Is a Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery Right for You?

Brazilian butt lift (BBL) surgery—also known as gluteal fat grafting or butt lift surgery—uses specialized fat transfer to create a fuller, rounder contour of the buttocks.

This article will discuss what a BBL is, how it is done, the benefits of the surgery, risks and side effects, costs, and other things you need to know when considering a BBL procedure.

Steps of a Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery

A BBL is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. Typically, general anesthesia is used, or it may be done using intravenous sedation and local anesthesia.

The three main steps of the procedure are:

1. Liposuction is used to remove fat from areas such as the hips, abdomen, thighs, and/or lower back.
2. The fat that is taken out is then purified and prepared for transfer.
3. The purified fat is injected into specific points on the buttocks.

Initially, more fat than is needed may be injected because it is common for some of the injected fat not to "take."

How Long Does a Brazilian Butt Lift Last?

It can take up to six months after surgery to see the final results. After this, the results of the surgery can last for years. Significant weight fluctuations may affect the results.

Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery Benefits

The benefits of a BBL are purely aesthetic. There is no "ideal" body shape. The benefits of a BBL are determined by the desired effects of the person getting the BBL.

Risks and Side Effects

A BBL can come with significant risks. It has the highest mortality rate of all cosmetic procedures. In 2017, it was determined that the most significant risk of death was from a pulmonary fat embolism (PFE).

After this discovery, an Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF) task force issued important safety recommendations for the procedure, including:

• The fat graft should only be injected into subcutaneous (under the skin) space.
• Injecting at a downward angle should be avoided.
• A stiff cannula (more than 4 millimeters) should be used to avoid cannula bending that could lead to deep misplacement of the cannula tip.

Adhering to these guidelines can reduce the risks of BBL surgery. Using ultrasound-guided BBL tools for injecting fat can also help avoid blood vessels.

Important safety considerations to consider for a BBL include:

• Amount of fat that can be removed safely
• Amount of fat that can be injected safely
• Where the fat is injected
• How deep the fat is injected

General Surgical Risks

All surgery has potential risks. Some general surgical risks are:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• An adverse reaction to anesthesia
• Allergic reactions
• Hematoma or seroma (accumulation of blood or fluid under the skin, which may need to be removed)
• Scarring
• Damage to underlying structures
• Changes in sensation
• Need for additional procedures
• Pain, bruising, or swelling
• Slow healing (especially related to smoking or diabetes)
• Short-term nausea from anesthesia
• Blot clot that could cause complications such as heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or stroke

Risks Associated With BBL Surgery

In addition to the general risks of surgery, some risks and complications are specific to the BBL procedure. These include:

• Cellulitis (a serious skin infection)
• Contour deformity (irregular skin surface, rippling, uneven contours)
  
• Asymmetry of the buttocks
• Raised, red, and thickened scars (such as keloids and hypertrophic scars)
• Numbness and/or pain around the operated sites (usually temporary and improves over many months)
• Restrictive movement to the tightened skin
• Skin that doesn't heal (may require a skin graft)
• Accumulation of excess fluid under the skin around an operated site (may require drainage procedures)
• Discharge from surgical wounds or palpable lumps under the skin (from fat that has a poor blood supply)
• Additional grafting sessions needed over time to achieve desired result
• Fat embolism (fat that is injected into a blood vessel travels to the heart or lungs), which can be fatal
  

Recovery and Outlook

You may have dressings or bandages applied to your incisions. An elastic bandage or supportive garment may minimize swelling and support your operation site. A thin tube may temporarily be placed under your skin to drain excess fluid or blood.

When recovering from a BBL procedure, you will be advised not to sit or lie directly on your buttocks (except when using the toilet), for about two weeks. You must lie on your stomach or side or stand during this time. When your surgeon determines you are ready, you can use a "donut" seat or a pillow under your thighs to create a modified seated position that reduces pressure on the buttocks. You can usually begin to sit normally after about eight weeks.

Light activity can usually be resumed within a week of surgery. You should be able to return to work in about 10 to 14 days. Check with your surgeon before returning to your normal activities or returning to work.

Your surgeon will give you postoperative instructions, and you must follow them carefully. This may include information about:

• Taking care of your incisions and surgical sites
• How to manage pain and reduce the risk of infection
• Which medications to take and when
• What to look for that might indicate a concern
• When to follow up with your surgeon

Be aware that even without complications, there may be visible scarring. Talk to your surgeon before the procedure to make sure you have realistic expectations of what the area will look like post-surgery.

Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery Cost

According to the 2021 Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank Statistics, the average buttock augmentation (procedures including fat grafting and implants) cost is $4,004.

Costs can vary due to geographic location, type of surgery, and the surgeon's experience.

Additional costs exist, which may include:

• Anesthesia fees
• Hospital or surgical facility costs
  
• Medication
• Postsurgical garments
• Items, such as special pillows that may be needed during recovery
  

How Common Are Brazilian Butt Lifts?

Over the past decade, BBL surgery has been the fastest growing aesthetic surgical procedure. The number increased by 252% between 2000 (1,356) and 2015 (4,767).

Who’s a Good Candidate for BBL Surgery?

BBL surgery is not appropriate for everyone. It may not be suitable for you if you are:

• Unable to have anesthetic
• Prone to bleeding
• Likely to heal poorly
• At too high a risk for surgical complications

You may be a good candidate for BBL surgery if you:

• Are physically healthy, without medical conditions that could increase surgery risks or impair healing
• Are a nonsmoker, or stop smoking before surgery (your surgeon can tell you how much time is needed between stopping smoking and surgery)
• Have a relatively stable weight
• Have good skin tone in the buttocks and hips
• Have adequate fat stores in other areas to provide for injections into the buttocks
• Are able (and willing) to avoid sitting on your buttocks for several weeks
  

Other Butt Augmentation Options

If BBL surgery is not a good option for you, another buttock-augmentation procedure may be a way to achieve your desired results.

Buttock Implants

With buttock implants, silicone-filled devices are surgically implanted within the tissues of the buttocks. General anesthesia or intravenous sedation is used. The implants are placed through incisions, with method and positioning depending on several factors the surgeon determines.

Results are visible immediately; with time, swelling goes down, and incision lines will fade.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgery that removes excess fat deposits and refines the body's shape. It is performed with general anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or local anesthesia, depending on the specifics of the procedure.

A cannula (thin tube) is inserted through small incisions in the treatment area(s). Excess fat is loosened and then suctioned out. The procedure takes under an hour to three or longer, depending on the areas treated.

Poly-L-Lactic Acid (Sculptra)

Sculptra is a biodegradable collagen biostimulator called poly-L-lactic acid. It is used to stimulate collagen formation and gradually restore volume. It is primarily associated with facial rejuvenation but can be used for other aesthetic applications, such as butt augmentation.

How to Find a Provider

Choosing the right provider for BBL surgery is very important. A 2023 study found that South Florida has the highest mortality rate in the nation for BBL surgery. 92% of these deaths occurred in high-volume, budget clinics, largely owned and operated by business people. These clinics offered a lower cost for the procedure, which they made profitable by performing as many procedures as possible as quickly as possible and minimizing interaction with patients.

This experience is not unique to South Florida. Unqualified surgeons offering low prices, and making false claims of expertise, contribute to the high mortality and complications rate of BBL surgery.

When choosing a surgeon for BBL surgery:

• Choose a surgeon that is certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.
• Make sure the surgical facility is accredited by agencies like the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), or the Joint Commission.
• Ask about the surgeon's experience, such as how many BBL surgeries they have performed, what training they have had specific to BBLs, whether they are up-to-date on the latest recommendations for safety and technique for BBL surgery, etc.
• Look at before and after pictures of BBL surgeries that the surgeon has personally performed (feel free to ask to see more examples than their official gallery).
• Read a lot of reviews about the surgeon, both positive and negative.
  
• Research BBL surgery extensively, from credible sources, before meeting with surgeons so that you are going in informed.
  
• Be wary of prices that are lower than the national average (and avoid traveling outside of the United States to get cheaper options).

The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery offers a search tool on its website to help you find providers in your area.

Summary

A BBL procedure removes fat from an area of the body and injects it strategically into the buttocks to change the shape and volume of the buttocks.

It's important to choose a surgeon carefully. Make sure the surgeon is certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and has extensive training and experience performing BBLs, also that the surgical facility is accredited.