If you smell what your keister is cooking after a BBL, you might just need a good shower.
You learn something new every day, as the old saying goes.
And the thing your Back Page scribbler learned today?
Getting a Brazilian butt lift can lead to a particularly smelly side effect – one that has nothing to do with flatulence.
The procedure, called a “gluteal augmentation” in more professional circles, aims to increase the size and roundness of the buttocks.
Kim Kardashian’s money maker is the rumoured recipient of a BBL, for example.
It involves using liposuction to remove fat from the hips or abdomen before it is later re-inserted into the subjects’ sitzfleisch.
“The idea is it’s a self auto transplant of fat so that you don’t get any kind of immune reaction, and most of the fat survives in its new position,” said Dr Michael Rosenberg, a plastic surgery attending at Northem Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York, recently told MedPage Today.
Like any surgical procedure, there is a necessary recovery period. Patients need to keep as much weight as possible off their tuchus after the touch-up, which means they can’t sit down and are required to wear a compression garment almost 24/7 for the first few weeks.
The compression garment is used to help keep the pressure off the patient’s posterior while simultaneously compressing the area around the fat “donor site” so that the skin tightens.
“You’re placing the fat where you want it, but until it settles in its new position and gets its own blood supply, as a graft does, there’s potential for it shifting, so we really try to keep people off the buttock,” Dr Rosenberg explained.
But this is where patients start to run into problems, according to Dr Rosenberg.
“Because we’re telling people not to sit on it and not to rub too much, it leads to some issues with hygiene afterwards,” he said.
Patients can become overly cautious about harming their revitalised rear end, meaning they don’t clean themselves properly after nature calls. The long-term compression garment use also doesn’t help, keeping sweat buildup and other unwanted odours close to the skin.
Dr Rosenberg went on to highlight that the foul-smelling fannies have “more to do with sweat and hygiene than with the operation [itself]”, but that patients should consult their doctor if the smell – which is a different kind of smell to that of an infection that would require medical attention – hangs around for more than a few weeks.
The popularity of the procedure increased dramatically in the United States between 2011 and 2021, with the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reporting the number of arse augmentations rose from 7382 in the former to 61387 in the latter. That’s a 731.6% increase, for those playing along at home.
Punching “BBL smell” into Google confirms the extent of this delicate derriere-related issue, with numerous blogs and YouTube videos breaking down what causes the stank – and how people can prevent it.
“While it may occur in certain circumstances during recovery, it is not something that happens to every patient, nor is it a permanent outcome of the procedure,” writes Frank Agullo, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in the United States who regularly performs the procedure.
The founding vice-president of the World Association of Gluteal Surgeons (an organisation with the goal of “destigmatising gluteal surgery and educating medical professionals around the world of the proper techniques to carry out the Brazilian Butt Lift safely and successfully”) offered the following advice on how to maintain hygiene after surgery and prevent the pesky BBL smell:
“Cleanse surgical areas gently with antiseptic solutions as recommended. Many surgeons, including myself, suggest using antibacterial washes such as Hibiclens before and after surgery.
“For patients who find wiping difficult due to swelling, a bidet can be a helpful tool to maintain cleanliness.
“Wash compression garments daily. Having at least two garments allows one to be worn while the other is being cleaned.
“Postoperative massage can help reduce swelling and fluid retention, which may indirectly lower the risk of odour and fat necrosis.”
Send your BBLs (big, beautiful leads) to Holly@medicalrepublic.com.au.
