Purpose of Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) Surgery

The main difference between a BBL and butt implants is that the former doesn’t use implants and instead uses your body fat for cosmetic enhancement. The results may last many years.

During the procedure

A BBL is an outpatient procedure performed under intravenous (IV) anesthesia and involves these basic steps:

• Liposuction: Fat is removed from your lower back, thighs, and abdomen to transfer the fat to other areas of the body. 
• Preparation: The extracted fat is purified and prepared for transfer.
• Fat injection: The prepared fat is injected into specific points on the buttocks to increase their volume and enhance their shape. Because all injected fat may not “take” in the new locations, your surgeon may inject a slightly larger amount of fat into the buttocks than is required.

Post-procedural care

• You will be kept under observation for a few hours or overnight, as your surgeon sees fit. There will be some pain after the procedure that can be managed with pain medications.
• Your surgeon will advise you against sitting on your butt or sleeping on your back for about two weeks after the procedure. You will need to sleep on your sides at night and perform most activities in a standing position during these two weeks.
• For about the next eight weeks, you may use a donut seat while sitting to avoid putting pressure on your new butt. Your surgeon will follow up with you after 14 days and allow you to return to work if all is going well.

After about six months, you will begin to see the results of the surgery and enjoy having the pert, shapely butt you wanted so badly.

Every surgical procedure comes with a risk. Although a BBL is generally assumed safe when performed by an experienced surgeon, some people may be prone to complications with this procedure. For example, if you have diabetes or heart problems or are prone to keloid formation, the procedure may not be suitable for you.

Moreover, it is important to make sure your surgeon is qualified to operate on you and is experienced with the procedure. Although the statistics from various sources vary, the death rate for butt lifts in 2019 was about 1 in 15,000 surgeries performed.

A BBL may also result in the following complications:

• Infection: Improper sterilization techniques or reduced immunity may cause infections. The risk of infection can be reduced by taking antibiotics before and after the procedure.
• Decreased skin sensation: During a BBL, your surgeon will cut the nerves over the skin of the buttock. This will cause the skin over your butt to feel numb. It may take years for sensation to return to normalcy, if at all.
• Poor wound healing: Wounds or cuts made during surgery in people with diabetes may not heal and result in abscess formation and cellulitis (extensive soft tissue swelling).
• Scars and keloids: Scars from a buttock lift are permanent. Your surgeon may make cuts along the skin creases so that they are not visible. However, in some cases, a keloid (bulging itchy scar) may form.
• Seroma (fluid collection beneath the skin): The incision site may swell due to discharge from the trauma during surgery. Your surgeon will leave fine tubes in place after surgery to help reduce the risk of seroma.
• Organ injury and death: When performed in a poorly managed setting or under inexperienced hands, there is a risk of organs being punctured while harvesting the fat. The injection of fat too deep into the gluteal muscles can cause fat embolism, which can be fatal because it can cause pulmonary embolisms.

Recovery after surgery

Complete recovery may take up to six months. Most people may resume their normal activities within four to six weeks.

You will experience pain after the surgery. In most cases, the pain is adequately controlled through pain medication, but you must inform your doctor if the pain is constant and accompanied by fever or bleeding.

Do not sit or lie directly on your buttocks for about two weeks after the surgery. During this time, sleep on your stomach or side. You may sit on your buttocks when you use the toilet. Later, your doctor will give you a “donut” seat to sit on, or they will ask you to place a pillow under your thighs to avoid pressure on the buttocks.

Normal sitting is typically allowed after eight weeks. You should be able to resume light daily activities within a week after the surgery and return to work within 10 to 14 days.

The surgery is overall safe, but in some cases, as time progresses, there could be some changes in the appearance of your butt.

• In the first two weeks after the procedure, your rear may lose up to 40 percent of the injected fat.  
• The appearance of your buttocks will stabilize only after three to six months.
• Most people can expect the results of a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) to last five years or more. 
• It is important to follow a proper diet to enjoy the best long-term results. If you gain weight, the area will lose its tight and pert appearance.
• A BBL doesn’t address loose skin, which is a consequence of aging. You may need a touch-up surgery to preserve your butt shape as you age.