Risks and Controversies Surrounding the Brazilian Butt Lift Trend In recent times, the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) has gained immense popularity, as more and more people aspire to attain a round and shapely bottom.
Dr. Mel Ortega, a celebrity plastic surgeon from spectrum aesthetic miami is known for his skillful Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), Liposuction (Lipo), and Breast Augmentation techniques, has shared his thoughts on the impact of social media on the plastic surgery industry. In an interview, Dr. Ortega noted that pop culture trends heavily influence the demand for surgical procedures. As people want to fit in and gain wide acclaim, they often look to copy what is popular and en vogue, which is why surgeries like Brazilian Butt Lift are in high demand.
Dr. Mel Ortega has leveraged the platform to great effect, posting regular updates of his work and showcasing the dramatic transformations he has achieved for his clients.
Dr. Ortega started posting before-and-after photos of his clients on Instagram, along with captions that highlighted the confidence boost that the procedure had given them. He also started using hashtags like #spectrumdoll and #ortegadoll to connect with a wider audience of women who were looking to enhance their bodies and feel more confident in their skin. Despite not having wanted a career in surgery to start with, Dr. Mel Ortega has accomplished a lot over the years and has come a long way. He credits his father for wisely convincing him to go into medicine, or else he would have been a musician or a painter and starving today. He found out that plastic surgery was a whole different world and not just because the stakes were lower. After completing his plastic surgery residency, he found himself with nine years of postgraduate training in pediatrics, general surgery, and plastic surgery.
Dr. Ortega works as a surgeon, having moved forward with many years of quality work under his belt. He is looking forward to spending the next stage of his career focusing on the procedures where he excels. Despite the fact that his industry is plagued by actors with dubious ethics looking for a quick payday, Dr. Ortega is always aiming to make a difference in whichever way he can. He believes that just because their financials don't meet up to the high-end ones doesn't mean they don't deserve to have that level of craft from a board-certified plastic surgeon. suggests listening to a certified expert instead of being swayed by social media influencers who likely do not have any medical experience.
Despite this, Dr. Ortega acknowledges that social media has become a crucial tool for plastic surgeons to promote their services and showcase their work. Instagram, with over 125 million users in the USA alone, is the go-to platform for many plastic surgeons to share before-and-after photos and client testimonials. In summary, while social media has a significant impact on the plastic surgery industry, Dr. Ortega advises caution and encourages people to consult certified experts before making any decisions
It is generally not recommended to perform a BBL over existing butt and hip implants. The implants can interfere with the fat integration and placement, potentially distorting the results of the BBL. It's best to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon to discuss your options for achieving your desired results. They can assess your individual situation and recommend the best course of action for you.
It's worth noting that some doctors may have different recommendations regarding post-operative care and sitting after a BBL procedure. However, it is generally agreed that avoiding direct pressure on the buttocks and hips is important during the initial healing period. This may involve using a special BBL pillow or BBL cushion to sit on or avoiding sitting altogether as much as possible. It's important to discuss any concerns or questions you have about post-operative care with your doctor to ensure the best possible results from your BBL procedure.
It is advisable to avoid any intense physical exercise or activities that apply pressure to the buttocks for a minimum of 2-3 weeks following a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure. The reason for this is that the injected fat in the buttocks and hips requires sufficient time to properly integrate and survive. Physical activities that put pressure on the area can hinder the healing process and potentially harm the fat cells.
Once the initial recovery period has passed, it is generally safe to engage in exercises and activities that exert pressure on the buttocks to maintain a healthy lifestyle and ensure long-lasting BBL results. However, it is crucial to avoid any exercises or activities that put excessive pressure on the treated area, as this could potentially lead to fat cell death. While regular exercise can help to sustain the outcomes of a BBL, it is important to note that the procedure's results are not permanent. Similar to fat cells in other parts of the body, the fat cells injected into the buttocks and hips can decrease or expand if the person experiences weight fluctuations.
If the person is in good overall health and the procedures are performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, it is generally safe to undergo a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) and tummy tuck simultaneously. Many individuals opt for this approach to enhance the overall contour of their body and achieve more striking results.
However, it is crucial to acknowledge that undergoing two surgeries concurrently increases the overall risks and recovery time. It is also necessary to have a detailed discussion with a qualified plastic surgeon regarding the potential benefits and limitations of the combined procedures, and to carefully adhere to all of their instructions both before and after the surgeries to ensure the best possible outcome.
To ensure proper healing of the fat cells that have been injected into the buttocks and hips during a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure, it is generally advised to refrain from sitting directly on the area for at least 2-3 weeks. This is because the pressure from sitting can potentially hinder the integration and survival of the fat cells.
While it is safe to sleep on your back after a BBL, it is important to avoid sleeping on your stomach or side with your weight on your buttocks, as this can also interfere with the healing process.
To achieve the best possible results, it is crucial to follow your doctor's instructions carefully regarding sitting and sleeping after the procedure. It is generally recommended to avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for at least 2-3 weeks or as long as your doctor suggests. This will help ensure that the fat cells have the greatest chance to survive, leading to a smoother and more natural-looking outcome.
A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure can use fat harvested through traditional liposuction or minimally invasive methods such as Smart Lipo. While traditional liposuction involves suctioning the fat out of the body using a hollow tube called a cannula, Smart Lipo uses a laser to emulsify the fat before suctioning it out.
To ensure the best possible survival of the fat cells, the harvested fat should be high-quality and free of contaminants, and processed carefully. Although the technique used to harvest the fat does not necessarily affect its quality, it can affect the amount of fat available for the BBL. Traditional liposuction is generally capable of removing more fat than minimally invasive procedures such as Smart Lipo, making it more suitable for patients requiring larger amounts of fat to be removed.
It is important to discuss the potential benefits and limitations of each technique with a qualified plastic surgeon, who can assess your individual situation and recommend the best approach for achieving your desired results.
o ensure optimal survival of fat cells during a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure, the fat used should be of high quality and free of contaminants, and it should be processed with care. Typically, fat is harvested from areas where there is excess fat, such as the abdomen, hips, and thighs, as these areas have a good supply of fat and are relatively easy to access using liposuction. However, it is worth noting that fat from the abdomen and hips tends to have a higher survival rate than fat from the thighs. To determine the best donor areas for your specific needs, it is important to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your body and recommend the most appropriate approach.
After a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure, it is not uncommon for the buttocks to appear smaller in the weeks following the surgery due to natural absorption of some of the injected fat in the buttocks and hips.
Several factors can influence the amount of fat that survives after a BBL, including the quality of the fat, the injection technique used, and the person's overall health and lifestyle. A higher fat survival rate is observed when high-quality fat is used, a precise injection technique is employed, and the person maintains a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise.
If you have concerns about the size of your buttocks after a BBL, it is essential to discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon. They can assess your individual situation and recommend ways to enhance the survival of the fat. In some instances, a "touch-up" procedure may be needed to add more fat to the treated area. However, this will depend on your particular case and must be discussed with your surgeon.
After a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure, it's important to avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for at least 2-3 weeks. This is because sitting can cause pressure on the fat cells that have been injected into the buttocks and hips, potentially interfering with their survival and integration. To help the fat cells survive, it's best to follow your doctor's recommendations and avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for as long as possible.
During short periods of sitting, such as car rides, you may use a cushion or pillow to distribute your weight and avoid putting direct pressure on your buttocks. There are specially designed products such as BBL pillows and cushions that can help you distribute your weight evenly, supporting your body and minimizing pressure on the treated area.
It's crucial to discuss the use of such products with your plastic surgeon and follow their instructions. They can provide you with specific guidelines on sitting and other activities after a BBL procedure to ensure the best possible outcome
When two Americans ended up dead, and two others kidnapped, amid a shootout just south of the U.S.-Mexico border, the initial questions were myriad: What happened? Who killed them? And what was the group of four people from South Carolina doing in a minivan in Matamoros?
On the last point, an explanation from relatives quickly emerged. One woman in the group, Latavia McGee, was going to Mexico for cosmetic surgery, and the other friends had joined her for a road trip.
That surgery was first described as a tummy tuck. Later, relatives and friends said the procedure was a "gluteal augmentation."
And even though more than a million Americans annually seek medical care on the other side of the border, getting a "gluteal augmentation" – in a place where the State Department warns Americans not to travel at all – certainly struck a lot of people as strange.
If you know, though, you know.
First, let us call this whole popular-empowering-controversial-notorious procedure what people call it in real life: the Brazilian butt lift, or BBL.
Next, let me tell you the same thing I told some of my colleagues this week. Whether or not you like this, whether or not you understand this, people do this, and especially, a lot of Black people do it.
If you are a woman, and especially if you're Black, and if you are on, say, Instagram, I'm going to go out on a limb not very far at all and guess that you've had this targeted at you in your social media feed. Especially if you follow beauty and pop culture influencers. You don't have to scroll too long to see it; it simply becomes a part of your algorithm.
The BBL is a thing.
It's also very expensive. And that's the next thing you learn if you are having this idea pushed at you in your social feeds week after week: It's a whole lot less expensive in Mexico.
So the idea that someone – it could be anyone, but for sake of discussion, let's say it's a Black woman and her Black friends from Lake City, South Carolina – would drive across six states to the tip of Texas to have this surgery? If true, it is not shocking. At all.
But that doesn't address the underlying question bandied about on social media: Is it worth it?
A BBL involves harvesting fat from other areas of the body and injecting it into the buttocks and hips. (Often, that fat is removed from the belly in the process through liposuction. So those early reports that the group went to Matamoros for a tummy tuck may also be essentially correct.)
Results often mean a tiny, or snatched waist, and a curvier, fuller behind. It's the extreme hourglass aesthetic. Slim-thick.
Usually, it requires general anesthesia. Initial recovery can take weeks.
I've watched for years on social media as these clinics target Black women in ads that show before and after pictures, while touting prices that are usually half of what the cost would be in America – around $10,000-$15,000 and not covered by insurance.
It's called medical tourism. Popular destinations for a discounted procedure include Turkey, South America and Mexico. So-called recovery houses also offer patients post-op care and a place to heal.
The New York Times reported this week about the Matamoros clinic that had been expecting McGee. The clinic "reaches out to potential American clients with targeted ads on Instagram," according to an employee who spoke to a reporter, and posts before-and-after pictures of clients online. She said about half the clinic's patients are American.
So whether or not we fully understand the story of how Latavia McGee and three friends came to be in a white minivan in Matamoros in a hail of gunfire, we can accept that the idea of such a trip makes sense in a world where people travel the world – in sometimes questionable locales – for affordable cosmetic surgery.
It turned out there was a fifth person on the trip, Cheryl Orange, who later told police she had forgotten her travel documents and couldn't cross the border that day. She had stayed behind in Brownsville, Texas, when the rest of the group left on Friday morning to cross into Matamoros.
The group had planned to return in time to check out of the motel Saturday, according to the police report, though I wonder how McGee could have made such a quick turnaround after an invasive procedure. Instead, one came back wounded and two are dead.
“She simply went for a cosmetic surgery, and that’s it," Orange told the Associated Press. "That’s all, and this happened to them.”
Whatever truly happened to McGee and her friends that day, let us agree that any broader discussion about the risks or problems with BBLs is not so much about possible cartel violence.
But let's also be clear: There is a discussion.
Even if you think you don't know anything about Brazilian Butt Lift BBLs, you have seen BBLs.
CAN I GET A BBL USING CARE CREDIT?
On average, the cost of Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery is approximately $4,800, Since BBLs are considered elective cosmetic procedures and not medically necessary, health insurance usually does not cover them. If you're considering getting a BBL and need help financing the procedure, the CareCredit credit card may
TOP 3 RED FLAGS TO LOOK FOR:
1) Your plastic surgeon fails to discuss the postoperative instructions with you before the surgery.
Miami faces a significant issue. In such places, patients frequently meet the surgeon on the day of the procedure or not at all, and are often released from the clinic without any postoperative guidelines, follow-up care, or further consultation with the surgeon. This lack of appropriate care can lead to severe consequences for patients.
2) They are not equivalent of board certified.
Using a doctor without proper credentials may be less expenisve, but the cost of treating complications that may occur because of their lack of training will come at a high cost. Furthermore, putting oneself at risk of facing such complications is not justifiable.
3) No Contract.
Verbal agreements are insufficient; written contracts are necessary. If your doctor fails to provide you with a written contract prior to the surgery, they may not be obligated to fulfill their verbal promises.
PLASTIC SURGERY AND MEDICAL TOURISM
Traveling to other countries to receive inexpensive treatment is dangerous. Not only can a situation like this can occur, but you have no idea of the quality of care you are receiving.
