Gluteal Fat Transfer (Brazilian Butt Lift)

What is a gluteal fat transfer?

Gluteal fat transfer, commonly known as a Brazilian butt lift or BBL, uses your own fat to enhance the size, shape, and contour of the buttocks. This procedure combines liposuction and fat grafting, removing fat from areas where it is unwanted (most commonly the hips, flanks and back) and carefully transferring it to selected areas of the buttocks to create a more balanced and natural-looking contour.

The goal is not simply to make the buttocks larger. Careful attention to proportion, waist and hip contour, and your individual anatomy is essential to achieving a natural result.

Increase volume of the buttocks
Improve buttock shape and projection
Narrow the waist
Enhance feminine curves
Use your body’s own tissue
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Who Is a Good Candidate?

A good candidate for buttock fat transfer generally has enough excess body fat to safely harvest an appropriate amount of fat and realistic expectations about the amount of enhancement that can be achieved.

It is important to understand that a BBL is not simply a buttock-enhancement procedure. It also involves liposuction, and the overall result depends on both the areas where fat is removed and the areas where it is transferred.

Good candidates generally:

Have adequate areas of excess fat that can be safely harvested
Are at or near a stable, healthy weight
Have realistic expectations about the size and shape that can be achieved
Understand that some of the transferred fat will naturally be reabsorbed
Are in good overall health and able to safely undergo surgery

Patients with very little available donor fat may not be good candidates for a fat-transfer procedure. In some cases, another approach to buttock enhancement may be more appropriate.

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What to Expect

Consultation Procedure Recovery

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During your private consultation, your doctor will:

Evaluate your overall body proportions, buttock shape, skin quality, and available areas for fat harvest.

Together, you will discuss:

Your desired buttock size, shape, and projection
Areas that may benefit from liposuction
How much donor fat is available
How much enhancement can realistically be achieved
Expected changes to your waist, hips, and other liposuction areas
Whether additional procedures would be appropriate
Your medical history, medications, and factors that may affect healing
Recovery, risks, and potential complications

Your surgeon will also discuss the specific safety measures used during fat transfer. Patient safety is the highest priority, and fat is placed only in appropriate tissue planes using techniques designed to minimize the risk of serious complications.

We encourage you to ask questions, discuss your goals openly, and take the time you need to understand your options. Our goal is for you to leave your consultation with all the information necessary to make the treatment decision that is right for you.

The Procedure

A BBL is performed under general anesthesia and involves both liposuction and fat transfer.

The procedure generally includes:

Liposuction of selected donor areas such as the abdomen, waist, flanks, back, or thighs
Processing and preparation of the harvested fat
Strategic transfer of purified fat to the buttocks
Placement of fat in carefully selected tissue planes using a cannula
Careful contouring of both the donor areas and buttocks

For safety, fat is transferred only into the subcutaneous tissue above the gluteal muscle and is not intentionally injected into the muscle.

The length of surgery depends on the number of areas treated and the extent of liposuction and fat transfer. The procedure is generally performed as an outpatient surgery, although an overnight stay may be recommended in some circumstances.

Recovery after gluteal fat transfer

Swelling, bruising, soreness, and tightness are expected after both liposuction and fat transfer. The early recovery period requires special care to protect the transferred fat and allow it to establish a blood supply.

You will typically need:

Compression garments as directed for the liposuction areas
Avoidance of prolonged direct pressure on the buttocks during the early healing period
Frequent walking, while avoiding strenuous activity initially
Temporary restrictions on exercise and heavy lifting
Follow-up visits to monitor healing
Gradual return to normal activities as directed by your surgeon

Some of the transferred fat will be naturally reabsorbed during the first several months. The remaining fat becomes a permanent part of your body, although it can increase or decrease in size with significant weight changes.

The final contour becomes more apparent as swelling resolves and the transferred fat stabilizes, generally over several months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Brazilian Butt Lift safe?

Like any surgery, a BBL has risks. Fat transfer to the buttocks has unique safety considerations because fat entering the bloodstream can cause a potentially life-threatening fat embolism. For this reason, careful patient selection and proper fat-injection technique are critical. When appropriate precautions are taken and proper techniques utilized, BBL surgery is safe. Your surgeon will discuss the specific safety measures our practice utilizes during these procedures.

How much fat can be transferred to my buttocks?

There is no standard amount that is appropriate for every patient. The amount depends on your anatomy, available donor fat, skin quality, and the amount of enhancement that can be safely achieved. Your surgeon will prioritize safety and an appropriate contour rather than transferring a predetermined volume.

Will all of the transferred fat survive?

No. A percentage of the transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed by the body. The amount that survives varies between patients. Your final result becomes clearer over the first several months as swelling resolves and the transferred fat stabilizes.

What happens if I don’t have enough fat for a BBL?

Patients with limited donor fat may not be able to achieve their desired result with fat transfer alone. Your surgeon can discuss whether a more modest enhancement or an alternative approach would be appropriate.

What is a mini-BBL?

A mini-BBL generally refers to a smaller-volume procedure in which a more limited amount of fat is transferred to the buttocks. The term is not a standardized medical procedure, so what is meant by a “mini-BBL” can vary between surgeons.

A mini-BBL may be appropriate for patients who want a more subtle change in buttock shape or projection or who have a limited amount of donor fat available. Because less fat is transferred, the degree of enhancement is generally more modest than with a traditional BBL.

The same safety considerations apply to a mini-BBL as to any gluteal fat-transfer procedure. Your surgeon will determine the amount of fat that can be safely harvested and transferred based on your anatomy, available donor fat, and desired result.

What if I just want to fill in my "hip dips"?

If your primary goal is to soften the appearance of hip dips, medically referred to as trochanteric depressions, you may not need a traditional BBL. Hip dips are a normal variation in anatomy and are influenced by the shape of the pelvis, underlying muscle, and distribution of fat.

In selected patients, targeted fat transfer to the hip-dip area can create a smoother transition between the waist and hips without significantly increasing the overall size of the buttocks. This typically involves transferring a smaller amount of fat than would be used for a traditional BBL.

The amount of improvement depends on your individual anatomy and the amount of donor fat available. Some of the transferred fat will naturally be reabsorbed, so the final result cannot be predicted with complete certainty.

During your consultation, your surgeon can determine whether targeted fat transfer, liposuction, or another approach would be most appropriate for the contour you want to achieve.

Can I lose the results if I lose weight?

Yes. Transferred fat behaves like fat elsewhere in your body. Significant weight loss can reduce the volume of the transferred fat, while significant weight gain can increase it. Maintaining a stable weight helps preserve your result.

Where is the fat taken from?

Common donor areas include the abdomen, waist, flanks, back, and thighs. The areas selected depend on where you have excess fat and how removing it will contribute to your overall body contour.

Can a BBL be combined with other procedures?

A BBL already involves significant liposuction and fat transfer, so the total amount and duration of surgery must be carefully considered. Additional procedures may be appropriate in selected patients, while others may be safer when performed separately.

Will I need to sit on a special cushion after surgery?

Your surgeon will provide specific instructions regarding sitting and positioning after surgery. Limiting prolonged direct pressure on the buttocks during the early healing period helps protect the transferred fat.

How long do the results last?

The fat that successfully survives the transfer can provide long-lasting results. However, your body will continue to change with aging and weight fluctuations. Maintaining a stable weight and healthy lifestyle can help preserve your result.

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