Body Contouring
BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT: IMPROVE YOUR CURVES
Brazilian Butt Lift has become one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures for those looking to shape and contour their body and create a more youthful appearance. In just the past several years, the procedure has increased in popularity by nearly 20% according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This procedure, sometimes abbreviated BBL, uses the body’s own resources to create more curves to the backside and hips.
HOW IS YOUR BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT PERFORMED?
Brazilian butt lift is often referred to as buttock augmentation with fat grafting, because the procedure involves removing fat from other areas of the body and using that fat to create a rounder, fuller backside and hips.
During a traditional Brazilian butt lift, liposuction is performed to remove fat from a part of the body where it’s not wanted, such as the abdomen, thighs, lower back, flanks, or bra-roll area of the back. The fat is processed to isolate the healthiest and most viable fat cells, and those fat cells are then injected into specific areas of the buttock and hips to add volume and create more curves. You get the benefit of both the liposuction AND the fat transfer.
Our surgeons combine and improve upon several traditional BBL techniques to create a highly individualized outcome for each patient. Knowing there is no one-size-fits-all solution to achieve each person’s ideal shape, our surgeons Brazilian butt lift takes into account every patient’s body and unique characteristics, including fat, muscle, bone, and proportions. They then uses their artistic eye to sculpt the body and transfer the most ideal fat cells into exactly the right places for each patient. It’s our signature upside-down-heart booty shape that draws patients from around the world.
The end result of our surgeons lift procedure is an overall enhancement of the body’s curves as well as a shapelier derriere and hips. No two procedures or patients are exactly the same, but many patients find that their body has a more youthful appearance and clothing fits better after surgery. It is about changing the entire silhouette of the body. Many patients who think that their upper body is too wide, simply need a more narrow waistline and wider hips to give them a more hourglass shape. Sometimes, it is not just about making the waist smaller, but also making the hips wider.
YOUR RECOVERY AFTER BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT
It’s important for patients to take their recovery from surgery seriously. Because a Brazilian butt lift involves transplanting fat cells into new sites on the body, patients in recovery will need to be very careful about how they sit and sleep, in addition to maintaining other good practices that can aid surgical recovery. You need to respect the newly transplanted fat cells and give them time to grow a blood supply and become a permanent part of you again.
Applying direct pressure to these newly transplanted fat cells can prevent the growth of a new blood supply. This can impact the fat cell survival. Even when patients are great about avoiding pressure on their butts, a percentage of the transplanted cells will ultimately die. However, added pressure will increase the percentage of fat cell death and negatively affect your ultimate results. When sitting, we recommend using a specialized BBL cushion to reduce pressure on your butt and you should sleep on your stomach. Even sleeping on your sides will put pressure on the fat that is transferred to your hips.
Our surgeons will advise you on when you can expect to be able to safely apply more pressure to your butt. For most patients, these restrictions on sitting and laying on the buttock and hips tend to be the most difficult part of recovery.
Pain is normal after Brazilian butt lift and can be controlled through oral medication. There will undoubtedly be soreness from liposuction. You will also have bruising and swelling in the liposuction areas that will last a few weeks. You will need to wear a compression garment during your recovery for up to eight weeks. This will help to control swelling and improve your overall shape. Our surgeons have created a well established garment protocol and we can help you understand how to wear this garment during your recovery.
While each case is unique, many of our patients find it most helpful to take at least 10 days off school or work to ensure that they can focus on recovery. Your physical activity will be restricted immediately after surgery, but most patients are able to return to normal activities about 4-6 weeks after surgery. If you try to do too much, too soon, your overall recovery will last longer.
BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT VS. BUTTOCK IMPLANTS
Using your own fat during a Brazilian butt lift procedure is not the only way to create a fuller or shapelier backside. Another popular method to increase the size of the buttock is with the use of silicone buttock implants.
While implants may be adequate in some cases to increase volume, they simply make things bigger and do little to improve the overall shape and contour of the buttocks. Because there is no liposuction, buttock implants cannot change the shape of the buttock and surrounding areas in the way a Brazilian Butt Lift can. Butt implants are also unable to change the shape or increase the size of the hips. Butt implants also carry a risk of infection and shifting.
That’s why for most patients, our surgeons recommend Brazilian butt lift using their technique. In addition to more natural-looking results, Brazilian butt lifts tend to provide longer-lasting results because it relies on actual fat cells. The fat cells used in the procedure will develop their own blood supply and will remain a part of the buttocks. The added volume is permanent and will change as your body changes with aging or weight fluctuations. Using the body’s own fat cells also eliminates the danger of rejection, shifting, or scarring that can occur when using an artificial implant.
Brazilian butt lifts also involve removing fat through liposuction, so patients see multiple areas of improvement, which is not possible with butt implants alone. A Brazilian Butt Lift is essentially two operations in one. Between butt implants and Brazilian butt lifts, butt implants are far less popular at least in part because of some of the associated risks. Brazilian butt lifts were performed about 25 times more than buttock implants in 2018, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
A small number of patients may not be able to have Brazilian butt lift done; for instance, those who are very thin and don’t have enough fat likely would be better candidates for butt implants.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT
WHAT IS A BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT?
Brazilian butt lift, often referred to as BBL, is a buttock augmentation with fat grafting. That means fat is taken from one area of the body and transplanted to the buttock and/or hips. Using liposuction, a surgeon removes excess fat from areas of the body, such as the abdomen, thighs, or back. The fat cells are then processed and injected into specific areas of the buttocks to create increased volume and a shapelier contour. Over the course of the recovery process, the fat cells will begin to thrive in their new location, making them a permanent part of the buttocks.
IS A BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT RIGHT FOR ME?
Our surgeons will consult with you to help you decide what’s right in your specific situation, but Brazilian butt lift is a good procedure for anybody who wants a larger or fuller butt and/or hips or someone who simply wants a more youthful shape to their derriere. Those who have excess fat in other areas also could benefit, as BBLs involve liposuction on other parts of the body. Very thin patients would likely not be candidates and could consider buttock implants as an alternative option.
IF I AM TOO SKINNY FOR A BBL, SHOULD I GAIN WEIGHT?
A. Our surgeons strongly opposes weight gain simply to create excess fat. If you are thin, and gain weight simply to qualify for Brazilian butt lift, or give you more fat to work with, your results will likely not be long-lasting. If you subsequently lose weight and get back to your original weight, you will end up losing the fat that you previously gained and your butt and hips will shrink.
IS THIS PROCEDURE ONLY FOR WOMEN?
While Brazilian butt lift is more commonly performed on women than on men, it still is a good option for many men. In fact, about 15% of all Brazilian butt lifts our surgeons perform are on men. The placement of the fat is usually different for men, if they are trying to maintain a masculine shape.
HOW LONG DOES BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT PROCEDURE TAKE?
The procedure is performed in our fully certified and accredited office operating room. Depending on the amount of liposuction and fat transfer you require, it will take about 3 hours. You will then spend about 1-2 hours in the recovery room until you are safely discharged.
IS BBL PERMANENT?
This surgery transfers your own fat cells to a new location in your body, where they grow their own blood supply. About 30% of the fat cells will not be able to grow a blood supply and will die. This death occurs during the first several weeks, and poses no threat to you. The cells that survive, will remain forever. As a result, the results will be permanent if you maintain your weight over time. Weight gain could cause your butt and hips to expand, and weight loss would, conversely, cause those areas to shrink. Some changes over time are to be expected, as all human bodies undergo a normal aging process, but BBL is designed to be permanent..
HOW MUCH FAT IS NEEDED FOR A BBL?
Most people are surprised by the amount of fat needed to get the best results, and our surgeons often place twice as much fat during the procedure than other surgeons. Our surgeons are strong believers that transferring a large quantity of fat is the best way to get permanent, ideal results. The amount of fat transferred will depend on the amount of available donor fat, the amount of room in the buttock to receive this fat, and each patient’s desired appearance.
CAN OTHER PROCEDURES BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME?
Yes, depending on the individual situation, some patients opt to combine BBL with other body contouring procedures, such as tummy tucks, breast lifts, and breast augmentation. Depending on who performs your surgery, the anticipated surgical time, and your individual health status, it may be necessary to do separate procedures. Our surgeons will be able to discuss if you are a candidate for a combined procedure.
DO I HAVE TO GO UNDER FULL ANESTHESIA FOR THIS SURGERY, AND IS THE PROCEDURE RISKY?
Our surgeons prefer to perform BBLs with patients under general anesthesia. They feel that this is the best way to get an ideal cosmetic result and keep you comfortable while doing it. During the surgery, you will be continuously monitored by a board certified anesthesiologist. Like with any surgery, there are risks. The most serious risk associated with a BBL procedure is the injection of fat into a blood vessel. This is a fat embolism and can be fatal. Our surgeons use techniques that minimize this risk, including specialized injection cannulas and specific injection techniques such as not injecting fat into the buttock muscle.
WHAT’S THE RECOVERY TIME?
Most of our patients need to take about 10 days off work or school, but individual cases may vary. For instance, patients who had a great deal of liposuction will probably experience a longer recovery due to the pain and bruising from higher volume liposuction. Our surgeons and our staff will advise you on the specific steps you need to take to ensure a good recovery. Remember that it can take several months to see the final results of your procedure since you will be swollen from the liposuction and the fat cells need time to “take hold” in their new location. Final results could take up to a year, but you won’t be out of commission that long.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS?
The most common side effects include bruising, swelling, lumps, and asymmetry, but these are usually temporary and subtle. Our surgeons procedure are designed to transplant only the healthiest fat cells, but it’s not uncommon for transplanted fat cells to die, which is known as fat necrosis. This can create hard lumps in the transplant areas, but this is not common and lumps are usually small and not visible.
WHAT ELSE IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHEN GETTING A BBL?
Not all BBL procedures are the same, and much of that has to do with the surgeon who performs your procedure. You should select a surgeon who is experienced in this procedure and can show you hundreds of examples of successful results.
CAN YOU REVERSE A BBL?
Yes, a surgeon can perform a reverse BBL by simply removing fat through liposuction.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I GAIN WEIGHT OR BECOME PREGNANT AFTER A BBL?
Weight gain, including from pregnancy, may alter your results because the transplanted fat will act like regular fat and grow with weight gain.
DO I NEED TO WEAR A SPECIAL GARMENT AFTER SURGERY?
Yes, our surgeons recommend wearing a post-operative compression garment to help in your recovery. You will wake up with a garment on you, that we place while you are still sleepy. You will then follow a specific protocol that our surgeons have created. Patients will wear garments for about 8 weeks after surgery, but some prefer to wear it even longer.
WHAT IF I HAVE LOOSE SKIN?
The Brazilian Butt Lift uses liposuction to remove and transfer fat. This does not address loose skin. If you have loose skin, you may require a skin removal procedure such as a tummy tuck. During your consultation, our surgeons will be able to discuss if this procedure is the right one for you.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?
Aside from quitting smoking (or vaping), you will need to make sure your body is ready for surgery. That means ensuring your body mass index (BMI) is 31 or lower, that your blood count is normal, and that you have no serious medical issues that would make surgery a higher risk for you. All surgical patients will require preoperative medical clearance and bloodwork.
CAN I CONTINUE SMOKING CIGARETTES?
For the sake of your health, our surgeons strongly advise you to quit smoking permanently. Smoking significantly increases your risk for surgical complications, and smoking will increase loss of transplanted fat, which could mean your Brazilian butt lift results may be less ideal. Our surgeons require patients to stop smoking for at least 4 weeks before and 8 weeks after surgery. Nicotine is a known blood vessel constrictor, which means the blood supply necessary to help ensure your fat transfer is successful could be compromised and fat loss will be higher. Remember that the “no-smoking” rule pertains to all nicotine-containing products such as e-cigarettes.
WHAT ELSE IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHEN GETTING A BBL?
Not all BBL procedures are the same, and much of that has to do with the surgeon who performs your procedure. You should select a surgeon who is experienced in this procedure and can show you hundreds of examples of successful results.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
To learn more about our Brazilian butt lift techniques, please call us at 888.411.3376.