Brazilian Butt Lift in New York, NY

What Is a Brazilian Butt Lift

A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a plastic surgery procedure that aims to create more shapely, voluminous buttocks and to enhance the lower body for an hourglass figure. Unlike butt implants, which use silicone implants to add volume to the buttocks, a BBL uses autologous fat harvested from another part of the body to increase the size and shape of the backside. Since a BBL uses your own fat to provide volume, there is less risk of rejection from the body, resulting in a more natural result.

What Is the Difference Between a Brazilian Butt Lift and Butt Implants?

While both procedures increase the size and enhance the shape of the buttocks, they are very different procedures. Buttock or gluteal implants increase the size of the buttocks through the use of medical-grade silicone implants, which are inserted either above or below the gluteal muscle. They require an incision in the butt cheeks, longer scars, and a more intensive recovery time. Some patients may be more likely candidates for buttock augmentation with implants if they do not have enough fat to be harvested and they want a significant increase in buttock size.

A BBL, on the other hand, is a buttock enhancement procedure with a much lower risk of complications and does not require the use of silicone or other foreign materials inserted into the body—it also yields natural-looking results. The use of autologous fat means there is no risk of rejection, and there are no visible scars on the buttocks themselves once recovery is complete.

Who Is a Candidate for a Brazilian Butt Lift?

Patients seeking a BBL should be healthy and have realistic expectations about their results. The Brazilian Butt Lift can significantly improve the contour and shape of your butt using your own unwanted fat stores. People who consider a Brazilian Butt Lift usually have one or more of the following:

• A flat butt that lacks shape or definition
• A small butt that lacks volume or curves
• Excess accumulations of fat on their:
  • Abdomen
  • Hips
  • Thighs
  • Back

The Procedure

How Is a Brazilian Butt Lift Performed in New York, NY?

The Brazilian Butt Lift is performed with the patient under general anesthesia, which ensures a safe and painless procedure. To achieve a larger, more shapely butt appearance, Dr. Cha will remove excess fat via liposuction, and he then injects the tissue into the buttocks to create the desired outcome.

Recovery and Results

What Can I Expect During My Brazilian Butt Lift Recovery?

You will experience bruising and swelling of your buttocks and at your liposuction site(s) following your surgery. A compression or surgical garment may be worn to improve the quality of your results, minimize swelling, and help the healing process. Your compression garment will also aid in helping your skin contract where you had liposuction and help your buttocks retain a pleasing shape. Dr. Cha will provide specific instructions on how long to wear your surgical garment, but you will most likely need to wear it day and night for at least a week.

Rest as much as possible; you will have limited movement for quite some time during the recovery process. You cannot apply any direct pressure to the buttocks for at least two weeks following your surgery, sometimes more. You will need to avoid sitting or sleeping directly on your buttocks; a special donut-shaped pillow can help redirect pressure and make sitting much easier. Many BBL patients use pillows to ensure they sleep on their sides or stomachs for the first month of recovery. After this time, you can sit in a modified position, only placing light pressure on the buttocks.

Most patients can return to regular activities six to eight weeks after surgery. Be sure to avoid rigorous exercise that engages the glutes until Dr. Cha fully clears you.

When Will I See My Brazilian Butt Lift Results?

You’ll notice that your buttocks are larger, and your donor site is slimmer immediately after your procedure. Part of the BBL procedure involves “overfilling” the treatment area with a little extra fat to account for the body’s natural reabsorption of some fat cells, so your initial results may look slightly exaggerated.

Over a few weeks, your swelling will reduce, and some of the fat will reduce, so you’ll begin to see your final results. Fat reabsorption can take some time, but once this process is completed, the transferred fat is permanent, and you will gain a long-term improvement in the shape and appearance of your buttocks.

Brazilian Butt Lift FAQ

How much does a Brazilian Butt Lift cost in New York, NY?

The cost of a BBL in New York City will depend on several factors, including the amount of fat extracted and reinjected, the length of the procedure, and whether you have combined your BBL with any other methods.

Once Dr. Cha creates a surgical plan unique to your needs, we will happily provide you with an accurate cost estimate.

Can I combine my BBL with any other procedures?

Liposuction of the hips, flanks, or back can enhance your Brazilian Butt Lift results even more. While Dr. Cha will use liposuction for the fat harvesting process, improving upon the hourglass results of the BBL may be beneficial through more slimming and contouring via liposuction.

It’s important to note that not every patient will be a candidate for combining procedures with their BBL. Dr. Cha will only perform additional procedures as long as they are safe. Ask Dr. Cha during your consultation if you want to integrate your BBL with another cosmetic surgery.

Is it safe to do a tummy tuck and a BBL at the same time?

It’s not usually recommended to combine a BBL and a tummy tuck because these procedures treat the opposite sides of the body, and both require substantial recovery. Mobility issues are a factor as well, as you should avoid sitting on your buttocks or sleeping on your back for a few weeks during BBL recovery; for a tummy tuck, you can’t sleep on your stomach. These competing recovery requirements make it difficult to heal comfortably and effectively in most cases.

Will I have scars after my Brazilian Butt Lift?

As with any cosmetic surgery involving an incision on the body, buttock enhancement will result in some scarring. However, the fat grafting procedure only requires small incisions to accommodate the cannula (a thin tube that removes the fat) during liposuction.

With proper scar care, including avoiding excessive sun exposure and using a good SPF, your scars should be small, discreet, and easily hidden with clothing.

What can I expect from my BBL consultation in NYC?

Your consultation is when you can ask your board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Cha, about your BBL procedure, what you can expect from recovery and results, and what risks the procedure carries. You will also be able to discuss your goals for the procedure, whether you want to combine your BBL with any other methods, and which body area you want to take fat from.

Dr. Cha will be honest in his assessment of your candidacy; he may examine your treatment area, including the donor location, to ensure you have enough harvestable fat, and he may discuss your current health status.

To prepare for your consultation, it’s a good idea to write down any questions or concerns you have so that you can be sure to get the clarification you need.

How can I prepare for my BBL?

Dr. Cha will provide you with specific instructions on how to prepare for your BBL. Generally, you may need to do the following:

• Schedule any additional medical appointments that you may need, including diagnostics and testing.
• Discuss with your primary care doctor pausing or stopping any medications or supplements that may interfere with your surgery.
• Quit smoking and drinking for one month prior to your procedure. Nicotine use of any kind before and after your procedure can result in poor healing and even necrosis of transferred fat. Alcohol may thin the blood, which increases your risk of bleeding.
• Plan to take time off of work (about two weeks), schedule childcare if necessary, and find a caregiver who can drive you home from surgery and stay with you the first night.
• Prepare your home for recovery: purchase a special BBL recovery pillow to sit on, prepare healthy meals ahead of time, and enlist the help of a friend to help you around the house.

How long do my BBL results last?

Once you have fully recovered and the transplanted fat cells have settled, your results are likely to be as permanent as possible. Because this procedure uses your own fat, the results can be affected by weight fluctuations: if you gain weight, your butt can get bigger. If you lose weight, it can shrink. If you want your buttocks to remain as they are after surgery, do your best to remain at a stable weight and maintain a healthy diet.

What are the risks of the BBL procedure?

All surgery carries some risk; a BBL is no different. Common surgical risks include excessive bleeding, poor healing, and infection. Because fat transfer involves moving injected fat cells to another location of the body, another risk with BBLs is necrosis or tissue death. It is crucial that each fat cell attaches to a healthy blood supply, so the surgical technique must be meticulous.

When BBLs are performed by an experienced body contouring expert like Dr. Cha, however, they are considered safe. You can also reduce post-operative risk by following your aftercare instructions as provided by Dr. Cha and by incorporating light walking as soon as possible, as this helps reduce the risk of blood clots and induces healing.

Where does the fat come from for a BBL?

This depends on the patient and their body fat percentage, as well as their personal preference. If you have sufficient fat throughout your body, you can request the fat be removed from specific areas—almost like a 2-for-1! Most patients choose the abdomen, hips, or thighs for donor fat because they often have enough viable fat cells, and people prefer to have those areas slimmed.

If you have less body fat, your options might be a little more limited. Dr. Cha will examine the donor areas and discuss what might work best for you. Liposuction can be administered nearly anywhere, including the upper arms, knees, and chin.

When can I resume exercising after a BBL?

It’s pretty tempting to want to jump back into your workout routine after surgery, but it’s best to wait! Especially as you need to allow the injected fat to attach to proper blood supply, working out too soon can affect your results. While it’s encouraged to start walking as soon as possible after a BBL, you’ll need to wait at least 6–8 weeks before doing any lifting, running, jogging, or activities that affect the glutes.

Can I sit on my buttocks after BBL surgery?

No. One of the key instructions for BBL recovery is to not sit on your buttocks, as the new fat cells need time to establish themselves in the buttocks and with the blood vessels. If you do sit on your buttocks, this can interrupt the healing process, eventually destroying the fat cells and potentially affecting your final results. The special BBL donut pillows are ideal for helping you as you heal, as they help offset the pressure as you sit on them. Dr. Cha will recommend the ideal length of time for when you can get back to sitting on your buttocks as usual.