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Please Note: This is a paid article that is presented for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. If you have any health concern, see a licensed healthcare professional in person. This article does not constitute an endorsement or approval of this product or any claim, statement or opinion used in promotion of this product.
Both Sculptra Butt Lifts and Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBL) are injectable buttocks enhancements. The BBL was first used as a butt enhancement in the 1980s by harvesting fat from one part of the body, commonly the abdomen, arms, and thighs, and then injecting it into the buttocks for a fuller, plumper backside. The BBL is a surgical procedure and involves 2-4 weeks of post-op downtime. Results are instant however bruising, redness and swelling are to be expected until fully healed. Risks and side effects include pain, redness, bruising, swelling, deep infection, and fat embolism (fat lodges in a blood vessel, blocking blood flow – fatality rate is 1 in 3000 patients). Sculptra is a noninvasive procedure involving the injection of Poly-l-lactic acid, a biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic polymer naturally found in the body. Results take 1.5-2.5 months to show as the product works by stimulating collagen production. This collagen then wraps around particles in the body that would normally break down, inducing growth in the injected area. Possible risks and side effects include bruising, swelling, discomfort, granuloma formation, hematoma, and inflammation, though these side effects are typically rare.
The average cost for a BBL ranges $4,000-$7,000 in NYC and the average Sculptra ranges $350-750 per vial.
Overall both procedures have been shown to leave desired results, one of them being surgical and instant, and the other being non-surgical and gradual.
Getting Into the Detail
In order to fully understand the difference between the two treatments, it is first important to understand what the benefits and shortcomings of either of these curve enhancements are. Both are very unique cosmetic treatments in their own unique ways and have a set of advantages that many patients have been taking advantage of for years on their journey of reaching that gorgeous curvy figure.
One thing to note is that while these two treatments are often compared as they both are current enhancements and they deal with the same area of the body, this does not mean that they are interchangeable. Both treatments have their own part to play in the larger scheme of things and handle the task of enhancing your curves into completely different ways. While you will not receive both treatments simultaneously, this does not prevent you from giving both of them a try to see which one produces the best results for you.
Sculptra
The Sculptra is an injection-based curve enhancement that functions similarly to dermal fillers. For facial volume restoration and wrinkle smoothing dermal fillers are injected under the skin where they lift it up and tighten it. As a result, this can become a lot more smooth and looks younger.
A similar but still quite different method is used in Sculptra. The treatment involves the injection of a compound that is based on hyaluronic acid, a kind of chemical that is found in your joints. Much like the facial dermal fillers, the Sculptra compound reacts when it comes in contact with moisture and dissolves.
Initially after being injected the Sculptra compound will lift and round out the buttocks giving your body that gorgeous curvature in the posterior section. This first volume enhancement will be visible early on after the injection however it is temporary. Once the body dissolves through the compound the curvature will go down once again. But this is not where the treatment stops.
Besides adding volume to your posterior itself the Sculptra compound also helps boost the production of collagen in that particular area of the body. Collagen is the protein responsible for keeping your body strong and structurally sound. When any particular area has more collagen this protein creates strands that keep everything in one place. Basically, think of collagen as that cement in your body that strengthens it and keeps it tightly locked in place.
Even after the Sculptra compound has dissolved the collagen strands take their place and continue to keep the butt rounded and voluminous. As a result, you will have a more accentuated posterior for a much longer time with Sculptra results being reported to last from a year up to 2, which is a very long time.l
Brazilian Butt Lift
Then there’s the Brazilian butt lift or BBL for short which has quite an unorthodox approach to curve enhancements and definitely takes the cake when it comes to having an unusual methodology. But it is this procedure that gives the BBL its unique title and that special place in the beauty industry.
Part of what makes modern cosmetic treatments so successful is that they utilize your body’s own natural tools and resources for its own benefit. Many cosmetic treatments do this but BBL takes this to the next level. Why inject an alien compound into your body when you can use your body’s own fat to enhance the curves? It’s a matter of placement, or rather the transplanting of fat from one area of the body to another.
First fat is extracted from areas where there may be too much of it, such as the thighs, the hips, or the waistline. Keep in mind that this treatment is not for everyone and you do actually have to have excess fat in those areas if you wish to reuse it in the buttocks.
What’s the fat it’s taken out of those areas where there is too much of it it is then reintroduced into the buttocks making it curvier and a lot more voluminous. Since the injected fat came from your own body the chances of your immune system acting up and causing side effects are a lot lower than if a completely artificial compound was used. And while there are going to be some side effects as well as a few restrictions on movement during the recovery time, the BBL post-treatment is widely regarded as very easy to get through.
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