As with every surgery, patients need to have a smooth BBL recovery period to get their expectations fulfilled. In terms of Brazilian Butt Lift surgery, newly transferred fat cells will need some time to settle on their new place and there are several things you can do, and avoid to make them embrace their new home as soon as possible.
Although you will be given follow-up instructions after the surgery by your surgeon, you may not remember all of them or maybe had some questions in your mind that you forgot to ask. This is why we are here to assist you in keeping up with your BBL recovery and answer the questions you are not sure of or wondering about.
Your BBL downtime begins as soon as the procedure is over. So, let’s dive into the details of what your recovery period will be like and provide some BBL recovery tips for you to make it more comfortable.
How long does it take to recover from BBL?
You can get back to your daily activities within two to four weeks. However, your final results should be seen around three to six months. That is because transferred fat needs to be settled and all the swelling needs to be gone.
As these are the estimated time in general, each patient has a different healing process and a different recovery time. Some BBL patients say they can get back to work within a week while some may need further rest. Post-op wellness depends on how patients have prepared for the procedure and of course, time. Now, let’s check out the BBL recovery timeline to understand how this period goes commonly:
- After surgery: You will stay at the hospital for a day or two.
- Week one: You may experience moderate pain or discomfort.
- Week two to three: Swelling and pain should be decreased.
- Week four to six: Pain should be gone and you can return to your daily life.
- Three to six months: The fat has established and the swelling is totally gone.
With this short list, it can be understood clearly how long does it take to recover from a BBL. But what if you want to recover more quickly? Let’s look at some steps you can take, and things you should avoid to make your recovery process faster and easier.
How to speed up the recovery process?
Getting rid of the pain, and soreness, or going back to your daily life may not be possible immediately after every operation. By taking some easy steps, you can make your BBL recovery smooth and comfortable. Understanding what you can do and avoid during Brazilian Butt Lift recovery is the key to a successful recovery. Even though some can be challenging and require patience, seeing the fruits of your actions will be satisfying in the end.
What should you do?
Brazilian Butt Lift recovery has some special needs to be fulfilled in order to get back on daily track. Returning to your daily routine as soon as possible will boost your morale, and a positive mood will make you eager to do better. So, let’s see what can be great for you to do during your BBL recovery:
- Wear compression garments to increase blood flow, reduce swelling, and maintain your shape
- Sit on special BBL pillows to prevent applying pressure on your butt
- Get lymphatic massages after the first week to prevent fluid accumulation and swelling
- Walk daily to help with swelling and prevent blood clots
- Have a nutritious diet to boost your system
- Drink 8 – 10 glasses of water to increase your blood flow
- Clean appropriately after the bathroom to prevent incisions from getting infected
- Give your body time to rest and don’t push yourself
- Follow your doctor’s post-op instructions, especially if you have a medical history
With this list, we see that recovery for BBL requires compression garments, pillows, and lymphatic massages additionally. These are special to the BBL surgery recovery itself and they are a must-have. Others on the list are generally advised to patients who have undergone surgery with anesthesia. These are what you do, but what about things you should abstain from? Let’s proceed.
What should you avoid?
Every patient should be thoughtful of what can be bad for their BBL recovery process. Unhealthy habits and improper actions can lead to BBL complications which can result in unsatisfactory results. Your buttock size might have increased as you like, but messing up the results can be pretty easy if you don’t take care of them properly. Here is what you should avoid during BBL recovery:
- Do not apply direct pressure on your butt for at least 2-3 weeks after surgery.
- Avoid wearing skin-tight jeans or leggings, they can restrict your blood circulation.
- Smoking reduces the flow of oxygen in your bloodstream, avoid it for at least a month after surgery.
- Avoid alcohol as it causes dehydration and increases swelling.
- Avoid strenuous activity because it can burn your fat.
- Don’t soak your incisions in water, wait until they are sealed completely.
- Avoid having sex for at least two to three weeks.
Even though these are the general things you should avoid, many doctors recommend their own guidelines for their patients. For example, some may allow small amounts of alcohol or intercourse after a week. You should always consult your doctor about your questions and act accordingly. Still, avoiding these activities soon after the BBL procedure will be beneficial for you undoubtedly.
Adjust your diet
Post op BBL care doesn’t end with what you should do or not. Dieting can have a great impact in terms of your recovery period as well. Eating the right foods and having a balanced diet are other factors that can shorten your recovery time. So, adjusting yourself to a healthy diet gradually will not only help with your overall health but also will make you feel better during your BBL recovery time. Remember, what you eat is what you are, and you must eat well for a nice butt!
Foods to eat
You don’t need to follow a strict diet for your BBL recovery but eat well. Healthy high-fat foods will give you energy and help your body at absorbing vitamins and minerals which boost your whole system. Whole-grain foods will help with constipation and regulate bowel movements. Proteins will help with the recovery of damaged tissues. Veggies and fruits are rich in fiber and vitamins. You can also check our article focused on how to feed fat after BBL for more detailed information.
Foods to avoid
There are lots of food that can cause a delay in your recovery. While maintaining a well-rounded diet is critical, avoiding what you should not eat for a proper healing period is important as well. Poor dieting has negative effects on your health such as stress, fatigue, and other health problems. Adjusting your diet will show its benefits in the long run and it is totally worth it. Let’s see which food are harmful and will slow your BBL post surgery recovery:
- Processed foods: Cereals, bacon, sausage, microwave meals, canned vegetables
- Sugary beverages: Sweetened beverages, fruit juices, energy drinks
- Refined grains: White flour, white bread, white rice, crackers
- Refined sugars: Snacks, baked goods, and desserts
- Fast or fried foods
- Salty and spicy foods
- Salad dressings and sauces
What we understand from this list is everything that processed foods are not the greatest choice if you’d like to have a smooth recovery. Besides processed foods, too much salt can cause swelling and extend your recovery. Spicy foods can cause irritation to your incisions. Besides, you should avoid alcohol if you are on pain medication.
Supplements you can take
When it comes to vitamins and minerals, they are essential for our immune system. Deficiencies in micronutrients can make our bodies fragile. They enhance nerve health, increase overall resistance to diseases, and maintain the body to operate at its best. These are the supplements you can take for post op BBL surgery to enhance your healing:
- Multivitamins: Boosts your general health and condition of the body.
- Vitamin C: Boosts the immune system and aids in wound healing.
- Vitamin A: Helps body tissues to grow healthy and strong.
- Iron: Improves red cell levels which is great for fat survival.
- Bromelain: Reduces the risk of bruising and swelling.
It is important to know that taking supplements after surgery may not be necessary at all. Always consult your doctor if taking anything is required or not. You can take a blood test to see if you have any deficiencies and follow the instructions. Otherwise, you might overdose yourself by taking too many supplements on your own.
Potential complications during BBL recovery
During your recovery period, you might experience some of the Brazilian Butt Lift post op complications. The first and most important ones are shortness of breath and chest pain. You should seek immediate help because it might be a sign of pulmonary embolism. The other crucial one is feeling lumps in your buttocks. Fat necrosis or fibrosis can cause lumps and you should see a doctor as soon as there are visible changes in your butt.
Other possible post op BBL complications are fever, redness, and drainage due to incision infection. In case of severe pain, extended numbness, or worsening swelling, contact your surgeon immediately. As time passes, your symptoms might worsen and even require a surgical operation. Always keep up with your body and be sure that everything is going well.
Results of your recovery process
As you can see, Brazilian Butt Lift recovery is as important as the surgery itself. If your operation went well, you are already a step closer to reaching your dream body. But the road does not end there, it was just the initial step for the change. The recovery period is the whole road you have to know how to walk appropriately. Not taking care of yourself during this journey will determine whether the results of the surgery will be good or not.
Even though it can be so demanding and require patience from time to time, you will realize it was all worth it when the fat settles in the end.
- https://www.who.int/news/item/20-01-2020-smoking-greatly-increases-risk-of-complications-after-surgery
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5940642/
