The Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a term used to describe a procedure designed to enlarge and reshape the buttocks using fat grafting, often known as fat transfer. In this buttock augmentation surgery,Philadelphia plastic surgeon David Bottger, MD uses liposuction to remove fat from one or several areas of the body—commonly the hips and abdomen. He then delivers careful injections of the purified fat into the buttock area, producing both an increase in volume and an enhancement of the buttock contour. A large portion of the fat typically “takes,” or survives, resulting in a permanent outcome that is usually evident after three to four months.
What Improvements Can a BBL Achieve?
A BBL is the premier body contouring procedure to naturally plump and reshape the buttocks. While older buttock augmentation techniques involved use of gluteal implants, patients often found this approach felt unnatural and didn’t achieve their desired results. With a BBL, the butt is enhanced through careful injections of your own fat, typically resulting in transformative results that complement your natural beauty. In general, a Brazilian Butt Lift is capable of:
- Obtaining a rounder, more voluptuous shape in the buttocks
- Achieving a more athletic-looking, pronounced buttock contour
- Enhancing body proportions to mirror an “hourglass” figure, if desired
- Improving a flat or sagging buttocks
It’s important for patients to have realistic expectations for what their enhancement will look like after their procedure. We invite you to peruse our BBL gallery to see before-and-after photos of previous patients who received buttock augmentation. Dr. Bottger will also give you insight into the types of results you can expect with a BBL and discuss other treatments that may help you achieve your goals. A Brazilian Butt Lift may be incorporated into a Mommy Makeover, if desired, for patients who have aesthetic concerns in more than one region of the body.
Who is a Candidate for a Brazilian Butt Lift?
A Brazilian Butt Lift is best suited for patients with adequate fat excess to harvest for transfer into the buttocks. For this reason, very thin patients may not be good candidates for the BBL technique due to a lack of excess fat. The procedure is usually ideal for:
- Patients with a flat buttock contour, or those seeking enhanced prominence or roundness
- Patients with adequate fat reserves for grafting
- Patients in good general health
- Patients with realistic expectations
One of the primary benefits of fat transfer is that a fat-rich region of the body can be contoured with liposuction techniques at the same time as buttock augmentation, resulting in twice the enhancement. Depending on how much excess fat is available for transfer, common areas for body contouring include the abdomen, thighs, hips, or flanks.
View Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) Photos
How is the Brazilian Butt Lift Procedure Performed?
Fat transfer buttock enhancement generally involves two components: the extraction of excess fat using liposuction, and the subsequent re-injection into the buttocks. First and foremost, Dr. Bottger will ask you about your expectations for the procedure and listen to your cosmetic goals regarding the shape and projection of your desired buttock contour. The best available region for fat harvesting will then be determined based on a physical evaluation.
Depending on the best liposuction technique for your unique needs, Dr. Bottger may deliver a tumescent solution into the area planned for fat extraction. This fluid contains epinephrine, a medication that can help decrease swelling and bleeding during liposuction. The appropriate amount of fat is then suctioned out using an ultra-thin surgical instrument called a cannula, and the fat is purified for transfer into the buttocks. Dr. Bottger then uses his aesthetic training to reintroduce the fat into the buttocks, making meticulous injections to achieve the desired curvature.
We are excited to announce that we have recently added the Clarius ultrasound system to our practice. The main utility of the system is found in performing buttock augmentation with fat transfer, also known as a Brazilian Butt Lift or “BBL.” Without ultrasound guidance, it is difficult to discern the exact depth of the fat injection cannula. A cannula that penetrates too deeply could lead to injury of a large gluteal vein, potentially resulting in a fat embolism to the lung. The ultrasound imagery provided by Clarius allows precise placement of the fat grafts in the proper plane of the buttocks, helping eliminate the possibility of a vein injury and significantly improving the safety of the procedure.
What is Recovery From a Brazilian Butt Lift Like?
You will be placed in bandages/compression garments after buttock augmentation, which you will wear for approximately three weeks to promote proper healing of your new contours. Most patients return to work within one to two weeks of surgery, and discomfort is usually described as minimal. It is important to avoid long-term sitting during this early post-operative period so that the blood supply to the new fat cells remains undamaged; Dr. Bottger will give you advice on how to sit while reducing pressure on the treated areas in person. Taking care to sit primarily on the upper thighs with the assistance of pillows typically works well for BBL patients. To account for the fat cells that may not survive the transplantation process, Dr. Bottger often introduces somewhat more fat into the targeted area than may be anticipated—for this reason, the initial result can appear slightly overcorrected until the final outcome is realized. It usually takes about four months to see the full extent of your results.
How Much Does a (BBL) Brazilian Butt Lift Cost?
The fee for a Brazilian Butt Lift starts at $12,535, depending on the details of your treatment plan and whether secondary procedures (such as tummy tuck surgery or additional liposuction) are performed. Dr. Bottger’s practice offers a variety of payment methods to suit each patient’s unique needs, including plastic surgery financing through CareCredit®, one of the most trusted healthcare lending companies in the nation. With both short- and long-term payment plans offered to qualified applicants, the arrangements available through CareCredit® can fit virtually any patient’s budget. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our practice if you have any questions regarding the cost of a Brazilian Butt Lift, or our accepted modes of payment.
Is a Non-Surgical BBL Possible?
Unfortunately, non-surgical butt lift techniques do not provide the same volume enhancement as a surgical procedure. A BBL uniquely allows your plastic surgeon to shape the buttocks and refine the lower body contour. While certain exercises can work to strengthen the gluteal muscles and make the buttocks more firm, a Brazilian Butt Lift is able to precisely and aesthetically reshape the buttocks. For this reason, a BBL is usually the most effective treatment for patients who want a more sensual and voluptuous figure. Furthermore, there’s currently no non-surgical technique or procedure designed to remove and reinject excess fat into the buttocks.
Although a BBL does require surgery, the primary approach by which fat is collected — liposuction — is considered minimally invasive and doesn’t require a lengthy recovery period. Incisions utilized are typically less than a half-inch long, and patients reap the benefits of slimming and contouring the harvesting site (often the hips or abdomen). Patients also describe the recovery process as very tolerable.
A Brazilian Butt Lift is primarily a volume-enhancing procedure for the butttocks; however, some patients may be more concerned with excess, sagging skin along the butt and lower body. Stretched skin is a common effect of pregnancy, significant weight loss, or the natural aging process and commonly accumulates near the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen. If getting rid of excess skin is your main goal, Dr. Bottger also offers a lower body lift — sometimes referred to as a belt lipectomy which actually lifts and tightens buttock and posterior thigh skin . This is typically combined with an abdominoplasty to contour the anterior trunk A lower body lift can extensively resculpt areas of stretched skin to provide you with sleeker, more defined contours.
Are There Alternatives to a Brazilian Butt Lift?
A Brazilian Butt Lift is primarily a volume-enhancing procedure for the butttocks; however, some patients may be more concerned with excess, sagging skin along the butt and lower body. Stretched skin is a common effect of pregnancy, significant weight loss, or the natural aging process and commonly accumulates near the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen. If getting rid of excess skin is your main goal, Dr. Bottger also offers a lower body lift—sometimes referred to as a belt lipectomy, which actually lifts and tightens the buttock and posterior thigh skin. This is typically combined with abdominoplasty to contour the anterior trunk. A lower body lift can extensively resculpt areas of stretched skin to provide you with sleeker, more defined contours.
5-Star Average Rating
Dr. Bottger and his staff are the most professional and personable staff I ever encountered. My experience with Dr. Bottger truly changed my life!! I’m more confident and energetic! I’ve never felt better!! Ty truly Dr. Bottger and your excellent staff as well.
If you live in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area and you are considering buttock augmentation, please call us today to schedule a confidential consultation.