BBL Under Local Anesthesia: Does it Hurt and Is It Safer?

Most women desire rounder, well-shaped buttocks but quickly find that exercise alone cannot achieve them.

Getting a natural Brazilian Butt Lift is one of the ideal options to achieve this goal. This innovative procedure can enhance the size and shape of the buttocks using your own fat.

The BBL is also a popular alternative for women who want to avoid artificial buttock implants and their associated risks.

A Brazilian Butt Lift first extracts excess fat, then transfers it to the backside to sculpt more curvy, projecting buttocks. The hip, thighs, and abdomen are typical areas to remove fat.

With minimally invasive BBL surgery, you are able to slim down certain regions and simultaneously augment your buttocks while fully awake. By contrast, traditional liposuction-based Brazilian Butt Lifts involve general anesthesia like most invasive surgical procedures.

On the widely popular Realself platform, you will find that several patients are concerned about the anesthetic used during a BBL. Users tend to ask if the procedure can receive local instead of general anesthesia.

It is possible and is becoming more common in today's cosmetic surgery circles. Keep reading to learn about the benefits and safety of staying awake during a BBL.

Benefits of Awake Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery

Anesthesia is a significant concern for many people who want to undergo a surgical procedure. Most plastic surgeries can be done with local anesthesia, but some exceptions exist. 

Research demonstrates that local anesthesia is a safer option because it presents minimal side effects and risks during surgery. It also allows patients to be maneuvered throughout the procedure to ensure balanced results. Plus, it can make for a shorter recovery period.

Many plastic surgeons point use general anesthesia for larger liposuction areas that require transferring significant amounts of fat to the buttocks. With gentle techniques like the AirSculpt Power BBL™, patients can stay awake even when treating large areas.

Discussing your goals before the surgery with your surgeon is a valuable strategy for having realistic expectations about the process. You should have enough fat to harvest to make effective changes to the buttocks via a fat transfer.

It is also vital that you understand that not all that fat that will be transferred will survive in the buttocks. Surgeons overfill the buttocks to ensure that you'll have the desired dimensions post-recovery.

That said, here are some of the most notable awake BBL benefits:

• Enhanced safety and comfort.

• No risk of general anesthesia complications like nausea.

• Surgeons can move patients as needed during treatment

• Custom results.

• It is an all-natural process using your fat, not implants.

• An awake BBL costs less thanks to no general anesthesia fees.

• Assymteric buttocks can be made even.

Limits of a BBL Under Local Anesthesia

The Brazilian Butt Lift with local anesthesia is a relatively new concept. Most providers only use local anesthesia for a moderate increase in the buttocks with few areas of liposuction.

Traditional BBLs may only allow for smaller amounts of fat to be injected at a time if done under local anesthesia. Therefore, if you are looking for a substantial change to your backside, know that many practices may limit the amount of fat that can be used if done while wide awake. 

What If I Want Significant Results Under Local Anesthesia?

With the AirSculpt approach, even large amounts of fat can be grafted with patients fully awake. In the video example above, you can watch as our BBL patient gets interviewed live during her treatment.

With the advent of AirSculpt® fat transfers, patients can achieve a dramatic change without the restrictions of traditional liposuction. Many patients also want to know where a BBL under local anesthesia will hurt. The answer is not at all, as AirSculpt® prides itself on delivering significant results without invasive surgery risks. We can remove and transfer fat to your buttocks without using a scalpel, needle, stitches, or general anesthesia. 

That is all due to the power of our advanced AirSculpt® technology. This technique removes the traditional BBL's surgical characteristics but still maintains improved quality and extent of results. Our precision-engineered tools allow you to take out larger quantities of fat without adding risks or medical complications associated with general anesthesia. 

How The Awake AirSculpt® Power BBL™ Works

The procedure starts with the AirSculpt® surgeon using an AirPen, a tool that replaces the need for needles to numb the skin.

Afterward, a biopsy punch forms a perfectly symmetrical aperture to begin fat removal. AirSculpt® uses a biopsy punch as a smaller and more comfortable alternative to a scalpel.

Once we have applied a local anesthetic and prepared the patient, the patented AirSculpt® cannula is inserted within the opening, and the fat is removed cell-by-cell with unmatched precision. 

Once the fat is removed and treated, the AirPen and biopsy punch are used on the buttocks to prepare for the fat transfer. The removed fat is then strategically injected to provide an optimal contour. 

Afterward, the tiny openings are naturally left to heal, only leaving a small mark the size of a freckle. That means no large scarring or having to deal with stitches. These factors make an awake BBL with AirSculpt safer and less painful.

We're the optimal choice for a BBL under local anesthesia, as our technology is designed to provide patients with the most comfortable and long-lasting results possible.

Countless AirSculpt patients have achieved dramatic results with minimal recovery time, which is a key benefit for mothers looking to restore buttock volume lost after pregnancy.

Call one of our more than 27 body contouring locations across the United States, Europe, and Canada to get started with your free consultation.