What You Should Know Before Having a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)

The Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is a cosmetic surgery that can change your overall body shape by giving you a rounder, fuller bottom. If you’re looking for options that can change your silhouette, a BBL might deliver the results you want. BBLs can be successful when a board-certified plastic surgeon performs the procedure. 

But BBLs are also risky. In 2018, research showed that BBLs have the highest death rate of any cosmetic procedure. And while complication rates may be improving, it’s still a huge factor to take into account when making this decision. So, what should you know about the BBL? Let’s take a look at the process, recovery, and how to make sure you have a safe procedure.

What is a Brazilian butt lift?

The BBL is a type of buttock enhancement surgery. Specifically, it’s a gluteal autologous fat transfer. This means during the procedure, a surgeon moves your own fat cells from other part(s) of your body — usually the belly, thighs, and hips — to your buttocks.

The terms “Brazilian” and “butt lift” are actually misleading. The BBL isn’t a buttock lift, which is a different type of cosmetic surgery. It also has nothing to do with Brazil — it wasn’t invented there. The term originated from a television show on “The Learning Channel” in 1996. And this moniker has stuck, despite attempts to rebrand the procedure by its proper name.

The BBL essentially removes unwanted or excess fat from one area of your body and places it into an area where you might desire more fullness. The BBL may also provide more natural-looking results than buttock implants. 

Who should have a BBL?

No one needs a BBL. Genes determine your body shape, and for most people there’s not a whole lot that you can or need to do about it. Diet and exercise can definitely help tone, shape, and strengthen your body, but that may not be enough of a change for some people. 

If you’re interested in making more significant changes to your appearance and body shape, surgical procedures (like the BBL) can help. 

A BBL may be an option for you if you want a buttock augmentation without using buttock implants. 

A BBL is best for people who:

• Are close to their ideal body weight

• Are in good health

• Don’t smoke

• Have good skin tone

• Have enough body fat in other areas to inject into the buttocks

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• Strengthen your glutes: Learn about the right ways to do glute bridges and hip thrusts.

• What you eat after surgery matters: Speed up recovery by choosing high-protein and nutrient-rich foods that promote healing. 

• Worried about post-op pain? Understand your options for pain relief medication after surgery. 

How do I prepare for a Brazilian butt lift?

To get ready for a BBL, there are a few things you should do:

• Avoid alcohol and nicotine for a few weeks before surgery.

• Set up a recovery space for after your procedure. 

• Get materials together — like stool softeners, prescriptions, and donut pillows — for your post-surgery recovery.

• Invest in clothing that’s easy to slip on and off.

• Talk to your primary healthcare provider about whether you need to stop any medications before surgery.

What happens during a BBL procedure?  

During the BBL procedure, here is what you can expect to happen:

• You will get general anesthesia so you don’t feel pain during the procedure. 

• Your surgeon will use liposuction to remove fat from your abdomen, hips, lower back, or thighs. 

• Then, the surgeon makes incisions in your buttocks. They inject the collected fat cells into the superficial fat layer of your buttocks through these incisions. 

• Your surgeon will then close any incisions and may insert surgical drains. These drains may need to stay in place for a few days after your surgery.

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How long does recovery take after a Brazilian butt lift?

Recovering from a BBL can be challenging. You should expect to have some bruising and swelling around your incisions. Over time, the swelling and bruising will lessen. But this can take a while. You may need to use pain relievers to help control pain during this time.

One of the biggest challenges of recovery from a BBL is that you can’t sit directly on your buttocks for up to 8 weeks. You’ll need to sleep only on your stomach or sides for 8 weeks after surgery. If you must sit, sit on a donut-shaped pillow to help relieve any pressure on the healing incisions. You might also need to wear a compression garment to help with healing.

You can restart light, daily activities about 1 week after the BBL. After 1 month, your surgeon might give you the green light for light exercise, like fast walking. You won’t be able to return to regular activities and exercise for at least 8 weeks. 

How much does a Brazilian butt lift cost?

Any elective surgical procedure can be quite costly since insurance doesn’t cover it. On average, a BBL costs just over $4,800, but it can vary based on your surgeon and location. 

Keep in mind, this cost only includes the surgery. It doesn’t include anesthesia, other operating room expenses, or visits to your surgeon before and after the procedure. And it doesn’t include the cost of treating any complications you may have.

Once you’ve found a recommended, board-certified plastic surgeon who’s experienced in this type of surgery, make sure to ask questions about all the costs involved. You might also consider insurance to cover any complications associated with your surgery. 

What are the risks of a Brazilian butt lift?

The BBL has the dubious honor of being one of the riskiest cosmetic surgeries. Complications, like infection and bleeding, can happen with any surgery. And some things, like bruising and discomfort, are unavoidable. 

There’s also a risk that you won’t be happy with the overall appearance of your body after surgery. Results are not guaranteed — you might notice asymmetry of your buttocks, scarring, skin thinning, and discoloration. If you’re not happy with the results, you might need additional surgeries to correct these issues.

But the BBL comes with additional risks, like:

• Blood clots

• Fat embolism (a potentially deadly issue where fat gets into your blood and lungs)

• Fat necrosis (death of the fat cells that were injected into your buttocks)

• Seromas (fluid accumulation in your buttocks)

People have died after having a BBL, usually because they develop a fat embolism. One study from 2017 showed that more people die following BBLs than any other cosmetic surgery. 

In response, the American Society for Plastic Surgeons developed an advisory statement on gluteal fat grafting. And several plastic surgery societies developed a multi-society task force to help improve the safety of the BBL. This included educating surgeons and performing more studies on the procedure. Newer studies show that these interventions improved BBL safety. But this was only true when a fully trained and U.S. board-certified plastic surgeon performed the BBL. 

Tips for choosing a BBL surgeon

If you do decide to get a BBL, it’s definitely worth doing your research. This will help you find a team that will keep you safe during and after surgery. And it will increase the chances you’ll be happy with the results of your procedure. 

So, when choosing a cosmetic surgeon for a BBL, here are some things to consider:

• Your surgeon should be board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

• They should have lots of experience performing BBLs specifically. 

• Ask to look at before and after photos of their previous work and look for consistent results.

• The facility where the surgery takes place should be accredited. 

• You should feel comfortable, respected, and listened to by the surgeon and other members of the facility’s care team.

• Your surgeon’s office and facility should have good customer service.

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Written by:

Jennifer Clements, MD, MSEd, NBHWC

Jennifer Clements, MD, MSEd, NBHWC, is a board-certified physician and health coach who is passionate about achieving optimal health through healthy lifestyles. Clements is a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Integrative Medicine.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

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