Brazilian Butt Lift Anesthesia

Joseph T Cruise, MD works with some of the top Orange County board-certified anesthesiologists to make sure you have the best anesthesia experience possible.

Your medical history, the extent of the Brazilian butt lift procedure, and your personal preferences will be taken into consideration by your anesthesiologist to determine the best anesthesia plan. In most cases, Brazilian Butt Lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia, because it entails both liposuction and fat transfer, and is oftentimes combined with a tummy tuck or mommy makeover. In some instances, the Orange County BBL can be performed under a combination of local anesthetics with sedation, depending on the extent of the surgery. The type of anesthesia used in your Brazilian butt lift surgery will affect the Brazilian butt lift recovery time. In this blog, we have laid out what to expect during the Brazilian butt lift recovery along with some tips.

Prior to Butt Augmentation Surgery

These steps are laid out to benefit you and make your Brazilian butt lift recovery as smooth as possible.

Before Surgery -

1. Avoid sunbathing for 2 weeks prior to BBL surgery.
2. Quit smoking at least 2 weeks prior to surgery date as nicotine can impair and delay healing.
3. Stop all aspirin containing products, medications that contain blood thinners (Motrin, Advil, etc.) vitamin E and herbal supplements 2 weeks prior to surgery. You can take 1 multivitamin daily.
4. Let Joseph T Cruise, MD or his staff know if you develop an illness, cold, or any skin infection in the liposuction area within a week of your Brazilian butt lift procedure.

Items to Purchase Prior to BBL Surgery -

1. You will receive a list of prescriptions from our office to be filled by your pharmacy.
2. Joseph T Cruise, MD or his staff will inform you as to what type of compression garment is most suitable for you.
3. ScarLess is a prescription-strength cream with vitamin E, silicone and Hydrocortisone to help minimize redness and elevation of the scars. You can purchase ScarLess at our office.
4. Make sure to have a box of 4×4 gauze. You can purchase this at any drug store.

Optional:

Arnica – www.alpinepharm.com - may decrease bruising, or help it to go away faster. People with high blood pressure should not take Arnica.

THE DAY OF SURGERY -

1. You may shower and shampoo your hair the night before or morning of your surgery.
2. Don’t eat for 8 hours and don’t drink for 6 hours before surgery (general anesthesia).
3. You may brush and rinse your teeth, but do not eat or drink anything.
4. No moisturizer or body lotions.
5. Do not bring any jewelry or valuables with you on the day of surgery.
6. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Wear flat, comfortable shoes. Remove contact lenses and dentures before surgery.
7. Someone must drive you home and stay with you the first night (general anesthesia).

Recovery After Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery

Immediately After Surgery

1. Upon arriving home, it is best to rest and let the effects of the anesthesia wear off. Once you feel up to it, start moving around the house to promote blood flow and a speedier recovery. Try to move around every hour for approximately 10-15 minutes or longer when possible.
2. Have some Gatorade or a similar sports drink available. You will need to stay hydrated after your Brazilian butt lift surgery due to the effects of liposuction.
3. The night following surgery you might want to have some protective sheets or towels on your bed. Your incisions might ooze for the first one to two days.
4. ADJUST GARMENT/BANDAGE EVERY 2 HOURS. This may mean undoing and repositioning the binder. You should have gentle compression. If you cannot put your finger in between the garment and your body, it means it is too tight. If the garment is too tight it will prevent proper blood flow.
5. Apply Polysporin/Neosporin Ointment to the pinhole incisions with cotton-tipped applicator (like a q-tip) daily until the sutures dissolve.
6. You may shower as soon as you like after surgery. Make sure someone is with you. You may be nauseated from anesthesia for up to 2 days. Pat the incisions dry and reapply the ointment.
7. Limit yourself to light activities and walking the first week after surgery. No strenuous activity or working out for 4 weeks. Joseph T Cruise, MD will advise you when it's okay to begin working out again. At approx. 2 weeks some upper body workouts may be allowed.
8. Do not smoke for at least one week after surgery.
9. Joseph T Cruise, MD or his staff will advise you on how to properly sit on your buttocks while recovering.

• Do not use aspirin-containing products for at least one week. You may take Tylenol or pain medication as prescribed.
• No weight loss diets for at least 3 weeks. Make sure to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet during this time.
• Avoid exposing the incisions to direct sunlight for at least 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, apply sunscreen (at least SPF 15) to the area of the incision if you will be in the sun for extended periods of time.
• Be sure to finish your entire prescription of antibiotics.
• To minimize scars start applying ScarLess on your incisions after one week. ScarLess is a prescription-strength cream with vitamin E, silicone and Hydrocortisone to help minimize redness and elevation of the scars. You can purchase this at our office.

What to Expect During Your BBL Recovery?

One of the major benefits of the Orange County Brazilian butt lift with fat transfer is the minimal recovery time compared to buttock augmentation using implants. Patients can typically go back to work 1 week following surgery, unless they have a job requiring strenuous activity, in which case it may take longer. Many patients are happy with their post-op fat transfer buttocks results. It is important to understand what to expect from a fat transfer with the Brazilian butt lift.

Here is a list of what to expect -

• Small pinhole incisions where the liposuction was performed.
• Potential for minor swelling and bruising of the buttocks and the area where liposuction was performed. Should subside within approximately 2 weeks.
• Minimal discomfort. May feel sore.
• Temporary numbness.
• Asymmetry in the buttocks during the healing process, which will naturally resolve on its own.
• It may take up to 3-4 weeks to begin to see the final result from your BBL surgery.

Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery Scars

There is not any noticeable scaring associated with the Brazilian butt lift procedure. This is because this surgery requires only minor incisions. If the minor scars are bothersome for you, Dr. Cruise can recommend scar treatment for your Brazilian butt lift incisions. If you are getting a Brazilian butt lift along with a tummy tuck then the surgery will be more extensive, and so will the scars. These can be taken care with different scar care techniques.

 

When to Call Us

There are some Brazilian butt lift side effects to look out for. Post-surgical complications are rare and are often easily solved by the doctor if you notify us. Call us if you experience any of the following: a temperature of 101 F or higher, increased local redness or warmth, chest pain, shortness of breath, legs swelling or calf pain or if you feel that anything might be wrong. Please call the office during regular business hours @ 949-644-4808.

POSSIBLE BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT COMPLICATIONS

There are two procedures being performed as part of the BBL; liposuction and fat transfer to the buttocks. To read about possible side effects and complications associated with liposuction, click here.

Patients will frequently experience some bruising, swelling, temporary numbness and mild discomfort where the fat was injected into the buttocks. These are normal side effects from the butt lift procedure. During the healing process there may be contour irregularities or asymmetry, but this will resolve over time.

While rare, patients should be informed about the possibility of the following risks and side effects associated with a Brazilian butt lift: blood or fluid collection, contour defects or asymmetry that doesn't improve after fully healed, and over correction or under correction.

As an Orange County Brazilian butt lift surgeon, Joseph T Cruise, MD has years of experience and knowledge that helps him prevent these occasional complications. Joseph T Cruise, MD and his staff also provide their patients with detailed instructions on how to prevent and recognize healing complications. If you have concerns about the risks of having Brazilian butt lift surgery, please compile a list of questions and bring them to your consultation. A member of the Cruise Plastic Surgery staff or Joseph T Cruise, MD will gladly address these with you. It is important that you are fully educated and feel confident with your decision to have a Brazilian butt lift.