BBLs are transformative procedures, but you have to follow recovery guidelines to yield an ideal result. This blog discusses when patients can sleep on their backs after a BBL, how to sleep effectively during this process, and why this rule about sleeping positions exists.
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BBL Recovery Facts
A Brazilian Butt Lift creates the ultimate hourglass figure, with liposuction slimming target areas such as the abdomen, hips, or thighs, while fat is transferred to the buttocks for a rounded result. Because this procedure involves transferring autologous fat (the patient’s own fat), the recovery process must be undergone with care, and it’s crucial that you follow your surgeon’s aftercare instructions.
In order to ensure that the fat transferred to the buttocks survives, BBL patients are given certain rules, such as avoiding sitting directly on the buttocks and sleeping on their backs. While this can be a challenge, it’s important to follow these rules. After about six to eight weeks, you can sleep normally again.
Why Can’t I Sleep On My Back After a BBL?
The fat transfer process moves viable fat cells from one area of the body to another. If successful, the transferred fat cells will remain permanently in the new location; they do not reabsorb into the body or relocate. The only factor that affects healthy fat cells (naturally) is weight loss or gain, which causes them to shrink or grow, respectively.
However, all of this depends on the cells’ ability to attach to a healthy blood supply, which is why your BBL surgeon must reinject the fat in even layers—it’s not as simple as it sounds. The entire BBL procedure and recovery are delicate processes, as the survival of fat cells is essential to achieving a desirable result. It’s not like silicone, which essentially just sits within the body.
Avoid Putting Pressure on the Buttocks
You’ll need to do everything you can to avoid putting pressure on your newly injected fat cells and healing buttocks. This means no sitting on your butt, and of course, no sleeping on your back. So what’s so bad about putting pressure on freshly transferred fat cells?
- Pressure reduces access to the blood supply, which the cells need to survive.
- Pressure crushes the cells, physically compressing them and preventing new blood vessels from forming.
- Pressure can result in cell death (necrosis). A healthy blood supply gives the cells access to oxygen and nutrients, without which they die and are reabsorbed by the body.
Basically, any type of pressure can lead to cell death during recovery, which not only undoes all the work of the BBL but can result in an odd, uneven, lumpy result. Necrosis doesn’t happen in even, aesthetic layers like the way your surgeon injects the fat, after all. It’s a natural process, so it can create an asymmetrical result that would require secondary procedures to fix.
Tips for Sleeping Comfortably After a BBL
Now that you know what not to do after a BBL, let’s talk about what you can do to make those six to eight weeks more comfortable, because rest is another key factor in a successful BBL recovery period.
If you’re a chronic back sleeper, this transition might be difficult for you, so you’ll need to plan ahead to set yourself up right.
- Use cushions or pillows to make a barrier while you sleep. If you don’t naturally sleep on your side or stomach, you’ll need to use pillows to make sure you don’t roll onto your back while asleep. If you’re really worried, you may want to consider using a pregnancy body pillow, which can be wrapped around your body to keep you in one position the whole night.
- Practice ahead of time. The more you can do to make your recovery easier, the better. It’s possible to train yourself to sleep in different positions, so you can begin practicing as soon as possible to make this transition easier. You’re going to need a lot of rest right after surgery, so the last thing you want to deal with is being extremely fatigued and not being able to sleep comfortably because you’re suddenly trying to train yourself into being a side sleeper.
- Good, old-fashioned sleep hygiene. If you’re struggling to get enough rest in these first weeks, do yourself a favor and restrict caffeine (that’s a good idea for recovery anyway), reduce screen time, and make yourself as comfortable as possible with loose clothing, a cool room, and dimmed lights.
Once you get used to it, those six to eight weeks of BBL recovery will be a breeze, and you are one step closer to the curvaceous booty of your dreams!
Want to Learn More About BBLs in Miami?
Learn what the best in the business can do for you: Dr. Constantino Mendieta is the pioneer of the BBL and the architect of modern beauty. To learn more about how Dr. Mendieta can sculpt a booty that is the feminine ideal, call 4Beauty by Mendieta today at (305) 860-0717 or complete the contact form to schedule a consultation.