What is a Brazilian butt lift?

A Brazilian butt lift is a specialized fat transfer procedure that augments the size and shape of the buttocks without implants. Excess fat is removed from the hips, abdomen, lower back, or thighs with liposuction, and a portion of this fat is then strategically injected into the buttocks.

Why has a Brazilian butt lift?

The shape and proportion of a person’s buttocks are largely determined by genetics; both your skeletal structure and how your body stores fat influence the appearance of the lower body. A healthy diet and exercise can work to achieve a healthy body weight and tone the muscles, but many patients remain unhappy with “flat” buttocks that lack shape, despite a healthy lifestyle.

Brazilian butt lift surgery can help overcome the effects of genetics by reshaping the buttocks and surrounding areas, such as the hips, lower back, and thighs. You might consider a Brazilian butt lift to

• Enhance the curves of your lower body

• Reduce fat pockets on your hips, thighs, or belly while adding fullness to the buttocks

• Help clothing fit more attractively

• Give a more youthful, aesthetically pleasing shape to flat buttocks

• Enhance your overall proportions by improving the balance between your upper and lower body

Am I a good candidate for a Brazilian butt lift?

A Brazilian butt lift can be a great option to improve the shape and size of the buttocks; however, certain patients are better suited to the procedure, and it is important to have realistic expectations about the surgery, recovery, and results. In general, you are likely a good candidate for a Brazilian butt lift if you agree with the following:

• You want a buttock augmentation without implants

• You have good skin tone in the hips and buttocks

• You have adequate fat stores in other areas to harvest for injection into the buttocks

• You are willing and able to avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for several weeks

Despite its name, a Brazilian butt lift is not a traditional “lifting” procedure—it does not address loose skin on the buttocks. If you are bothered by excess, sagging skin on the buttocks or thighs, thigh & buttock lift surgery may be a more suitable option.

What is involved in Brazilian butt lift surgery?

A Brazilian butt lift involves three basic steps:

1. Fat is removed from the hips, lower back, thighs, abdomen, and/or other areas with liposuction

2. The extracted fat is purified and prepared for transfer

3. The cosmetic surgeon injects the fat into specific points on the buttocks to increase volume and improve the shape

Surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, using general anesthesia or intravenous sedation and local anesthesia. It is typical for a portion of the injected fat not to “take” in its new location—an experienced cosmetic surgeon will take this into account and may initially inject a slightly greater amount of fat into the buttocks than is needed to ensure your final results most closely achieve your goals.

Fat grafting / Brazilian butt lift procedure

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 – Liposuction

Liposuction is performed through small, inconspicuous incisions. First, diluted local anesthesia is administered to reduce bleeding and trauma. Then a thin hollow tube, or cannula, is inserted through the incisions to loosen excess fat using a controlled back-and-forth motion. The dislodged fat is then suctioned out of the body using a surgical vacuum or syringe attached to the cannula. In general, your surgeon may liposuction up to three times the amount of fat than what will be injected into the buttocks.

Step 3 – Fat injection

The fat, tissue, and blood that were removed through liposuction are then processed. The syringes are then connected to a special cannula. Your surgeon will use this cannula to add the fat to the buttocks through small injections all over your behind.

Step 4 – See the results

The results of buttock augmentation are immediately visible; however, you will not see your final results until a year after the surgery, as it takes a while for the fat to “take.” This procedure offers natural-looking and -feeling results, but the projection of the buttocks may decrease over time. Some of the initial volumes you experience after your fat grafting procedure will fade as the fat is absorbed by your body (on average patients will retain 60-80% of the transferred fat, in some cases more in others less). Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover and realize the fulfillment of your goal for a fuller butt. As you gain or lose weight, your results may change as the transferred fat can grow or shrink just as any other fat in your body.

Recovering after your Brazilian butt lift

Having an operation on the buttocks requires some special modifications during recovery. While pain is typically minimal and easily controlled through pain medication, you will not be allowed to sit or lie directly on your buttocks for about 2 weeks after a Brazilian butt lift.

During this time, you will need to sleep on your stomach or side, and either lie this way or stand for all activities except using the toilet. When you are ready, your cosmetic surgeon will allow you to sit in a modified position, using a “donut” seat or placing a pillow under your thighs to avoid pressure on the buttocks. Normal sitting activity is typically allowed after 8 weeks or so.

Given you follow your cosmetic surgeon’s instructions, you should be able to resume light daily activities within 1 week after surgery and return to work within 10 to 14 days.