What Is BBL Surgery? All About The Buzzy Procedure

While ever-changing beauty standards flit in and out of pop culture just as quickly as you can scroll social media, the much-desired hourglass figure has remained a relatively constant ideal — one that sometimes can't be achieved through exercise. This is where, for many, the popular Brazilian butt lift — or BBL — comes in. The surgery changes the shape of the buttocks, as the surgeon inserts fat deposits into the area, which are taken from other parts of the body. The end result is a more voluminous, rounded butt and a smoother contour in the areas of the body where fat was removed. "Contouring the body in this way makes a BBL a very impactful procedure that can transform someone's shape in ways that simply aren't possible with butt exercises alone," Dr. Alex Earle, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Miami and president of the World Association of Gluteal Surgeons, told SELF.

Chances are you've heard of a Brazilian butt lift — and, more specifically, the potential risks that come with it. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons issued a press release in 2018, warning of the estimated one in 3,000 rate of mortality pinned onto the popular surgery. Some, however, choose to stand up to the stigmas surrounding cosmetic surgeries and even view the BBL as a form of self-love and personal expression, augmenting the body to feel more confident, whole, and aligned with a true identity, as well as granting a sense of bodily autonomy.

Regardless of the reasoning for going through with the procedure, a Brazilian butt lift is a major surgery. A patient who opts for a BBL will undergo general anesthesia. The surgical team will then use a suction device to remove excess fat from fatty areas. Next, they will purify the fat that's been removed and inject it into incisions made around the buttocks. The liposuction and fat transfer incisions will then be stitched closed. The procedure typically takes two to four hours.

The first few days following the procedure are said to be the most challenging and a family member or friend is needed to care for the patient. Sitting and lying down are also no-gos for several weeks, so the patient must either stand or lie face down. Two to three months are typically needed for the body to fully heal. Wearing a compression garment for close to three months is recommended after the surgery. This will reduce swelling, enhance blood flow, provide mobility and comfort, and help to maintain the BBL results. Once the site has healed, the patient will enjoy a newly formed silhouette. The results of the BBL are semi-permanent and may last up to a decade. A BBL can also be reversed.

The main reason a Brazilian butt lift poses risks is the complicated nature of the surgery — as well as the trend of non-board-certified surgeons performing the procedure. Seeking an experienced, board-certified surgeon to perform the procedure is infinitely important, as not all hold the necessary experience and qualifications. Also, while increasingly common, you should consider whether or not international travel for plastic surgery is a safe option. "You can set up your own clinic and you could be doing liposuction tomorrow with no training in liposuction whatsoever, and it's perfectly legal," Adam Rubinstein, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Miami, told Vox. Infection is always a potential risk with any surgery and patients may experience swelling or bruising during the healing process. If the suction device hits a blood vessel or nerve during the surgery, injury, a fat embolism, or even death can occur (via the Cleveland Clinic).

Whatever the personal reasons are for pursuing a shape augmentation through a Brazilian butt lift, a candidate's health must first be considered. "It's very important that you're in good health, or healthy enough to have the surgery," Dr. Michael Horn, a Chicago-based board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in liposuction, told Good Housekeeping. "An experienced surgeon will also analyze your anatomy, look at it realistically from where you start — there are some people that have a shape that's simply not going to be possible to get the shape usually provided by the procedure."