Gluteoplasty, commonly called a butt lift, is a surgical technique that alters the buttocks. Where a traditional butt lift seeks to both lift and minimize the buttocks, a Brazilian butt lift enhances them. Sometimes called Brazilian butt augmentation, this procedure gives the patient a rounder, perkier backside that looks natural, thanks to injections of the patient’s own body fat.
This procedure is less invasive than both a traditional butt lift and butt implant surgery. During your consultation, Dr. Vallecillos will advise you whether this procedure will give you the shape you desire, or if a traditional butt lift would better suit your needs.
Procedure Walk-Through
- Preparation: You should begin preparing for your procedure at least two weeks ahead of time by cutting blood-thinning medications, such as NSAIDs, aspirin, and any vitamins or supplements you take regularly that thin the blood. Additionally, smokers should avoid smoking from at least two weeks before to at least two weeks after their procedure. This is also a good time to make arrangements for transport to and from the facility on the day of your procedure, as well as arrange time off work during your recovery. Patients over 45 need to consult their primary physician to receive medical clearance before undergoing a Brazilian butt lift procedure.
- Anesthesia: Typically, general anesthesia is in use for a Brazilian butt lift. Other options include sedation or an epidural anesthetic, which numbs your body’s lower half. Dr. Vallecillos will discuss these options with you during your consultation.
- Preoperative Consult: During your consultation with Dr. Vallecillos, discuss your expectations and goals for this procedure. Additionally, ask any questions you have about the surgery and its associated post-operative care.
Brazilian Butt Lift Benefits
During the BBL procedure, the doctor removes body fat from donor sites via liposuction, typically from the abdomen and thighs, to enhance the butt’s new shape. Next, the fat undergoes purification via a centrifuge before injection into the buttocks. Due to the purification process, less than a third of the fat liposuctioned from the donor sites goes into the buttocks. Typically, the procedure includes many small injections focused on the upper part of the buttocks.
The resulting look is more realistic, enhancing the lifted, perky shape that patients seek. Compared to a traditional butt lift or butt implant procedure, a Brazilian butt lift is far less invasive, as it requires smaller, fewer incisions than its gluteoplasty counterparts do.
Key Benefits
- Natural Looking Results
- More Roundness in the Buttocks
- Decreases shapelessness and sagging
- Corrects Shape Imbalances
- Helps Clothes Fit Better
- Fewer risk compared to silicone implants
BBL Side Effects & Risks
As with any medical procedure, there are potential risks involved with BBL surgery. However, a BBL may carry fewer risks compared to alternative techniques for buttock enhancement, such as implants.
Some potential side effects include:
- Pain
- Infection
- Scarring
- Lumps under the skin
- Fat Embolism
Another known side effect is that some of the grafter fat is not taken up by the body. Some of the injected fat is broken down and absorbed naturally by the body. The amount of absorbed fat differs for each patient.
Dr. Glenn Vallecillos MD FACS specializes in providing the highest possible level of care for his Plastic Surgery Patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the ideal candidate for a Brazilian butt lift?
The ideal candidate has maintained a steady weight for at least three months and wishes to enhance the size of his or her posterior rather than reduce it. You must also have easily accessible excess fat elsewhere on your body to allow for liposuction and injection. Common reasons patients seek a Brazilian butt lift include small or flat buttocks, substantial weight loss resulting in changed buttock shape, and sagging buttocks due to age or weight loss. If you have extra sagging skin, Dr. Vallecillos may recommend a combination of a traditional and Brazilian butt lift.
How long does a Brazilian butt lift last?
Assuming you maintain your weight and maintain an active lifestyle, results are typically permanent. Though patients experience some degree of fat resorption, this typically occurs within the first six months following your procedure. This is why Dr. Vallecillos injects slightly more fat than necessary for the patient to achieve the desired outcome.
Can a patient be too thin to receive a Brazilian butt lift?
Yes, if a patient does not have adequate body fat, Dr. Vallecillos is unable to harvest enough fat from the body to effect the augmentation. During your consultation, the doctor will determine whether you have ample fat stores.