What is Brazilian Buttock Lift (BBL)?

A Brazilian Butt Lift is a specialized fat grafting procedure that involves two main components:

Liposuction: Excess fat is carefully removed from donor areas of your body, such as the abdomen, flanks (love handles), lower back, or thighs. This not only provides the fat for transfer but also sculpts and contours these donor areas.

Fat Processing and Injection: The harvested fat is then purified and meticulously injected into specific areas of the buttocks to improve volume, shape, and overall contour.

Who is an Ideal Candidate for a Brazilian Butt Lift?

You may be a suitable candidate for a BBL if;

• Have adequate fat stores in other areas of your body (e.g., abdomen, flanks, back, thighs) for harvesting. Very lean patients may not be ideal candidates.
• Are in good overall health: Free from serious medical conditions that could impair healing or increase surgical risks (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, bleeding disorders, severe heart or lung conditions).
• Desire a fuller, rounder, or more lifted buttock appearance.
• The age must be at least 18 years old.

The Comprehensive Consultation and Preparing for Your Brazilian Butt Lift Procedure at WIH Hospital

Your Personalized Consultation

Discussion of Your Goals, your aesthetic aspirations for your buttocks, and overall body shape, evaluation of your medical history, current health status, medications, and any allergies. Physical Examination to assess your body type, skin elasticity, and the amount of available donor fat. Your surgeon will determine if you have sufficient fat for the desired augmentation.

Pre-Operative Preparations

You will receive a comprehensive medical evaluation, including blood tests and other diagnostic exams, to ensure optimal health for surgery. A consultation with our anesthesiology team will address any concerns you may have and finalize the anesthesia plan for your comfort and safety. Our nursing staff will provide detailed instructions regarding fasting, medication adjustments, and pre-operative hygiene protocols.

Anesthesia

BBL surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia: You will be completely asleep and comfortable throughout the procedure.

Surgical Technique of a Brazilian Butt Lift

The Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a complex surgical procedure that requires a high degree of skill and anatomical knowledge to perform safely and effectively. The technique involves three primary phases:

1. Liposuction and Fat Harvesting: The surgeon first performs liposuction on the designated donor areas. This is typically done using a tumescent technique, where a sterile solution containing a local anesthetic and epinephrine is injected into the fat. This solution numbs the area, constricts blood vessels to minimize bleeding, and makes the fat easier to remove. A cannula (a thin, hollow tube) is then inserted through small incisions to suction out the fat cells. The surgeon carefully and strategically removes fat to not only harvest it for transfer but also to sculpt and define the donor areas, such as the waist and back, which enhances the final buttock shape.
2. Fat Processing: Once the fat is harvested, it is purified and processed to separate the viable, healthy fat cells from blood, anesthetic fluid, and other debris. This step is crucial for maximizing the survival rate of the transferred fat. Various methods can be used, including centrifugation, decanting, or filtration. The goal is to obtain a concentrated, high-quality graft of fat cells for injection.
3. Fat Grafting/Injection: The purified fat is then injected into the buttocks. This is the most critical and artistic part of the procedure. The surgeon uses small syringes and cannulas to place tiny droplets of fat at different depths and locations within the buttock tissue. This technique, known as micro-fat grafting, is essential for ensuring that the new fat cells have a blood supply and can survive. The fat is injected into the subcutaneous layer of tissue and, in some cases, the intramuscular space, though careful attention must be paid to avoid injecting into deep intramuscular planes to prevent the risk of fat embolism. The surgeon strategically places the fat to create the desired projection, volume, and contour, often focusing on the upper and outer quadrants of the buttocks to achieve a “lifted” appearance and an improved hourglass silhouette.

What Patients Need to Know About Brazilian Buttock Lift

Fat Survival is Unpredictable

Not all of the transferred fat will survive. A certain percentage of the injected fat (typically around 30-50%) is reabsorbed by the body. The final volume and shape will be what remains after this reabsorption process is complete. This is why surgeons often over-inject slightly to account for this expected loss.

Follow Post-Operative Instructions Diligently

Adhering to the post-operative care instructions is paramount to achieving a successful outcome and minimizing complications. The most important instruction is the strict avoidance of direct pressure on the buttocks. Sitting or sleeping on the back can compress the newly transferred fat cells, cut off their blood supply, and cause them to die. Using a BBL pillow is not optional; it is a critical component of the recovery process.

Recovery is a Commitment

The recovery period for a BBL is more demanding than for some other procedures. Patients must be prepared to modify their daily activities, including sitting, for an extended period. This requires planning for work, travel, and social activities.

Results are Long-Lasting but Not Permanent

A BBL provides a long-lasting enhancement. The fat cells that successfully integrate and survive become a permanent part of the body. However, significant weight fluctuations after surgery can affect the results, as the fat cells in the buttocks will behave like other fat cells in the body—they can grow or shrink with weight gain or loss.

Safety is a Priority

While a BBL can have excellent results, it is a surgical procedure with risks. It is crucial to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with specific expertise in BBLs. The risk of fat embolism, a rare but serious complication, is why proper surgical technique, particularly the careful placement of the fat graft, is so vital. Your surgeon should discuss all risks with you in detail during your consultation.