Recovery from a Brazilian Butt Lift: What to Expect

A Brazilian butt lift offers up the best of both worlds — we take fat from where you don’t want it and redirect it to where it meets your cosmetic goals. Also called a buttock augmentation, the Brazilian butt lift is one of our more popular procedures, but it’s still a surgical procedure, which means there’s some recovery time to consider.

At McHugh Plastic Surgery, Dr. Thomas McHugh offers the latest techniques for meeting your cosmetic goals, and he endeavors to do so in the safest way possible. If you’re considering a Brazilian butt lift, here’s what you should know about your recovery.

Protecting your harvest areas

To augment your buttocks, we harvest fat through liposuction from areas where you have a little to spare, which typically means your:

• Abdomen
• Thighs
• Upper back
• Arms

Whichever areas we choose, you’ll likely experience some soreness at the site after your procedure, and you’ll likely need to wear compression garments. These garments allow your body to heal, reduce swelling, and help your skin to resettle itself over the trimmer area.

You should also expect some fluids to drain from the area as it heals, which is perfectly normal.

To manage the discomfort, we may prescribe pain medications, or you can use over-the-counter products like acetaminophen.

Protecting your butt

After Dr. McHugh harvests and prepares your fat, he injects it into your buttocks to enhance their shape. To give this fat the best possible chances for survival, it’s imperative that you not place pressure on the area, which can cut off circulation.

This means that you should avoid sitting or lying on your back for up to eight weeks. If you must sit, we ask that you do so for only short amounts of time, and you use a donut pillow. As for sleep position, you should get used to sleeping on your side or on your back for two months to provide the fat graft with the resources it needs for integration.

Resuming activity

Everyone heals at their own pace, but there are a few rules of thumb when it comes to resuming activity. For the first four weeks, you should avoid any strenuous activities, especially those that cause your body to bounce. 

At the four-week mark, you can stretch your legs and go for a walk, but you should avoid running until we give you the greenlight, which is usually after two months. The goal during this time is to keep your butt stable so that the fat grafts can settle in.

If you’re anxious about your exercise regimen, you can try strength training with hand weights, but steer clear of squats or any exercise that engages your glutes.

If you have more questions about your recovery after your Brazilian butt lift, please don't hesitate to contact our office in The Woodlands, Texas.