Brazilian Butt Lift

A Brazilian butt lift is a minimally-invasive procedure that removes fat from other parts of the body and transfers it to the buttocks to make them bigger and shapelier. 

A Brazilian butt lift is totally different from a traditional butt lift. A BBL is actually a fat grafting procedure aimed at adding volume and fullness to the backside but a traditional butt lift is a surgical procedure that enhances the shape of a sagging butt by removing its excess skin and lifting it without adding volume to it — although it can also be combined with a fat transfer procedure to add fullness to the buttocks as well.

An hourglass figure with voluptuous curves is something that most people admire in a woman when it comes to physical beauty. The backside is one of the two main areas in the body — the other being the chest — that, when full and firm, makes a female body shapelier and more attractive. With this aim in view, plastic surgeons have been using the fat transfer technique since the 1980s to improve the shape and size of people’s buttocks using their own subcutaneous fat.

The Brazilian butt lift is growing in popularity across the world because of the aesthetic benefits it offers. Here are the main advantages of BBL surgery:

1. It improves the buttocks shape and size

A Brazilian butt lift gives you a rounder and bigger derriere by increasing the volume of your buttocks with your own fat. Your plastic surgeon carefully injects the fat in particular areas to also create a natural curvature that goes well with the rest of your body.

2. It sculpts the body by removing unwanted fat

People who undergo a BBL actually get a ‘twofer’, meaning they kill two birds with one stone. A Brazilian butt lift not just improves your backside by adding fat to it, it also improves other areas of your body by removing fat from them. A BBL is a type of fat transfer procedure that moves fat that is unwanted in one place to a place where it is welcome. This is done using liposuction, a body-sculpting cosmetic procedure that is also done alone to remove stubborn fat deposits from the body.

The areas that can be improved alongside the buttocks during a Brazilian butt lift include, but are not limited to, the belly, thighs, love handles, back, and arms. 

3. It boosts your confidence 

Having flat and saggy buttocks causes self-consciousness and embarrassment for some people, most notably women. A butt augmentation procedure can make a big change to the appearance of your buttocks and give you renewed self-confidence that makes your life better.

4. It is a safer butt enlargement procedure than butt implants

While using butt implants is also an option for butt augmentation, a Brazilian butt lift is considered a safer option with fewer risks compared to butt implants. Butt implants carry considerable risks and can cause serious complications such as capsular contracture and infection. 

Capsular contracture happens when the body reacts to the implants as foreign objects (in medical terms, foreign body reaction), leading to the formation of scar tissue around the implants that will squeeze them, distort their shape, and cause pain. As fat used in a BBL is from the patient’s own body, the body accepts it and won’t react to it.

5. BBL results are natural-looking

The results of butt implants and fillers are sometimes unnatural-looking especially when the patient has weight fluctuations or when there is a so-called implant/filler migration. The Brazilian butt lift, on the other hand, provides a natural look and feel because the material used for augmentation is natural fat that blends well into the body. Therefore, when the patient loses or puts on weight, the shape of the buttocks will also change accordingly, and naturally.   

6. BBL results are quick

A Brazilian butt lift is a quick way to achieve a well-shaped backside without having to spend hours in the gym doing intense workouts to build your glutes. Once you have the procedure done, you only need to wait for a few days for the swelling to go down and see the initial results, though you have to wait for a few months for the ultimate outcome of your BBL surgery.

If you are unhappy with your flat or droopy buttocks and are looking for a way to improve the size and shape of your derriere, you may be a BBL candidate. But a BBL isn’t right for everyone wishing to have a bigger tush. A candidate for a Brazilian butt lift should, first and foremost, have enough fat in their body to be extracted for injection into the buttocks. So, thin people whose body lacks excess fat deposits are not good candidates for a butt fat transfer in the first place.

While having some fat pockets is necessary for a BBL, this procedure is not recommended for people with a BMI over 32 because obesity increases the risk of complications. Good candidates, therefore, are typically people with BMIs falling into the ‘normal weight’ or ‘overweight’ categories (18.5 – 30). Other people may need to start a healthy weight gain or weight loss program to either put on adequate fat for the procedure or bring their weight within the safe range.

That said, a consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon is always the best way to find out if you’re a good candidate for a Brazilian butt lift based on your physical conditions. However, this is not the only factor that should be taken into account. You will be a good candidate for a BBL if you meet these criteria:

• You are dissatisfied with your flat butt and this has caused you to feel self-conscious about your appearance and physical attractiveness
• You have enough fat stores for extraction and reinjection into your rear (if you’re too thin, you need to put on weight)
• You are not obese (if you have obesity, you need to bring down your weight to a medically safe level before considering a BBL)
• You don’t have excessive loose skin on your buttocks (if you do, a skin reduction or a traditional butt lift procedure should be performed before a BBL surgery)   
• You have realistic expectations and goals in mind and not looking for a miracle that turns you into one of those ‘big booty’ social media influencers
• You are in good health with no conditions that can get worse after the surgery or increase the risks of surgery 
• You do not smoke and/or drink alcohol or are committed to quitting them for a period of time (from at least a few weeks before until a few weeks after the procedure)

A BBL is a three-stage procedure. The first stage is actually a liposuction procedure, which involves suctioning out subcutaneous fat from any part of the body using a cannula and a suction machine. As some liposuction techniques kill fat cells before extraction, for a fat transfer procedure like BBL the surgeon should choose a method that preserves the fat as much as possible. 

The second step is purification. The extracted fat is purified using a sterile centrifuge to prepare a pure liquid fat ready for injection. 

The last part of a Brazilian butt lift is fat injection. The surgeon uses a syringe or a needle connected to a container to carefully inject controlled amounts of fat into different areas of the buttocks. The fat should be distributed evenly across the recipient area and in a way that the fat cells are well surrounded by healthy tissues to ensure that the fat is supplied with sufficient oxygen and nutrients for survival.

The amount of fat injected depends on your preferences and the proportions of the body. However, as some of the fat (between 20 to 50 percent) will be absorbed by the body within 6 to 12 months after the procedure, surgeons usually inject a little more than what is needed to ensure that the final results are satisfactory enough for the patient.

A Brazilian butt lift is usually done with local anesthesia or intravenous sedation but it can also be done with general anesthesia. This means that you won’t feel pain during the liposuction and injection procedures.

When the surgeon is finished with the procedure they will apply dressings to your incisions and you will be taken to a recovery room to recover from the surgery. 

After coming around from the anesthetics in the clinic or hospital you will have some pain and discomfort at the incision sites, including liposuction and injection areas. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medication and give you instructions as to what to do and what not to do during your recovery after your BBL surgery. 

They also may prescribe a compression garment for you to wear during the recovery phase. The garment will reduce swelling and help you heal faster. A follow-up appointment may also be scheduled and you’ll be most likely discharged from the hospital on the same day of the surgery, unless the procedure is too extensive, making it necessary for you to stay overnight for a longer period of medical care.

One of the most common questions about a Brazilian butt lift is “how long does it take to recover from BBL?” The whole process of recovering from a BBL surgery takes around 6 weeks. In the first two weeks after a BBL, you will need to avoid sitting on your butt and sleeping on your back, or putting any pressure on your buttocks. Some surgeons advise patients to avoid normal sitting and sleeping on their backs for as long as five to six weeks until the buttocks fully heal.

For sitting after a BBL surgery, there are special pillows you can use to keep pressure off your buttocks. These ‘donut-shaped’ or ‘wedge’ BBL pillows are ergonomically designed to shift the pressure to your thighs and are especially useful when you have to go to work and sit on a chair for prolonged periods. However, sitting on your backside for long periods even on a BBL recovery pillow is not recommended. But still and all, you should consult with your surgeon about how to sit and whether to use a pillow for sitting after your Brazilian butt lift.

Resuming your regular exercise regimen is only allowed 4-6 weeks after your BBL but you need to have regular light exercise, such as walking, to prevent post-op problems like blood clots. You can go back to work after a week of complete rest at home following your Brazilian butt lift but it is better to wait one week more, if possible, before returning to work. 

Swelling after BBL lasts for a few weeks and during that time your buttocks look bigger than normal, which is because of both the swelling and the extra fat injected to make up for the volume that would be lost after the surgery. 

You’ll be able to see the initial results of your BBL in 6 to 8 weeks when most of the swelling has subsided, but the final results of the Brazilian butt lift can be seen after 6 to 12 months when all the swelling has gone and the remaining fat has permanently settled in the body.

There are always some risks inherent in any surgery and a BBL is no exception. For every surgery, there is a long list of side effects and potential complications. Although this does not mean that all of these complications occur, it is important that you understand the risks and proceed with due caution. The Brazilian butt lift risks include:

• Blood clots
• Fat embolism
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Hematoma (blood accumulation under the skin)
• Nerve damage
• Infection
• Fat necrosis
• Skin necrosis 
• Prolonged swelling
• Lumpiness of the skin
• Butt asymmetry
• Reaction to anesthesia

Other common side effects of BBL that almost all patients experience after surgery include swelling, bruising, mild pain and discomfort, and fluid discharge from liposuction incisions.

The chances of developing serious complications after a BBL vary from one patient to another. People with poor health and certain medical conditions are at a greater risk of post-op BBL complications. That is why it is hugely important to inform your surgeon about your medical history and past surgery or treatments, as well as any medications or supplements you take. The risks are also higher for people living an unhealthy lifestyle including smokers, heavy drinkers, and obese people.

More importantly, the skill and competency of a plastic surgeon are key to having a safe BBL surgery. Choosing a board-certified surgeon with good professional experience in performing Brazilian butt lifts is maybe the most important factor in reducing the risk of serious complications after surgery.

How to minimize the complication rate of BBL?

By following specific instructions before butt augmentation surgery you can greatly reduce the risk of developing complications. Here’s how to reduce BBL risks:

• Choose the right clinic and surgeon: The complication rate among BBL patients who go to unlicensed clinics and surgeons is significantly higher than among those who have their surgery done at an accredited clinic and by a board-certified surgeon. Finding the right BBL surgeon and clinic is the first step in having a successful procedure.
• Stop smoking: Smoking is bad for wound healing because nicotine narrows blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the incisional sites, thus slowing down the healing process. That’s why most doctors order patients to stop smoking at least 2 weeks before any surgery, including BBL, and 2 weeks after it.
• Avoid alcohol: Alcohol can act as a blood thinner that increases the risk of excessive bleeding during a Brazilian butt lift surgery. Surgeons recommend that patients stay away from alcohol for 2 weeks leading up to the surgery and 2 weeks after the procedure.
• Stop blood-thinning medications: Blood-thinning drugs and supplements such as ibuprofen and aspirin, Vitamin E, St John’s Wart, and many other medicines can increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. If you’re currently on any of such medications or any other medications you’re not sure about their effect on your surgery be sure to discuss it with your surgeon. They may ask you to stop them one week or two before surgery.
• Follow your doctor’s post-op instructions: Sticking to the post-operative guidelines provided by your surgeon is vital to preventing serious complications after your Brazilian butt lift surgery. This includes avoiding intense activity, caring for the incisions, having a healthy diet, and more.

The cost of a BBL procedure depends on a number of factors, such as the location of the clinic or hospital, professional credentials and experience of the surgeon, extent of the operation, surgical facility and staff fees, and country where the surgery is done. Additional expenses such as medicines, recovery accessories (pillows, compression garments, etc.), lab tests, and accommodation and travel (for out-of-town patients) also contribute to the overall cost of a Brazilian butt lift surgery. 

According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of a Brazilian butt lift in 2020 was $4,800, excluding anesthesia, operating room services, and other expenses.

It’s worth noting that although low BBL prices don’t always mean that the safety and quality of the procedure is questionable, you should be extremely cautious not to fall prey to cheap BBL procedures advertised by some low-class aesthetic clinics that provide butt lift services that fall short of the usual safety standards.

How long will the result of my Brazilian butt lift last?

The results of a Brazilian butt lift vary from patient to patient. Over time, about 20-50 percent of the injected fat will be absorbed by the body but the remaining fat will last for a long time if you maintain a stable weight. Weight fluctuations can affect the results of a BBL and the fat cells in your backside area may expand or shrink as you gain or lose weight. 

How long does a Brazilian butt lift procedure take?

Depending on the amount of fat needed to be transferred, a BBL takes 2 to 4 hours to be performed. It may last longer if the BBL is combined with other procedures such as surgical butt lift and thigh lift.

Will I have scars after a BBL?

The incisions involved in a BBL procedure include those in the liposuction areas made by the cannula used for fat extraction and those tiny incisions in the recipient area (buttocks) made by the needle used for fat injection. So as for the buttocks, because the incisions are extremely tiny, there will be almost no scarring. In the donor areas, the incisions are bigger but they are also small, so there is a chance to have small scars left on the body. The visibility of these scars depends on how well the incisions heal after the surgery as well as the skin color. In some patients, they will become almost invisible after a few months but in others, they may turn into small red spots.

Is Brazilian butt lift painful?

You won’t feel pain while the surgery is being performed because you are either unconscious or in a state between wakefulness and sleep. However, when the anesthetics wear off after the procedure, you’ll have some soreness and discomfort in the liposuction and injection areas. The level of pain, however, varies from patient to patient and it can be managed by taking pain medications as instructed by the doctor. 

Should I choose a BBL or butt implants?

Both BBL and butt implants enhance the shape and size of the buttocks but they are different in several ways. Butt implants is a more invasive procedure than a BBL so there will be more scarring and downtime. Also, as the implants are foreign objects, there is the risk that the body reacts to them and you develop a capsular contracture as well as other complications such as implant migration and implant rupture. A BBL, on the other hand, uses your own body fat, so the risk of complications after the surgery is lower. However, the volume you can get with butt implants is usually more than fat transfer and it will remain the same with time because some of the injected fat will be absorbed over time. 

Also, a BBL requires that you have enough fat in your body to be used for your butt augmentation while implants can be used for anybody with any weight and body shape. So you should take these pros and cons of each procedure into account and consult with a specialist to find out if a BBL or a butt implants procedure is right for you.

Will weight loss affect my Brazilian butt lift results?

The fat cells transferred to the buttocks act just like other fat cells in your body: They shrink or expand as you lose or gain weight. This means that if you lose weight, the fat in your buttocks will decrease accordingly and you will lose some of the volume you gained with a BBL. This is why it is recommended to have a BBL when you are near your ideal weight and that you maintain a stable weight after the procedure

However, this doesn’t mean that weight loss after a BBL will completely ruin your BBL results. For one thing, the reduction in the volume of your buttocks after losing some weight will be in proportion with the rest of your body, so the shape of your buttocks will remain the same. And for another, the transferred fat cells won’t die with weight loss, they just shrink, so they can expand again if you gain weight and you can get back the volume you lost. 

Can I combine my BBL with another procedure?

While a BBL itself actually involves another procedure (liposuction), it can further be combined with other cosmetic procedures as well. A BBL can be performed with a traditional butt lift (butt skin tightening), a tummy tuck, a thigh lift, and a body lift, among others, simultaneously. Be sure to consult with your surgeon about whether it’s possible and safe to have a Brazilian butt lift and another procedure in a single session.

When can I sit after my Brazilian butt lift?

Generally, BBL patients are advised to avoid activities that put direct pressure on their buttocks for at least 2-4 weeks after the surgery to ensure that the newly transferred fat cells get enough blood supply and survive. So you should try to avoid sitting for prolonged periods for a few weeks after your BBL, as well as lying on your back and other activities that put pressure on your backside. In case sitting is unavoidable, such as when using the toilet, you should try to make it as short as possible. You may want to lie on your stomach or rest on your hips when doing stationary activities such as working on a computer or watching television. Using a BBL pillow is also a great way to keep pressure off your buttocks while sitting. That said, it is recommended to avoid sitting on your backside for lengthy periods during the first weeks post-surgery even on a BBL pillow. Typically, you’ll be able to sit normally after around 6 weeks.

How should I sleep after my Brazilian butt lift?

It is strongly recommended to refrain from sleeping on your back for a few weeks after your BBL procedure. This is because direct pressure on the buttocks can disrupt the fat grafting process, affecting the results of your BBL. It is advised that you sleep on your back or sides for the first few weeks after the surgery to ensure a healthy recovery and maximum results. You may want to put a few pillows on your sides to prevent unwillingly flipping over onto your back in your sleep. 

How long should I wear my compression garment after my BBL?

Different doctors have different guidelines for wearing compression garments after a Brazilian butt lift. Some doctors recommend their patients to wear the garment 24/7 for at least 2 months and then 12 hours a day for another 2 months. Others may recommend a shorter or longer period. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions about wearing a post-surgical girdle after your BBL surgery.

Can I use fat from someone else for my BBL?

No, fat cannot be taken from someone’s body and transferred to another’s in a fat grafting procedure, including a Brazilian butt lift. This is because the body would know the fat is genetically different and reject it, which will cause severe complications. There is one exception, though. In identical twins, one can donate fat to a twin sibling because they are genetically identical. 

Can I have sex after a BBL?

Most surgeons advise their patients to refrain from having full sex for at least 2-3 weeks after a Brazilian butt lift. This is because sexual intercourse is typically done in a position that applies pressure on the buttocks area, which interferes with proper healing and results in the death of the newly transferred fat cells. However, having light or non-penetrative sex acts such as kissing, oral sex, or touching is safe as long as you do them in a position that doesn’t put too much pressure on your buttocks. It is always recommended to talk to your surgeon about how and when you can resume your normal sexual activities after your Brazilian butt lift surgery.