Fat Transfers & Grafting In BBL & Breast Lift Procedures
Open up Twitter or Tiktok and you’re bound to see a post about BBLs, or Brazilian Butt Lifts. That’s because they’re all the rage right now, and everyone is looking to achieve their best body in a post-pandemic world.
BBLs and breast augmentation surgeries, specifically breast lifts, can involve altering your body contour by removing fat. After all, having a fat-free figure is desirable in pretty much every circumstance.
However, while stomach fat or underarm fat is never wanted, locations such as your hips or glutes might benefit from a bit of added volume. This is where fat transfers, or fat grafting, can be a powerful tool.
Let’s dive in and talk about the specifics of fat grafting, including how this procedure can serve to amplify your BBL or breast lift procedure.
What is Fat Grafting?
Fat transferring, or fat grafting, is a process in which fat from one area of the body is injected into another. It’s commonly used in conjunction with liposuction, as lipo can remove fat from undesirable areas and fat grafting can inject it into desirable locations.
The procedure begins with the extraction process, in which small incisions are made in the areas where fat is to be removed. Commonly, it’s the abdomen or thighs. Then, a small tool called a cannula is inserted to dislodge the fat so it can be removed with a surgical vacuum or syringe.
After that is a process of decantation, or centrifugation, where the fat is spun through a medical machine to cleanse it of dead cells and excess fluid before being transferred. The fat that is discarded are cells that are unlikely to survive in the graft.
Then, the fat is reinjected in small pieces throughout the subcutaneous tissue of the recipient area. In the case of a BBL, it’s injected in your glutes. For breast lifts, it’s injected into the chest area.
Brazilian Butt Lifts and Fat Grafting
The Brazilian Butt Lift, or gluteoplasty, is a buttock enhancement procedure that augments the size and shape of the buttocks to give you a more desirable contour. It’s one of many ways that the hottest celebrities have those perfectly firm backsides.
Brazilian butt lifts are a fat grafting procedure, meaning they utilize fat transfer as a part of the process. Excess fat is removed from the hips, abdomen, lower back, or thighs with liposuction so that it can be injected and sculpted in the glutes.
Often, fat is removed from the waist and used to fill in the hip dips to make the buttocks look more rounded. This is especially common during athletic BBLs which focus on making the buttock look rounder rather than larger.
Breast Lifts and Fat Grafting
Breast lifts, or mastopexies, are procedures in which excess skin near or around the breasts is removed and the skin is tightened to form a perkier, tighter chest contour.
At its core, breast lifts do not utilize fat grafting as a component of the process, though they can be beneficial to provide subtle increases in breast volume. This is helpful in women who feel that their breasts appear “deflated” either post-pregnancy or due to a dramatic weight loss.
Benefits of Fat Grafting Over Implants
Using a fat transfer for a BBL or breast lift is a more beneficial alternative to seeking implants in order to achieve the same effect. There are a few reasons for this.
For one, fat transfer is safer than implants because you’re not introducing a foreign material to the body. Your body’s own fat is more likely to be accepted, decreasing the risk of allergic reaction.
Additionally, fat injections tend to look a lot more natural. This is because there is less risk of rippling or long-term thinning associated with your butt lift or breast lift. Not to mention, the process leaves virtually no scars as incisions are not necessary in the recipient area.
Fat grafting also does not run the risk of infection to the same degree as implants. Breast implant illness is an umbrella term for a wide range of side effects associated with breast implants. This is caused when the immune system responds poorly to the foreign material that the implants are made of. Since fat transfers only use your own fat, there is a low chance that your body will reject it.
Finally, fat grafting lasts longer than dermal implants. In fact, when done properly, the results of a fat transfer procedure has the potential to last a lifetime. And while implants last a long time, the chance of rupture increases by one percent each year. In many cases, breast or butt implants remain in good shape for around twenty years.
Drawbacks of Fat Grafting
In general, the benefits of fat grafting tend to outweigh its disadvantages. However, one drawback is that it typically only allows for more minor enhancements when compared to implants. Implants have the potential to be as large or small as you’d like, giving you a bit more freedom to achieve the desired look.
Additionally, only small amounts of fat can be transferred at a given time, meaning that you may need to get additional procedures in order to get the desired results.
Recovery and Results from Fat Grafting
Since fat grafting involves incisions from one area of the body and injections in another, you won’t be able to return to normal activities the same day. With that said, the recovery process is not as long as those associated with implant procedures.
You’ll likely feel some bruising and swelling for at least a week, though most people feel little to no pain. Soreness might last up to two weeks after the surgery.
After a butt lift, you will be advised not to sit down for four weeks. Putting weight on the buttocks may jeopardize the outcome of the procedure.
You will not see your final results of any fat grafting procedure for a few months. There are two reasons for this. One is that there is some initial swelling that needs to subside, but the other is that it can take some time for the fat to absorb into your body.
Your plastic surgeon will inject slightly more fat into the treatment area than you originally desired. This is because around 20-40% of the fat will fade as the body takes it up. After the six month mark, you can expect your results to be permanent as long as you lead a healthy lifestyle and follow the instructions of your surgeon.
Who is a Good Candidate for Cosmetic Procedures with Fat Grafting?
Both BBLs and breast lift procedures can help you finally achieve your best body. And doing them alongside fat grafting can be a safe and effective way to get there.
Ideal candidates for a fat grafting BBL or breast lift:
Are unsatisfied with their breasts or butt and have excess fat in another area of the body.
Are physically healthy and are not currently breastfeeding or pregnant.
Have sufficient time to recover.
Are within 30% of your ideal body weight.
Have positive and realistic expectations.
If you match any of these criteria, we’d love to add you to our list of satisfied clients at PH-1 Miami. Just fill out our inquiry form so we can help you feel more comfortable in your own skin.
In Conclusion
Fat grafting involves removing fat from one area of the body and injecting it into another. It’s common in BBLs, as fat is typically removed from the waist or abdomen to inject into the buttocks for enhanced contour.
In a breast lift, it’s not customary, but fat grafting can supplement the skin tightening procedure in order to enhance the perkiness of the breasts.
Fat grafting tends to be a safer option compared to implants because the body tends to absorb and react to its own fat better than implants. While it may not be able to make more major alterations in your appearance, fat transfer has the potential to last a lifetime.
There are plenty of ways to reduce the appearance of fat or boost your contour in other locations, some of which don’t require surgery. PH-1 Miami is proud to offer both surgical and non-surgical body sculpting procedures to help anyone look their best on their own terms.
Sources:
Fat grafting history and applications | American Society of Plastic Surgeons
What Is Breast Implant Illness? | BreastCancer.org
Will your breast implants last a lifetime? | American Society of Plastic Surgeons
