Brazilian Butt Lift

What is a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)?

In professional medical terms, this procedure is referred to as “gluteal fat grafting.” It’s essentially a fat transfer, and involves removing excess fat from areas of the body that we wish to be slimmer (such as the tummy, thighs, and hips) and transferring that fat to portions of the buttock to enhance curves, and create a fuller, lifted, and more youthful shape and appearance.

Why Do Patients Seek BBL Surgery?

In general, the shape and size of a person’s buttocks are primarily determined by genetics. The basic form can be altered somewhat by a specialized diet and consistent exercise regimen, but there are limitations based on how your body naturally stores fat and how your bones are structured.

Some people simply cannot achieve the body proportions that they want through diet and exercise alone. In these cases, patients often turn to plastic surgery to help them reach their full potential. This is usually why people seek out Butt Lifts.

What Are the Benefits of a Buttock Lift?

Some benefits can include boosting self-esteem and helping patients feel younger, sexier and more confident.

Other benefits include:

• Reducing unwanted fat deposits in the hips, belly or thighs
• Enhancing the natural curves of your body
• Achieving a more balanced, well-proportioned silhouette
• Helping you look and feel better in clothes

This procedure is particularly beneficial for people whose genetics make it difficult to sculpt the curves of their bodies naturally.

An example of one patient outcome is illustrated below.  For additional examples of Before & After patient outcomes, see our Brazilian Butt Lift Photo Gallery.

No two Brazilian Butt Lifts are the same as results depend on a lot of factors, including patient anatomy and goals. An example of one patient outcome is illustrated above. See our Photo Gallery for Before & After photos of actual patients.

What is the Difference Between a Brazilian Butt Lift and Buttock Implants?

There are some key differences. A Brazilian butt lift uses your body’s own natural fat stores to enhance and reshape the buttocks. Whereas Buttock implants involve the use of silicone implants placed in the buttocks to create a more flattering profile.

The procedures are different and have different risks and benefits that should be discussed with your surgeon.

What Are the Advantages of the Buttock Lift Over Buttock Implants?

While both cosmetic procedures can be done safely by a qualified plastic surgeon, many patients prefer the results they get from a Brazilian Butt Lift. Patients often prefer this procedure for a couple of reasons: first, we’re using their own fat, so the chance of infection is very low, and the results can look more natural.

Additionally, there are no buttock implant-related problems, such as migration, movement, displacement, infection or extrusion which would require follow-up surgeries over time. There is the added bonus of slimming the areas around the buttock, which can enhance the final results.

Am I a Good Candidate for BBL Surgery?

Before you decide to get a BBL, it is important to make sure that you are a good fit for this cosmetic procedure. The ideal patient for this procedure has some extra fat that she wants removed, for example around the waistline, the abdomen or the thighs, and wants the buttocks to be fuller and more lifted in appearance.

The best candidates for the surgery are those who:

• Are at a healthy, stable weight
• Are in relatively overall good health
• Have lost natural curves due to age or weight changes
• Have adequate fat pockets in the belly, thighs or hips for grafting
• Do not use nicotine products around the time of the procedure

It’s also best for patients with good skin tone in the lower body because, unlike a traditional “lift” procedure, a Brazilian Butt Lift alone does not treat loose or sagging skin. If you feel concerned about this, you can discuss complementary treatments with your surgeon.

Finally, patients should consider the fact that they cannot sit on their buttocks a week or two after surgery. This can be a challenge for some, so it’s essential to plan for this.

What Should I Expect During the Procedure?

The BBL is typically performed on an outpatient basis. This means that you will be placed under sedation or general anesthesia, but you will not have to remain in our surgical center overnight.

Before the procedure, we will discuss anesthesia options with you and recommend the course that we believe will suit you best. Additionally, we will go over the entire process from start to finish with you so that you can ask any questions you may have about your unique situation.

We start the procedure by removing or harvesting fat carefully from areas of excess, such as the tummy, thighs, and hips. During the procedure, Dr. Salemy will use liposuction to remove fat from the hips, thighs, lower back or belly. In some cases, the doctor will remove fat from multiple areas. Liposuction involves making small incisions in the targeted regions and using small, thin tubes called cannulas to extract the fat from the body.

The extracted fat is then filtered. This step separates the viable (good) fat cells from other debris, excess fluid and dead cells – this is a key step to help the fat last or “take”. The good, healthy fat will then be transferred into your buttocks. Doing this helps ensure we only inject the fat that are most likely to survive the procedure, which means you are more likely to get better results.

Dr. Salemy will then contour the areas from which we removed the excess fat so we can achieve a nice contour, similar to regular liposuction.

The third and final step is the reinjection of the filtered fat. We carefully transfer the fat evenly into each buttock by injecting tiny droplets of fat throughout the subcutaneous tissue of the buttocks, and then shape it, to create fullness and lift. This method ensures that the fat has the best possible chances of surviving the graft, and it also helps to ensure smooth, even results.

Once the injections are complete, you will be able to return home after recovering from the general anesthesia. The entire procedure takes about 2-3 hours and patients go home the same day.

What is the Recovery Like?

Because a Brazilian Butt Lift is less invasive than some other cosmetic surgeries, the recovery time is typically not as extensive.

Following the procedure, you can expect to feel tenderness and minimal pain. Some patients experience slight bruising and have soreness for a few days but this often resolves quickly. In most instances, patients do not need prescription pain medication following their surgery.
The most important consideration during recovery is the fact that you cannot sit, lie down or place any substantial pressure on your buttocks for up to two weeks following the surgery. This is critical for a successful outcome.

Placing pressure on the injection site can damage the newly transferred fat cells. It limits healthy blood circulation, which is necessary for the fat cells to survive and thrive following the injection.

During this period, you will want to kneel, stand or lie on your stomach to allow enough time for your body to recover. After this initial period, you should be able to sit either with a special donut-style cushion or extra padding under your buttocks to limit pressure, or in a reclined, beach chair position to reduce pressure directly on the buttocks.

We ask patients to be up and walking from the first day of surgery, and they should be able to resume light activity and return to work in about 1 week, but no heavy or strenuous exercises for 4-6 weeks. There is also a special compression garment we ask patients to wear for a few weeks to help with swelling.

Our plastic surgery office will monitor your progress and give you the green light when we believe you are recovered enough.

What Results Can I Expect from Surgery?

A Brazilian Butt Lift is not a temporary procedure. Once your body has healed, you can expect to enjoy the results for many years to come.

After the swelling has completely subsided, patients are able to enjoy a fuller, curvier lower body. This can help translates to higher self-esteem and more confidence.

As long as you are able to maintain a relatively stable weight, your results should remain intact.

What Are the Risks of the Procedure?

When a skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon performs the procedure, it is rare for serious side effects or complications to arise. However, as with all surgical procedures, there is always a certain amount of potential risk.

The risks associated with a Brazilian Butt Lift are:

• Infection
• Scarring
• Persistent pain or discomfort
• Subcutaneous lumps around the extraction or injection sites
• Sagging skin around extraction sites

In addition, there are rare but serious complications such as a fat embolus. During your consultation, your cosmetic surgeon will be able to discuss any other possible side effects and address all other concerns you may have.

Choosing a Plastic Surgeon

It is essential to choose a Plastic Surgeon who is board-certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). The ABPS is the only plastic surgery board acknowledged by The American Board of Medical Specialties. The ABPS is the primary accrediting body for cosmetic surgery, and its certifications have a stringent list of requirements that must be met before they are awarded.

When you choose a ABPS board-certified plastic surgeon, you can feel confident that you are receiving the gold standard in cosmetic surgery care. These doctors only operate in accredited facilities, and they undergo extensive training to ensure they provide the best possible care. If you choose Dr. Salemy to perform your Brazilian Butt Lift, you will receive your care in our AAAASF-accredited surgical center, ensuring the highest levels of safety, privacy and care.

For this particular surgery, it is extremely important to choose a cosmetic surgeon who has specific experience and training in performing this procedure. As with many cosmetic surgeries, this operation relies on the doctor’s aesthetic skills as much as their medical training to produce optimal results.

It can also be helpful to seek out photo galleries with before and after photos of actual cases. This will give you an idea of what your potential outcomes will be after the surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a Brazilian Butt Lift help me lose weight?

Because the procedure involves liposuction, some patients wonder if it will make them look “skinnier” afterward. While the lipo from a Brazilian Butt Lift can help you smooth out small, stubborn fat pockets, it will not substantially change your weight.

Is a Brazilian Butt Lift safe?

There are some horror stories online about people who get serious infections from procedures billed as Brazilian Butt Lifts or buttock augmentations. However, almost all of these stories come from unqualified individuals performing unsafe, unsterilized injections with no training or expertise.

When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, it is a relatively safe and minimally invasive procedure.

Is it permanent?

Your Brazilian Butt Lift is semi-permanent. Since your body changes over time you cannot guarantee a permanent result, but with good overall health and a steady weight, diet and exercise you can help to maintain the results of your procedure.

Will I need more than one surgery?

It is normal to lose some percentage of the fat grafted into your buttocks as your body will naturally reabsorb some of the injected fat during the healing process, and while this percentage varies it is typically around 50%. In some cases, more than one fat grafting procedure may be needed to reach a desired outcome. This is something that can be discussed with Dr. Salemy during your consultation.

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