Is A Brazilian Butt Lift Safe? My Answer is Yes.

Are you unhappy with your butt? Do you wish it was higher, rounder, firmer, sexier? For a number of my patients who feel the same way, a Brazilian butt lift (also called butt augmentation) is an excellent, long-lasting solution that gives them a derrière they love and enables them to feel good about the way they look in jeans, bathing suits, lingerie and other figure-hugging clothing.

If you too have been considering a Brazilian butt lift but weren’t sure if the procedure was safe, I want you to know that as a plastic surgeon who has been performing this type of body contouring surgery for over 20 years, I can confidently say that I have encountered very few complications in my patients as a result.

In fact, since it was first introduced in 1996, the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is now one of the most requested plastic surgery procedures I perform in my practice. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 20,000 people had the BBL procedure by board-certified surgeons in 2017, up from 8,500 in 2012.

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.

Is a Brazilian butt lift safe?

Yes, I believe the Brazilian butt lift procedure is very safe. The procedure is extremely popular and I have performed hundreds of them very successfully with very low complication rates. Major risks include pulmonary or fat embolism (blood clot) for less than 1% of patients, and anemia.

Occasionally, there have also 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 experienced, board certified plastic surgeons make sure when we’re injecting the harvested fat that we insert it in such a way that will minimize the risk of complications, maximize the desired results and maintain the highest standards of safety.

So that you can be fully informed about the safety of this procedure, I’ve made a short 1½ minute video explaining the details, which you can watch by clicking on the image below.

What happens during the procedure?

During the procedure, I use liposuction to vacuum thin layers of fat from areas with excess fat deposits (usually the thighs, flanks or abdomen). This extracted fat is then processed and injected into the buttocks in layers to produce the desired contour and fullness. Approximately 50% of the injected fat is reabsorbed, which is why I exaggerate the original fat transfer to account for this. In order to have this body sculpting procedure, you must have an ample amount of excess fat in other parts of your body that can be extracted and then injected into your buttocks.

Because of the meticulous way the fat is extracted, processed and injected into the buttocks, Brazilian butt lift surgery typically takes 2-4 hours. However, this depends on the amount of liposuction performed and the amount of fat to be injected into the buttocks.

Following the procedure, special compression garments are typically worn for several weeks to help reduce swelling and to help shape the butt. Patients usually can go back to work about one week after the procedure. What seems to work well for my patients who work at a desk is to sit with their weight on their thighs and not their buttocks, using a Boppy pillow.

How long will the results last?

A Brazilian butt lift is a very long-lasting procedure. On average, 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 to know if you’re a good candidate for a Brazilian butt lift

You have lost a significant amount of weight and your butt now sags and droops.
You are overweight and haven't been able to lose weight through physical activity and changes in your diet.
You are at a normal weight but want to dramatically improve the appearance of your lower body.
You are at a normal weight but your skin won't contract after liposuction due to poor elasticity related to aging.
You are dissatisfied 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.

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