What Happens If I Gain Weight After a BBL? Everything You Need to Know About Maintaining Your Results
Wondering what would happen if you gain weight after a BBL? Will the results remain or will they disappear? When considering a BBL, it’s important to understand how fat removal and fat grafting works. This will prepare you for the right approach to maintaining an hourglass figure.
Understanding the BBL
A BBL, short for Brazilian Butt Lift, is a cosmetic procedure that transfers fat cells from areas where you’d like less fat, such as the abdomen, hips, lower back, and thighs, and moves it to the butt area. The result is a smaller stomach, smaller waist, and a rounder, plumper butt. Essentially, a BBL can instantly create a dramatic hourglass figure. But what happens after the procedure is complete?
What happens if I gain weight after a BBL?
The topic of gaining weight after BBL is a common source of questions for potential patients. You might be curious about what effects weight gain or losing weight after BBL will have on your figure. What’s important to understand is that you should be close to your goal weight before undergoing a BBL procedure. A BBL isn’t a procedure for weight loss; in fact, significant fluctuations in weight can cause results to be diminished. The most important thing you can do for your physique and health is to practice healthy habits before and after your procedure which leads you to consistently maintain a healthy weight.
Weight Loss and BBL
There is good news however for anyone concerned about gaining weight after BBL. Dr. Cat explains that a patient, after undergoing a BBL, will gain/lose weight proportionally based on whether they had liposuction (fat cell removal) or fat grafting (fat cell transfer) to that specific area.“Your body genetically has a certain number of fat cells deposited in particular areas,” says Dr. Cat.
“Some people are just born with more fat cells in their abdomen, flanks, and inner thighs, and no matter what they do, they just can’t lose the fat there. Liposuction removes the total number of fat cells that have preferentially deposited in these areas.” She explains that If you gain weight, each fat cell in the body gets bigger, but because you have fewer fat cells in liposuctioned areas, you should proportionately gain less in the liposuctioned areas.
It is always a possibility that if you gain a lot of weight, you may need liposuction again, which is why it’s important to maintain healthy lifestyle habits after your BBL.
Weight Gain and BBL
Conversely, the same is true when it comes to areas of the body to which fat cells have been transferred. For these areas, such as the buttocks, expect to gain proportionately more weight in the fat-grafted areas since those areas now house more fat cells. It comes down to a simple equation: more fat cells added to an area makes it more likely to gain more fat in these areas, and in areas of the body where fat cells have been removed, it will become less likely for fat cells to increase.
How long does a BBL last?
You might be wondering, “what will happen to my BBL results in 5 or 10 years?” It’s a worthwhile question to ask. Is a BBL body permanent? The answer depends on the individual person. Many factors come into play to determine how long your BBL lasts. “A BBL can last 10 years if the patient has had no significant weight loss or weight gain,” according to Dr. Cat. But she also cautions patients that this time range can significantly change and results diminish if a patient experiences significant weight fluctuations.
A BBL Can Be the Start of a More Active, Healthy Life
Dr. Cat often notices that plastic surgery can help kickstart a healthier lifestyle for patients. In terms of a BBL, this can be due in part to patients gaining greater mobility with less fat deposits in areas like their back, thighs, and stomach. It’s also probably a positive side effect of gaining greater confidence and feeling more secure within their body. Again, however, it’s important to be somewhat close to your ideal weight before undergoing a BBL procedure. Learning healthy habits prior to surgery allows you time to make them a part of your daily routine, so you’ll be able to quickly pick back up on an active routine once you have recovered from your surgery.
How to Maintain Your Results After a BBL
Learning how to maintain BBL results is an important step in keeping the figure you want long term. Immediately after surgery, you’ll begin the healing process, which should take between six to eight weeks. Only resume regular activity and exercise after you’ve been cleared by your plastic surgeon. To prevent excessive weight gain after BBL or weight loss after a BBL, it’s essential to follow a wellness plan that includes:
- A regular exercise routine (3-5 days a week) that includes paying special attention to building up your legs and glutes. This will help to maintain that lifted look to the buttocks that the BBL initially helped you achieve.
- Drink the recommended 8-10 eight-ounce glasses of water each day. Conversely, limit alcohol consumption to less than one glass per day.
- Because maintaining a consistent weight is important to retain the look and shape of your BBL, you’ll also want to incorporate healthy eating habits into your daily routine. There are plenty of resources available on healthy eating, but here are a few key areas to focus on:
- Avoid processed foods whenever possible, including fast foods and frozen pre-made meals.
- Choose healthy snacks over items like baked goods and packaged snack foods. Try to limit sugar intake and stay away from high fructose corn syrup whenever possible.
- Limit the number of fried foods you consume as well as the consumption of deli meats. Instead focus on healthy sources of protein like fatty fish, eggs, Greek yogurt, and beans.
- Incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into as many meals as possible, making sure to sample the rainbow of options from dark leafy greens to brightly colored fruits and veggies.
A Long-Lasting BBL with Consistent Weight Management
As you can see, it is possible to maintain the results of a BBL for many years to come. One key factor that can contribute to your BBL success is working with the right cosmetic surgeon who can guide you through the process. Dr. Cat is known for her dramatic BBL transformations and enjoys helping patients achieve the body they have been working towards. If you’re curious to learn more about Dr. Cat and BBL procedures, reach out for a consultation to begin the process.
