The Brazilian butt lift is not a lift in the classic sense. No skin is excised and subsequently lifted. Unlike what the name suggests, it is a type of buttock enlargement procedure which creates a fuller and rounder buttock shape. Fat is removed from selected areas of your body (often above and below the buttocks), purified and concentrated, and then injected into selected areas of the buttocks. The process of putting the fat into the buttock may involve up to a hundred or so injections. The buttocks essentially becomes like a pin cushion during the procedure. The key, however, is to place the fat in the upper quadrant of the buttocks so it appears fuller and lifted.
The Brazilian butt lift uses three steps during the procedure. The areas around the buttocks is first contoured by performing liposuction. Common areas to liposuction include the back area directly above the butt, the flanks or waistline, outer thighs and the back of the thighs just below the butt. For many patients, the liposuction helps the buttocks look better. Certain types of liposuction can not be used, such as ultrasonic and laser liposuction, as they damage fat cells and make them unusable for transfer.The fat from the liposuction is then carefully washed, concentrated, and then packed into syringes. By this method, the greatest percentage of alive fat can be re-injected so that it has the best chance of survival. A certain amount of fat must be capable of being suctioned to do this procedure. Usually at least 1 liter (1000 ccs) must be suctioned out at a minimum. Some small thin women do not have enough fat on their body in order to perform the Brazilian butt lift procedure. Without enough donor fat (and no you can’t use someone elses) the only option would be buttock augmentation with silicone implants.The purified fat in syringes is then injected into the buttocks through many injection sites. The goal is to place small amounts of fat in the gluteus muscle as well as the existing fat layer between the skin and the muscle. By so many small fat injections, this enables the fat cells to quickly get an adequate blood supply so that they can survive. This method results in the highest percentage of fat survival and the best long-term maintenance of the buttock enlargement. How much fat will stay? This is impossible to predict for any one patient. But what you see four to six weeks after surgery will likely be permanent.
The Brazilian butt lift is a well tolerated procedure that is both safe and effective. In my Indianapolis plastic surgery practice experience, it is no more risky than liposuction with no greater rate or type of complications. The biggest concern is whether enough fat can be injected and survive to make the patient happy. The after surgery requirements are few. There will definitely be some discomfort and sitting on your buttocks may be uncomfortable for a few days. Most people can return to work in one week or less, depending on how physical their work is. One should be able to resume all normal activities within a month or less after surgery.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana