If you’ve been looking for a great way to perfectly shape your buttocks to achieve that hourglass figure you’ve always wanted, the Brazilian butt lift may be just the procedure for you.
Here’s what you need to know about this safe and effective cosmetic surgery.
What Is a Brazilian Butt Lift?
Also known as a safe subcutaneous buttock augmentation (SSBA), this surgical procedure utilizes liposuction and augmentation to transfer fat from other areas of your body to your butt to add fullness and create a more superior posterior.
Although described as a so-called “lift,” the procedure doesn’t involve the same techniques as arm or thigh lifts. Unlike traditional butt lifts, which raise the buttocks by removing excess skin, the Brazilian butt lift collects surplus fat from areas you don’t want it, and uses this to generate a more voluminous, curvaceous backside—while also producing a more balanced and shapely appearance, overall.
How Does the Procedure Work?
The Brazilian butt lift collects surplus fat from areas you don’t want it, and uses this to generate a more voluminous, curvaceous backside.
Your doctor will use a thin tube called a cannula that’s connected to a vacuum for liposuction. This will remove extra fat cells from areas where they often accumulate, such as your abdomen, hips, lower back, and thighs.
The extracted fat is then washed, separated from fluid, and loaded into a syringe for transfer. Your doctor will then inject the fat precisely into the buttocks to enhance its shape and size.
In some cases, a portion of the transferred fat may not take to the relocation, so surgeons may inject more than necessary to ensure results meet your expectations and goals. If a majority of the cells do not endure, regrafting may be necessary in the future.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Surgery?
The best candidates for a Brazilian butt lift are those seeking a change in buttock contour who’ve lost their natural curves due to age or change in weight and have enough pockets of fat for grafting.
You should be in generally good health, free from any infections, and able to tolerate anesthesia and surgery. Other conditions may include a healthy and stable weight, lifestyle with regular exercise and diet, and abstinence from smoking. Be sure to discuss all of your surgical needs, options, and recommendations with your doctor.
What to Expect From the Procedure
In preparation for your procedure, your doctor may recommend you avoid certain activities such as smoking for at least three weeks ahead of your surgery. You will also have to stop taking any medication that could adversely interact with anesthesia, as well as aspirin products and blood-thinning medications, two weeks prior.
The day of surgery, if undergoing anesthesia , you’ll have to avoid eating for at least eight hours, and refrain from drinking beverages at least six hours before your appointment. You may also be advised to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, and arrange a a ride home with a 24hr chaperone.
The entire process can be completed under general anesthesia, IV sedation, or a combination of local and oral sedation, for a technique known as awake liposuction. The choice of anesthesia depends on what you’re most comfortable with and ultimately, what the surgeon determines is the safest and most realistic option.
Once you’ve been sufficiently anesthetized, your surgeon will perform liposuction by making a small incision and using the cannula tube to drain fat on the targeted areas of your body. After the fat is properly processed and prepared, it is reinjected into your buttocks.
Since fat does not have its own inherent blood supply, placement location is very important for the best chance of stable transfer and bonding. This delicate procedure usually involves three to five incisions around the buttocks, and carefully administering the right amount of fat to specific areas at the proper depth for even, natural-looking results.
The surgeon will finish by closing the stitches and applying a compression bandage to stop bleeding, and keep the area clean.
What Is Recovery Like?
Following your surgery, you will not be able to sit on your buttocks or sleep on your back for about two weeks, or until the area has healed enough. You may experience swelling for several weeks, however pain should be minimal. Your surgeon will discuss and possibly prescribe pain medication. You can resume light daily activities after one week, but shouldn’t exert strenuous activity or lift heavy objects.
After this period, your surgeon will evaluate whether you’ve healed enough to sit on your buttocks using a donut seat or pillows under your thighs. You cannot resume normal sitting for approximately eight weeks, and can return to work in 7 to 10 days
It can take up to six months to fully heal and see the final results.
Results & How Long They Last?
By the end of your recovery period, you should have more voluminous, perky buttocks, as well as improved body shape and proportions.
A Brazilian butt lift should last forever, but in some cases, if the transfer doesn’t take hold, a patient may require more than one procedure to attain the look they want. Typically, by the three-month mark you can be fairly certain if the transfer bonded effectively.
Weight fluctuation can affect the outcome of this surgery. If you gain weight, your buttocks can become enlarged, and smaller if you lose weight. The fat cells added to your buttock can grow and shrink, so it’s best to maintain a stable weight to preserve results. Adding healthy fats to your diet during the early recovery period may help with better fat retention.
Potential Risks & Side Effects
Brazilian butt lifts are considered safe procedures in the right hands. even more so than
As with all surgeries, there is potential risk of complications or side effects, including:
- Infection
- Scarring
- Lumpy or Uneven Skin Texture
- Prolonged Pain
While extremely rare, there is a chance that if the procedure is performed incorrectly the injected fat can enter the bloodstream and cause a fat embolism of the heart or lungs, which could potentially be fatal.
Be sure to let your doctor know if you experience any adverse side effects following your surgery.
How Much Do They Cost?
The cost of a Brazilian butt lift averages around $7,000, but can range from $5,000 to more than $10,000, depending on the specifics of your procedure. Be sure to discuss the surgery costs with your doctor.
Click Here to View Our Financing Options
Long Island’s Buglino Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery specializes in Brazilian butt lifts. Dr. Buglino has the experience and expertise to achieve your dream backside, and will discuss your options and best route to a new you. Schedule a free consultation to get started!
And be sure to follow Dr. Buglino on Instagram to view the stunning results of his past work!
