How long does it take to recover from a butt lift?
Your recovery time will depend on the procedure or combination of procedures you undergo. A standard butt lift will require a longer recovery time than if you only get a Brazilian butt lift or butt implants. In general, the recovery period is slightly longer and more painful in the buttock area than other body areas because you use this region for physical activities such as walking, running, and even standing.
Your surgeon will let you know how long it will be before you can return to your normal level of activity and work. Your surgeon will also give you and your caregiver detailed instructions about your postoperative care after your surgery, including information about:
- Drains, if they have been placed
- Typical symptoms you will experience
- Potential signs of complications
It is vital that you follow all the patient care instructions your surgeon provides. It is also important to know that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly among individuals.
What can I expect during my butt lift recovery?
- When the anesthesia wears off, you may have some pain. The pain usually begins to resolve after a few days. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medication for your comfort. If the pain is extreme or long-lasting, contact your surgeon.
- You will also have some redness and swelling after the surgery. In some cases, the swelling will last for weeks or even months.
- Drains, which also control swelling, remove fluid that accumulates within the incisions. Significant fluid drainage is not uncommon after large volume liposuction, and bruising is common. Your surgeon will ask you to measure the amount of fluid in your drains daily. Once the output falls low enough, your surgeon can remove the drains. Drains typically remain in place two to three weeks but may be left longer. Your surgeon may recommend a treatment called lymphatic massage to try to reduce swelling and facilitate better drainage of any fluid buildup.
- You will need to wear special tight garments to keep your buttock area compressed. Your surgeon will tell you how long to wear these, usually for weeks. Some surgeons provide these garments, but others will tell you where to purchase them before your surgery. You will likely need to wear a compression garment for six to eight weeks.
- On the first day after surgery, your surgeon may instruct you to stay in bed with the compression garment and periodically move your hands and feet to maintain good circulation. You should be able to get up and walk after the second postoperative day to help present blood clots.
- When going home or to your first post-op follow-up visit, you should lie on your stomach in the back seat of the car to avoid pressure on your buttocks. You should also assume this position to maneuver and stand for the first 3 days.
- Ask your surgeon how to sit and sleep, including the use of pillows, to minimize the tension on your incisions, reduce pain, and facilitate a thinner scar. Your surgeon may instruct you to lie on your stomach or side while sleeping and while watching TV or reading. Many surgeons do not allow sitting in the first 10-14 days except for using the toilet and eating. After this time, you can sit with a soft pillow placed beneath your hamstring muscles but not touching your butt so that your butt is in the air, and there is no pressure on your newly shaped buttock. You must avoid direct pressure on the buttocks for at least eight weeks, so you must sit on a pillow during this period.
- You can expect some bruising and swelling in the buttock area during recovery; this may spread up to the abdominal or thigh area. This is normal and will begin to subside after a few days or weeks.
- Make sure you continue to have help at home—this cannot be stressed enough. You'll be tempted to try to help around the house quickly, but you won't feel like yourself for one or two weeks, and you still shouldn't do anything strenuous, including lifting, for four to six weeks. If you have small children, you must put someone else totally in charge of their care for two weeks.
- Incisions will initially be red or pink. They will remain this way for months following surgery.
Standard Butt Lift Recovery
- A standard butt lift is quite extensive and will typically require at least two to three weeks of recovery before you can resume normal activities.
- Full healing will take several months.
Brazilian Butt Lift Recovery
- The final results of your buttock augmentation may be initially obscured by swelling. When the swelling subsides, sometimes taking three to six months, your true results will be more evident. For this reason, you should not go clothes shopping for at least three months.
- After fat grafting, you can return to work, drive, or go to the movies after ten to fourteen days, but you must use a pillow when sitting, so there is no pressure on your buttocks. You can resume normal activities and exercise after eight weeks.
Butt Implant Surgery Recovery
- After implant surgery, you can return to work in two to three weeks, but you must use a pillow when sitting so there is no pressure on your buttocks.
- By the third postoperative week, you should be ok to sit and drive (using a pillow), and you can start stretching exercises.
- You can resume exercise eight to ten weeks after surgery. However, if there are wound complications, you may have to wait three to four months before going back to the gym.
No matter what procedure you undergo, being in good health, not smoking, and having help after surgery will increase your healing, improve your results, and prevent complications.