Brazilian Butt Lift: Stories

I'm scheduled for a breast implant exchange & a BBL, with additional lipo to the inner knee and inner thigh areas. Considering upper arms as well. I'm 5'3" and 135 lbs, 28 years old. I've been anywhere between 100-145 lbs in my adult life, yet never happy with my shape.

I currently have 325 cc moderate profile silicone implants that are 4 years old. They're very soft and pretty natural looking. My previous surgeon did a good job, but I feel my implants are somewhat too narrow and my incision scars (infra mammary fold) are too thick. Dr Salama said he could make smaller incisions and improve the look of the scars, also improve the asymmetry and give me larger implants. I'm also concerned about some tightness in my right breast/pocket, so I'll see what he has to say about that when he physically examines me. I suspect being right handed may be the cause. It sometimes flexes and distorts when I'm using my arms and I hate it. Hopefully it's not capsular contracture, because that's a big fear of mine!!

As far as the BBL goes, (the exciting part!) I have a decent sized butt and thighs at my current weight thanks to genetics. In fact my thighs are a bit too big for my taste. However, my butt & hips shrink dramatically with weight loss. I want what we all want. That ideal hourglass shape. Tiny waist, wide hips, plump round butt, healthy thighs. Weight loss and exercise will not give me that naturally. I don't care what fitness obsessed people say. That stupid Brazilian butt lift work out will not necessarily give you a better ass. *insert eye roll here*.

I have many concerns regarding the liposuction. My friend has had lipo in her mid section, and she's very unhappy with the leftover lumpiness. She didn't do the post op massages, didn't even wear a garment. Her shape still looks fantastic. I plan on being very pro active with post op care. Hopefully that will help my results. I've been doing a lot of research, and I'm considering investing in a Wellbox. They're so damn expensive! $1500! I think it would be amazing for breaking up lipo scar tissue and preventing lumps, so I might go for it. It's great for cellulite too.

Anyway, I'll be posting much more soon I'm sure. So much to think about. I'm so nervous about anesthesia and liposuction complications. :( Lumps, scars, burns, fat embolisms, bruising, fat necrosis, lidocaine toxicity, so scary! I can't stop reading about this stuff.

Keeping weight on for this surgery has been depressing. Everyone keeps commenting about my weight gain. Some people are even asking if I'm pregnant. I don't even have a lot of fat on my stomach, (I gain weight ALL over, not just one area). I guess being cruel makes others feel better about themselves.

Oh well! Only four more months until I get some of it sucked out. I'm not going to dare try to lose any now. That fat needs to go to my butt! :) Hopefully the next four months will fly by while I'm busy hustling and planning for my surgery.

Reading a lot of the reviews lately has me nervous. Patients keep stating that Dr. Salama no longer does double procedures. I Emailed Nancy, and she said that was only in the case of tummy tucks and breast lifts. Breast augmentation alone is a pretty quick procedure. I really hope I don't end up with last minute surprises like some patients. I'm adamant about getting this done all at once.

I plan on booking my flight this month. Both of my parents want to go with me now. I guess they see it as a vacation opportunity. Fine with me! I might go ahead a rent a car since my Dad is going. He's good at navigating. Leaving my boyfriend at home. He's not really 100% supportive, and he's a bit squeamish about plastic surgery in general. He can stay home with the pets.

Booked flights today! Yay!

Obviously this is something I should discuss with the doctor, but I'd love imput from patients too. Should I quit taking birth control pills before surgery to decrease the risk of blood clots? I hate being off the pill, because my skin breaks out and my cramps get awful. Birth control pills can cause blood clots alone, so it's probably best to have it out of my system before surgery I suppose. However I've been on and off the pill for several years with no issues. I've read that the risk of DVT or blood clots significantly decreases after your first year.

I've decided I definitely want to add my upper arms & axillary area. Possibly chin & jaw as well. I'm hoping the price per area hasn't gone up too much! I don't want to spend more than an extra $800-1000.

If you've had outer thigh lipo with Dr. Salama, please leave feedback.

Are you satisfied overall?

Did it increase/decrease cellulite?

Where was the incision made?

Was it worth the fee?

I'm already paying off the BA, BBL, inner thighs & inner knees. Considering chin, upper arms, axillary, and outer thighs too. I'm not a big girl at all, so I'm hoping multiple areas won't keep me under too long. I don't want to get unnecessary lipo either. I want it to be worth the pain and recovery. :)


Thank you!

Added several wish pics, but those pics are more like inspiration or fantasy to me. I'm not going into this with unrealistic expectations. I know Dr. Salama will do what he does best, and it'll be up to me after that.

Forgot to add, I will likely post before and after pics. . . however, I'm a very private person with very obvious tattoos. So I might not post nudes.

Also some of my favorite wish pics include a few of Dr. Salama's patients, but I don't want to use their photos without permission.

I'm so sad lately. :( People won't shut up about my weight gain. I have no excuse, since I'm being very private about this operation. They think I'm letting myself go. I have to keep in mind it'll all be worth it in the end. On a positive note, my face looks about 5 years younger with all the baby fat. Hehe. I look 21 again, & I'm always carded. My boyfriend likes me at this weight too. He loves thick curvy women.

I have $2500 saved to put on my balance this month. Hoping to make it $5000 by the 15th. Then I'll only owe $3500. I'm sure I'll owe another $800-1000 by the time I add the arms & chin (if the Dr allows it!). And I still have to book a hotel. Time to hustle! My Dad isn't going anymore, but my Mom is. I'm hoping I can show her a good time, even though I'll be feeling beat the hell up after the surgery. I do have a very high pain tolerance. If we can just do relaxing activities, I know she'll be happy. She's a CNA, & a hard working woman. She'll enjoy a nice hotel room, good weather, the beach, dinner, etc. I told her to bring books to read, & I'll send her to the spa if I'm feeling too awful to leave the room.

I keep having surgery nightmares. I'm sure that's pretty normal. My subconscious stress is dominating my dreams. I'm laying in the bath on my iPad at the moment, thinking of how I won't be able to enjoy baths for weeks after surgery! I love my bath time. lol

Time to get ready for work. Hope you BBL ladies are doing well.

Surgery Goals

Breasts -  
wider rounder breast shape
natural profile slope
moderate projection
little upper pole fullness
generous lower pole fullness
cleavage improved/breasts sitting closer together
generous "side boob"
previous incision scars improved (thinner/flatter)

Butt - 
BIG! BIG! BIG! I'd like to lose 10 lbs post op, & still have a nice big butt.
Enhanced gluteal crease
Enhanced projection
Fullness added to the lateral gluteal depression ("hips")

Torso - 
Lower back sculpting/enhanced arch
Flat tummy
Upper abs reduced as thoroughly as lower abs/tummy
Rib fat & small of waist reduced 
Hourglass shaped waist

Legs - 
Inner knee contouring/reduction
Inner thigh bulge reduced (no more rubbing thighs please!)
I don't think my outer thighs are a big issue, but I do have very slight bulging & cellulite at this weight. Probably won't add outer thighs.

Additional areas I might add 

Arms -
Reduce the size of upper arms
Reduce bulge above elbow
Axillary lipo

Chin/Jaw - 
Reduce chin fat
Sculpt jowls/jawline

I'm upset because I might have mono. My Sister was diagnosed with it yesterday, and I noticed just now that my lymph nodes are swollen. I've felt very fatigued lately too. I use my Sisters make up sometimes, and share meals and drinks.

I have to get my lab work done in about a week, and if mono effects my results I won't get cleared for surgery. There's no treatment for mono, because it's caused by a virus. I'm going to push vitamin C, echinacea, zinc, and water. I hope I kick this quick!! I'm so scared and sad. :(

Got approved for Care Credit, thanks to my wonderful boyfriend co signing. So my balance will be paid off as soon as the card arrives in 7-10 days. Yay!

Here's the catch. . . and you girls might think I'm terrible. He doesn't know I'm doing the BBL. He thinks I'm just getting bigger implants. He was against me getting any kind of plastic surgery, but my stance on it is this is MY body. Now that he helped me get Care Credit, I'm feeling kind of guilty. And afraid he'll find out some how. Will the statements have details about my procedure? Or will it just have the EPS Miami/Dr Salama? Help!

I've read that compression on your butt, (the garment) is pertinent to the healing process because it keeps swelling down. Too much swelling and fluid in your butt could keep the new fat cells from getting enough circulation. So I'm guessing this is why Dr. Salama chooses to use a specific garment. The "butt out" garments might be better for shaping later on, once fat cells attach. I guess either way, sticking to your doctors instructions is the way to go. :) Just a thought!

I don't think I'm sick. If Im carrying mono, my body is fighting it well. :) My pre op clearance appointment is this Friday, so I'm sure the tests will tell!

I feel weird about going to my family doc and talking to him about this surgery, because my Mom used to work for him. I think he'd give me a hard time. He's known me since I was a kid, so explaining the surgery would be awkward. So I had to call around to local clinics. The doctor I'm seeing is charging $95 JUST for an appointment. I will update with the total lab work & EKG fees this weekend. I'm going to guess around $200.

Still trying to decide on a hotel! I'd love to stay at the Crowne Plaza in Hollywood Beach, but that's pretty pricey for 10 days. As I mentioned before, I'm trying to treat my Mom & give her a little vacation while I'm recovering. My income is kind of sales based, so I guess I'll have to see how the next couple of weeks go. The Crowne Plaza does have a killer pool, but I know I won't be swimming! lol

I paid $99 for a physical exam/EKG, $192 for lab work.

I'm really sad today. . . something might be changing with my procedure. I won't know for sure until tomorrow, but I'm very upset with the idea of plans changing 3 weeks before surgery. Not good. I might have to cancel all together. I hate even posting this, but I had to vent. I've been in tears.

Details later, when I know what's going on. Keep your fingers crossed!

I haven't heard back from Ruben, although I guess it's my fault for not calling him. I sent him an Email two days ago, and I've been hoping for a positive response. I'm too exhausted & busy to get on the phone. Writing this from work right now, even though I shouldn't be. I've been working double shifts and odd hours in order to cover traveling expenses.

I know some of you won't understand this, but I counted on getting my breast implant exchange done during the BBL. It's part of the reason I chose Dr. Salama. I was told THREE times it would be okay to do both. So I really hope they aren't going to change things on me 17 days before surgery. I'm seriously pissed off and stressed out right now. I don't even know what to do with myself. I have so much work to do and I can't even concentrate. I tear up whenever I think about it.

What if I gained weight & have been taking all these nauseating vitamins for nothing?!! All the hustle for the money, getting financing, the planning, bothering my poor Mother, stressing out my family, hiding things from my boyfriend. . . I feel like a fool.

If I can't get my implant exchange and BBL together, I will be severely depressed. :( Ughhhh. Back to work.

I am not a fan of how Dr Salama's office handles business, and I might be switching surgeons. That's all I'll say for now.

Ok, I retract that last statement. That was a bit harsh of me to say. I'm on my period, my hormones are weird because I stopped taking my birth control for surgery, and the stress of everything has me so emotional to begin with. I've been disappointed and confused over the last few days.

I do think I should've been notified about the Dr. no longer performing double procedures. I was told instead by a concerned Real Self member months ago. I immediately contacted Dr. Salama's staff, and they said an implant exchange would be no problem with a BBL. That was a mistake on the staff's behalf. Maybe a letter or E-mail should've been sent out to notify patients with up coming surgery. That way there would be no last minute let downs. People make mistakes however, and EPS is a very busy business. I know they meant no harm or negligence.

I finally called Ruben, and he's trying very hard to make things work for me. This might mean I'll have to extend my stay in Florida, but that's okay with me. As long as it isn't terribly long. I don't want to get my hopes up too high, but I wanted to update because I felt bad about what I posted yesterday.. Ruben is definitely just as kind as everyone claims. I can tell that he and Dr. Salama really want to make patients happy.

So now I'm off to work the second half of my double shift, so I can afford those extra days in FL! I'm actually looking forward to having pain as an excuse to take it easy.

I'm still having the implant exchange & BBL, but separate. I'm getting both done in November, which I'm very pleased with. I probably won't be updating until after my surgery, because I'm still a bit stressed. I have a lot of work to get done before I leave town. Good luck to everyone. :)