The Reality Check
Before-and-after photos can be manipulated through lighting, angles, posing, and Photoshop. Even honest surgeons show their best work, not average results. Knowing how to evaluate a portfolio protects you from unrealistic expectations.
What This Guide Covers
What to Look For in a Portfolio
Minimum Requirements
- ✓ At least 50+ before/after sets for the procedure you want
- ✓ Patients with similar body type to yours
- ✓ Consistent lighting and angles across photos
- ✓ Photos taken at multiple time points (1 week, 1 month, 6+ months)
- ✓ Some patient-submitted photos, not just professional studio shots
Common Manipulation Techniques
Lighting Tricks
Lighting can make dramatic differences without any surgery:
- • Before: Harsh overhead lighting that creates shadows and accentuates flaws
- • After: Soft, frontal lighting that eliminates shadows
- • Flash photography in "after" shots can make skin appear smoother
"The lighting can make you look like a devil, or fantastic."
Positioning Tricks
- • Standing → Lying down: Gravity redistributes tissue, hiding sagging
- • Different expressions: Smiling in "after" photos changes face shape
- • Camera angles: Higher angles slim the face; lower angles widen
- • Strategic posing: Arms positioned to hide irregularities
Body Photo Manipulation
- • "Greasing up": Oiling skin makes contours look more defined
- • Flexing: Relaxed in "before," flexed in "after"
- • Posture: Slouching before, standing tall after
- • Compression wear: Removed in before, worn under skin-tight clothes after
Digital Alteration
Yes, some surgeons Photoshop results. Signs include: perfectly smooth skin texture, unnatural contours, misaligned backgrounds.
Pro tip: Follow surgeons' tagged patients on social media to see real-life, unedited results.
Setting Realistic Expectations
BBL: Expect Fat Reabsorption
20–30% of transferred fat will be reabsorbed over 3–6 months. The "wow" results at 2 weeks won't be your final result.
Results Stabilize at 4–6 Months
Don't judge your results at 2 weeks or even 2 months. Swelling distorts appearance. Wait for full healing.
Perfect Symmetry Is Impossible
Your body isn't perfectly symmetrical now, and it won't be after surgery. Minor asymmetry is normal and human.
Scars Are Part of Surgery
All surgery creates scars. They fade over 12–18 months but never disappear completely. Location varies by technique.
Your Body Type Matters
You won't get someone else's body. Results depend on your starting anatomy, skin elasticity, and healing.
Questions to Ask About Photos
During Your Consultation
- "Are these your actual patients?"
- "Can I see photos at multiple stages of healing?"
- "Do you have photos of patients with similar body type to mine?"
- "Can I see some average results, not just your best work?"
- "Can I speak with or see social media of previous patients?"
- "What results can I realistically expect given my anatomy?"
Red Flags in Portfolios
- ✗ Very few photos available
- ✗ Only showing "best case" outcomes
- ✗ Dramatically different lighting/angles between before and after
- ✗ All photos look like professional studio shots
- ✗ Skin texture looks unnaturally smooth
- ✗ Won't provide photos of similar body types
- ✗ Generic stock images or photos from other surgeons