10 Questions To Ask Your Plastic Surgeon Before Getting A Brazilian Butt Lift

Since its debut in 1996, the Brazilian butt lift (also called butt augmentation) is now one of the most-asked-for plastic surgery procedures that I perform in my practice. Part of the reason for the popularity of this procedure is that it does two things very well: enlarges and lifts a person’s butt and slims down areas where they have excess fat and want to look trimmer.

As well as the Brazilian butt lift, I also offer a wide range of other body sculpting procedures to help you achieve a more shapely body. To learn more, click here.

To learn more about Brazilian butt lift surgery, watch my short 2-minute video by clicking on the button below.

What is a Brazilian butt lift and what will it do?

Since a Brazilian butt lift uses your own body fat, there’s no chance of rejection, a great relief to many of my patients. During the procedure, excess fat is removed from certain parts of the body and transferred to the buttock area to achieve a fuller, firmer, higher and more shapely derrière.

10 important questions to keep in mind before getting a Brazilian butt lift

I feel strongly that the more information a patient has, the more satisfied they will be with the results of their plastic surgery procedure. A Brazilian butt lift is a transformative, potentially life-changing procedure, which is why it’s important for you to have as much information beforehand as possible. If you’re considering this surgery but aren’t sure which questions to ask during your initial consultation with your plastic surgeon, here are some suggestions.

1. How do I know if I’m a good candidate for a BBL?

You need 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. What’s the difference between a BBL and butt implants?

The main difference between a BBL (fat grafting procedure) and butt implants is how much fat you have in your body. If you have few fat deposits, you may not be a candidate for a BBL and possibly should get implants instead. An advantage of a Brazilian butt lift is that it uses your own fat which shapes well, so it can be placed specifically in the areas that need building up, including the hips. Also, liposuction can be performed at the same time as a Brazilian butt lift to give additional roundness, shape and curve to the buttocks.

3. Do I need to gain or lose weight before the procedure?

While it varies from person to person, it’s best to 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 complication rates are relatively low; major risks include pulmonary or fat embolism (blood clot) and anemia. In over 20 years of performing hundreds of Brazilian butt lifts in my plastic surgery practice, I have encountered very few complications.

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 and sides of the butt, and also the hips.

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 transfer or a graft, just like a skin graft. This fat will not go away—a BBL is a very long-lasting procedure. On average, you can expect about 50% of the injected fat to stay in the area and about 50% to be reabsorbed by your body. That’s 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 enable 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 BBL 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 results, I recommend squats, lunges, calisthenics—exercises that give a good workout and can 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 Brazilian 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.

Considering butt augmentation?

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, then when we meet, I will answer all your questions, evaluate your body type and overall health, and learn what you’re hoping to achieve. Then together, we’ll decide what will bring you the best possible results.

For more information about the Brazilian Butt Lift, read these 3 blogs

So that you can be fully informed before you decide to have a Brazilian butt lift, I’ve written several blogs explaining the procedure and its benefits:

To learn more about all of the body contouring procedures I offer:

There are several body procedures available to you in my plastic surgery practice. To learn more, please visit these pages 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 Surgery (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.

Harrison & Valhalla: (914) 761-7070