I was awake during my BBL… here’s what the experience is really like, from recovery to results

BBLs – or Brazilian Butt Lifts – are all the rage, especially in Hollywood, as A-listers galore are surgically altering their backsides.

The latest procedure now is the Awake BBL, which transfers fat to the buttocks, hips and thighs while the patient is awake.

Courtney B., an occupational therapist in Boynton Beach, Florida, chose to undergo plastic surgery clinic Squulpt’s Awake BBL procedure after finding the procedure on Instagram.

Courtney, 31, has tried everything, including fad diets, clothing sculpting and CoolSculpting sessions.

Courtney ultimately opted for an Awake BBL when nothing else seemed to work, telling FEMAIL: ‘Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing your money lost with failed results.’

Wanting to get rid of her “belly pooch” and “enhance” her “already curvy” figure, Courtney wondered, “Why waste the fat?”

“After wasting a lot of time and money, I started researching options for permanent fat removal and body sculpting,” she said.

Courtney eventually found an ad for a former patient of Sqult’s. Emilyand was ‘impressed with her results.’

Courtney ultimately opted for an Awake BBL, telling FEMAIL: ‘Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing your money lost with failed results’

Wanting to get rid of her ‘belly pooch’ and ‘enhance’ her ‘already curvy’ figure, Courtney, 31, wondered: ‘Why waste the fat?’

The Floridian ultimately opted for the awake procedure because she wanted to avoid general anesthesia and have an easier recovery time, as it allowed patients to return to their normal routines more quickly.

“Plus, I’m not a big fan of pipes and drains,” Courtney said.

For the first two weeks after her procedure, Courtney was sore and felt like she had done a hard workout.

Courtney said the hardest part of the recovery was dealing with her compression garments, which typically need to be worn for about six weeks – even while sleeping – after surgery.

By the end of the second week, she returned to work and was even able to drive herself with the help of her BBL cushion, which she took with her everywhere.

After the surgery, some of her friends recognized her body in the ads on Instagram and asked about her experience with Squulpt and what she thought of her results, which she said was extremely flattering.

“What was even more complimentary is that many would say my results looked super natural and were different from many other traditional BBLs,” said Courtney.

“Some people even told me I was the reason they scheduled a consultation.”

Courtney said the hardest part of the recovery was dealing with her compression garments, which typically need to be worn for about six weeks – even while sleeping – after surgery.

Dr. Daniel Suissa, based in Miami, Florida, founded Squulpt and invented and developed SoftSqult, a 360 awake liposuction and fat transfer

Dr. Daniel SuissaBased in Miami, Florida, Squulpt founded and invented and developed the Awake BBL, which uses the patient’s own fat under local anesthesia.

“Because the patient is awake, we can allow him to move to reach all the areas needed,” said Dr. Suissa. ‘This is the key to creating a BBL that is in perfect harmony with your body and doesn’t look too obvious or fake.’

Being awake also reduces the risks associated with a BBL.

“Under general anesthesia, your muscles are completely relaxed, making it easier to accidentally inject fat into the wrong area,” said Dr. Suissa.

‘Because your muscles contract and you can give us feedback, the chance of placing fat in the muscles – where complications can occur – is virtually zero.’

Dr. Suissa told DailyMail.com that the average age of patients is 30 to 31 years old.

Some patients are in their twenties, others are mothers who have stopped breastfeeding, and some are women in their fifties.

The price varies depending on the amount of fat transferred and the lipo areas – it can be around $15,000 but is completely dependent on the patient.

Patients can usually go home the same day and can usually return to their desk job within three to five days because they do not have to navigate the longer recovery associated with general anesthesia.

“More and more women want a natural, proportional BBL – one that stands out without creating an oversized ‘pumpkin on stilts’ look – and that’s why they choose Sqult,” said Dr. Suissa.