BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) In Beverly Hills
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 risks compared to silicone implants
The dual benefit of liposuction combined with fat grafting allows you to target two areas at once, removing stubborn fat while enhancing your curves. Unlike implants, which can shift, rupture or require replacement over time, fat transfer provides a softer, more natural feel. Your results move naturally with your body, and no one will be able to detect that you’ve had work done.
Who Is Eligible for a BBL?
Brazilian butt lift surgery isn’t suitable for everyone. Several factors determine whether you’re an ideal candidate for this body contouring procedure, including the following:
- You need adequate fat reserves for the donor site: Dr. Vallecillos must be able to collect enough viable fat cells from donor sites to achieve your desired results.
- Good overall health is essential: Chronic illnesses like diabetes and autoimmune disorders, especially when poorly controlled, may disqualify you from the procedure.
- Weight stability is a major factor: You should be at or near your ideal weight and have maintained that weight for several months prior to surgery. Dramatic weight fluctuations after surgery can affect your results.
- You should have realistic expectations: A Brazilian butt lift can create beautiful curves and improve your proportions, but like every procedure, it has its limits. Understanding these limits is key to making a confident decision.
- You should have adequate skin elasticity: Excessive skin laxity may benefit more from a traditional butt lift, which removes excess tissue. Dr. Vallecillos will evaluate your skin elasticity during your consultation to recommend the best approach.
- Lifestyle and activity factors: BBL patients need to be able to avoid sitting or lying directly on their buttocks for about two weeks after surgery, as well as comply with exercise and heavy activity restrictions throughout the recovery period.
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 grafted 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.
The most serious potential complication, fat embolism, occurs when fat enters the bloodstream. Dr. Vallecillos uses meticulous injection techniques and adheres to strict safety protocols established by the Gluteal Fat Grafting Task Force to minimize this risk. He injects fat only into the subcutaneous layer, avoiding deeper muscle tissue where blood vessels are larger and more vulnerable.
Asymmetry can occur if fat resorption happens unevenly between sides. While Dr. Vallecillos strategically overcompensates for expected fat loss, individual healing responses vary. Minor asymmetries often resolve as swelling subsides, but in rare cases, a small touch-up procedure may be desired to perfect your results.
Recovery and Aftercare: What to Expect
Patience, preparation and consistency are absolutely essential to a successful BBL recovery process. Understanding what to expect and how to prepare well ahead of time can make the difference between a smooth process and a stressful one.
Immediately After Your Procedure
You’ll wake from anesthesia with a compression garment, which you will need to wear consistently for several weeks. The first 48 hours after your procedure tend to be the most challenging due to soreness around the liposuction sites and tightness around your buttocks. You will be advised not to sit directly on your buttocks for several weeks, though Dr. Vallecillos may provide specific guidance based on your case. He will work with you to review the safest positions for sleeping, working, and so forth.
Weeks Two Through Six
Sitting is generally reintroduced during this window, though you will likely need to use a special BBL pillow or cushion to minimize direct pressure on the buttocks. Swelling typically peaks around the midpoint of week one before it begins to gradually subside. Do not be alarmed if your buttocks appear larger than your intended results, as this is a normal response to the procedure caused by swelling.
Light walking is encouraged to promote circulation, but you will still be advised to avoid heavy lifting and other strenuous activities. Most patients can return to work after two weeks if they can avoid prolonged sitting or physical exertion. Those with more sedentary careers may need to wait three weeks or longer, depending on progress.
Months Two Through Six
This is an exciting time for the BBL patient, as your final results will gradually take form as more activity restrictions are lifted. The fat cells that survive the transfer are establishing a blood supply during this time, after which they will remain permanently. Your incisions will fade significantly during this time.
Barring any complications, patients can return to full exercise within two months in most cases. Rebuilding gluteal muscles with lower body strengthening exercises can actually improve your BBL results.
Why Choose GVMD for Your Brazilian Butt Lift?
This procedure demands a high level of technical skill, artistic vision and extensive experience to deliver beautiful, safe results. Dr. Glenn Vallecillos brings all of these qualities to every patient he treats.
Unparalleled Expertise in Body Contouring
Dr. Vallecillos is recognized internationally as a leader in advanced body contouring techniques. He was the first plastic surgeon in the world to combine VASER-assisted high-definition lipoplasty with Inmode’s RFAL FaceTite and BodyTite platforms, creating revolutionary approaches to body sculpting.
Commitment to Safety
Patient safety is Dr. Vallecillos’s highest priority. He adheres strictly to the safety guidelines established by leading plastic surgery organizations for performing Brazilian butt lifts. He uses only the latest, evidence-based protocols to protect your well-being throughout every stage of your procedure.
Personalized Treatment Approach
During your consultation, he takes time to understand your goals, assess your anatomy and develop a customized surgical plan designed specifically for you. He’ll discuss what’s realistically achievable, show you examples of results similar to what you can expect and answer every question you have.
Continued Education and Innovation
As an active national speaker and regular contributor to esteemed publications like the European Journal of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Vallecillos stays at the forefront of aesthetic surgery advancements. He serves as Senior Faculty Member of Palette/Scientiae, providing continuing medical education training to medical professionals throughout the United States and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Will my results look natural?
When performed by a skilled surgeon like Dr. Vallecillos, Brazilian butt lift results look completely natural. Because the procedure uses your own fat rather than implants, your enhanced buttocks will feel soft and move naturally with your body. Dr. Vallecillos’s artistic approach focuses on creating proportions that complement your frame rather than creating an exaggerated or “overdone” look.
Can I combine my BBL with other procedures?
Yes, Dr. Vallecillos frequently combines Brazilian butt lifts with complementary procedures like tummy tuck, additional liposuction, breast augmentation and thigh lift. This approach allows you to address multiple concerns during one surgery, potentially reducing overall costs and recovery time. During your consultation, Dr. Vallecillos will discuss whether a combined approach makes sense for your goals.
How soon will I see my final results?
While you’ll notice an immediate volume increase after your BBL, your final results develop gradually over three to six months. Initial swelling will make your buttocks appear larger than your final outcome. As swelling resolves and your body reabsorbs some transferred fat, your contours will refine into their permanent shape. Most patients retain 60-80% of the transferred fat long-term.
What happens if I gain or lose weight after my BBL?
The transferred fat cells behave like fat cells anywhere else in your body. If you gain weight, these cells can expand, potentially increasing your buttock size beyond your initial results. If you lose significant weight, your buttocks may decrease in size as well. This is why maintaining a stable weight through healthy lifestyle habits is important for preserving your BBL results.
Get the Curves You’ve Always Wanted
Ready to achieve the fuller, rounder backside you’ve been dreaming about? Dr. Vallecillos combines surgical precision with artistic vision to create beautiful, natural-looking Brazilian butt lift results that enhance your confidence and complement your unique figure.
Contact the office of Dr. Glenn Vallecillos today at (310) 273-3007 or book online to schedule your Brazilian butt lift consultation.
