Today, Brazilian butt lift (gluteoplasty) is one of the most-asked-for plastic surgery procedures that I perform. Using your own body fat, the size, shape and fullness of your “behind” can be meticulously and artfully sculpted, giving you amazingly natural-looking results.
The unique advantage of this technique is that it not only builds up the butt but also slims down areas where you have excess fat and want to look trimmer. Many of my patients choose to have fat reduced from their tummy and waist area, resulting in curves in all the right places. For more information about butt augmentation, download our free fact sheet!
How a Brazilian butt lift works
Using liposuction, excess fat is extracted from certain parts of the body and transferred to the buttock area to achieve a lifted, plumper and more rounded appearance. Typically, I take fat from the lower back, love handles and abdomen and use it to shape the top part of the butt and often the sides, too.
In addition, butt augmentation is a great way to slim and trim away where you have too much fat while building up where you would like more. Many of my patients take advantage of the liposuction procedure used in a butt lift to reduce fat from their tummy, waist area and thighs and transfer it to their butt, giving them the beautiful hourglass silhouette they’ve always wanted.
10 important questions to ask before getting a Brazilian butt lift
I feel strongly that the more information a patient has, the more satisfied she will be with the results of her plastic surgery procedure. That’s why I thought it would be helpful to share some common questions and answers so that anyone interested in getting a Brazilian butt lift can make an informed decision.
1. How do I know if I’m a good candidate for a BBL?
You have to be in good medical health to be considered a good candidate for any kind of plastic surgery. If you have any heart conditions, lung conditions or neurological disorders, you may not be a good candidate for a BBL.
2. Why would I get a BBL instead of butt implants?
The main difference between a BBL (a fat grafting procedure) and butt implants is how much fat you have in your body. With butt lifts, there are fewer complications. Also, liposuction can be performed at the same time to give more roundness, shape and curve to the buttocks. Fat (from your own body so there is no risk of rejection) shapes well, can be placed specifically in the areas that need it, and helps create hips.
3. Do I need to gain or lose weight before the procedure?
While it varies from person to person, you should be a few pounds over your ideal weight before having BBL surgery. The important factor is that once you have gained weight for a BBL, you need to maintain that same weight afterwards in order to maintain the results.
4. How safe is a Brazilian butt lift and what are the risks?
I believe the Brazilian butt lift procedure is very safe — the procedure is extremely popular. The complication rates are relatively low and the major risks include pulmonary or fat embolism (blood clot, in less than 1% of patients) and anemia.
5. Where will my fat be extracted from?
Typically, I extract fat from the lower back, love handles and abdomen and use it to shape the top part of the butt and possibly the sides.
6. How much scarring will there be?
I always try to minimize scarring as much as possible. For a BBL, there will be small scars (about 4 mm long) in the creases around the buttocks and abdominal area. I try to hide as many of them as I can and perform most of the surgery in the areas that are hidden. Sometimes the post-surgery scars will be raised, sometimes they get dark, and sometimes you can't see them at all. It completely depends on how your individual body heals.
7. How long will the results last?
The fat that I put into your body is a graft, just like a skin graft. I take fat from one area of your body and put it into another. A skin graft doesn't go away and neither will the fat — this is a very long-lasting procedure. On average, expect about 50% of the injected fat to stay in the area and about 50% will be reabsorbed by the body. This is why I always put in extra fat grafts.
8. How long will it take to recover after a BBL? Will I be able to sit?
I advise my patients not to sit at all for as much as six weeks following the procedure. After that, you can sit on a boppy (nursing) pillow so that you’re sitting on the back of your thighs and not your butt. There are also special chairs that allow you to sit without sitting on your buttocks.
9. Can I resume regular exercise after a BBL?
I absolutely encourage my patients to exercise after surgery. However, I would not want someone doing excessive cardio which might cause them to lose the fat that’s been transferred. To get the heart rate up and still maintain the BBL results, I recommend squats, lunges, calisthenics — exercises that give a good workout and even increase the results.
10. When can I go back to work after a BBL?
People usually can go back to work about one week after the procedure. What seems to work well for my patients is to take their boppy pillow to the office and use it in their work chair.
You might be a good candidate for a butt lift if you:
- Have lost a significant amount of weight and your butt now sags and droops.
- Are overweight and haven't been able to lose weight through physical activity and changes in your diet.
- Are at a normal weight but want to dramatically improve the appearance of your lower body.
- Are at a normal weight but your skin won't contract after liposuction due to poor elasticity related to aging.
- Are unhappy with the overall shape and lack of firmness of your butt.
If you are interested in a Brazilian butt lift
If you are thinking about getting a Brazilian butt lift and would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact me. I will send you additional information prior to your appointment.
More information on body sculpting procedures
For further information on body slimming and toning procedures, you might find these pages helpful on my website:
Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Samuel J. Beran, MD is a highly accomplished plastic surgeon with offices in Manhattan, Harrison and Mount Kisco, NY. With more than 20 years’ experience and a thorough command of the most advanced techniques and technologies, Dr. Beran consistently provides his patients with the highest level of plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast, face, skin and body. Recently, Dr. Beran was named a “Top Doctor” by RealSelf for his dedication to responding to consumer questions and patient feedback. The “Top Doctor” designation is awarded to less than 10% of the RealSelf physician community.
