Brazilian butt lift, or gluteal augmentation, is performed to improve the contours of the buttocks, by enhancing the shape and size. While implants are still sometimes used, the Brazilian butt lift has increased in popularity, due to the fact that it uses your own fat. Patients will undergo fat grafting where the fat from a different area of your body, such as the tummy, is transferred to the tissues in your buttocks. The additional fat will increase the fullness, roundness and projection of your buttocks, oftentimes balancing the proportions of your body, or resulting in a more obvious hourglass figure.
Other factors that make you a good candidate
for Brazilian butt lift surgery include:
- If you are in overall good health and don’t have any medical illnesses that impair healing
- If you are unhappy with the size of your buttocks and feel like it’s too small
- If you cannot increase the size of your buttocks through diet and exercise
- If you are bothered by the general shape and roundness of your buttocks and/or it is asymmetrical
What are the steps of the Brazilian butt lift surgery?
Step 1 – Anesthesia
Your doctor will administer medications for your comfort during the procedure. This could be intravenous sedation, general anesthesia, or local anesthesia (numbing medication) if a smaller volume of fat is being transferred. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you based on your goals and desired results.
Step 2 – The incision
Small inconspicuous incisions will be made into the area where the liposuction is taking place. This could be one or more areas, such as your hips, stomach or thighs. A small hollow instrument called a cannula is inserted, and back and forth motions dislodge the fat. Once dislodged, fat is suctioned out and saved inside a tube to be purified and reinjected into your buttocks. Your surgeon may liposuction up to three times the amount of fat that will be used for injection into your buttocks.
Step 3 – Fat injection
Once the fat has been purified, your surgeon will prep your buttocks for injection by deciding on the areas. Small injections will be made all over the buttocks, usually comprised of three to five tiny incisions. The fat is injected from a syringe that is directly attached to the cannula. Once finished, your surgeon will close the areas with sutures.
Step 4 – The Results
The results of the Brazilian butt lift surgery will be immediately visible; however, you will have to wear a compression garment directly following the procedure to reduce the chance of bleeding. Unlike implants, some of the initial volume you see will decrease as a portion of the fat grafting will be absorbed. On average patients retain 60-80% of the transferred fat, however the risk of infection is much lower and results are more natural when compared to implants. Because of the loss of some fat, your final results will typically take up to a year to be seen and if you gain or lose weight, your results may change.