Surgery Plastic Surgery More Body Procedures Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery: Overview By Natalie Kita Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Maria M. LoTempio, MD on January 27, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin Maria M. LoTempio, MD, is a double board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in reconstructive surgery and otolaryngology (head and neck) surgery. Learn about our Medical Review Board Maria M. LoTempio, MD Updated on January 23, 2021 Print Table of Contents View All Purpose How to Prepare What to Expect Recovery Long-Term Care A Word From Verywell A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is a fat transfer procedure performed to achieve a fuller, rounder buttocks without the use of implants. Despite its name, this procedure will not "lift" loose, sagging skin on the buttocks. Instead, a BBL uses your own fat to improve the natural contour and volume of your buttocks. Only certain patients are candidates for this procedure (for example, you must have adequate, excess fat to transfer), and the recovery process requires that you avoid sitting for two weeks. The procedure is also not without risk. If you are considering a BBL, gaining as much knowledge as you can about the surgery is a great and proactive first step. What Is a Brazilian Butt Lift? A Brazilian butt lift is an elective, cosmetic surgery that involves transferring fat from a separate area of the body to the buttocks. This outpatient procedure is performed by a plastic surgeon under general anesthesia or local anesthesia in a surgical center. A BBL is usually performed on those who want to improve the shape and volume of their buttocks. Shapelessness of the buttocks may occur from poor tissue elasticity as a result of aging, pregnancy, and weight fluctuations. Genetic factors also play a role. During a BBL liposuction is performed to remove excess fat from the abdomen, the sides (love handles), thigh, or lower back. The collected fat is then processed and injected back into specific parts of the buttocks to enhance its size and shape. There are no implants involved in this surgical procedure. As a cosmetic surgery, BBL is not covered by insurance. The average total cost of a BBL ranges from $4,000 to $15,000 and includes your surgeon’s fee, anesthesia fees, facility fees, lab fees, and medications. Various Surgical Techniques Due to the increasing number of BBL surgeries performed every year and the risk of a rare but catastrophic complication called a pulmonary fat embolism—when injected fat entering the buttock (gluteal veins) travels to the lungs—plastic surgeons are constantly evaluating their surgical techniques. BBL techniques may vary in fat processing, location of buttock incision sites, and how and where the fat is injected (subcutaneously or intramuscularly). To minimize the risk for a pulmonary fat embolism, professional societies like the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF) have devised a set of recommendations for performing a BBL. A few examples of these technique recommendations include: Avoid injecting into the deep muscleUse a single hole injection cannula (≥4.1 mm diameter)Avoid downward angulation of the cannula when injecting the fat into the buttocksOnly inject when the cannula (a thin tube holding the fat) is in motion Contraindications Contraindications to a Brazilian butt lift surgery include: Lack of excess fat that can be harvestedPoor or compromising health statusUnrealistic expectations Potential Risks Besides the known risks of anesthesia and the general risks of all surgeries (e.g., bleeding and infection), specific risks associated with a Brazilian butt lift include: Seroma (fluid collection beneath the skin)Undercorrection (too little fat is harvested or injected into the buttocks)Fat necrosis (death of fat resulting in small, firm lumps beneath the skin)ScarringSciatic nerve injuryDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) As mentioned above, pulmonary fat embolism is the most feared and deadly complication of BBL surgery. Reports suggest the mortality rate due to this complication may be as high as 1 in 3000. Purpose of Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery The purpose of a Brazilian butt lift is to improve the contour of your buttocks. With a fuller, rounder buttocks, you may experience a curvier figure and an improvement in the balance between your upper and lower body. You may also experience a boost in your self-confidence and notice that your clothes fit more comfortably or attractively. Patients who are good candidates for a Brazilian butt lift include those who: Have good skin tone in the hips and buttocksAre at a healthy weightHave excess fat stores available for harvesting and transferringAre willing and able to avoid sitting directly on their buttocks after surgery for several weeksDesire a natural-looking, rounded buttock without implantsHave realistic expectations If your surgeon deems you a good candidate for a BBL, and you decide to move forward with surgery, you will need to undergo medical clearance from your primary care physician. This usually entails undergoing basic laboratory studies like a complete blood count (CBC) and basic metabolic panel (BMP), and an electrocardiogram (ECG). Purpose of Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) How to Prepare To prepare for your Brazilian but lift, your surgeon may instruct you on the following: Stop smoking at least four weeks prior to surgery.Stop taking certain medications and herbal supplements that may thin your blood two weeks prior to surgery (e.g., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin E, and fish oil).Avoid eating or drinking anything after midnight on the eve of your surgery.Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first one to three days after surgery.Prepare for recovery (e.g., purchase a doughnut cushion, healthy snacks, ready-to-go meals, and cozy, loose-fitted clothing). Brazilian Butt Lift: How to Prepare What to Expect on the Day of Surgery A Brazilian butt lift procedure takes around three to four hours and generally proceeds in the following manner: Arrival: Upon arrival at the surgical center, you will change into a gown and a nurse will place a peripheral IV for the administration of fluids and medications.Marking: Your surgeon will come to greet you and mark sites on your buttocks where the fat will be injected.Start Anesthesia: You will be taken to the operating room where either general or local anesthesia will be administered. If undergoing general anesthesia, an endotracheal tube will be inserted to assist with breathing during surgery. With local anesthesia, you will be numbed from the waist down and given a sedating medication to help you fall into a light sleep.Incisions: After cleaning the skin, the surgeon will make incisions at both the harvest/liposuction site (e.g., abdomen) and the graft site (the buttocks).Harvesting/Liposuction: A tube-like device will be inserted and fat will be suctioned out of the harvest incision sites and collected in a special container.Transfer: The collected fat will be transferred into individual syringes and then strategically injected into various areas within the buttocks.Closure: When the fat transfer is complete, the incision sites will be closed with sutures and covered with a waterproof dressing. A compression garment will be placed over the buttocks.Stop Anesthesia: If applicable, general anesthesia will be stopped, and the endotracheal tube will be removed. You will then be taken to a recovery room to wake up. Recovery In the recovery room, a nurse will monitor your vital signs (e.g., heart rate and blood pressure) and give you medication for pain and nausea which are common after surgery. When your surgeon gives you the OK, a friend or family member will drive you home. At home, you can expect to experience pain, bruising, and swelling in your buttocks and liposuction sites. While the pain should last only a few days, swelling may persist for weeks or even months. Your surgeon will give you tips on how to minimize these symptoms. Recovery from a Brazilian butt lift takes about six to eight weeks. It takes up to six months to see a final result. To ensure a safe and optimal outcome from surgery, you must carefully follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions. One of the most crucial instructions after surgery is to avoid sitting on your buttocks for around two weeks. This means that you will need to sleep on your stomach or side. If you absolutely need to sit, your surgeon will probably advise you to use a doughnut cushion or a rolled-up blanket underneath your hips. Besides not sitting, you will need to wear a compression garment (usually provided by the surgeon) at all times on your buttocks for two weeks after surgery. You can remove the compression garment briefly when taking a shower or in order to wash it. Your surgeon will also likely advise the following after surgery: Begin walking around on the second day after surgery.Avoid heavy lifting or vigorous activity for two weeks after surgery.Avoid driving until you are off prescribed pain medication for at least 24 hours.Gently massage the parts of your body where liposuction was performed.While showering is OK after surgery, avoid bathing and swimming for two weeks (until your incision sites have fully healed). When to Seek Medical Attention Your surgeon will tell you when to call or seek emergency care. General symptoms that warrant immediate attention include: Signs of an infection (e.g., fever or redness/tenderness/warmth/abnormal drainage at the incision site)Excessive bleeding at dressing siteSignificant or worsening painChest pain or trouble breathingLeg pain or asymmetric swelling Brazilian Butt Lift: Recovery Long-Term Care Patients are generally highly satisfied with the outcome of their BBL. For many, the boost in self-confidence from surgery serves as a stepping stone to pursuing a desired goal or career or simply achieving a healthier lifestyle. Going into surgery with realistic expectations is key though—surgery is not a "quick fix" and will not dramatically change your appearance. If you are experiencing depression or anxiety prior to or after surgery, it's important you reach out to your surgeon or primary care physician. Keep in mind—while the results of a BBL are essentially permanent (provided you do not lose or gain a significant amount of weight), revision BBL surgery may be needed if the primary surgery results in buttock asymmetry or an under-correction. Revision Surgery Transferring fat to a part of the buttock that has already been injected with fat tends to be less successful and more technically difficult. In addition, revision surgery may not be feasible if a patient does not have any more areas of excess fat to collect from. Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL): Long-Term Care A Word From Verywell While a less invasive procedure than obtaining silicone implants in the buttocks, a BBL still carries risks and requires a commitment to recovery. Be sure to thoroughly research and choose a board-certified plastic surgeon who has ample experience performing BBLs. During your consultation appointment, ask the surgeon about their experience, complication rate, credentials, and portfolio (they should have a photo gallery of before and after pictures from prior patients). Questions to Discuss With Your Plastic Surgeon Before Surgery bymuratdeniz / Getty Images Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Buttock Enhancement: Gluteal Augmentation and Lift. The Aesthetic Society. Buttock Augmentation. American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery . Buttock lift. Cansancao AL, Condé-Green A, Rosique RG, Rosique MJ, Cervantes A. "Brazilian Butt Lift" Performed by Board-Certified Brazilian Plastic Surgeons: Reports of an Expert Opinion Survey. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Sep;144(3):601-609. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000006020. Mofid MM, Teitelbaum S, Suissa D. Report on Mortality from Gluteal Fat Grafting: Recommendations from the ASERF Task Force. Aesthet Surg J. 2017 Jul;37(7):796-806. doi:10.1093/asj/sjx004 American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Brazilian Butt Lift. Sinno S, Chang JB, Brownstone ND, Saadeh PB, Wall S. Determining the Safety and Efficacy of Gluteal Augmentation: A Systematic review of Outcomes and Complications. Review Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Apr;137(4):1151-1156. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000002005 Multi-Society Task Force for Safety in Gluteal Fat Grafting. Urgent Warning to Surgeons Performing Fat Grafting to the Buttocks (Brazilian Butt Lift or "BBL"). July 2018. UCLA Plastic Surgery. Medications to avoid before surgery. Oranges CM, Tremp M, di Summa PG et al. Gluteal Augmentation Techniques: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Review Aesthet Surg J. 2017 May 1;37(5):560-569. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw240