In a time when Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé are popular, the female hourglass figure with high, full buttocks is in vogue. That’s why the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) has become such a hot cosmetic procedure. Sometimes the BBL is done with a mommy makeover, but some patients choose to do the butt lift as a standalone procedure.

If you’re considering a Brazilian butt lift, it’s wise to know everything about it, including whether there are any dangers to the procedure.

Brazilian Butt Lift Overview

A BBL is a fat transfer procedure that uses your fat from another body area and places it in your buttocks. Your surgeon performs liposuction on your belly, sides, or hips to improve those contours.

Then, some of the harvested fat is carefully injected into the buttocks. Fat transfer also can be performed in a breast augmentation if you don’t want to go up more than about one cup size.

Your surgeon will purify and prepare the fat for transfer, then they carefully inject the fat into certain areas of the buttocks. The result is usually a fuller, rounder bottom.

This technique has replaced silicone butt implants because of higher safety, faster recovery, and more customizable results with the BBL.

However, a Brazilian butt lift can also have complications, so your surgeon must expertly understand the intricacies of this fat transfer procedure.

Fat Transfer Overview

Sucking fat from one part of your body and injecting it into your buttocks sounds simple. However, the BBL is a complicated procedure that takes great skill and experience to do safely and competently. Also, your surgeon needs to have a deep understanding of human anatomy for the best BBL results.

The demand for this surgery is high, so some surgeons who aren’t specially trained in the Brazilian butt lift have been offering it at low prices. But inexperienced surgeons using questionable methods have led to some fatalities during BBLs across the world. That’s why complications for the Brazilian butt lift are higher than for other plastic surgeries.

In addition to standard safety precautions and hygiene, there are several factors your surgeon should consider for a safe procedure:

How much fat can be removed safely with liposuction
The exact places where the fat is injected
How deep the fat is injected
The amount of fat to inject, given the fact that some amount of the injected fat will be absorbed by the body.

Many people assume the buttocks are mostly fat, but there are many vital structures and muscles there that can be damaged with poor technique. For example, fat should only be injected into the subcutaneous fat layer of the buttocks and never deeper.

Injecting fat into the muscle or too deeply is hazardous and can lead to fatal complications. Some cases exist where fat was injected too deeply and led to fat embolization in the lungs and heart.

Getting A Brazilian Butt Lift Safely

While BBLs do have a higher complication rate than other procedures, there are thousands of happy patients every year who have excellent results with fat grafting. To be one of them, you should know how to look at your upcoming cosmetic procedure.

First, remember that no BBL is the same as another. Everyone’s body is different, and the varying layers of muscle and fat in the buttocks mean what was safe for your neighbor could be dangerous for you. That’s why the intricacies of this procedure must be expertly understood by your surgeon.

That’s why it’s vital to work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has successfully done many Brazilian butt lifts in the recent past. Your surgeon should know the safe limits of the procedure, know the latest safety standards, and be completely open about what you can expect from the procedure.

See also TOP 5 BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT RISKS

Finding A Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon With Experience in BBL

When you choose your surgeon, check if he or she is board-certified from the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Keep in mind that it is legal for any type of surgeon in the US to do any type of surgery in their office or facility. Also, not all surgeons who call themselves ‘cosmetic surgeons’ have been board certified by either or both of the above organizations.

Next, ask your surgeon how many BBLs he or she has done in the past year or two. Can the surgeon give you a list of patient reviews, before and after pictures, and testimonials?

Also, check if your surgeon does procedures in a facility that is accredited by the Joint Commission, AAASF or AAAHC. These accredited facilities must meet the highest standards for cleanliness, safety, equipment, and life-saving emergency readiness.

Remember to check the surgeon’s online reviews for Brazilian butt lift surgery so you can get a good idea of how the surgeon works. Never stop with just a few testimonials; you should look for at least eight or 10 excellent testimonials from past BBL patients.

Last, avoid low-budget Brazilian butt lifts, especially ones that are done in other countries. Other nations don’t have the rigorous plastic surgery regulations that the US has. Many BBL patients that go abroad for their procedure have disastrous results that leave them scarred and damaged for life.

It’s likely that you’ll have excellent results with your BBL, as long as you do your research on the surgeon and do all of your homework. In the end, it’s worth doing your due diligence before having a major plastic surgery procedure.

Request a Houston Brazilian Butt Lift Consultation

Interested in a Brazilian butt lift Houston? Please set up a consultation with Dr. Ashley Steinberg today. She’ll talk to you about the benefits and risks of the procedure to determine if you’re a good candidate for a Brazilian butt lift.

References

Brazilian Butt Lift Safety. (2019). Accessed at https://www.healthline.com/health/brazilian-butt-lift#

Are Brazilian Butt Lifts Safe? (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/cosmetic-medicine/are-brazilian-butt-lifts-safe/