Can You Be Too Skinny For A BBL?

Posted on: February 4, 2022

As everyone celebrates the beginning of the new year, many people may feel like now is the perfect time to take a step towards getting the body of their dreams! And while living a healthy lifestyle can certainly go a long way, sometimes you need a little bit of extra help to overcome genetics or aging, and finally get the appearance you want.

One option that many people are interested in learning more about is the Brazilian Butt Lift, a procedure that sculpts a rounder, more attractive butt using fat transfer performed by a highly skilled board-certified plastic surgeon.

To be a good candidate for BBL cosmetic surgery you need to have enough fat for a successful fat transfer. This can be a struggle for those with a naturally thin body shape and don’t experience much fluctuations in body fat.

Some women have concerns about being “too skinny” to undergo this procedure, and are worried that they might not have enough body fat available to transfer to the buttocks.

If you have ever attempted to plump up your rear end with diet and exercise changes, you know that it can be extremely challenging – if not impossible – to achieve the look you’re after.

An increasing number of men and women are turning to plastic surgery to get the results they want.

How much fat is needed for a BBL?

The amount of fat used during BBL in Northern Virginia depends on a variety of factors, including:

  • Surgeon’s technique and preference
  • Patient’s desired outcome
  • Patient’s anatomy and proportions
  • Amount of fat available
  • Expected rate of fat survival

On average, BBL patients often need about 1000cc (1.0L) of harvested fat for a successful and satisfactory result. Patients should keep in mind that a small percentage of fat will die after BBL, but this is taken into account by the surgeon when calculating how much fat to harvest and transfer initially.

For patients who desire only a subtle change in the size and shape of their butt, a smaller amount of fat may be adequate. However, a much larger volume of fat is required to achieve more dramatic results.

During your initial consultation, the doctor will thoroughly evaluate your concerns, assess your available amount of excess fat, answer all of your questions, and help determine how much fat your Brazilian butt lift may require.

What is the ideal weight for BBL surgery?

Rather than determining if a patient qualifies for BBL surgery based on his or her weight, surgeons typically look instead at the person’s BMI, or body mass index, and body fat percentage. This helps clarify how much excess fat is available to harvest based on the patient’s overall anatomy and body composition.

What is the right volume for slender women?

An advantage of the BBL procedure is that since it uses fat harvested from your own body, the results look and feel very natural – no foreign material is inserted, just your own fat in a different place!

Furthermore, very precise volumes of fat can be transferred to different aspects of the buttocks to create the most attractive shape. When working with a thin patient, a small amount – even just a few hundred cc’s – of properly transferred fat can go a long way!

Generally, slender women do not desire a really large butt, but are mainly interested in creating a rounder and more voluptuous shape by adding a little bit of volume in just the right places.

The BBL procedure is ideal for enhancing gluteal shape by decreasing sagginess, filling in stubborn “hip dips”, and increasing projection through precisely targeted fat transfer.

Even women who are slim can achieve safe and stunning bbl results

In the rare instance that an extremely thin woman desires a very large butt, this may not be a realistic goal for a BBL due to there simply not being enough fat available to create the desired volume.

In these cases, gluteal implants, or combined gluteal implants with a BBL, may be better suited to realizing the patient’s aesthetic desires. However, the vast majority of the time, the round and attractive shape that slim women are looking for does not require a high volume of fat to create, and is very achievable at their normal weight.

Weight gain and strategic fat grafting

Cosmetic and Plastic doctors advise those with not enough fat for the liposuction component of the procedure to put on 5 kilos of body fat prior to the BBL surgery. If the patient struggles to gain weight, the doctor will reassess where there is some excess fat from various areas of the body.

Some common areas for fat grafting on skinnier patients include the lower back, love handles, arms, inner thighs and abdomen. This helps to provide some contouring benefits and is ideal for those girls who desire a Beyonce or Kim Kardashian look.

In many cases, a combination of weight gain and strategic fat grafting will be required by the cosmetic practitioners to perform the Brazilian Butt Lift surgery optimally.

Healthy weight gain tips for your BBL procedure

If you don’t have much fat and are looking to undergo liposuction and butt augmentation, you may be advised to put on weight for the procedure to be successful.

Now, this doesn’t mean you should be frequently visiting McDonald’s drive-thru, binging on ice-cream or indulging in your favorite treats.

For your own health and well-being long term, it is recommended you gain extra fat in a healthy manner. Not only will this be achievable, but it also won’t lead to unhealthy habits and side effects of eating poor quality food like fatigue, bloating, headaches, skin issues and mood swings just to name a few.

Because the newly transferred fat cells can shrink with subsequent weight loss, patients must be committed to maintaining their weight after BBL in order to preserve their results. If a patient gains weight prior to BBL and subsequently loses weight following the procedure, he or she will likely compromise or even reverse their results.

Here are a few tips to help you gain weight ready for your buttock augmentation.

  1. Consume quality protein with each meal and snack. Quality protein sources include red meat, poultry, tinned tuna, eggs, Greek yoghurt, cheese, raw nuts, hummus, quinoa and peanut butter.
  2. If you can’t consume enough protein from whole food sources, try a quality protein powder. You can add this to smoothies, make pancakes, put in baking or simply drink in a shake on the go. Some of our favorite nutritionally balanced protein powders include 180 Nutrition Protein Superfoods, Healthy Chef Pea Protein, Nuzest Clean Lean Protein or Amazonia Raw.
  3. Increase your intake of healthy fats such as avocado, coconut, dairy, nuts and seeds to increase your daily caloric intake.
  4. Avoid drinking water within 30minutes of your meal or snack as this will make you feel fuller and cause you to eat less.
  5. Speed up your eating so that you consume enough calories in time before your brain registers you’re full. If you’re not looking to gain weight or want to maintain a healthy weight eating slowly and mindfully is a great strategy.
  6. Choose calorie-dense, yet nutritious, snacks when on the go. Some great options include Medjool dates, hard-boiled eggs, bananas, avocado, coconut yoghurt, Carmen’s original Fruit-free muesli bar, rice crackers and dark chocolate.