Exercising After Butt Augmentation (Butt Implants or Brazilian Butt Lift)

Butt augmentation continues to rank among the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures. Two of the most common buttock augmentation techniques are butt implants and the Brazilian butt lift, a procedure where fat is transferred from other areas of the body to the buttocks. Since butt augmentation can dramatically transform the entire physique, it’s understandable that many patients are excited to get back to into the gym or vigorous exercise following the procedure. However, it’s often important for vigorous exercise to be slowly phased in to ensure proper healing and yield the best possible results of the procedure.

If you are currently considering butt augmentation, here’s what you need to know about returning to exercise following surgery.

Returning to Exercise Takes Time

While working out post-surgery is essential for maintaining your results, doing too much too soon can limit the body’s ability to heal properly and negatively impact the results of butt augmentation. This is why it is vital to be cleared for strenuous activity by your surgeon before doing any form of vigorous exercise.

If you underwent butt implant surgery, working out too soon in your recovery may lead to implant displacement. Encapsulation, rotation or flipping of the implant is possible if there’s too much movement or stress in the area before the implant capsules have completely healed.

After a Brazilian butt lift or fat transfer procedure, the body needs time to establish adequate blood supply to the new fat cells in order for their survival. Undertaking strenuous activity too soon (before proper a proper recovery) can prevent transferred fat cells from ‘taking hold’ in their new location. Exercise can also encourage fat burning, where transferred fat cells are removed by the body’s immune system. Butt lift results can be lessened if a large enough quantity of transferred fat cells die or are displaced, leading to a reduction in the volume that the patient would have maintain had they waited longer before returning to exercise.

Exercise After Butt Augmentation: A Basic Timeline

Your unique healing journey depends upon your genetics, age, health, and your fitness prior to surgery. Recovery also varies depending on your butt augmentation procedure. Implants require a longer recovery, especially if they were placed underneath the muscle.

While the following timeline can help you understand what to expect, your body may react differently to surgery. It’s important to follow the advice of your doctor above all else, and to listen carefully to your body as you heal.

The First Week After Surgery:

Immediately after your surgery, rest and recovery should be your priority. Wear your compression garments or bandages as your doctor recommends. Avoid putting any pressure on the buttocks. This includes sitting or lying down face-up. While you rest, lie on your side or on your stomach.

After day 1, light walks are recommended. This gentle movement helps circulate blood to prevent clotting and promote healing. Keep it slow and remain patient. If you’ve had a Brazilian butt lift, you’ll continue to avoid strenuous, fat burning exercise for the next 8 weeks.

• No sitting or pressure on the buttocks!
• Light walks are ok

2-4 Weeks After Surgery:

After the first week, it’s ok to add distance to your walks or to add in another low-impact aerobic activity. Keep the intensity and your heart rate low to stay out of the fat burning zone. Weight training that targets the upper body only is also ok. By lifting at no more than 50% of your capacity, you’ll avoid burning too much fat.

If you’ve had implants, continue to avoid lower body strength training or long periods of sitting. If you must sit, use a donut or soft cushion, and limit it to a few minutes at a time.

• Avoid long sits
• Avoid the fat burning zone
• Keep walking and moving
• Upper body strength training at 50% is ok

4-6 Weeks After Surgery:

After 4 weeks, implant patients may continue to steadily increase the duration or intensity of their workouts. If your procedure involved a fat transfer, continue to refrain from fat burning activities.

Faster paced walking, cycling (depending upon the seat), and swimming may all be added at this time. Upper body strength training may continue at up to 75% effort.

• Avoid long sits
• Avoid the fat burning zone (if fat transfer)
• Increase your walking or cardio pace (if butt lift)
• Upper body strength training at 75% is ok

6 Weeks or More After Surgery:

Depending on the pace of your personal recovery, you’ll likely resume most of your usual workouts after 6-8 weeks. When adding high-impact exercises or more intense upper body weight training, gradually build the pace. Continue to listen to your body, and be willing to go easy if needed.

Once your newly transferred fat cells have stabilized, which is typically after 8 weeks, it’s ok to resume high-intensity, fat burning exercises.

• Butt lift: Increase cardio intensity after 8 weeks
• Implants: Return to your normal activity
• Avoid exercises that target the glutes until after 12 weeks

What About Exercises Targeting the Glutes?

For butt implant patients, intense training that specifically targets the gluteal muscles should be avoided for at least 12 weeks. This reduces the risk of implant movement. Fat transfer patients may target the glutes with exercise after 8-12 weeks when the newly transferred fat cells have stabilized.

After 12 weeks, it’s very important to maintain your results by keeping your weight stable via healthy diet and exercise. Weight gain after implant surgery will affect your newly acquired body contour, while significant weight loss may cause implants to become visible.

If you’ve had a fat transfer, your new fat cells are now permanently located in the glutes, but can still increase and decrease in volume. Your augmented buttocks will change in size proportionally to the rest of your body as you gain or lose weight.

Once you’re fully healed, there’s no reason not to enhance the buttocks with targeted exercise, provided these workouts don’t lead to significant weight gain or loss. Add steep hill and stair climbs, squats, lunges, hamstring curls and donkey kicks to your fitness routine to enhance your new curves.

Dr. McGee has been practicing plastic surgery for more than 18 years in all areas of the field, including cosmetic surgery and reconstructive breast and facial surgery. Dr. McGee is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He has numerous hospital affiliations in the Round Rock and greater Austin areas and is a member of the American Society of plastic Surgeons, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgeons and Austin Smiles.