Brazilian Butt Lift

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What Is Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery (BBL)?

Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is designed to be a more natural alternative to gluteal augmentation, which uses an implant to increase volume in that area. With Brazilian Butt Lift, your own fat cells can be harvested from other regions of the body and transferred to the buttocks to refine their overall shape and size with more natural-looking results.² The autologous fat transfer procedure, also called fat grafting, offers results that typically yield less scarring than gluteal augmentation. This approach may be the right option for you, depending on your needs and goals.

Brazilian Butt Lift requires that the fat cells  be collected and prepared in a very precise manner to ensure that the majority of the tissue survives in its new location. It’s important that you have enough fat available for this treatment to be effective.³ Any other considerations you need to be aware of will be detailed during your initial consultation.

Brazilian Butt Lift Procedures

Brazilian Butt Lift and Liposuction

Brazilian Butt Lift involves a multistep process that incorporates two outpatient procedures.⁴ The first step will be to harvest the fat cells from one or more donor locations—such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, or arms—using liposuction. Your preference for a donor location will be taken into consideration by your cosmetic surgeon, and many patients enjoy this opportunity to further enhance their body contour with a tummy tuck or other cosmetic surgery procedure. Once collected, the fat will be prepared by removing any extraneous material and purifying the tissue. The fat cells will then be injected in very small quantities and spread evenly throughout the region. This must be done so that the new tissue can attach to, and become integrated with, the existing tissue. The amount of fat that survives can vary in range, and Drs. Hankins and Sohn will generally overfill the area to compensate for the expected volume loss as some injected fat will be reabsorbed. The tissue that survives should remain.

Gluteal Augmentation With Buttock Implants

At Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates, we are dedicated to personalized care, and that includes guiding patients to surgical options that best suit their needs and goals. While a Brazilian Butt Lift is an optimal cosmetic procedure for some patients, it is not the best solution for everyone.⁵ Some patients will benefit from buttock implants, which can create a more dramatic enhancement. Buttock implants can also be an option for very lean patients who are not candidates for Brazilian Butt Lift because they lack the excess body fat that is needed for the procedure.

A buttock augmentation, or gluteoplasty, utilizes implants to add volume to the backside. Buttock implants are medical devices made from silicone, but they use a firmer, more gel-like solid silicone than breast implants. At your initial consultation appointment to determine if you are a good candidate for butt implants, Dr. Hankins or Dr. Sohn will explain the size options for implants and help you choose a buttock implant size based on your current size and shape and your desired buttock size and shape.

The buttock augmentation surgery will be performed under general anesthesia and can take between 1-2 hours. There are two positions to place the implants: intramuscular and subfascial. For the intramuscular approach, your plastic surgeon will make an incision near the top of the gluteal crease and will insert the buttock implant within the gluteal muscle (intramuscular placement)⁶. The implant will be strategically placed based on your body shape and the size of the implant in order to achieve your desired results.  Only smaller sized implants can be placed in a single stage procedure, typically less than about 300cc.  If a larger size is desired with this option, a staged approach with placement of a larger implant at a second operation is required.  Drains are placed, and you return home the same day after the operation. The subfascial approach can typically accommodate a larger implant size, but two incisions at the top of the buttocks may be needed. Most candidates for the operation opt for the intramuscular approach, but a careful discussion of the pros and cons of each approach, and an evaluation of each patient’s anatomy will provide a recommended method.

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See Before & After Photos of Real Brazilian Butt Lift Patients

Dr. Hankins and Dr. Sohn are dedicated to delivering Brazilian Butt Lift
results that are personalized to meet each patient’s expectations.

View Our BBL Results

Brazilian Butt Lift Recovery

Recovery following BBL surgery will vary depending on several factors unique to your treatment plan. You should experience some soreness in the areas where fat was transferred, although discomfort typically will be minimal. You will also likely experience more notable bruising, swelling, and tenderness in the areas where liposuction was performed. Discomfort can be managed with prescription medication. We recommend that you rest at home for about five-to-seven days before returning to your normal routine. We also urge patients not to sit directly on their buttocks for up to two months after surgery, as this can alter the shape of the tissue or result in volume loss.⁷ Strenuous activity should be avoided for at least three weeks, or as long as your surgeon recommends.

Compression garments will be utilized to help enhance your outcome. These are generally worn for about six weeks, and have been shown to improve the survival rate of transplanted fatty tissue. Additionally, compression garments can potentially reduce the risk for fluid retention, “lumpiness,” bleeding, and other complications. It’s important to note that the normal effects of aging and lifestyle still apply.  Body panels may also be used under the postoperative garments to help smooth out the results and ensure even compression.

Lymphatic massage is recommended on the post liposuction parts of the body after the procedure.  This can be started as early as the next day after surgery, but is generally recommended 1 week post procedure.  We can refer you to a licensed massage therapist to help perform these massages to help reduce fluid and smooth out the results.

Buttock Implant Recovery

The recovery for buttock augmentation with implants is similar to the recovery for a Brazilian Butt Lift procedure. Patients will likely experience some swelling and tenderness immediately following their procedure. The level of discomfort in the days after surgery will vary among patients, and can be managed with medication. You should plan to devote at least one full week to recovery and avoid extended sitting for at least two weeks.⁸ It is important to follow all post-operative instructions from your surgeon, including wearing any compression garments that are provided or recommended. Strenuous activity or long periods of sitting during the first few weeks could compromise your buttock augmentation results. Please call our office if you have any questions during your recovery period.

Brazilian butt lift results are typically visible within 6 months after all swelling has subsided. Brazilian butt lift surgery is a permanent procedue, however weight fluctuations will affect your results, so it’s imperative to maintain healthy eating habits and a stable weight for long-lasting results.

Brazilian Butt Lift Results

Brazilian butt lift results are typically visible within 6 months after all swelling has subsided. Brazilian butt lift surgery is a permanent procedue, however weight fluctuations will affect your results, so it’s imperative to maintain healthy eating habits and a stable weight for long-lasting results.

Planning Your Brazilian Butt Lift Procedure*

Average Procedure Time:
2 – 4 hours

Average Recovery Time:
2 weeks

Post-Op Consultation:
3 months

*Your treatment plan at Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates will be customized to meet your needs and your individual experience will vary depending on a number of factors. All information provided on this page is an estimate of typical time and cost and does not represent an offer or guarantee of pricing or availability. Please schedule a consultation appointment to discuss which options may apply to you.

FAQs About Brazilian Butt Lift

Where can the fat be taken from in a Brazilian Butt Lift procedure?

Fat can be harvested from a variety of areas on the body with the abdomen, waist, lower back, love handles, hips, and thighs being the most common. 

Can I sit after a Brazilian Butt Lift? 

Following a Brazilian Butt Lift, it’s important to avoid causing trauma to the transplanted fat in the buttocks—and that includes the prolonged pressure of sitting. You’ll want to avoid sitting on your buttocks and sleeping on your back for approximately eight weeks following surgery.  

Will I have scars following Brazilian Butt Lift surgery? 

Any incision results in a scar, but Brazilian Butt Lift scars are minimal and placed in areas where they are  naturally camouflaged in the folds of your body.

Schedule A Consultation For Brazilian Butt Lift

For more information about Brazilian Butt Lift from our experienced plastic surgeons, contact our office today. Our friendly and knowledgeable medical team can answer your questions and help you schedule a consultation.

This content has either been authored or reviewed and approved by the doctors at Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates.