Athletic BBL: What Is It & How Is It Different From Normal BBL?
Open up Twitter or TikTok on any day of the week and you’re bound to see a post about BBLs. That’s because, in a post COVID-19 society, everyone wants to look their very best in order to impress their friends once they can finally go back to the bars and clubs.
BBL stands for Brazilian Butt Lift. It’s a fat transfer procedure that augments and reshapes the buttocks to enhance your existing shape. It’s an efficient way to boost your glutes for the perfect swimsuit body.
However, not everyone necessarily wants to get a bigger butt. Maybe you just want it to be a bit more toned and sleek? Luckily, the Athletic BBL has come to the rescue.
Athletic BBLs are buttock enhancement procedures that emphasize an athletic and toned gluteus maximus over a huge gluteus maximus. It’s the perfect procedure for those who have a smaller frame and more muscular bodies.
Ready to boost your butt to a whole new dimension? Athletic BBLs are subtle ways that you can achieve your perfect body. Let’s talk about how they differ from regular BBLs and what you can expect from the procedure.
How Does a Brazilian Butt Lift Work?
One thing that both a BBL and an Athletic BBL have in common is that they involve the same essential steps.
First, fat is removed from an area of the body such as the hips, lower back, thighs, abdomen, or underarms. This is done through a procedure called liposuction, which involves dislodging and removing fat with a surgical vacuum or syringe.
Then, the fat is cleansed and purified through centrifugation. This is to remove any debris that might affect your body’s ability to properly absorb the fat in your buttocks.
Finally, the fat is injected into the booty through a process called fat grafting. The cleansed fat is injected into areas of the buttocks that require more volume or definition. No incisions are necessary in the buttocks themselves.
Your surgeon will likely add more fat into the recipient area than you’ll actually need. This is because it’s likely that your body will reject a percentage of the fat. By adding a little extra, your surgeon is able to compensate for this reduction.
Differences Between Traditional BBLs and Athletic BBLs
So if the procedure for both is the same, then what is the difference? There are a few key distinctions between these two cosmetic procedures.
Final Result
The biggest difference between these two surgeries is the end result. In a traditional BBL, the goal is not only to enhance the contour of the butt alongside the rest of the body, but there is also a degree in which the buttocks are meant to appear bigger.
For an athletic BBL, the goal isn’t to make the butt bigger. Rather, the purpose is to make the buttocks look perkier, rounder, and more desirable. The emphasis is on the patient’s silhouette and shape of the buttocks — not the size.
Some people refer to Athletic BBLs as “mini” BBLs because they do not alter the size of the butt.
Fat Grafting
Since a traditional BBL requires enough fat to both enhance the shape and size of the buttocks, more fat is necessary from the donor area, or the area of the body receiving liposuction.
The Athletic BBL does not require as much fat in order to enhance the frame of the body. For that reason, people who are already more physically fit and have more muscle mass may benefit from an Athletic BBL procedure over a traditional BBL procedure.
Additionally, while every patient is unique, those who undergo an Athletic BBL typically get fat removed from the waist in order to fill in hip dips to make the buttocks appear more round. In a traditional BBL, patients often remove the fat from their abdomen or thighs, as well as their waist.
Similarities Between a Traditional BBL and Athletic BBL
Although they have a few differences, these two procedures might have a lot more in common than you think.
Recovery Period
One of the main drawbacks of a BBL surgery is that the recovery process tends to be a bit more involved than many other procedures. This is because you’ll be advised not to sit or lay down on your butt for several weeks following the procedure.
By putting pressure on the buttocks, you risk damaging the fat and skewing your final results. Additionally, sitting on the fat may cause it to disperse into other areas.
You’ll also be advised to wear compression garments in order to boost the recovery process while also giving you added support. This can help both procedures hold the fat in their desired locations and give your body the help it needs to heal properly.
Finally, as a part of the recovery process for each, you will be instructed to get lymphatic drainage massages in order to expedite recovery, lower risk of fibrosis, reduce post-surgical swelling, and increase the surgical outcome.
Lymphatic massages are gentle massages that encourage the movement of lymph fluids throughout the body. We recommend 10-15 massages after a BBL or Athletic BBL.
Natural-Looking Results
Butt lifts that use fat grafting are touted for being more natural and “real” looking when compared to implants. This is because your body is able to respond more appropriately to its own fat rather than a foreign object such as implants.
Not to mention, fat grafting procedures have the potential to last a lifetime as long as you maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. Although most implants can last around 10 years, they are not permanent.
Potential Side Effects
Going to the right plastic surgeon with years of experience is the most important step towards maximizing the outcome of your procedure. Of course, with any medical surgery, there is some risk of complications.
Both the Athletic BBL and traditional BBL run the risk of not turning out exactly as you’d imagined. They may require subsequent procedures in order to get the look you desire. This might also be required if your body fails to take up the fat.
Scarring at the incision site is likely inevitable, though they are very small and can likely be covered. It may take a few years for them to mature to a point where they are no longer noticeable.
The Procedur
Both traditional BBLs and Athletic BBLs require some form of anesthesia, liposuction, and then fat grafting. While the amount of fat needed and the purpose of the procedures are slightly different, the overall surgery looks nearly identical.
Who is a Good Candidate for an Athletic BBL?
Plastic surgeries are individualized procedures that might be the right move for some people. In general, you may be an ideal fit if you:
Have a smaller physique and are more muscular.
Have enough fat in an area of the body to be removed by liposuction.
Are physically healthy.
Are uncomfortable with the shape of your butt.
Have an asymmetrical butt.
Have positive and realistic expectations.
Where to Get an Athletic BBL?
Not all plastic surgery clinics offer Athletic BBLs for their patients. However, PH-1 Miami is proud to offer this service among our vast catalogue of cosmetic procedures.
In fact, PH-1 pioneered the Athletic Brazilian Butt Lift. We specialize in natural anesthetics to keep you as safe as possible from start to finish, and we’ve also conducted this procedure for happy clients many times.
We’d love to see you in our sunny Miami office for a consultation! Click here to fill out our inquiry form to get started.
In Conclusion
The Brazilian Butt Lift is a buttock enhancement procedure that grafts fat from one area of the body and injects it into the buttocks to enhance the size and shape of the glutes. An Athletic BBL is a variation that emphasizes the shape and plumpness of the butt, rather than its size.
Athletic BBLs are aimed more towards those who have a smaller physique and muscular contour. Typically, people who undergo an Athletic BBL remove fat from their waist and add it to their hip hips to make for a more desirable-looking booty.
BBLs are the next hottest thing, so don’t get left behind. If you’re uncomfortable with the shape of your butt and you’re looking to boost your self-confidence, book your consultation at PH-1 Miami today.
Sources:
Effects of a new centrifugation method on adipose cell viability for autologous fat grafting | NCBI
Lymphatic drainage massage: How-to guide and benefits | Medical News Today
