What is a Mini-BBL, and Is It Really That Different?

A BBL, or a Brazilian Butt Lift procedure, includes liposuction contouring of the waist and back area. It then consists of transferring fat from one area of the body to the buttocks.

A Mini BBL is a procedure that isn't that focused on liposuction, but it uses it to touch up areas of the butt, and hip dips, or to create a natural-looking projection.

A Mini BBL starts with liposuction, in which a surgeon harvests fat from your body, processes it, and then reinjects it into your hips and buttocks. Simply put, it's a more specific form of fat transfer that's much more about enhancing subtle details than actually augmenting the entire volume of your buttocks. 

Generally speaking, surgeons will graft or inject fat into the hips or thighs, depending on the patient's needs. Given the use of liposuction, the procedure involves a few small incisions for the cannulas to enter. Afterward, these entry points are typically sutured. 

How Do I Find The Right Surgeon?

The absolute truth is that not all surgeons are suitable for everyone, despite being marketed on social media. 

Cosmetic surgery is designed to be a life-changing experience. Therefore, it's worth doing it correctly and not rushing through any part of the process.

How Much Does A Mini BBL Cost?

Cosmetic procedures can significantly vary in cost based on where you live and your surgeon's fees. However, most prices range between $3,000 and $15,000.

There's an extensive range of prices because each person's cosmetic procedure experience will be different. Some patients will require one treatment to obtain the shape and size that they desire. In contrast, others may need several procedures to achieve the ideal results that they could want.

Other patients may not have sufficient body fat to undergo a Mini BBL. Some patients may have enough pockets of fat that surgeons can use to improve the appearance of their thighs and buttocks.

Nonetheless, surgeons always recommend that patients be generally healthy and close to their ideal weight range. Your practitioner will check you thoroughly to give you medical clearance, as being healthy will ensure you minimize the risk of side effects during a surgical experience.

What Is Recovery Like?

You can divide the Brazilian butt lift recovery period into three phases: the first few days, a series of weeks, and several months.

The few days after the procedure, your primary focus will be rest to start the recovery process. The first few weeks are when you can resume your routine and job with minor modifications.

One thing you must avoid while working is sitting down on your buttocks. In the first few weeks, your swelling will decrease, and you'll notice that your bruises are healing.

Around this time, you can return to the gym or begin traveling again. During the last phase, your swelling should entirely subside, and the transferred fat should permanently remain.

Again, you should avoid sitting or laying down on your back to prevent your buttocks from being exposed to consistent pressure. From the first day of your surgery to the day you fully recover, it's your job to ensure that you sleep on your side and avoid sitting for an extended period as much as possible.

Some practices, such as Elite Body Sculpture, will provide a BBL cushion for patients to help them during this initial recovery phase. 

Maintaining your health during recovery is extremely important. The failure to do so could result in subpar or transient results. A successful procedure will result in roughly 70 percent of the transferred fat surviving. 

How Much Fat Will Survive After a Mini-BBL?

Fat grafting is quite a complex procedure. It's expected and typical for not all the transferred fat to survive in a BBL surgery.

Generally speaking, fat transfer surgeries will see around 50 to 70 percent of the fat survive. That's because the fat needs to acclimate to the body and gain a blood supply. That said, if 1 liter of fat is injected into your buttocks, you should expect a survival of about 700 milliliters of fat.

It's common practice for the surgeon to overfill the buttocks with fat to guarantee your desired projection and shape.

Due to the swelling, you'll be able to see some of your results 8 to 12 weeks after the surgery. Furthermore, you must also understand that fat is a living tissue. The fat tissue will change if you fluctuate in weight. Therefore if you gain weight, the fat will expand, and if you lose weight, it will shrink. That's why it's best to maintain a stable weight to keep the shape and size of your preference. 

Mini-BBL In A Nutshell

What is a mini-bbl surgery? Simply put, it's a different version of the BBL that still removes fat via liposuction but does not focus on the similarly large quantities of fat removal and transfer. This type of surgery still needs about a year for patients to fully recover if performed with traditional liposuction techniques. 

It may be technically less complex and time-consuming, but the most important part about any surgery is the precautions you take afterward.

Elite Body Sculpture Offers An Advanced, Customizable Mini-BBL

Elite Body Sculpture's line of fat transfer procedures provides patients with a comfortable and safe experience, whether you want to make subtle or dramatic changes to your backside and hips.

Better yet, our recovery is only about three weeks long, even for the most dramatic results. Downtime is just two days, as patients begin taking daily walks the day after their treatment. All of our patients are provided complimentary garments and BBL cushions, along with personalized aftercare plans, to assist during their recoveries. 

The AirSculpt® Power BBL™ is a minimally invasive fat transfer that doesn't use a scalpel, needle, stitches, or general anesthesia to give precision-engineered results. Our patented technology enables surgeons to remove and graft fat cell by cell. This enhanced control allows us to sculpt subtle, artistic effects akin to what's traditionally marketed as a Mini-BBL. If more dramatic results are desired, our highly customizable treatment can also deliver precisely that.

AirSculpt® is proud to offer its next generation body contouring™ results to more than 20 markets across the United States, Canada, and soon, the United Kingdom. Call the AirSculpt® office closest to you to schedule a free consultation.