A Plastic Surgeon Explains The Safety Of A Brazilian Butt Lift

Have you been thinking about getting a Brazilian butt lift (also called butt augmentation) but weren’t sure if the procedure was safe? As a plastic surgeon who has been performing this type of cosmetic surgery for over 20 years, I can confidently say that I have encountered very few complications in my patients as a result. So my answer is yes, I believe that a Brazilian butt lift is very safe.

In fact, since its debut in 1996, the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is now one of the most-asked-for plastic surgery procedures that I perform in my practice, and NBC News reports a 16% increase in Brazilian Butt lifts since 2012 (possibly because of Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian’s ample behinds).

Lift your butt and slim your waist at the same time

Part of the reason for the Brazilian butt lift’s popularity is because it does two things very well: it enlarges and lifts a person’s butt and it 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 body sculpting procedures to help you achieve a trimmer, more shapely body, which you can learn about here.

To help make sure you understand why I believe this procedure is safe, I’ve made a short 1½ minute video explaining the details. You can read a summary of what I talk about (below) or you can watch the video by clicking on the image below.

How safe is a Brazilian butt lift?

A Brazilian butt lift involves taking fat from one place, suctioning it out, treating it, and then injecting it back into the buttocks to enhance the shape and size of the buttocks. It’s a highly effective procedure and has become more and more popular over the last several years.

One of the issues with the Brazilian butt lift has always been safety. Since this is cosmetic surgery, the patients are healthy and in good physical shape. As plastic surgeons, we always want to minimize complications and risks for patients, and for the procedure to go well for them, during the surgery and afterward.

Plastic surgeons who perform Brazilian butt lifts have learned a few things over the years, namely:

Roughly half of the fat we transplant into a person’s butt will survive and roughly half will go away.
Liposuction of the areas around the butt will enhance the ultimate appearance of the butt lift.

We have also developed some techniques that we adhere to in order to maximize the safety of the Brazilian butt lift. These include:

The way we extract the fat
Treating the fat appropriately
Most importantly, how we inject the fat

We make sure that fat is injected between the layer of skin and the muscle and not into the muscle itself

Over the years, there have been some complications from injections of fat into the muscle, or into the veins and arteries that are in the buttocks area of the body. That’s why plastic surgeons make certain when we’re injecting the harvested fat that we insert it in a way that will minimize the risk of complications, maximize the results, and get the patient through the operation with the results they’re looking for and with the safety that we demand as plastic surgeons.

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 dissatisfied with the overall shape and lack of firmness of your butt.

What happens during a Brazilian butt lift?

During this highly specialized surgical procedure, excess fat is removed from certain parts of the body (with liposuction) and transferred to the buttock area to achieve a higher, firmer, rounder derrière. Typically, I extract fat from the lower back, “love handles” and abdomen and use this harvested fat to shape the top and sides of the butt. Since a Brazilian butt lift uses your own fat, there’s no chance of rejection, which is a big plus to many of my patients.

How long does the surgery take?

Because of the meticulous way the fat has to be extracted (liposuction), processed and reinjected for permanent, natural-looking results, butt augmentation surgery typically takes 2-4 hours. However, this depends on the amount of liposuction performed and the amount of fat to be reinjected into the buttocks.

How long will the results last?

A Brazilian butt lift is a very long-lasting procedure. On average, we expect about 50% of the injected fat to stay in the area and about 50% to be reabsorbed by the body, which is why I always put in extra fat deposits.

How much does a Brazilian butt lift cost?

Recognizing that every woman’s body and expectations for butt augmentation surgery are unique to her, I determine the exact cost of a Brazilian butt lift after I have met with the patient and together, we have decided what type of procedure will achieve the best possible results. For pricing details, please contact me.

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.

To learn more about the Brazilian butt lift, I recommend 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:

Important information about all 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