfort, swelling, and bruising. Dr. Schwartz will provide you with appropriate medications and guidelines to help relieve these symptoms, most of which resolve relatively quickly.
Patients should also remember that BBL is technically a two-part procedure, meaning there will be two surgical sites to care for: the liposuction site and the injection site. Your surgeon will likely recommend that you wear compression garments to minimize the swelling after liposuction. One of the most critical parts of BBL recovery is avoiding direct pressure to the treatment area for the first 2– 3 weeks to ensure that as much of the newly transferred fat survives as possible. This may make driving, sitting, and sleeping on your back somewhat less convenient, but a donut pillow or nursing pillow can be helpful. Most patients choose to take about 1 – 2 weeks off of work after a BBL, depending on the physical demands of their job, and are able to resume more strenuous activities over the next several weeks.
WHEN CAN I START WORKING OUT AFTER BBL SURGERY?
Below, we'll outline a sample week-by-week plan.
The first 48–72 hours
Light walking only. Short, frequent laps around your home promote blood circulation and help reduce swelling. Multiple daily walks also lower the risk of blood clots. Avoid sitting directly on both the buttocks. Use soft pillows under the thighs if needed to avoid putting pressure on the grafted areas.
Days 4–14
Continue light walking. No strenuous physical activities. Wear your compression garment as directed; this minimizes swelling and supports the healing process around the transferred fat. Avoid sitting as much as possible. If you must, keep it brief and place soft pillows beneath the thighs to keep from putting pressure on the newly transferred fat cells. Most patients can return to desk work during the second week if they can avoid sitting for long periods.
Weeks 3–4
Introduce low impact exercise for the upper body only. Options include seated arm ergometer, light bands for arms and back, and core work that does not place pressure on the gluteal muscles or lower body. Keep sessions short. Maintain your compression garment until your plastic surgeon gives the green light.
Weeks 4–6
Add gentle lower body mobility without load. Bodyweight hip hinge patterns without sitting or lying on the grafts, light stationary cycling with minimal resistance if cleared, and light cardio like walking outdoors. Avoid strenuous exercise, high intensity interval training, intense workouts, and heavy lifting. Your surgeon will confirm when can I exercise after BBL based on your specific recovery process. Many patients receive partial clearance near six weeks, but timing varies.
Six weeks and beyond
With your surgeon’s green light, gradually resume a regular exercise routine. Start at 50 percent intensity and progress over several weeks. Reintroduce lower body resistance carefully. Continue to avoid putting pressure directly on the buttocks during workouts until fully recovered. Strenuous workouts can usually return after you are fully recovered and residual swelling has subsided.
EXERCISE DO’S AND DON’TS AFTER BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT SURGERY
Do
- Prioritize a balanced diet with healthy fats, lean protein, and essential vitamins to support fat cells and surrounding tissue.
- Maintain a stable weight to protect your bbl results over time.
- Keep a workout routine that favors low impact exercise first, then progress under guidance.
- Wear your compression garment as prescribed to reduce swelling and support the recovery period.
- Use soft pillows when seated to avoid putting pressure on the grafts.
Don’t
- Perform strenuous activities or strenuous exercise in the first several weeks.
- Sit or lie on both the buttocks for extended periods early in bbl recovery.
- Return to high intensity interval training or heavy lifting until cleared.
- Allow significant weight fluctuations that can change Brazilian butt lift results.
WHY TIMING MATTERS FOR FAT GRAFTS
After Brazilian butt lift surgery, the extracted fat is carefully purified and re-injected as fat grafts.
In the first weeks, the newly transferred fat cells are developing a blood supply with the surrounding tissue. Early pressure or vigorous physical activities can compromise graft survival. Protecting transferred fat early helps achieve optimal results.
HOW LONG DOES A BBL LAST, AND WHAT KIND OF RESULTS CAN I EXPECT?
BBL results can vary from patient to patient depending on the amount of fat that was transferred as well as other individual factors. On average, over 70% of the fat cells that are transferred will successfully establish a blood supply and survive in the long term. Dr. Schwartz is highly knowledgeable regarding this aspect of Brazilian butt lift surgery and takes the expected fat cell loss rate into account when planning the initial amount of fat he will inject.
Unlike artificial gluteal implants, which maintain their volume, regardless of weight gain or loss, the fat cells transferred during a BBL can swell or shrink the same way they do in other areas of the body. For this reason, it is crucial that patients avoid significant weight fluctuations in order to sustain their BBL results. When patients maintain a healthy, stable weight, the results of a Brazilian butt lift can last for many years. However, patients should keep in mind that the aging process will not stop, and an additional procedure may be needed in the future to once again restore a fuller size and more youthful shape.
CAN I RESHAPE MY BBL WITH EXERCISE?
Targeted training cannot move transferred fat to a new location. However, you can refine your shape by building muscle mass around the hips and thighs for a smoother hourglass figure. Specific exercises that commonly help include side-lying abductions, cable abductions, Romanian deadlifts with light loads, and step-ups once cleared. These strengthen the gluteal muscles and the lower body without direct pressure on fat grafts. The goal is to complement natural looking BBL results, not replace graft volume.
NUTRITION AND LIFESTYLE TO PROTECT YOUR BBL RESULTS
- Diet and exercise: Combine a balanced diet with a progressive exercise routine once cleared.
- Healthy diet: Focus on whole foods, adequate protein, and healthy fats. Limit sugary beverages to prevent weight fluctuations.
- Hydration and essential vitamins: Support the healing process and overall wellness.
- Sleep positioning: Avoid sitting and avoid putting pressure on the buttocks. Use positioning aids as needed during the recovery process.
AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR BBL?
Most men and women who are in good health, do not smoke, maintain a healthy weight, and are struggling to achieve the round backside they desire using diet and exercise alone can be considered for Brazilian butt lift surgery. Another important factor in determining whether or not a patient qualifies for BBL is the amount of excess fat he or she has available to harvest. Patients with a particularly low body fat percentage may be better suited to the placement of butt implants instead of undergoing BBL.
The best way to find out if you are an ideal candidate for Brazilian butt lift is to be evaluated by an experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled provider. Call our friendly Beverly Hills, CA team today to schedule your one-on-one consultation with internationally recognized board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jaime S. Schwartz, and learn more about how a Brazilian butt lift – or one of our other exciting procedures – can finally help you achieve the look you've always wanted, and feel better than ever before!