What is a Brazilian butt lift?
A Brazilian butt lift is a form of buttock augmentation 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.
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
- Do not have a history of blood clotting problems such as DVT or PE
- Have some extra fat in your hips, flanks, thighs, or abdomen
- Want a natural means of achieving a round, perky backside
- 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 lift surgery
Brazilian butt lift surgery can provide San Diego patients with the following benefits:
- Enjoy a fuller, more contoured back end
- 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
BBL surgery has a satisfaction rate of 97.1%, according to the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
About Brazilian butt lift surgery
Dr. Gallus performs BBL surgery under general anesthesia in an AAAASF-accredited surgery center or hospital. The surgery 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 AAAASF accreditation.
During surgery, Dr. Gallus will harvest fat from your hips, flanks, thighs, and abdomen using the SAFELipo™ 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.
Click here to view Brazilian butt lift surgery before & after photos »
About Brazilian butt lift recovery
After your surgery (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 for 4-6 weeks to ensure a smooth contour in the areas from which the fat was harvested. You will have some swelling and bruising after surgery, but this generally subsides within the first few weeks after surgery.
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 surgery so as to allow enough time for recovery.
Can a Brazilian butt lift be combined with other procedures?
Brazilian butt lift surgery is frequently combined with other procedures, including:
Combining surgical procedures is often very efficient in terms of costs and recovery, as you will already be under anesthesia in a surgical facility anticipating a recovery period. If you are interested in undergoing multiple surgeries, Dr. Gallus will work with you to develop a comprehensive surgical plan that is designed to optimize your results and safety.
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FAQ’s
What happens at my Brazilian butt lift consultation?
When you arrive at Restore SD Plastic Surgery to discuss your BBL, Dr. Gallus will perform a detailed examination as well as review your medical history and any medications you are taking. At your consultation, you will have photos taken with our Vectra 3D imaging system and discuss treatment areas and options while viewing your photos series. With our state-of-the-art Canfield software, potential surgical results can be viewed and adjustments can be made, helping you to visualize possible outcomes.
Does all of the grafted fat survive?
Although tremendous advances have been made in the field of structural fat grafting, not all of the grafted fat survives. 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 BBL to adjust their size and shape a bit more.
Are BBL results permanent?
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.
How do I choose a BBL surgeon?
It is important to ask if your surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. As board-certified plastic surgeons at Restore SD, Dr. Gallus and Dr. Taylor have years of training and expertise in body contouring surgery that cannot be imitated by short courses and alternative certifications. Ensure that your surgeon is proficient in body contouring surgery and high-volume fat grafting in particular. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is one of 23 members of the American Board of Medical Specialties. These specialties represent the traditional core of fully trained specialists. Alternative boards have cropped up over the last several years to try to lend legitimacy to incompletely trained or poorly trained practitioners. Accept nothing less than a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who preferably is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
Why should I choose Restore SD Plastic Surgery for my Brazilian butt lift?
The surgeons at Restore SD Plastic Surgery have over a decade of experience with cosmetic and reconstructive fat grafting. In addition to being fully credentialed, 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. Our time in the Navy reconstructing war casualties yielded new and unique applications for fat grafting and the use of lasers in tissue expansion. We have the expertise and vision to employ fat grafting to artistically sculpt and shape your figure into your ideal proportion.
Why should I choose Restore SD Plastic Surgery for my Brazilian butt lift?
Depending on your profession, you should expect to take 1-2 weeks off from work after your BBL surgery. You will not be able to drive while taking narcotic pain medication, so make sure you plan a ride home after surgery and have a friend or family member stay with you at least for the first few days.
How do I minimize post-operative scarring after Brazilian butt lift surgery?
BBL is performed through multiple small, discreetly-placed incisions that are a centimeter or less in length. Although these scars are small and well hidden, your Restore SD surgeons will educate you about scar management postoperatively. A surgical scar will take 9-12 months to fully mature. Your scar will go through changes during the healing process and your Restore SD team will help you manage this part of your recovery. This can consist of sun avoidance, scar massage, scar cream, and fractionated laser treatments.
What should I do to prepare for Brazilian butt lift surgery?
If you have close friends or relatives who have had Brazilian butt lift surgery, start there! A personal story of their journey may guide you to questions to ask your surgeon and having someone with a shared experience is invaluable. Educate yourself by reading our procedure page and viewing our educational videos. Other sources of information include RealSelf and WebMd.
Can I have Brazilian butt lift surgery if I’m a smoker?
At Restore SD Plastic surgery, we want to deliver safe, consistent, and reproducible results. Smoking tobacco or using any nicotine products has adverse effects on wound healing. Your risk of fat necrosis, infection, and prolonged incision healing are much higher if you use nicotine. We recommend a nicotine-free period of 8 weeks prior to surgery and at a minimum 4 weeks postoperatively. We have a simple urinary nicotine test that we complete in the office to help you on your journey to a safe and gratifying surgical experience with us.
I have diabetes—what do I need to know about Brazilian butt lift surgery?
Diabetes can increase your risk for certain types of infections and prolonged wound healing. To ensure you can undergo a safe BBL surgery, work with your medical team to maintain an ideal blood sugar level. With a coordinated effort from patients, surgeons, and medical doctors, surgery can be performed safely with outstanding results. However, in certain cases, Dr. Gallus may choose to postpone surgery until your diabetes is under control.
Why should I choose a board-certified plastic surgeon?
It is important to ask if your surgeon is board certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. As board-certified plastic surgeons at Restore SD, we have years of training and expertise in breast and body surgery that cannot be imitated by short courses and alternative certifications. Ensure that your surgeon is proficient in the procedure(s) you want. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is one of 23 members of the American Board of Medical Specialties. These specialties represent the traditional core of fully trained specialists. Alternative boards have come up over the last several years to lend legitimacy to incompletely trained or poorly trained practitioners. Accept nothing less than a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who preferably is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
How soon can I travel after having Brazilian butt lift surgery?
Having surgery means a commitment to an appropriate recovery. We recommend scheduling your surgery at a time that allows enough time to recover and gradually return to your normal activities. Flying, driving long distances, or leaving the immediate area, is not recommended until you have been cleared by your surgeon. If you have specific travel needs or require advice for emergency travel soon after a procedure, please let us know and we will be glad to discuss the details with you.
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.
