Most patients who are undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift need an average of 1000cc of fat that is harvested from a different part of their body to achieve their desired result. The maximum amount of fat that should be extracted is an average of 5,000 milliliters or 11 pounds. The amount of fat also depends on the results the patients are looking to achieve, as well as their current weight.
The skill level and experience of the plastic surgeon can also influence if more fat can be harvested and extracted to deliver better results, especially for patients who don’t have as much excess fat or have a lower BMI.
What should the weight be in order to get a BBL?
There isn’t a specific weight requirement for patients who want to undergo a BBL because each person has differences in their natural build and height, with fat present on various parts of the body. It’s important for the average patient to have extra fat available to ensure it can be transferred to the backside during the procedure. Some thin patients don’t have enough fat on their body in general, which may require gaining 15 to 20 pounds to be approved for the surgery while working with a local plastic surgeon.
Most plastic surgeons have a requirement of a body mass index of 35. Your plastic surgeon will perform a physical evaluation during your consultation and will discuss your goals of redistributing the excess fat to ensure you know what to expect with the final results. It’s important to be within at least ten pounds of your weight goal within two to three months of your BBL procedure.
Fat transfer factors to consider before a BBL surgery
How much fat can be collected during Liposuction?
An average of six to eight pounds can be safely transferred when liposuction is performed on patients with an average build or weight. Removing more than eight pounds of fat increases the risk of complications and can affect the patient’s overall level of safety when undergoing a BBL. The different aspects that determine how much fat is removed include the overall weight of the patient, the specific treatment area, the patient’s body type and shape, as well as if they plan to undergo liposuction in a separate procedure.
Fat distribution
BBLs don’t change fat distribution, and it doesn’t move around or distribute. It is not capable of traveling around in the body after the procedure is performed. Gaining or losing weight will cause the fat cells to shrink or get larger. However, the proportions still remain the same over time. Fat distribution is a common myth associated with BBLs.
Fat survival
About 50% of that fat that is distributed survives, but even more of it can survive in some cases because the body is known to absorb 30% to 50% of the fat cells. The best-case scenario is when 70% of the fat survives. Even with thin patients, plastic surgeons are capable of getting an average of 800cc for each side of the buttocks.
The fat survival depends on the anatomy of the patient, the technique used, post-op care, and genetics.
The desired BBL results
Most patients expect to have increased volume in their buttocks following a BBL. It’s important to speak to a plastic surgeon to discuss your desired results and communicate what you want to achieve. It can improve the proportions and curves of the patient’s backside.
The final results are visible three to six months following the procedure. Some of the results are even evident after six to eight weeks as the skin begins to become softer and starts to expand to accommodate the new fat grafts. Fortunately, the results are permanent. After ten years, the results will continue to look the same, which is one of the main benefits of a BBL.
There are many ways to maintain the results, including maintaining a healthy weight and eating healthy foods while getting at least 2,000 calories in your diet each day. After undergoing a BBL, avoid sitting or putting any pressure on the backside. After you’re cleared by your plastic surgeon, you can slowly begin to exercise and return to physical activity, typically around four weeks.
It’s also important to avoid smoking, which can affect your blood flow and slow the recovery process. Stop smoking four weeks before the procedure until four weeks post-up to allow your body to heal and reduce the risk of complications.
Amount CCs of fat that can be injected into the buttocks
Skinny Patients
Skinny patients who have less fat on their bodies, they can get about 220ccs of fat into each buttock. Some plastic surgeons who have more experience with this type of procedure are capable of harvesting at least 1,000 ccs of fat to use as a fat transfer during a BBL to achieve realistic and natural results.
Standard patients
Standard patients who have a normal weight can have up to 1,000 ccs to inject into the buttocks. 500 ccs of fat are inserted into each buttock. Some patients are even capable of having 800 ccs inserted into each buttock for more volume and a satisfactory result.
Plus size patients
Plus-size patients can have more fat transferred into their backside and can have around 1160 ccs injected, depending on the amount of fat that is available to harvest and their desired results.
Fat grafting to buttocks Limitations
Although most patients consider BBLs to be worth the investment due to the results they deliver, there are still some limitations with fat grafting to the buttocks when contouring the backside.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of unpredictability and variability with fat graft retention. It’s impossible for the plastic surgeon to know how much the patient’s body will absorb the fat that is grafted, which can be up to 50%. This can require undergoing an additional BBL in the future to harvest and inject more fat to increase its volume and shape. Some patients may not have as much of a butt augmentation as they had hoped for if they have a faster metabolism.
If you want to learn more about BBLs and what they offer to men and women, you can reach out to a board-certified plastic surgeon to schedule a consultation and discuss the results you want to achieve. You can undergo an exam to determine how many ccs you’ll need to inject into the buttocks and learn more about the procedure before scheduling your next cosmetic surgery.
