BBL Scars: What They Look Like and How They Heal

Prepared by the Vivid Clinic patient-education team · Last updated: 31 July 2026

BBL scars are small. A Brazilian butt lift uses liposuction cannulas rather than long surgical cuts, so the marks it leaves are typically a few millimetres wide — small dots at the sites where fat was removed and injected, usually placed inside natural creases or areas covered by underwear. Most fade substantially over 12–18 months, though how completely depends on your skin, genetics and aftercare.

BBL scars at a glance

Where BBL scars are located

Every BBL involves two sets of entry points: where fat is harvested, and where it is placed. Your surgeon chooses them for both access and discretion.

Notably, the buttocks themselves usually carry the fewest visible marks — the transfer points sit in folds that are hidden even in swimwear. During your consultation, ask the surgeon to show you exactly where your incisions would sit on your body; placement varies with the liposuction plan discussed in our BBL procedure overview.

How BBL scars heal, stage by stage

Scar healing follows the same biological stages after any surgery — the NHS guide to scars is a good plain-English reference. Applied to BBL incisions:

• Weeks 1–2: the incisions close and crusting settles. Your job is wound hygiene, not scar treatment.
• Weeks 2–6: new collagen makes the marks look red or dark and slightly raised. This is normal, not a bad result.
• Months 2–6: the redness slowly fades and the texture softens. Marks often look their most obvious around the early part of this window before improving.
• Months 6–18: maturation. Scars flatten and fade toward your skin tone. For many patients the final marks are hard to find.

Do BBL scars go away?

They fade; they do not vanish. Any cut that reaches the deeper skin layer leaves a permanent mark, and honest clinics say so. The realistic goal is scars that are small, flat, pale and sitting where nobody looks. Two things influence that outcome most: factors you control (sun protection, not smoking, following aftercare) and factors you do not (genetics, skin tone, age). Surgeons control a third: incision size and placement — one reason experienced technique matters more than any scar cream.

Scar care that is actually supported by evidence

Scar-care advice online is noisy, so here is the honest picture:

• Sun protection. Fresh scars darken permanently with sun exposure. Keep them covered or use high-SPF sunscreen for the first year.
• No smoking. Smoking impairs wound healing — stopping before and after surgery is one of the few things proven to help.
• Silicone sheets and gels. These are the most commonly recommended scar products, and they are reasonable to use — but be aware the research quality is mixed. A Cochrane review of silicone gel sheeting found reported improvements in scar thickness and colour, while cautioning that the underlying studies were weak and prone to bias. Translation: worth trying, not magic.
• Massage and moisturising. Gentle massage once wounds are fully closed may help scars soften; it also helps you notice changes early.
• Time. Nothing improves a scar as reliably as 12 months of patience.

Whatever you read here or anywhere else: your treating surgeon’s aftercare instructions override general guidance, because they are based on your wounds, your skin and how your healing is actually going.

BBL scars on darker skin

Darker skin heals beautifully in most cases, but it does carry higher risks of two specific issues: keloid or hypertrophic scarring (raised scars that grow beyond or above the original wound — see the NHS keloid scars guide) and post-inflammatory pigmentation, where healed marks stay darker than the surrounding skin for longer. If you have keloid-prone skin — for example from piercings or old injuries — tell your surgeon before booking. Placement can be adapted, early silicone therapy considered, and treatment options such as steroid injection discussed if a scar begins to thicken. Raising this at consultation is a sign of a good process, not an obstacle.

How implant scars compare

Buttock implants — the main surgical alternative for very lean patients — require a longer incision, typically placed in the central buttock crease, and leave a more substantial scar than fat-transfer entry points. If you are comparing both routes, scarring is a genuine difference worth weighing; our guide to what a BBL actually is covers the comparison, and the ASPS buttock enhancement overview describes both procedures.

Warning signs to act on

Healing well after surgery in Istanbul

If you travel for a BBL, your scar story mostly happens after you fly home — which is why aftercare structure matters more for medical tourists, not less. At Vivid Clinic, incisions are checked before departure and our team continues дистанционно последващо обслужване with photo reviews once you are home, alongside written wound-care instructions. Before choosing any provider abroad, the NHS guidance on cosmetic surgery abroad lists the aftercare questions worth asking — including ours.

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

• What does BBL stand for? The procedure explained
• BBL compression garments: what to expect after surgery

Before and After Results

Individual results vary. Your surgeon will explain what may be achievable based on your anatomy, health and treatment plan.