Most people think of plastic surgery as a one-time permanent deal, and this is true for most surgeries, but not all. There are very few plastic surgeries that can actually be reversed – but a Brazilian butt lift, or BBL, is one of them.
Augmenting the buttocks area can be done in several ways. It can be done by using your own fat, using implants, or injecting fillers directly into the buttocks.
During a BBL, the patient’s own fat is taken from other parts of the body using liposuction, then injected with specialized cannulas in the buttock area.
More specifically, in the U.S., fat is injected into the tissue layer that lies under the skin and above the muscle layer.
Fat is not directly injected into the muscle for safety reasons, as doing so can be dangerous or deadly. However, in other countries, injecting fat into the muscle layer is more commonly performed. This is very important to consider, especially if you are unhappy with the results of your BBL.
How can a BBL be reversed?
If fat was injected above the muscle layer, then a reverse BBL is fairly straightforward and can be done with liposuction.
In most cases, patients who want a reverse BBL don’t necessarily want to go back to where they started. Many patients still want an enhanced look, just not as dramatic as their original result.
Careful liposuction can be done to accomplish just that – only removing the excess fat and leaving the patient with the volume and shape they desired in the first place.
What if fat was placed into the muscle?
If during a BBL, the fat was placed into the muscle (as is commonly done in other countries), then the procedure cannot be reversed with liposuction. Attempting to remove fat that has integrated into the muscles with liposuction would only result in having muscles that are riddled with holes.
Unfortunately for these patients, there is no safe way of reversing their BBLs.
What if my butt augmentation was done with implants or filler?
Reversing a BBL with implants
Even though most buttock augmentations are done with the patient’s own fat, many patients still seek butt augmentation with implants.
Most requests for a reverse BBL in this scenario come from complaints that the implants that were placed are too large. In this case, reversing the procedure can be as simple as removing the implants altogether or exchanging them for smaller implants.
Typically, once the large implants are out, the tissue in the buttocks area contracts nicely. If the implants were too large and stretched the tissue beyond their ability to contract back, additional procedures would most likely have to be done at the time of removal to leave the patient with a satisfactory result.
Reversing a BBL with filler
When a BBL procedure is performed with the use of fillers, the result is typically not very dramatic.
The reason for this is that in order to accomplish the same results as a BBL done with fat or implants, it would take an extreme amount of filler.
Most patients who are unhappy with the results of their BBL after using filler are unhappy because they are seeking a more transformative result.
In the case that a patient wants their filler butt augmentation reversed, then the antidote depends on what exactly was injected.
- In the case of hyaluronic acid ‘HA’ fillers, the reversal can be done with injections of a dissolving substance that breaks down the filler.
- If the filler is non-hyaluronic acid such as Sculptra or Radiesse, then there is no dissolving substance and the patient would simply have to wait until their own body breaks the filler down – typically 2-5 years.
- Illegal butt injections such as silicone are much harder to manage because these substances typically incorporate themselves into the tissues and can only be removed by cutting the tissue out. This involves major surgery, large incisions, and will likely not end up with an aesthetically pleasing result.
What should I consider before having my BBL reversed?
Whether the butt augmentation was done with a BBL, implants, or filler, it is best to wait until all the post-procedure healing has taken place and the results are final. In the case of surgery this can take up to a year.
For fillers, the healing period is typically complete by a few months at the latest depending on the filler. Waiting until the result is final will give the tissues enough time to heal, the scars time to mature and soften, and it will allow the person performing the reversal to see what they are dealing with in order to give the patient the best results possible.
Also, patients need to make sure they are up for the task, whether that involves surgery or not, to take on the required post procedure restrictions and lifestyle modifications as well as the cost of the reversal itself. Being compliant with post procedure instructions will give patients the best chance at having a happy and successful reversal.