Fuller, natural curves built from your own fat: Brazilian Butt Lift in Chicago

A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is an autologous fat transfer procedure: liposuction harvests fat from areas where you have excess, most often the abdomen, flanks, and back, and that fat is then reinjected into the buttocks and hips to increase fullness and improve shape. Because it uses only your own fat, there are no implants and no artificial substances involved, and since the harvest itself slims your waistline, you are in essence getting two procedures in one.

A good candidate is in good health, at or near their ideal body weight, and wants a more aesthetic buttock shape. Ideally, you should have good skin quality with minimal laxity and good muscle tone.

• Although liposuction is part of the BBL, it is not a weight loss procedure. Patients with a BMI over 30 will typically need to lose weight to get under 30 to become a candidate; your surgeon confirms your target at consultation.
• Patients who are very thin or have little body fat may still be good candidates for a Skinny BBL.
• Patients with loose skin or muscle laxity around the abdomen from pregnancy or weight loss may need a tummy tuck to address those issues.
• Patients with central obesity or an apple-shaped body may not be ideal candidates, because much of their fat sits inside the abdomen (visceral fat), where liposuction cannot reach.
• Finally, any patient undergoing a BBL must have reasonable expectations. It can be a transformative procedure, but it is a medical procedure subject to surgical, physical, and safety limitations.

The fat is harvested from parts of your body where you have excess: most often abdominal or belly fat, flank or muffin-top fat, and back fat, and fat from the thighs and arms can also be used. Because harvesting slims the abdomen, waist, and back, the net effect is even more pronounced once the buttocks and hips are made fuller, which is why the procedure is often described as two procedures in one.

The amount of fat that can be transferred depends on your body type and the quality of the fat that can be harvested, so there is no single number. Dr. Truong and Dr. Lin adhere to safety guidelines that limit the amount of fat harvested and the amount injected in one procedure, and most Brazilian Butt Lifts achieve excellent results while staying within the limits of patient safety.

You and your surgeon decide the goal together, but ultimately your body decides. The amount of healthy, live fat your body provides, and the ability of your skin and tissue to stretch and accept the newly injected fat, set the real limit. In most cases, your surgeon removes as much fat as is safely possible and transfers as much as your skin will accommodate. Every patient’s anatomy is different, so a second stage (round 2) BBL may be necessary for more dramatic results, especially if your skin is tight.

Fat that survives the transfer is essentially permanent. The procedure uses your own live fat cells, and as long as those cells stay healthy in their new location, they live and thrive there. Because they remain your fat cells, they continue to grow and shrink with your overall weight, changing proportionately with the rest of your body. Individual results may vary.

A BBL creates the appearance of a lift by adding volume, not by removing skin. A traditional surgical lift cuts and shifts skin and soft tissue, which is more invasive and leaves longer scars. With a BBL, no skin or tissue is removed: fat is added to fill the area, and a fuller, tighter contour creates the illusion of a lift, hence the name. Think of it as a body-shaping procedure rather than a literal lift.

Non-surgical options exist, with more subtle results. Emsculpt is a non-surgical butt lift technology that sends high-intensity, focused electromagnetic waves into the treatment area to cause muscle contractions, the equivalent of doing 20,000 buttock squats in one thirty-minute session. It is approved for lifting the buttocks as well as toning the abdomen, arms, and legs. Specific exercises like lunges and squats can also strengthen the gluteal muscles for some subtle projection and tone. For a more dramatic change in shape and volume, a Brazilian Butt Lift fat transfer is the surgical option to discuss with your surgeon.

The procedure takes 2 to 5 hours, depending on how many areas are liposuctioned to harvest the fat, and you go home about an hour after surgery once you are stable. Light drainage from the small incisions typically subsides within 24 hours, and you can shower after 24 to 48 hours. Plan on 5 to 7 days off work to rest, wear your compression garment for at least 4 weeks or as directed, and expect to resume exercise at about 2 weeks. Full recovery takes about 6 months, and times vary by patient.

Avoid sitting directly on the injected area for at least 4 to 6 weeks, because minimizing pressure gives the new fat cells the best chance of survival. You can manage this by sitting on pillows, using a soft BBL cradle-type pillow, or shifting your weight often when you must sit. Since most of the fat in a typical BBL goes into the lateral hip and upper buttock, it is often possible to sit on the lower buttocks and upper thighs without compromising your result. We also recommend sleeping primarily on your tummy during the first month, and your care team will walk you through garments, pillows, and the exercises we recommend for lasting results.

No. “Butt injections” is a general, non-medical term for injecting any substance into the buttocks to make them larger. Only a few medically approved substances can be injected into the buttocks, including hyaluronic acid gels and autologous fat. The Brazilian Butt Lift is an autologous fat transfer: your own fat is harvested and reinjected, and no artificial substances are used.

This distinction matters for your safety. Brazilian Butt Lifts should only be performed by properly trained, board-certified plastic or cosmetic surgeons. Dangerous, non-approved substances, including non-medical silicone, cooking oil, rubber cement, and bathroom caulk, have been injected illegally by unlicensed individuals in unlicensed settings, sometimes in hotel rooms, and these injections can cause severe disfigurement or even death. They should never be confused with a Brazilian Butt Lift. Buttock implants are also an entirely different procedure, using approved silicone implants surgically placed by a surgeon.

Brazilian Butt Lifts are generally very safe when your surgeon is trained and experienced in performing the procedure, and Dr. Truong and Dr. Lin perform many BBLs and know how to minimize potential risks. That said, every surgery carries some level of risk, and even when all guidelines are followed, complications can occur:

• Skin irregularities or asymmetries in the harvested or injected areas, which may require revision.
• Bruising and swelling, which are expected and usually not considered complications.
• More severe complications include bleeding or hematoma formation and infection, which may require immediate surgical intervention.
• Blood clots can occur during and after any lengthy procedure, but the risk can be minimized.
• Although exceedingly rare, the most severe complication is fat embolism, in which fat enters a blood vessel and travels to the heart or brain. This potentially fatal complication is minimized by not injecting too deep or into the muscle layers and by using blunt cannulas.

This is why it is paramount that the surgeon performing your surgery is appropriately trained and experienced in the procedure, and that it is performed in an accredited facility.

The cost of a BBL procedure depends on your surgeon, the operating room fee, and location. At Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics, we provide an all-inclusive quote: all fees are included in the estimate you receive, and the procedure includes liposuction of your tummy, waist, love handles, and lower back, so it is like getting two procedures in one. You can also check our specials page to see if there is a current offer.

Yes, but not at the same time. Aveli is not performed during a BBL, but the two procedures can work together consecutively: based on your surgeon’s recommendation, Aveli may be done 6 weeks before your BBL or 3 months after it.

No, a BBL will not get rid of cellulite. Cellulite forms when fat cells push up against the skin while fibrous bands called septae pull the skin down, creating dimpling. Treatments such as Aveli are recommended to address cellulite.