BBL

BBL stands for Brazilian Butt Lift, which is a procedure to transfer fat into your buttocks from other parts of your body.

The Brazilian Butt Lift or BBL is a very popular cosmetic surgery pioneered in Rio de Janeiro that uses your own fat cells to make your buttocks more lifted, rounder, and more sculpted without butt implants. This procedure is often combined with tummy tuck and breast augmentation in a traditional “mommy makeover.”

During this Brazilian butt lift surgery, the cosmetic surgeon starts with liposuction to gather excess fat from other parts of the body such as the lower back, abdomen, or thighs via Vaser Liposuction. The lipo itself involves tiny incisions in the skin and then using a cannula to remove excess fat stores from the body.

Once the excess fat is harvested via a cannula, it is processed before being used to inject into the buttocks area.

The surgeon then uses a technique known as gluteal fat augmentation to inject the fat into the buttocks and hips, enhancing the size and shape of the buttocks and creating an hourglass figure.

Ideal candidates for a Brazilian Butt Lift procedure are a healthy weight with enough excess fat for your surgeon to harvest and transfer to the buttocks area. Weight loss and weight fluctuations after surgery are not recommended. If there isn’t enough excess fat for a fat transfer procedure, there are alternative treatments to provide fuller, lifting effects of the buttocks such as Sculptra Butt Lift or buttock implants. It is important that patients have realistic expectations based on the amount of fat available, their existing body shape and what they desire for a final result. When you come for your initial consultation, our team will give their honest opinion on whether or not you might be a good candidate for BBL.

While there is no “minimum BMI” to have a BBL, you do need to have some fat to harvest. Thinner patients generally require less transferred fat to have a nice result, but you do need to be able to harvest about a liter at minimum. It is generally accepted that patients with a BMI of over 30 are not good candidates for any cosmetic procedure. These patients would benefit from some general weight loss prior to moving forward with a BBL or other cosmetic or plastic surgery.

There is no “cutoff age” per se. In the state of Nebraska, the legal age of consent for medical procedures is 19. We generally recommend that very young patients (under 20) start with a good diet and exercise program prior to moving forward with cosmetic surgery. On the other end of the age spectrum, it’s a little more nebulous. A healthy patient with no medical conditions (including high blood pressure) could have a BBL into their 50s. Patients over 60 (even those with no medical history) start to have a decrease in their cardiac function. The fluid volumes needed for local anesthesia and the number of areas being treated to harvest sufficient fat for a BBL place older patients at higher risk for fluid related complications. You should have a conversation with your cosmetic surgeon about the safety of a Brazilian Butt Lift in your particular case.

Brazilian Butt Lifts have had a huge upward trend in numbers. From fewer than 10,000 procedures in 2012 to nearly 50,000 per year currently in the US and nearly 400,000 performed world wide. Dr Frank has performed hundreds of BBLs in his career!

Any surgical procedure will have some associated discomfort. With a lipo alone, most of our patients are back to normal activities in 2-3 days and back to work in about a week. When you add on the BBL, we usually recommend taking 10-14 days off of work. The reason for the added recovery time is that the BBL involves swelling in addition to the new fat and the pressure in your new bum can be uncomfortable.

Your BBL procedure starts with a call to Imagen Body Sculpting. Our friendly staff will set you up for a consultation with one of our specialists. Out of town? No worries! We do offer virtual consultations as well. We have patients from all over the world! At your consultation, we will discuss your goals and how we can help you achieve them. We will go over the treatment in detail and talk about what we expect for your results with liposuction and BBL. You will be provided with a detailed proposal, including all costs for your BBL procedure and our lipo consultant, Steph, will go over the financing and scheduling options.

When you’re ready to schedule, we will go over the pre-op instructions and provide you with your prescriptions.

The actual procedure of a BBL will take several hours, depending on how many and which areas you harvest the fat from. We generally advise patients that they will be at the clinic for most of the day. When you first arrive, there will be paperwork to do, photos to take and vitals and measurements to check. Once everything is set up and ready, we will give you some oral medications to help you relax and get sleepy. We like to make sure those are working before we go back to the OR. After the procedure, we will watch you for a while until you are fully awake.

During your butt lift recovery process, you will be required to wear compression garments for 4-6 weeks (based on the doctor’s recommendation at your follow up appointments) around the areas of the body that were treated with liposuction to reduce swelling and inflammation. The most important key to a successful recovery is following your cosmetic surgeon’s post-op guidelines which include not putting pressure or sitting on your buttocks for 8 weeks. We will provide you with a cushion that you can use to modify your sitting to avoid pressure on your newly transplanted fat.

You will have several medications to take after your procedure, including an antibiotic and pain medications. We also provide arnica to help reduce inflammation, swelling and bruising.

You will see one of our providers at every post op visit. We will see you back in the office the next morning to change your dressings and compression garment. We will have you return after 1 week for suture removal. Your first set of measurements will be at the one month visit and we will take your after pictures at the 3 and 6 month appointments. We are always available by phone or text if you have any concerns and all of our patients are provided with both of our doctors’ cell phone numbers.

Body contouring after a BBL procedure depends on what your natural body shape is and how much transferrable fat is available. You should review realistic before and after photos with your cosmetic surgeon. It is a good idea to bring in “wish” pictures so we can make sure your desired results align with what they think is possible for your buttock enhancement.

Once the fat settles into the area and achieves a blood supply, the results of a fat transfer are permanent. This process does take about 3 months and you will notice a decrease in the size of your new derriere in the first couple of months. This is normal and expected.

We often hear “Does a BBL last forever?” The answer is both yes and no. Because a fat transfer is permanent, you should always have more fat in your backside than you would have had without the BBL. Fat loss is a normal part of aging though and you can expect to gradually have some decrease in the size of your bum. If you lose weight after a BBL, you will notice a decrease in the size of your buttocks. Keep in mind that you now have more fat cells in your butt to store fat in and if you gain a significant amount of weight, you will disproportionately store it in your buttocks region. For this reason, you should try to maintain a stable weight after a BBL.

In the initial post op period, it is imperative that you take care of the newly transplanted fat cells. The fat is in a delicate state and stressors on the tissues may cause death to the fragile fat. Death of the transferred fat can lead to volume loss and complications such as fat necrosis.

You must avoid pressure on the buttocks. Sitting on your new butt or lying on your back puts pressure on the fat cells and will result in less volume. Even after you are cleared from your initial 8 weeks of no sitting, you should avoid extended periods of sitting. You should also avoid putting focal pressure on your buttocks. This is commonly seen when people sit with their foot tucked under their buttocks.

You should avoid caloric restriction for at least 8 weeks after your BBL. The fat cells are stressed from the trauma of the transfer. If you add starvation to that stress, the cells are more likely to die, resulting in a loss of volume. Wait to diet until you are past at least 2 months post op.

You should avoid aggressive cardio exercise for at least 8 weeks after your BBL. Similar to dietary restriction, aerobic exercise stresses the fat cells.

No Smoking. This includes cigarettes, marijuana and vaping. All of these act to decrease blood supply to the newly transferred cells, reducing their nutrient flow and essentially starving them of food and oxygen. Smoking also decreases the oxygen level in your blood and introduces toxins that will stress your new fat.

There are always risks with any cosmetic procedure. All patients will have swelling and discomfort, many will have bruising as well. These will improve in the several weeks after your procedure.

BBLs are popularly considered a “higher risk” procedure than other cosmetic surgeries. There was a report from 2017 that estimated the mortality rate of BBLs to be around 1 in 3000. This led to more research and improvement of techniques across the board. At Imagen we have always used the “newer techniques” which include not injecting the fat deep into the muscle and using a “ball tipped” blunt cannula to reduce risk for damage to blood vessels. A newer report released in 2020 found that the risk of death has fallen to less than 1 in 10,000. Some of the risks of BBL include seroma, fat necrosis, fat embolism and blood clots. You should definitely have a discussion with your surgeon about all of the risks and how you and your surgeon can minimize these risks.

Fat transfer in and of itself does not cause cancer. Fat cells are stem cells and as such can become any type of cell that the surrounding environment encourages. If there are cancer cells in the nearby vicinity, it is possible that the fat cells could be converted to cancer cells. It’s generally safe to say that “butt cancer” isn’t generally a concern, but this is one of the reasons that we don’t offer fat transfer to the breasts.

The best and biggest benefit of any cosmetic surgery procedure is the confidence that can be gained. The decreased downtime associated with a minimally invasive procedure combined with the natural look and feel of your own fat, make a Brazilian Butt Lift the ideal procedure for many patients trying to achieve their body sculpting goals.

Traditional BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift)
This is a fat transfer which removes fat from unwanted bulges and puts it back into your buttocks. It is a minimally invasive procedure with 1-2 weeks of downtime. Some people consider the shape of the buttocks when thinking about types of BBL. During your consultation, you should discuss your goals with the surgeon so that you can make sure everyone is on the same page with your desires for your buttocks shape. It must be kept in mind that not every body can attain any buttock shape and maintain a pretty and natural appearance.

Non-Surgical Butt Lift
For those who don’t have enough fat for a BBL or those who want to avoid the procedure, Imagen Body Sculpting is the first clinic in Nebraska to offer the Sculptra Butt Augmentation. Sculptra has long been used as a facial filler, working by increasing your collagen production. More natural-looking and feeling than a silicone implant, Sculptra gives your butt lift and shape without the need for downtime or surgery. Two injection sessions can get you a result that will last for two or more years. Sculptra can also be added to your Brazilian Butt Lift to help smooth and tone loose skin and cellulite!

Silicone Injections
This is a permanent filler that doesn’t change as your body ages. We don’t recommend it ever.

Buttock Implants
Solid/gel silicone implants can be used for patients who don’t have enough fat for a BBL but desire something longer lasting than Sculptra. This is a significantly more invasive procedure with more downtime and there is a possibility of complications including flipping of the implants within the pocket.

The most common question we receive in our social media chats is “How much does a BBL cost?” The average cost of buttock augmentation via Brazilian Butt Lift depends on how many and which areas are treated with lipo to harvest the fat. At Imagen, we charge a flat fee for the transfer of the fat in addition to the cost of the liposuction. Most BBL procedures at Imagen are paired with Lipo 360 to achieve the “hourglass” shape. At Imagen, with Lipo 360, a typical BBL cost is between $11,000 and $16,000. All liposuction procedures also include Renuvion for skin-tightening and optimal body contouring.

We understand that this is an investment in yourself and we offer many financing options (such as CareCredit and our Lipo Layaway payment plan) to help you achieve your body contouring goals.

Sculptra BBL offers several benefits as a non-surgical alternative to traditional fat transfer BBL.

• Non-surgical procedure: Sculptra BBL does not require surgery or liposuction for fat harvesting, making it a less invasive option compared to traditional fat transfer BBL. This means a shorter recovery period and reduced risks associated with surgery.
• Collagen stimulation: Sculptra is a biocompatible filler that stimulates collagen production in the injected area. Collagen is a natural protein that provides structural support and volume to the skin. By stimulating collagen production, Sculptra enhances the shape and volume of the buttocks over time, leading to gradual and natural-looking results.
• Long-lasting results: Sculptra BBL can provide long-lasting results compared to temporary fillers. As the collagen builds up in the treated area, it can provide sustained improvement in buttock shape and volume. Results can last up to two years or longer, depending on the individual and the number of treatment sessions.
• Versatility: Sculptra BBL offers versatility in terms of customization and shaping. The treatment can be tailored to address specific concerns and achieve the desired outcome. It can help improve the contours, curves, and overall appearance of the buttocks based on individual goals and preferences.
• Minimal downtime: The recovery period for Sculptra BBL is shorter compared to traditional fat transfer BBL. While there may be temporary swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort, it generally resolves within a few days. This means you can resume your daily activities relatively quickly compared to the longer downtime associated with surgery.
• Gradual and natural-looking results: Sculptra BBL provides gradual results that develop over time. This can lead to a more natural-looking enhancement, as the changes are not sudden or drastic as with a traditional fat transfer BBL. The collagen stimulation helps improve skin quality and firmness, resulting in a more youthful appearance.

The results of a Sculptra Butt Lift and a traditional Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) fat transfer can provide different outcomes in terms of appearance and naturalness.

A Sculptra Butt Lift aims to provide subtle enhancement and lift to the buttocks by stimulating collagen production and gradually restoring volume. The results are typically more subtle and natural-looking compared to a surgical BBL. Since Sculptra encourages collagen production over time, the changes in the buttocks occur gradually, giving a more gradual and natural transformation.

On the other hand, a traditional BBL fat transfer involves liposuction to remove excess fat from other areas of the body, such as the abdomen or thighs, and then injecting that fat into the buttocks. This surgical procedure can provide more significant volume and contouring changes to the buttocks, resulting in a more pronounced transformation.

Ultimately, the choice between a Sculptra Butt Lift and a traditional BBL fat transfer depends on your goals, desired outcome, and the amount of enhancement you are seeking.

A Sculptra Butt Lift requires minimal downtime unlike a traditional fat transfer BBL. You will not be able to sit on your butt for the first 24 hours. You may experience mild discomfort, swelling, and bruising at the injection sites. This discomfort is temporary and can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Most patients can typically return to their activities after a couple of days, based on individual comfort level and pain tolerance.

A Sculptra BBL only requires not sitting on your butt for 24 hours and offers more gradual, natural-looking results whereas a fat transfer BBL requires not sitting on your butt for at least eight weeks and offers more dramatic results. It’s important to have realistic expectations and understand that Sculptra BBL is a gradual process and does not provide immediate results. The treatment is designed to provide long-lasting and natural-looking results by stimulating your body’s collagen production. Additional treatment sessions may be needed to achieve your goals. A Sculptra BBL is also ideal for patients who lack enough excess body fat needed for a traditional fat transfer which includes liposuction.

Over time, Sculptra triggers the body’s natural collagen production process, leading to a gradual increase in buttock volume and improved shape. It typically requires multiple treatment sessions spaced several weeks apart to achieve the desired results. The collagen production process takes time, and the final results of Sculptra BBL may become more noticeable and refined as the collagen builds up in the treated area.

The cost of a Sculptra BBL will depend on how many vials you’ll need to achieve your desired look. After your consultation, the provider will offer treatment recommendations for more accurate pricing.

A common misconnection regarding the Sculptra BBL is that the cost is significantly less than a traditional fat transfer BBL with liposuction. While the cost of a Sculptra BBL is slightly less than that of a traditional fat transfer BBL, the overall investment is relatively similar. With that being said, we recommend selecting the buttocks augmentation procedure that best aligns with your cosmetic goals and lifestyle rather than solely on pricing.