People love a good mystery, but SZA isn't giving us one anymore. For years, the internet was basically a giant detective agency trying to figure out if her curves were from the gym or a surgeon’s table. Then SOS dropped in 2022, and she just... said it. No cryptic tweets, no "it's just yoga" excuses.
"So classic, that a** so fat, it look natural, it's not," she sang on the title track.
Honestly, it was a breath of fresh air. In an industry where everyone pretends they woke up with a 24-inch waist and a shelf in the back, SZA just handed us the receipt. But the story of SZA before and after BBL isn't just about a surgical procedure. It’s actually a pretty complicated look at body image, mental health, and the regret that sometimes comes after you get exactly what you thought you wanted.
The Transformation: SZA Before and After BBL
If you look back at the Ctrl era in 2017, SZA had a much different silhouette. She’s always been open about her weight journey—at one point she was 200 pounds and rocking oversized 90s streetwear. She was beautiful then, obviously, but she’s admitted she felt "sensitive" about her body. In her song "Garden (Say It Like Dat)," she literally says, "You know I'm sensitive 'bout havin' no booty."
Fast forward to the SOS rollout. The change was undeniable.
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The SZA before and after BBL transition happened roughly around 2022. While fans were busy debating it, she was busy recovering. She told Elle in 2023 that she didn't do it because of industry pressure. She did it because she wanted a "really fat a** with less gym time." She basically treated the surgery like buying a luxury accessory, saying she treats her butt "like a purse" that enhances everything else.
Why she did it
- Personal preference: She told British Vogue she just wanted more "a**" and succumbed to her own eyes in the mirror.
- Gym fatigue: She was hitting the gym constantly but wasn't seeing the specific anatomical changes she was looking for.
- Autonomy: She’s been very clear that she’ll do whatever she wants to her "temporary" body.
The "Stupid" Regret and the Recovery Nightmare
Here is where it gets real. In late 2024, SZA sat down with British Vogue and dropped a bombshell: she’s actually "so mad" she did it.
Wait, what?
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Most people see the "after" photos and think it’s all sunshine and Instagram likes. SZA described the recovery process as "stupid." To keep the fat from "dying" after a Brazilian Butt Lift, you have to be immobile. You can't sit on it. You can't move much. Because she was so sedentary during recovery, she actually gained weight in places she didn't want it.
"I'm so mad I did that s***," she told the magazine. She realized after the fact that the surgery wasn't "super necessary." It’s a classic case of thinking a physical change will fix an internal feeling. She admitted that she should have been focusing on her mental health instead of trying to "preserve fat."
It Wasn't Just the BBL
The SZA before and after BBL conversation usually overshadows the other work she’s had—and haven't had—done. She’s been very vocal about her breast implants, which she eventually had removed. That wasn't about aesthetics; it was about pain. She had "extra fibrosis" and scar tissue because her breast tissue was too dense for the implants.
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On the flip side, she’s shut down rumors about her face. People love to claim she had a nose job or a facelift. She told The Wall Street Journal that she hasn't touched her face, even though the internet tried to bully her into needing a nose job.
What she actually confirmed:
- The BBL: Confirmed via lyrics in "SOS" and "Conceited," and interviews with Elle and Vogue.
- Breast Implants: Confirmed she had them and subsequently had them removed.
- Weight Loss: A long-term journey she’s discussed since her debut.
The Bottom Line on SZA’s Evolution
So, what can we actually learn from the SZA before and after BBL saga?
It’s a reminder that even the most beautiful people in the world struggle with what they see in the mirror. SZA has the money, the fame, and the "perfect" body, yet she’s still out here saying she needs to get her "f***ing mental health together."
If you're looking at her transformation as "goals," keep in mind the part she talks about most now: the recovery was hard, the weight gain from immobility sucked, and she realized her self-worth didn't actually change once the anesthesia wore off. She still loves how her "booty look nice," but she's also honest enough to say it didn't solve the deeper stuff.
What to do if you're considering a similar path:
- Research the recovery: As SZA noted, being immobile can lead to unexpected weight gain and mental strain.
- Check your "why": Are you doing it for your "eyes in the mirror" or because you think it'll make you feel "fixed"?
- Prioritize health: SZA’s breast implant complications show that even "standard" procedures can go south if your body isn't a good fit for them.
SZA is still one of the greatest artists of our generation, and her transparency about her body—regrets and all—is part of why her fans feel so connected to her. She’s human. She makes "stupid" decisions sometimes, just like the rest of us. She just happens to do it while topping the Billboard charts.