BBL reduction: How it works, and are you eligible?

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If you are not happy with your big BBL butt, you may have this question in your mind, “Can you reduce a BBL?”. Yes! There is a surgery called BBL reduction and it is performed to reduce the size of the big buttocks. A thick butt looks amazing but there are situations where it makes your daily life harder. If your BBL butt gets in your way, you can undergo BBL reduction and solve your big booty problems. 

BBL reduction surgery is performed to get rid of unwanted BBL fat and give you the smaller butt size you desire. In this article, we are going to answer all of the questions in your mind: what is a BBL reduction, how do you reduce it, its benefits, cost, and more to help you make the right decision.

What is BBL reduction?

BBL reduction is an operation where the previous BBL surgery results are reduced in size by removing some of the fat that was transferred during the BBL surgery. In a situation where you are not happy with your BBL, thinking that it is way too big or it makes you uncomfortable, you can have a BBL reduction and solve the problems caused by the big size of your BBL butt.

How does it work?

You can think of it as a liposuction procedure. In order to remove the fat that was injected in the previous BBL surgery, the plastic surgeons make small incisions around the butt. After that, they insert the cannula from the incisions and start suctioning the fat. When enough amount of fat is removed, BBL reduction surgery is completed.

How BBL reduction is different from BBL revision?

The aims of the procedures are different. Brazilian Butt Lift revision surgery can be performed to improve any kind of undesired outcomes of BBL. For example, BBL revision can be performed to remove fat, add fat, or fix small irregularities such as asymmetry, or some complication-related issues.

However, BBL reduction is only performed to remove the undesired fat. In a situation where the patient is not happy with their big BBL butt, BBL reduction is performed to remove some amount of fat that was injected during the first BBL surgery. This also makes the reduction different from a complete BBL removal, which aims to take out as much fat as possible to achieve the patient’s previous natural butt shape.

Why do people go for reduction?

Patients go for BBL reduction mainly for 2 reasons. The first one is the discomfort of having a big butt. If you have a big butt, you cannot lay on your back straight, there is always a gap between your upper back and the butt. Your lower back doesn’t touch the bed when you lay down. This can be very uncomfortable and may lead to back problems over time. Also, it may be hard to find fitting clothes and this can be really bothering. Plus, putting on jeans can be exhausting. 

The other reason is the aesthetic view. Patients may find a smaller one more gorgeous than a big one and they may be preferring a smaller size now. Also, after a BBL operation, the newly injected fat settles down and connects with the vessels over time. If you gain a significant amount of weight after the procedure, your butt can become huge. Or, if you don’t have elastic skin, the skin may not be able to hold the fat very well and create an undesired uneven appearance.

Procedures used for BBL reduction

We listed the procedures used for BBL reduction below. All of them are performed to remove the excess BBL fat. These are all lipo procedures with small differences in the techniques. A note: Which of the following lipo procedure will be used in the BBL reduction depends on the surgeon.

  • Traditional liposuction
  • Tumescent liposuction
  • Vaser liposuction
  • Laser liposuction
  • Power-assisted liposuction
  • Coolsculpting

 Let’s dive into the details of these procedures, starting with traditional liposuction.

Traditional liposuction

Traditional liposuction is the procedure where the fat is aspirated through the cannula and removed from the body. Usually, it is performed under general anesthesia. During the procedure, a small amount of solution is injected into the area where the fat is going to be removed. Then, small incisions are made and fat is suctioned through the cannula. This procedure can take 1-3 hours, depending on the amount of fat needed to be removed. 

All of the next lipo procedures we mentioned are versions of traditional liposuction and minimally invasive procedures. 

Tumescent liposuction

Tumescent liposuction is a lipo procedure that is done with local anesthesia. It is performed with tinier incisions than traditional lipo, a smaller cannula, and a large amount of tumescent solution. This solution makes the fatty area swell and blood vessels become smaller for a short period, as well as numbing the area.

The swelling caused by the solution makes the butt cheeks stiffer, and it is easier to work on a stiff area than a soft area. Also when the blood vessels become smaller, the bleeding chance is significantly reduced (1).

The usage of a tiny cannula requires tiny incisions and these incisions don’t require stitches. When incisions are left open, there will be a place for swelling to leave the body, which means you will have less swelling after the operation. Also, a tiny cannula means less bleeding and less bruising since a tiny thing is less likely to damage the surroundings. The operation takes about 3 to 4 hours.

VASER liposuction

Vaser liposuction stands for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance and it is the procedure where fat cells are melted with ultrasound waves. We can say that it is the ultrasound-wawed version of Tumescent Liposuction. The procedure starts with local or general anesthesia, depending on the size of the area. After that, the tumescent solution is applied to the surgery area. Then, small incisions are made and through these incisions, the needle sends ultrasound waves and melts fat cells. The melted cells are removed by the cannula. The whole procedure takes around 2 hours.

Laser liposuction

Laser liposuction is a procedure that is performed with local anesthesia where fat cells are melted with a laser through tiny incisions. The heat that the laser provides melts the fat and fat becomes more liquid, and the body absorbs the liquid naturally. The heat also helps to tighten the skin to a certain degree.

It also helps to get rid of cellulite or stretch marks because laser lipo tightens the skin. It can also prevent uneven skin because compared to the suction of the fat, the laser melts the fat evenly. The procedure can take 2 to 4 hours depending on the case. It can be combined with other lipo techniques to create the best result.

Power-assisted liposuction

Power-assisted liposuction is the operation where the fat is removed with a vibrated cannula. It may be performed under general or local anesthesia depending on the case. A vibrated cannula allows the surgeon to move the cannula without putting too much power. Gentle and slow movements are enough since the cannula is already moving itself, by vibration.

If the surgeon moves the cannula softer, the tissue gets less damage than normal lipo. Less damage means you will have less bruising and less swelling after the procedure. These all results in an easier and quicker recovery period. The procedure takes shorter than traditional liposuction.

CoolSculpting

Coolsculpting is a non-invasive way of getting rid of undesired fat. Not even a single incision is made during CoolSculpting, so it doesn’t require any type of anesthesia. While you are awake and comfortable, the device pulls the fatty area to the inside of the device and starts to freeze fat cells. The procedure takes an hour per area and up to four areas can be treated in one session, which means it can take 1 to 4 hours depending on the patient.

To see the results of CoolSculpting, you have to wait a couple of months because it doesn’t remove fat cells in the first place. It freezes the fat cells and the cells die. With time, the body’s healing system fights the dead cells and gets rid of them. After that, you can see the results of CoolSculpting.

What to know about BBL reduction

So far we learned what a BBL reduction is, how it works, the reason people go for it, and the different procedures used to remove fat. However, BBL reduction surgery doesn’t end here. There are more topics to talk about such as its risks and benefits, preparation and recovery, cost, and more. Let’s continue our reduction journey with the benefits of BBL reduction.

Its advantages

BBL reduction solves your big butt problems caused by the initial BBL procedure. After the reduction surgery, your life will become easier and you will be happier with your butt compared to before. The benefits of BBL reduction: 

  • Provides comfort
  • Easy to find fitting clothes 
  • Enhances body shape
  • Improves self-confidence

First of all, getting a BBL reduction makes the patient’s life more comfortable since the patient will no longer have the big but that causes discomfort. Also, it will be much easier to find fitting clothes, shopping will become easier and less effortless. It will give you the butt you want, and improve the body in the way that you desire. This improvement will make you like your body more and boost your self-confidence. 

Possible risks

The risks of BBL reduction are very similar to BBL risks. The potential risks of BBL reduction are mostly caused by liposuction since the undesired fat is removed by it. But of course, there are also aesthetic concerns as well. Possible risks of BBL reduction surgery are:

  • Swelling
  • Bleeding
  • Hematoma
  • Seroma
  • Nerve damage
  • Contour irregularities
  • Loose skin
  • Unsatisfactory results
  • Anesthesia risks

Since the cannula is inserted through the incisions, it can damage the lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. The damage on these vessels can result in seroma, hematoma, swelling, bleeding, and nerve damage.

The removal of a significant amount of fat can lead to skin sagging. When some fat is removed, the butt will no longer be full of fat like before. It will be less dense and in such a situation the skin can sag and creates an undesired appearance.

As with any plastic surgery, there is a risk of dissatisfaction. You may not like the reduction result. Maybe you can find it way too small, regret it, and wish to get your big butt back.

Recovery period & results

The BBL reduction recovery process is similar to the Brazilian Butt Lift recovery but it is not the same. What makes the difference is there is no fat transfer procedure. This means sitting is not prohibited for months like the Brazilian Butt Lift surgery. A week would be enough. Since you will be able to sit on your butt earlier, you can go back to work earlier than the BBL procedure.  

Similar to the Brazilian Butt Lift procedure, you will have swelling, pain, and discomfort days after the surgery, but it will be gone over time. You will wear compression garments all day and night. Since you will have swelling, you will need to get massages to reduce it. When the swelling is gone, you will see the final results.

Its cost

The average BBL reduction cost is around $4000, but this price can change depending on the case and of course the location of the clinic. If there are large volumes of fat to remove, the price may be higher. If only a small amount of fat needs to be removed, the price may be lower. Plus, as with any kind of procedure, the price can go lower or higher depending on the country. For example, if you get a BBL reduction in a European country, it will be less expensive than in the USA. 

Who qualifies for BBL reduction?

To undergo a BBL reduction surgery, you should meet certain qualifications in addition to having dissatisfaction caused by the initial procedure. You can decide whether you are the right candidate for BBL reduction or not by considering the following points.

If you:

  • Had a BBL surgery at least 6 months ago
  • Are feeling uncomfortable with your BBL butt
  • Gained weight and your butt became huge
  • Are not happy with the volume and want a smaller butt
  • Are healthy enough to undergo a surgery
  • Have realistic expectations

You can get a BBL reduction.

The reason why you should wait at least 6 months after your BBL surgery is to wait for the final results. Transferred fat takes some time to settle into its new place and your body needs healing for an easier and safer procedure. Also, you must be in good health and weight to undergo BBL reduction. If you gained so much weight, you may be asked to lose some because too much weight puts the patient in danger.

  • (1) Sood, Jayashree et al. “Liposuction: Anaesthesia challenges.” Indian journal of anaesthesia vol. 55,3 (2011): 220-7. doi:10.4103/0019-5049.82652
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