Buttock enhancement via fat transfer (BBL) is now one of plastic surgery's most popular procedures. Contemporary fashion trends initiated by celebrities like the Kardashians have made the thin-waisted, big-bottomed body type highly attractive to many women and men.
The BBL, broadly speaking, is a procedure in which fat is taken from one region of the body, usually the lower abdomen or legs, and injected into the buttocks. This is known as a "fat transfer." A patient who undergoes the procedure will see a far thinner waist and an augmented bottom, creating a drastically contrasting and appealing figure. Furthermore, because the BBL uses the body's own fat reserves, the results tend to look and feel more natural than augmentation using implants.
Is BBL Safe?
Most BBL procedures are quite safe. The fat extracted from the lower abdomen or back is purified before grafting into the buttocks. But the surgeon has to consider various things and make many choices, each of which can determine the ultimate success of the BBL and your satisfaction with your procedure. The surgeon has to ask themselves how much fat has to be removed, where to inject it in the buttocks, how deeply to do so, and how to do all of this without complications.
Indeed, the surgeon must always inject the fat in the subcutaneous region below the skin and above the musculature of the buttock. If the surgeon shoddily injects the fat too deeply, he may introduce fat into the inferior gluteal vein inside the muscle, causing a fat embolism. This action can make the procedure deadly if the fat travels up to the heart, and it's the reason why some people consider the gluteal fat transfer a riskier plastic surgery procedure. If you are considering a BBL, you should try to consult a board-certified plastic or cosmetic surgeon.
Ultrasound Assisted BBL ( Safe BBL )
The medical community and health organizations have worked to improve and guarantee patient safety when it comes to fat transfer to buttocks procedures. The incorporation of ultrasound imaging can make the BBL procedure safer than in the past.
The term "Ultrasound-Assisted" refers to the use of ultrasound technology to improve aspects of the surgery. The application of ultrasound technology may also assist in enhancing the safety of the procedure. By providing real-time imaging, surgeons can have better visibility of the area being operated on, which helps in avoiding critical structures such as blood vessels and muscles, potentially reducing the risk of complications such as fat embolism, where fat enters the bloodstream and blocks blood vessels.
The "Safe BBL" has become popular as a way to distinguish procedures that prioritize safety and minimize risks associated with Brazilian Butt Lifts. This includes not only the use of technologies like ultrasound but also adherence to best practices such as injecting fat only into the subcutaneous layer (just beneath the skin) rather than deeper layers and choosing the right candidates for the procedure.
Minimizing Risks
Board-certified plastic and cosmetic surgeons pass through rigorous training and are reviewed by organizations like the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. With a procedure as involved as the BBL, it is always best to seek surgeons who you know will perform the most careful work. The sheer demand for BBLs and plastic surgery, particularly in Miami, means that more and more surgeons are offering to perform BBLs even though they have neither the experience nor the qualifications to do so. Indeed, the wisest thing you can do is ask your surgeon, first, if they are board-certified, and second, if they have extensive experience performing the procedure. The last thing you want to do is get under the knife with a surgeon who has no experience performing BBLs.
We also recommend that you do your research even when searching for a surgeon. Read their reviews and search out testimonials on websites like RealSelf.com. Websites like these aggregate patients' experiences and let you know if a surgeon is well-reviewed in a particular area. You can also see the number of reviews for a specific procedure. A high number of reviews could indicate that a surgeon has particular fame for performing that procedure. Similarly, positive reviews about the practice and the staff could suggest that you will be well cared for following your surgery.
Last, see Before-and-After pictures. Though bodies differ from one person to another, Before-and-Afters can give you a sense of the surgeon's style. You might see tendencies and details you might like, which will incline you towards a surgeon, especially if you see that they've done good work on bodies similar to yours.
Conclusion
Buttock enhancement via fat transfer remains a popular and generally very safe procedure. Many women continue to be satisfied by their BBLs, and there do not seem to be any signs that the popularity of the surgery is waning. Insofar as you follow your surgeon's recovery instructions, you are not likely to suffer complications. The procedure, however, is very involved, and you'll always want to make sure that you do all the pre-operative research that you can so that you can feel totally comfortable.
At Avana Plastic Surgery, our surgeons are board-certified with extensive professional backgrounds, and you will receive the safest and most experienced treatment available. Our surgeons emphasize your satisfaction and safety and are always free to take your questions.
A BBL can transform how you see yourself, so don't hesitate to raise any questions you may have with them.
