Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)
If you desire to shape the contours of your back side for a fuller, rounder buttock, San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus is here to help you reach your aesthetic goals. By using liposuction to transfer your own fat during a Brazilian butt lift procedure, Dr. Gallus can shape the gorgeous natural look and feel that you want.
What is a Brazilian butt lift?
A Brazilian butt lift is a form of buttock enhancement that uses your body’s own fat instead of a silicone implant or other foreign material. During Brazilian butt lift surgery, Dr. Gallus harvests fat from fuller areas of the body (think: hips, belly, and thighs) using liposuction, purifies it in a centrifuge, then strategically injects it into the buttocks—a process called fat transfer. The result is a fuller, rounder behind using your body’s own fat. BBL surgery has a satisfaction rate of 97.1%, according to the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Gallus is a board certified plastic surgeon and Castle Connolly Top Doctor. She will partner with you to develop a tailored surgical plan that prioritizes your safety and results.
Am I a good candidate for Brazilian butt lift surgery?
You may be a good candidate for a Brazilian butt lift if you:
- Have a flattened buttocks and outer hips
- Have some extra fat in your hips, flanks, thighs, or abdomen
- Want a natural means of achieving a round, perky backside
- Do not have a history of blood clotting problems such as DVT or PE
- Are not taking blood thinning medications or using nicotine products
- Are at a healthy, stable weight and are in overall good health
- Have a BMI under 30
Benefits of Brazilian butt lifts
Brazilian butt lift procedures can provide San Diego patients with the following benefits:
- Highlight your curves and enjoy a fuller, more contoured buttocks
- Can improve confidence and self-esteem
- No visible scars, lengthy recovery period, or potential for infection, unlike implant-based buttock augmentation
- Uses the body’s own fat to provide natural enhancement and augmentation
BBL surgery has a satisfaction rate of 97.1%, according to the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
“This wasn’t my first experience with plastic surgery and by far Restore has been the best. Dr. Gallus is amazing. She listens to your needs, makes sure you understand what she is able to do and address’ all of your concerns… I highly recommend Restore SD.”
—Actual patient of Dr. Gallus
About Brazilian butt lift surgery in San Diego
Dr. Gallus performs butt augmentation surgery under general anesthesia in our private Quad A-accredited surgery center. The procedure usually takes 2-3 hours to perform and is an outpatient surgery, meaning you are able to go home after you recover from anesthesia. Learn more about Quad A accreditation »
During surgery, Dr. Gallus will harvest fat from your hips, flanks, thighs, and abdomen using the SAFELipo™ liposuction technique. The fat is then purified in a sterile processing device and injected with a small cannula (round tube) in multiple layers to beautifully sculpt and define the shape of the buttocks. The fat is a living graft and will establish its own blood supply to help ensure its survival. Great strides have been made in fat grafting in the last decade and it is reasonable to expect that 60-75% of your grafted fat will survive and provide a robust and long-lasting improvement in your figure.
Safety is Essential: With a BBL, Cheaper is Not Better
Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon to perform your BBL in an accredited facility is essential for safety, as these experts have the rigorous training and credentials to minimize risks in this complex procedure. Unlike clinics abroad that may cut costs by bypassing safety standards, board-certified surgeons adhere to strict protocols to prevent serious complications like fat embolism. Investing in a qualified surgeon ensures you’re prioritizing your health and long-term results.
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In this episode of All the B’s, our fun and unfiltered plastic surgery podcast, Bri discusses her experience getting two Brazilian butt lifts, and recaps her Mexico filler fiasco!
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Your Safety = Beautiful Brazilian Butt Lift Results
Brazilian Butt Lift at Restore SD
At Restore SD Plastic Surgery, patient safety comes first. Board-certified plastic surgeon and former Navy plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus operates in a private, on-site Quad A-accredited surgery center, with state-of-the-art equipment and LED surgical lighting. She proudly works with a board-certified anesthesiologist and holds privileges at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
Recovery
After your buttock lift (and recovering from anesthesia), you will be able to go home with a responsible adult who can ideally spend the first few days of recovery with you. Some surgical pain is expected, for which you will be prescribed pain medication. You will need to wear a compression garment during butt lift recovery for 4-6 weeks to ensure a smooth contour in the areas from which the fat was harvested. Some patients choose to use a Brazilian butt lift pillow for additional comfort. You will have some swelling and bruising after surgery, but this generally subsides within the first few weeks after surgery. RestoreSD also offers lymphatic massage for your post-surgery care to reduce swelling and promote better fat graft survival.
You will need to stay off your backside for 10-14 days, so make sure you have a comfy place set up and someone to assist with daily tasks. You will be meeting with Dr. Gallus frequently for follow-up visits, and she will help you get back to your normal activities based on your speed of recovery. Keep in mind that most complications come from getting too active too early. During your personal consultation, Dr. Gallus will help you plan the best date for your BBL procedure so as to allow enough time for recovery.
Results
Once your final fat grafting results are visible (4-6 months after surgery), your BBL results should last as long as you maintain a stable weight and healthy lifestyle. Note that because your grafted fat is living, the size of the fat cells in your buttocks can fluctuate with your overall body weight.
Expertly harvested and carefully purified fat can yield graft survival in the range of 60-75%. This amount of fat survival is very predictable and you can expect to see some decrease in size after the swelling subsides and the non-viable fat is reabsorbed by your body. The final results of fat grafting can generally be seen after 4-6 months. Some patients return for a second round of fat grafting a year or two after their initial Brazilian butt surgery to adjust the size and shape of their buttocks a bit more.
- Key Benefits
- Glossary
- Adds volume to the buttocks for a fuller, rounder curve
- Transfers fat from other areas of the body to the buttocks
- Uses the patient’s own fat for results that look and feel natural
- Autologous Fat Transfer – A procedure that involves removing fat from one part of the patient’s body (via liposuction) and injecting it into another area, in this case, the buttocks, to enhance volume and shape.
- Body Contouring – A series of procedures aimed at reshaping and refining the contours of the body to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing figure; a BBL is considered a form of body contouring.
- Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) – A cosmetic procedure that enhances the size and shape of the buttocks without the use of implants; instead, it relies on the transfer of the patient’s own fat.
- Buttock Augmentation – Any surgical procedure that increases the size or improves the shape of the buttocks; a BBL is one type of buttock augmentation.
- Cannula – A thin tube used during liposuction to remove fat from the donor site, which is then prepared and reinjected into the buttocks during a BBL procedure.
- Donor Site – The area(s) of the body from which fat is harvested for transfer in procedures like a BBL, typically including the abdomen, thighs, hips, or lower back.
- Fat Embolism – A rare but serious complication where fat enters the bloodstream and blocks a blood vessel; it’s a risk associated with fat transfer procedures like BBL.
- Fat Grafting – The process of harvesting fat from one part of the body and injecting it into another area to enhance volume; a key component of the BBL procedure.
- Flanks – The sides of the body between the ribs and hips; liposuction is often performed on this area during a BBL to enhance the waist-to-hip ratio.
- Implants – Synthetic materials used to enhance the size and shape of certain body parts, such as breasts or buttocks; unlike a BBL, which uses fat transfer, buttock augmentation can also be achieved with implants.
- Incisions – Small cuts made in the skin to facilitate procedures such as liposuction and fat transfer; in a BBL, incisions are typically small and strategically placed to minimize visible scarring.
- Liposuction – A cosmetic surgery procedure that removes fat from specific areas of the body using a suction technique; it’s the first step in a BBL.
- Purified Fat – Fat that has been processed and cleaned after being extracted via liposuction and before being reinjected into the buttocks during a BBL.
- Recovery Time – The period needed for healing after a BBL, during which activities may be limited and special precautions, such as avoiding sitting directly on the buttocks, are recommended.
- Sedentary Shield – A specially designed cushion or pillow used after a BBL to avoid putting pressure on the buttocks while sitting, promoting optimal fat graft survival.
- Seroma – An accumulation of fluid beneath the skin at the site of surgery, a potential complication following procedures like liposuction and BBL.
- Volume – In the context of a BBL, refers to the amount of fat injected into the buttocks to achieve the desired increase in size and fullness.
Brazilian Butt Lift FAQ’s
Choose Restore SD Plastic Surgery for your San Diego Brazilian butt lift
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus has over a decade of experience performing Brazilian butt lift surgery. In addition to operating in a fully credentialed facility, we take the time to listen to your goals and partner with you to develop the best and safest surgical plan that will optimize your results and leave you looking and feeling your best.
Female plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus and our San Diego plastic surgery team are here to make your plastic surgery journey a positive—and even fun—experience! Dr. Gallus partners with you to establish the perfect breast augmentation surgery plan to achieve your goals. To begin your journey with a consultation at our San Diego office to discuss surgery recommendations, cost, and more, call 858-224-2281 or contact us online today.
Call to schedule your consultation today »
References »
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Del Vecchio D, Kenkel JM. Practice Advisory on Gluteal Fat Grafting. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2022 Aug 24;42(9):1019-1029. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjac082.
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H, Roh S, Mese T, Uchiki T, Sasaki A, Nagamatsu S. Effect of Postoperative Compression Therapy on the Success of Liposuction in Patients with Advanced Lower Limb Lymphedema. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021 Oct 22;10(21):4852. doi: 10.3390/jcm10214852.
Vidal-Laureano N, Huerta CT, Perez EA, Earle SA. Augmented Safety Profile of Ultrasound-Guided Gluteal Fat Transfer: Retrospective Study With 1815 Patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2024 Mar 15;44(4):NP263-NP270. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjad377.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Katerina Gallus — Updated on Jun 30, 2025
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