Brazilian Butt Lift (Fat Transfer)
It is important to recognize that for all medical procedures, including those performed at Imagen Body Sculpting, individual results and experiences may vary *.
What is a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)?
Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Beyonce have fueled a desire for a more round, fuller and higher looking backside. Men are no exception and also desire a more youthful, fuller appearance to their buttocks. Popularized as the “Brazilian Butt Lift,” fat grafting to the buttocks is one of Imagen’s most requested procedures. A Brazilian Butt Lift (also known as BBL) removes fat from areas where you don’t want it and then uses that fat to augment and shape your buttocks.
Fat is a living tissue and, as such, can be “transplanted” or “grafted” from one site to another. Fat can be harvested from any area of the body and then transferred into any area of the body. The biggest benefits of using fat to augment your buttocks are that it is “autologous,” which means it comes from you, and that it is long lasting.
Fat is harvested using Vaser liposuction. 
The fat is then processed, removing fibrous tissue and combining it with PRP (platelet rich plasma). “PRP” contains growth factors as well as nutrients that seem to play an important role in the survival and maintenance of the transferred fat. Also, these growth factors and nutrients contribute to improvement of skin texture, healing and recovery. After it has been processed, the fat is injected into the buttocks using a cannula (we use ball tipped cannulas to help reduce risks).
The fat can be used to improve the lift of the buttocks, the projection of the buttocks or the roundness of the hips.
You can get more information about the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) and other options for buttock augmentation in our blogs, All About that Bass…The Brazilian Butt Lift and Options for Butt Enhancement
See Doctor Soto performing a Brazilian Butt Lift:
Am I a good candidate for a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)?
The best candidates for BBL have enough fat to make a significant change in the size of their buttocks (typically considered to be at least 1 liter of good quality fat). If you don’t have much fat to harvest, you may want to consider a non-surgical butt lift.
You should also have good muscle tone in your natural buttocks, as this will help the surgeon build a rounder shape to your buttocks with better projection.
You will have to follow the post-op instructions well. This includes not smoking (nicotine is a vasoconstrictor and will decrease blood flow to your newly transplanted fat, causing the cells to die at a higher rate) and not putting direct pressure on your buttocks for 6 weeks after the procedure. We will provide you with a cushion to use, but there are multiple options for BBL cushions available on Amazon.com as well. Sitting on your newly transplanted fat will put unnecessary pressure on the cells, which are delicate. This will decrease the survival of the cells, causing your fat graft to shrink.
You should also have realistic expectations. Many of the photos that we see on line and on social media have been altered to depict unrealistic proportions. Also, everyone’s body shape is naturally different. Some people can attain the tiny waist with wide hips while others naturally have a more square build. Unrealistic expectations will increase your risk for complications. As surgeons try to add more fat to meet their patient’s expectations, there is higher risk of fat necrosis due to the high pressures and also higher risk of fat embolism as the fat is injected deeper into the muscle.
What are the risks of Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)?
No surgical procedure is without risks. The risks of BBL are similar to those of liposuction. Overall the procedure is safe. The most serious risk of BBL is a fat embolism. This is where the fat is injected into a blood vessel. At Imagen, we use only blunt, ball tipped cannulas for injection of the fat. We also avoid placing the fat deep into the muscle. By injecting the fat into the more superficial tissues, you will get more predictable shape as well as better survival of the fat (the muscles put pressure on the fat, causing the fat to die). These techniques help to reduce the risks of fat embolism. Following your post op instructions will help to avoid other possible complications.
How much does a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) cost?
The cost of a BBL depends on how many and which areas are treated with liposuction to harvest the fat. At Imagen, we charge a flat fee for the reinjection of the fat in addition to the cost of the liposuction. A typical BBL generally runs between $9000 and $13000.
What sort of results can I expect from a BBL?
Your result really depends on what your natural body shape is like and how much fat you have to harvest. Your surgeon should be able to tell you whether or not you could possibly attain that tiny waist with curvy hips or if you should expect more projection toward the back vs the sides. You should review realistic before and after photos with your surgeon. You should definitely bring in “wish” pictures so that your surgeon can make sure that your expectations align with what they think is possible for your particular case.
What’s the next step?
If you think that you may be ready to move forward with a Brazilian Butt Lift, or even if you just want more information, we would recommend that you come in for a free consultation with one of our doctors in Omaha, Nebraska. If you live outside of Omaha (we have patients from South Dakota, Des Moines and other cities in Iowa, Kansas City, Grand Island, Kearney and Western Nebraska and even Denver and other cities in Colorado) we would be happy to review your photos in a virtual consultation. To schedule your appointment, please call/text our office at 402-509-8473. We look forward to meeting you!
