Brazilian Butt Lift - BBL Surgery

BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT (BBL SURGERY): PROCEDURE, RISKS & ADVANTAGES

A Brazilian butt lift, also called BBL surgery, is the perfect way to create the famous Kim Kardashian look. You can get fuller and rounded buttocks with the plus of an hourglass figure.

Most patients choose bum lifts for a variety of reasons. Some have found limited success in changing the shape of their bum through diet and exercise. Others want their clothing to fit better or feel more confident in a bathing suit.

Considering that we live in an era of social media and big-time celebrities, a BBL is a surgical procedure that can effectively improve your buttocks, giving you projection and a fuller contour.

However, without underestimating the importance of diet and exercise, most patients want results that can only be achieved through buttocks augmentation or fat grafting.

But, before making the important decision of “going under the knife,” you must put yourself in the hands of an experienced cosmetic surgeon. After all, a Brazilian butt lift comes with pros and cons, and it also demands a huge commitment from you during the recovery process.

WHAT IS A BBL SURGERY?

Brazilian butt lift (BBL surgery) is a cosmetic procedure done to inject fat and improve the shape, size, and appearance of your buttocks.

Some people might call it a Brazilian bum lift. However, as its name suggests, the BBL procedure is not really a lift.

A Brazilian butt lift is a body contouring procedure that adds curves and improves your body’s proportions while removing fat from problematic areas. You could see it as a two-for-one deal since it involves two procedures performed on the same day.

First, you have liposuction to remove fat cells. Then, fat transfer/grafting involves injecting the purified fat into strategic areas to increase the size and improve the buttock’s contour.

The results? Fuller buttocks and a balanced, slimmer silhouette. Also, a BBL benefits from using autologous fat transfer, with less risk of adverse effects. Quicker recovery, less scarring, and no implants!

AM I THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR A BBL?

Brazilian butt lift surgery gives beautiful and natural results. It increases the size and improves the contour of your butt. Also, you get the bonus of a more balanced figure.

But, if you are fearful of going under the knife and only wish to have a subtle improvement in your buttocks appearance, you may choose a non-surgical BBL instead. This procedure uses an injectable filler to enhance the shape of your buttocks. But, it needs to be repeated twice a year for best results.

Indeed, when considering a Brazilian butt lift, your expectations are key to choosing the right procedure. However, there are other factors to consider.

For example, if you are very lean and don’t have enough fat storage, though, the plastic surgeon will go for buttock implants. This is a more invasive procedure that requires a longer recovery.

Conversely, if you are obese, you may not be considered an ideal candidate for a Brazilian butt lift.

To ensure a successful BBL, you should be near your ideal weight and have a healthy body mass index (BMI<30). The key is to have enough fat stores without being overweight. At your first consultation, the surgeon will evaluate your skin elasticity and the possible donor body areas where fat will be removed.

In general, though, patients with good skin elasticity are perfect candidates for liposuction and BBL. On the contrary, patients with sagging skin may benefit from a tummy tuck and a traditional butt lift since liposuction could worsen the skin laxity.

But don’t worry! Your surgeon will discuss the different surgical options available and create the right treatment plan for your needs after proper physical examination. Also, Antiaging Group surgeons are skilled in all types of liposuction available, including power-assisted liposuction combined with the SAFE lipo technique and skin-tightening procedures.

BEFORE THE BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT

Once you have decided on having a Brazilian butt lift, you will have a “two-week cool-off period” to mull things over before the procedure. Then, you must carry out a series of preoperative exams.

You will have blood tests and additional preoperative evaluations to ensure everything is ok if you have diabetes or any cardiac conditions.

Additional recommendations include:

  • Stop smoking a minimum of six weeks before surgery. Smoking is associated with poor wound healing and infections.
  • Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen-like medications, and blood thinners for at least one week before the surgery. These medications could increase the risk of bleeding.
  • Do not eat any food or drink anything 6-8 hours before surgery. You could only have sips of clear fluids, mainly water, 2 hours before the BBL procedure.

HOW IS THE BBL SURGERY PERFORMED?

The Brazilian Buttock Lift procedure is specific to each patient. So it’s important to speak to your plastic surgeon ahead of time. But some steps are common to most procedures.

Most BBL surgeries take between 1-3 hours. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, so you will be completely asleep. In a few minimally invasive cases, though, the procedure might be done under local anesthetic plus intravenous sedation.

First, the plastic surgeon will take some “before” pictures and mark the problematic fat areas with a pen. Then, he will remove fat cells using liposuction cannulas that come in through small skin incisions within the marked sites (3-5 incisions) hidden in your natural body creases or folds.

Common areas for fat removal (liposuction) are the hips, stomach, thighs, and groin.

Next, the removed fat is processed, purified, and then carefully injected back into strategic areas of your buttocks. This process is called fat transfer or fat grafting. The surgeon will sculpt the buttocks underneath the skin, pumping the fat in place and repeatedly moving the cannula forwards and backward. The fat will be injected above the muscle with the help of specially designed blunt-tipped cannulas.

This process improves the buttock’s shape, creating a rounder, fuller look. Also, you may get a subtler effect if you only wish to fill in ‘hip dips.’

Brazilian butt lift surgery

HOW MUCH FAT IS ENOUGH FOR A BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT?

The amount of harvested fat will depend on what your doctor has planned in agreement with you before the surgery.

However, the usual rule is to extract twice as much fat as needed for the fat transfer, considering the amount of fat that will not survive the fat transfer process. This is a detail that surgeons consider, so they usually inject a slightly greater amount.

Indeed, the fat takes time to settle, and at best, nearly 50% of the fat will take in. The rest will be reabsorbed by the body and eliminated through the lymphatic system. So, according to the latest guidelines, your surgeon will end up inserting about 300cc per buttock.

When it comes to a BBL, adding more fat won’t ensure a bigger ass. Putting in 1000 cc won’t optimize the amount of fat that survives in the body. A significant quantity of fat may die in these cases, leaving you with a lopsided butt or noticeable misshapen.

Also, a successful Brazilian butt lift is not all about the amount of fat but how it is inserted. The surgeon’s technique and the recovery process are essential!

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A BBL SURGERY?

There may be some swelling and bruising during the recovery after the Brazilian butt lift. These will begin to subside after a few weeks with the help of a compressive garment that you will have to use for up to six weeks.

So it’s a good idea to plan your plastic surgery when it’s not bikini season!

You should keep physical activity to a minimum for the first two weeks after surgery to speed up the healing process and reduce swelling.

Indeed, after fat grafting, you’ll need to take a few weeks off work because you won’t be able to sit on your buttocks, and you will have to sleep on your stomach and sides.

Only after ten to fourteen days could you use a pillow when sitting so that there is no direct pressure on your buttocks. Always try to put the weight on your thighs, not your bum!

Remember that aftercare is of utmost importance during the recovery. But don’t worry because our medical team will keep in touch after surgery, monitoring your progress to ensure you have the best results possible.

DOES A BBL HURT?

You will experience slight-moderate pain and discomfort, which can be managed with painkillers prescribed by your doctor.

With a Brazilian butt lift, there is a quicker and less painful recovery compared to buttock implants, though. You should be able and will be encouraged to walk around the next day after surgery.

Any discomfort or pain should have disappeared by the end of the first week.

HOW TO GET THE BEST RESULTS AFTER A BBL SURGERY?

Following all of your plastic surgeon’s recommendations helps lower risks and improve results. Hence, outcomes can vary from patient to patient.

The “no sitting” part of the immediate recovery is crucial! Remember that when it comes to the injected fat, nearly 50% won’t take its new location.

Nevertheless, if you don’t follow these recommendations and apply direct pressure on your buttocks, even more fat could be reabsorbed, leading to suboptimal results. Hence, normal sitting activity is typically allowed only after eight weeks.

Most patients find that the definitive results show about six months after their procedure. Some plan another follow-up procedure a few years later, and others don’t need further plastic surgery.

To guarantee long-term results, you must be at your ideal weight at the moment of surgery, and you mustn’t have any weight fluctuations. Those who have a healthy lifestyle and don’t smoke generally experience the best results.

Smoking and drinking are known factors to reduce fat graft survival.

BBL SIDE EFFECTS: FAT EMBOLISM

BBL procedures have shown a slightly higher death rate than any other cosmetic procedure—and yet it remains one of the most popular procedures. However, this is a thing of the past.

The fatal complication from BBL surgery is called fat embolism. It happens when fat droplets injected in the butt enter through the gluteal blood vessels, travel up the bloodstream, and cause a pulmonary embolism.

Essentially, a fat embolism is when fat closes up or obstructs your pulmonary arteries, thus causing tissue death. It is just like a heart attack but of the lung.

However, over the years, studies have shown that the risk increases when fat is injected into the gluteal muscle instead of the subcutaneous plane. Hence, the key is to inject above the layer containing the gluteal blood vessels!

So, with these modifications of the technique, the BBL procedure is now considered safer than in previous years.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BBL PERFORMED BY A QUALIFIED SURGEON?

Brazilian butt lift is considered safe because the doctor uses your own fatty deposits. Hence, you are not inserting a foreign implant into your body that could be rejected or cause allergic reactions.

However, like any medical procedure, there may be some side effects. Complications may include infection, scarring, pain, undercorrections, asymmetries, and lumps (where fat was removed or inserted).

Sadly, some people are offering many procedures at discount rates that may come at a cost to your health and safety. Hence, choosing an experienced licensed cosmetic surgeon who runs a legitimate medical clinic is very important.

After all, you should not base your decision on price alone. Reputation and experience matter, so it is essential to ensure you are being treated in a safe environment by trained staff who will take care of you every step of the way– before, during, and after the procedure.

Look for someone educated in the latest procedures and committed to your safety. A reputable surgeon will use techniques to prevent complications, such as:

  • Using the right angulation – no downward or deeper motions.
  • Using a special blunt-tipped vibration cannula.
  • Staying away from sciatic nerves and gluteal veins.
  • Injecting the fat only when the cannula is moving.
  • Injecting the fat above the muscle, NEVER into the muscle.

Ultimately, a Brazilian butt lift should give you excellent results and leave you feeling healthy and fit. Choose your practitioner carefully.

WHAT HAPPENS TO A BBL AFTER YEARS?

A Brazilian Butt Lift procedure will give you results that can last for many years.

Indeed, the fat transfer from a successful BBL surgery will remain in your buttocks for a lifetime as long as you don’t have important weight fluctuations. Of course, it will age naturally as the rest of your body does.

With the aging process, you may lose skin elasticity causing minor changes in the overall appearance of your buttocks, but this is perfectly normal.

HOW MUCH DOES A BBL COST?

The BBL cost depends on the amount of fat removed. The price also depends on the areas of fat removal and the amount of re-injected fat. Every procedure is specially tailored for you, and so is the cost.

Since we know that cost is important, we welcome you to visit our facilities for a free, no-obligation visit. You’ll have time to consult with the plastic surgeon, ask questions, and talk about any concerns.

We guarantee the best solution and price for your Brazilian butt lift!

Brazilian butt lift Price - Bbl surgery Cost

WHY CHOOSE DOCTOR BENITO FOR YOUR BBL SURGERY IN SPAIN?

We’re so glad you asked! With over 20 years of experienceDoctor Jesús Benito is one of the best board-certified plastic surgeons in Europe.

He’s a worldwide authority in plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery, and he’s pioneered many new techniques and surgical processes.

Doctor Jesús Benito is a member of many international plastic surgery organizations, has won numerous awards, and is dedicated to his patients.

His world-class medical center in Spain is sought out for its excellence and state-of-the-art procedures. Also, a highly trained team supports Doctor Benito and provides excellent care for every patient.

Doctor Jesus Benito - Plastic Surgeon

Doctor Jesús Benito

Specialist in plastic and cosmetic surgery.

  • Secretary of the ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery).
  • Former president of the Spanish Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (AECEP).
  • 2013 Gold Medal (Forum Europa)

More information about the medical team.

Bibliography & Publications:

  • Sanchez A, Benito-Ruiz J, Fontdevila J, Raigosa M. New system of collecting fat with a bottle of Redon drainage. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Jan;125(1):34e-35e
  • Surgical treatment of the buttocks and hip atrophy in feminine lipodistrophy patient. 7thInternational Workshop on Adverse Drig Reactions and Lipodistrophy in HIV, Dublin, Noviembre de 2005.
  • Benito-Ruiz J. Aplicaciones terapéuticas de las células madre derivadas del tejido adiposo. I Congreso de la SETGRA, Barcelona, 20 de noviembre del 2009.

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    Dr Benito and Dr Salvador - Antiaging Group Barcelona

    Antiaging Group Barcelona

    Ronda del General Mitre, 84, 08021 (Barcelona, Spain)

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    Cosmetic and plastic surgery in Spain | AGB | Dr Jesús Benito