We’ve all heard the phrase “practice makes perfect,” but when it comes to getting the body of our dreams, we could tweak that saying to surgery makes perfect… for social media, where the BBL (aka Brazilian butt lift) has been queen supreme for years. On TikTok, #BBL has over 5.5 billion views for before-and-after posts, pre-op routines, and even some horror stories. And while I stan slim + thick as much as any other body type, the girls are going crazy for it just as it might be falling out of favor in the mainstream.
What is a BBL?
The Brazilian butt lift was created by a Brazilian doctor (shocker) named Ivo Pitanguy in the 1960s as a specific type of “fat grafting.” For an average price of $5,000 in the US, surgeons liposuction fat from a plump part of the body like the stomach or lower back, then transplant it into the butt. Granted, up to 50% of the transferred fat dies off since it’s tough for cells to survive the harsh extraction process (and if you’ve ever seen one of Dr. Miami’s clips, you know it is very harsh.)
In all, it takes 3-4 hours to complete, but the healing period is much longer. Patients are asked to not sit or lie on their behind for at least 2-4 weeks to ensure proper blood flow, must wear a corset-like compression garment (aka a “faja”) for up to 3 months, and need to undergo weeks of painful massages to promote faster healing and lymphatic drainage.
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