Sculpting an hourglass figure is all about redefining your proportions, and combining both rib repositioning and a Brazilian Butt Lift offers a comprehensive approach to reshaping your figure.
A rib repositioning procedure shapes the waist by gently reshaping and moving the lower ribs, while a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) uses your body’s natural fat to enhance the fullness, shape, and symmetry of the buttocks.
Combining these procedures provides impactful enhancements that accentuate your hip-to-waist ratio, allowing you to achieve a more balanced and desirable silhouette.
If you are ready to resculpt your figure, the surgeons at Austin Plastic Surgeon can help!
Each of our surgeons has extensive experience in medicine and earns praise for their natural-looking yet transformative results.
To learn more, please contact us online or call the office most convenient for you:
Contents
About Sculpting an Hourglass Figure
Many patients envision an hourglass figure when they think of the “ideal” silhouette. While some patients can achieve this through strict dieting and exercise, others often struggle to lose weight naturally, or they genetically have a wider frame.
At Austin Plastic Surgeon, our surgical team can perform several procedures to help you sculpt an hourglass figure, specifically our rib repositioning procedure and a BBL. These two procedures each target and contour different concerns and areas of the body, allowing you to comprehensively transform your appearance within a single surgical session.
About Rib Repositioning
Rib repositioning is a surgical procedure that repositions and reshapes your ribs to shrink your waist and create a more defined silhouette. Rib repositioning specifically focuses on contouring the 10th, 11th, and 12th ribs, or the bottom three ribs. These specific ribs are not directly attached to the sternum, offering more flexibility.
About Brazilian Butt Lifts
A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a body contouring procedure that can enhance the size, shape, fullness, and symmetry of your buttocks. This procedure uses a process called autologous fat transfer, which consists of taking fat from other areas of your body and readministering it to the buttocks to elevate their appearance. Your surgeon can take fat from most places around the body, with most patients choosing areas such as their flanks, thighs, or abdomen. (1)
Candidates
Suitable candidates typically include individuals who are interested in improving the sculpt and definition of their waist and midsection.
Anyone interested in this procedure should be in good general health and maintain realistic expectations regarding their results. Potential patients should also be nonsmokers or willing to quit using nicotine. Our surgeons will assess each individual’s health and anatomy during their consultation to finalize their candidacy.
Great candidates are:
- Patients who want to change their shape
- Patients who feel square
- Patients who have limited fat
- Patients who want a more snatched appearance
Personal Consultation
The first step to achieving a sculpted, hourglass waist is attending a personal consultation at any one of our convenient offices. During this consultation, your surgeon will meet with you and ask you a series of questions to assess your medical history, aesthetic concerns, and treatment goals. They will also perform a physical examination to evaluate the current condition of your buttocks and ribs, as well as your general anatomy.
Your surgeon will use this information to finalize your candidacy and create your treatment plan. They will recommend the most effective combination of surgical techniques for your goals, and help you identify donor areas to take fat from. Your surgeon will additionally discuss the necessary steps for preparation, the procedure itself, your recovery, and more. By the end of this meeting, you will have a full understanding of both rib repositioning procedures and BBLs, allowing you to make more well-informed and confident decisions.
To schedule this consultation, please contact us online or call the office most convenient for you:
Preparation
Once you schedule your procedure, your surgeon will provide a set of personalized pre-operative instructions to help you prepare. These instructions may vary depending on the details of your treatment plan, but you can expect to:
- Refrain from taking any medications or supplements that contain blood-thinning properties.
- Pre-arrange transportation to and from your procedure.
- Prepare to take time away from your career and other commitments.
- Discontinue nicotine use in the weeks leading up to your procedure and throughout your recovery.
- Avoid drinking alcohol for several days before and after your appointment.
- Fill any prescriptions beforehand.
If needed, your surgeon may also request that you undergo certain lab tests to ensure your readiness for your procedure.
Procedure
Our surgeons perform each combined rib repositioning and BBL on an outpatient basis in our accredited surgical center. Your procedure will begin with the administration of general anesthesia to ensure you are comfortably asleep throughout your procedure. Your surgeon will then begin performing each of your corrections.
Rib Repositioning
Your surgeon will first identify your 10th, 11th, and 12th ribs on both sides of your ribcage using ultrasound technology. The 10th rib is considered a “false” rib because it is indirectly connected with the sternum. The 11th and 12th ribs are floating ribs, as they do not connect with the sternum at all. (2)
Your surgeon will typically place a tiny incision near your lower ribs to access your underlying anatomy. They will use a special ultrasonic instrument to safely manipulate the ribs and reposition them into a slimming, flattering placement.
The ribs are kept in place; they are cut so that they can be repositioned and slim the waist. The corset will help set the final shape, splinting the ribs into the final position.
Brazilian Butt Lift
When performing a BBL, your surgeon will begin by removing fat elsewhere on the body with liposuction. Your surgeon will make small incisions near your donor area before injecting a tumescent solution into the fatty tissues. This solution will help decrease blood loss and make the postoperative recovery more comfortable. Often, our surgeons will use AYON, which has ultrasound technology to prepare the fat for liposculpting. This technology releases some of the connective tissues to help your surgeon sculpt your entire body. (3) Your surgeon will then use a thin cannula to suction out your excess fat to sculpt and shape your body.
Your surgeon will process and purify the fat before reinjecting it into your buttocks using ultrasound guidance. They will precisely administer it into specific placements, providing a more lifted shape and fullness. The use of this technology ensures an even and smooth distribution across the entire treatment area and enhances the procedure’s overall safety profile. After performing the necessary adjustments, our team will transport you to our recovery suite, where you will rest until you are ready to go home.
The combination of Rib Repositioning (also known as Rib-X) and the Brazilian Butt Lift has become so popular, as it allows us to sculpt and shape the entire body. In the past, we tried to create this shape by purely enhancing the buttocks. The combination of fat transfer, liposculpting, and Rib-X has changed the paradigm of what we can accomplish!
Recovery
You can expect to experience some swelling, bruising, or discomfort around the treated areas throughout your initial recovery. These effects will gradually dissipate on their own, but you may also manage them using prescribed medications and plenty of rest. Your surgeon will provide you with a compression garment to wear as you heal, which will minimize swelling and allow your skin to settle into its new contours. During this time, your surgeon will also direct you to avoid sitting or placing pressure on your buttocks. You will also wear a corset that will splint the ribs in a new position and shrink the waist over the first few weeks.
Your surgeon will provide additional post-operative instructions in person.
Results
You will experience the full, refined results of your procedure once any residual swelling subsides. You will enjoy a more contoured and defined waist, as well as fuller, more shapely buttocks. You may also notice improvements in your figure’s overall balance and proportions.
The results of a rib repositioning and BBL are long-lasting, with many patients experiencing permanent results. However, it is important that you maintain a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle, as fluctuations can alter your long-term appearance.
Cost of Rib Repositioning and BBLs in Austin, TX
The cost of your rib repositioning and BBL can vary depending on certain factors in your treatment plan. These may include the type of enhancements your surgeon performs, the complexity of your corrections, whether you incorporate additional treatments into your procedure, and more. Once you and your surgeon form your treatment plan, they will provide a comprehensive cost estimate. We additionally offer financing for those interested.
To learn more about the cost of your personalized procedure, please schedule a consultation online or call any of our Austin-area offices directly.
FAQ
How long does it take to perform a combined rib repositioning and BBL?
The exact duration of your procedure will vary depending on the type and extent of corrections your surgeon makes, but you can expect it to last several hours.
Will I be able to sit while recovering from my rib repositioning and BBL?
We do not recommend sitting or placing any other pressure on your buttocks for the first several weeks of your recovery. After this time, your surgeon may direct you to use specialized pillows or cushions.
Can a rib repositioning and BBL occur in one procedure?
Yes, your surgeon can perform these procedures together, allowing you to achieve more cohesive and transformational results.
References
- Shih L, Davis MJ, Winocour SJ. The Science of Fat Grafting. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2020;34(01):005-010. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-3402073
- Safarini OA, Bordoni B. Anatomy, Thorax, Ribs. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538328/
- Bartow MJ, Raggio BS. Liposuction. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563135/
