That said, many patients want to avoid surgery—and the BBL is no longer the only way to lift and shape up your backside! A safe, non-surgical alternative our patients absolutely love is injectable butt lift with Sculptra®. Today, we’re comparing these two injectable butt lift options so you can decide which is right for you.

Little-to-no downtime butt lift with Sculptra

Injectable technology has given us a large menu of neurotoxins and facial wrinkle fillers, but we think the butt lift with Sculptra is one of the most amazing uses of injectable filler yet. Sculptra is our go-to butt lift option because it’s non-surgical and the recovery requires little-to-no downtime, so most patients go right back to their normal routine soon after receiving injections (with no donut pillows required!).

After Sculptra injections, you’ll see an instantly improved lift and contour to your buttocks, with gradual, cumulative improvements to skin firmness and contour. Sculptra is composed of poly-L-lactic acid, which promotes collagen growth in your skin over time and leads to these ever-improving results. One set of injections lasts about two years, and for most patients, we recommend about 2 injection sessions. Still, you decide how often and when to return for additional treatments, so you control the extent of your butt lift.

Advances in Brazilian butt lift safety

The Brazilian butt lift involves liposuction on the hips, thighs, abdomen, or flanks to retrieve fat to be re-injected in your buttocks. Liposuction is surgery, requiring a recovery time of about two weeks. It is an effective butt lift method, with 70% or more of the injected fat usually remaining in the area long-term, and can have lasting results if you follow after-care instructions and maintain a stable weight.

We pride ourselves on educating our patients on the procedures they’re undergoing and empowering them to make informed choices about their body. When you consult with a plastic surgeon, do not be afraid to ask them about the history of the BBL, and their own history with the procedure. If they deny that there is any safety risk, walk away.

A good surgeon should transparently and honestly explain the safety risk: if the fat is injected into the gluteal muscle or below the muscle, there is a risk that it can enter your bloodstream and cause a pulmonary embolism, or blood vessel blockage. Surgeons should use safer, recommended techniques to prevent this complication, including thicker, blunt-tip cannulas for injection and a shallow injection angle that avoids the gluteal muscle.

Why we prefer the injectable butt lift over the Brazilian butt lift

The choice for your butt lift depends on your lifestyle and goals, and we are happy to be able to offer both procedure options. Still, Sculptra is our go-to in many cases, and we want to take a moment to break down the reasons why Sculptra is our favorite way to enhance the derrière.

1. Sculptra is safe

BBL fat injections are placed in the subcutaneous fat layer, which is close to muscle. Sculptra is injected just below the surface of the skin in the dermis, so you’re far less likely to have any complications.

2. Sculptra gives the injector better control over the aesthetic outcome

Want a strong projection of the upper quadrant of your behind? We can use the right amount of Sculptra to get that shape and visualize your final results in real time. With fat injections, we also endeavor to inject the right amount of fat to get your desired contour, but we cannot know exactly how much fat will “take” in a given area and become permanent. BBL injections typically shrink over the course of 6-12 months as the body loses a percentage of injected fat. In contrast, Sculptra results are very dependable, instantly attractive, and continue to improve as the body produces extra collagen.

3. Sculptra requires no recovery

There’s basically no recovery needed after Sculptra. We apply a topical anesthetic to the treatment area before the injection to minimize discomfort, and after you leave the office, you can return to your routine—including sitting and exercising! You may experience some soreness in the area, and some patients experience mild side effects at the treatment area.

By comparison, recovery from BBL is quite involved. You’ll have to undergo anesthesia for surgery and take pain medication afterwards. The area where your fat was harvested via liposuction will be sore, and you’ll need to wear a compression garment to ensure a good result. Additionally, to help the fat take, you’ll need to avoid sitting, and sleep on your stomach for many weeks. The recovery will also put a crimp in your workout routine, as physical activity must be restricted for some time post-procedure.

Looking for a butt lift in Atlanta? Let’s talk!

When you’re ready to talk to a board certified plastic surgeon about your butt lift options, give us a call. At The Swan Center for Plastic Surgery, we help Atlanta residents enhance their natural beauty with liposuction, fat transfer, and injectables every day. Our team of plastic surgeons is ready to help you make the results you want a reality.

Here at the Swan Center, we’ve helped thousands of Atlanta plastic surgery patients navigate the wide range of available treatments and procedures.

We put together the following guide to help you understand the level of invasiveness for various treatment types, and what effect they may have on your busy lifestyle.

What’s an invasive procedure?

The term invasive is typically used to describe surgical procedures that require incisions and appreciably alter skin or underlying tissues at the time of the procedure. As such, this class of procedures requires bed rest for a few days up to a few weeks. Surgical procedures usually include the option for general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation.

Examples of common invasive plastic surgery procedures:

• Rhinoplasty (nose enhancement or repair)
• Breast augmentation (placement of breast implants)
• Facelift surgery (improvement of sagging skin on lower face and neck)
• Liposuction (fat reduction)

Total healing time: Two to six months, depending on the procedure, with patient rest averaging one to two weeks.

Results: Varies between one to six months.

The risks involved with invasive plastic surgery procedures are usually greater than non-invasive options. However, these procedures are particularly effective at delivering results and are considered safe when performed by a board certified plastic surgeon.

So, what does minimally invasive mean?

Minimally invasive treatments require significantly less or no downtime and very little discomfort, but often involve a puncture or even a small incision. Minimally invasive procedures are considered less risky than other methods and do not require general anesthesia.

Examples of common minimally invasive options:

• Dysport®, Restylane®, and dermal fillers (injectable treatments)
• Skin procedures such as scar revision or dermaplaning
• Deep skin peels

Healing time: Zero to ten days, with patient returning to work immediately or within a few days.

Results: Varies between a few days to two weeks.

These cosmetic treatments are growing in popularity because patients can return to normal activities quickly, the risk of infection or complication is low, and the results can be impressive.

What about non-surgical options?

Non-surgical cosmetic treatments involve no needles, no punctures, and no anesthesia. Foreign objects do not enter your body at any time and the entire cosmetic treatment is done externally.

These types of treatments typically involve very little downtime, with patients being able to resume unrestricted normal activity very quickly after treatment. Non-surgical treatments may occasionally be considered invasive on some level, depending on how they affect both the treatment area and underlying tissues.

Examples of common non-surgical treatments:

• Laser treatments (such as fractional skin resurfacing or hair removal)
• Light chemical peels

Healing time: Anywhere between one day to two weeks, with patient typically feeling and looking back to normal within a few days.

Results: Varies between one week to three months.

Non-invasive treatments

Many skincare treatments are considered non-invasive because they do not puncture the skin or otherwise impact the underlying tissues. These treatments are quite comfortable and often relaxing. There is no downtime whatsoever.

Examples of common non-invasive treatments:

• Facials (to improve quality of skin through cleansing, exfoliation, & hydration)
• Medical-grade skincare (products used at home or applied professionally to improve skin)

Healing time: Usually minimal, with patient resuming normal activity immediately

Results: Typically, results can be seen immediately or within a few days

Non-invasive treatments are especially effective when used in conjunction with other procedures. Be sure to ask which treatment combinations are most appropriate for your skin type and goals.

How do I know what’s right for me?

We hope we’ve cleared up some of your questions here, but the best way to learn about effective cosmetic treatments is to talk to a trusted professional. Our board certified surgeons and skincare experts can guide you through the process and help you determine which treatments are a good fit for you.

The Swan Center offers private consultations for potential patients. We can answer all of your questions and develop a safe and effective treatment plan that suits your needs.

Mentor is a global leader in implant manufacturing. LEAD stands for Leadership, Experience, and Development in Breast Augmentation. The LEAD Council is composed of board certified plastic surgeons who meet on an annual basis to share their wealth of experience and knowledge with Mentor Worldwide LLC. The objective of this meeting is to better understand the needs of you, the consumer, so that Mentor may further enhance its product and educational programs.

The 2013 LEAD Council invited 44 board-certified plastic surgeons who are selected out of thousands of plastic surgeons across the nation.  They are the most experienced in breast augmentation surgeries with the highest volume practices.

Dr. Bauer says, “It is an honor to participate in the LEAD Council for another year.  Every year the meeting allows us to share knowledge and experiences and to share techniques and advancements with select colleagues.  This in turn helps the manufacturer understand the evolving needs of the consumer, i.e. the patients.”

Dr. Bauer has been selected as a trusted participant for 7 years in a row!  Congratulations, Dr. Bauer!

(If you have a Google account, follow Dr Joseph G Bauer on Google Plus!)