Quickly rising in popularity since it was developed, the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) technique is the preferred choice by patients looking for subtle, seamless results that can still provide a significant enhancement. But how exactly does this procedure work? Does it come with extensive downtime? Equipping yourself with the answers to these key questions is crucial for making an informed decision.
At Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Centers of El Paso, our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Mark Jabor, Dr. Richard Reynolds and Dr. Jaime Aburto have extensive experience performing BBL procedures with exceptional results. All of our providers place a heavy emphasis on patient education, walking every BBL patient through each step of the process to best prepare them for the experience ahead.
Pre-Surgical Preparation and Anesthesia
Before the actual procedure begins, you will be prepared in a sterile operating room environment. Your surgical team will ensure you’re comfortable and ready to proceed. General anesthesia is administered to keep you completely comfortable throughout the entire procedure.
Your surgeon will also designate the areas on your body where fat harvesting and donation will occur. These markings serve as a blueprint from which your desired contours are created.
Step One: Strategic Fat Harvesting Through Liposuction
The first major step of your BBL procedure involves harvesting fat from donor areas on your body to eventually be transferred to the buttocks. We use advanced liposuction techniques to remove fat from carefully selected areas of the body with sufficient fat deposits. This step adds a body contouring benefit that beautifully complements your recontoured and enhanced buttocks.
Common areas for fat harvesting include the abdomen, flanks (love handles), lower back, thighs and arms.
We make very small and discreet incisions (typically less than half an inch long) in the donor area(s) when harvesting fat. A special tube called a cannula is inserted through the incision, after which the targeted fat cells are extracted via suction.
Aided by the use of a special solution that numbs the area and reduces bleeding (the tumescent liposuction technique), your surgeon will use gentle and controlled movements to extract the fat while sculpting the donor areas. The amount of fat harvested varies depending on your anatomy and the level of enhancement you are looking to achieve.
Step Two: Fat Purification and Processing
Once the fat has been harvested, it must undergo a process before it can be transferred to the buttock area. The main objective of this critical step is to dramatically increase the survivability of the harvested fat cells, allowing for longer-lasting results.
The harvested fat is cleaned and isolated from other substances like blood, oil and anesthetic fluid. This is often accomplished with a centrifuge, but other methods (including filtration or gravity-assisted separation) may also be used. This step is meticulous and somewhat time-consuming, but essential for optimizing your results for long-term viability.
Step Three: Strategic Fat Injection and Sculpting
This final step is where the art and the science come together. Once the harvested fat is ready to be injected, your surgeon will precisely inject the fat into your buttocks to create the shapely contours you’re looking for.
Using fine cannulas, the surgeon will make tiny injection sites on your buttocks. The injected fat is then carefully deposited throughout multiple depths of the tissue in smaller amounts to allow for finer contouring. This approach also increases the survivability of the transferred fat cells by improving their ability to receive adequate blood supply from nearby tissues.
During this vital phase of the procedure, your surgeon will constantly evaluate the symmetry, shape and proportion of your buttocks, making real-time adjustments to deliver the best results. For example, they may enhance the lower buttocks for greater definition where the buttock meets the thighs.
Closing and Immediate Aftercare
Once your surgeon is satisfied with the shape and symmetry achieved, the injection sites are closed with small sutures or surgical tape. The liposuction incisions from the harvest areas are also closed. Because these incisions are so small, scarring is typically minimal and fades significantly over time.
You’ll be fitted with a compression garment over the areas where liposuction was performed, but importantly, no compression is applied to your newly augmented buttocks. Pressure on the transferred fat during the early healing period can compromise fat survival and affect your final results.
Understanding Fat Survival and Final Results
Even with the purification and processing component, not all of the transferred fat will survive. This is a normal and expected outcome. Typically, between 20 and 40 percent of the transferred fat will not survive the transfer. These cells will be naturally absorbed by the body in the months following your procedure.
Your surgeon will account for this loss by slightly over-correcting when contouring the treatment area. For this reason, your buttocks may appear larger immediately after surgery than when your final results are visible.
The fat cells that do survive become a permanent part of your body, behaving like any other fat cells. They will grow and shrink with weight loss or gain.
The Difference Between Good and Exceptional Results
A successful Brazilian butt lift requires more than technical skill; it demands artistic vision and an understanding of aesthetic proportions. Your surgeon must consider how your new buttock contours will complement your overall body proportions, creating harmony between your waist, hips and thighs.
At Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Centers of El Paso, Dr. Jabor, Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Aburto bring years of experience and specialized training to every BBL procedure. Their expertise in both the technical aspects of fat harvesting and transfer, combined with their artistic approach to body contouring, helps ensure results that look natural and enhance your unique beauty.
Ready for a New You?
The combination of advanced surgical techniques, meticulous attention to detail and artistic vision that goes into every BBL creates results that can dramatically improve your confidence and body image.
If you’re ready to explore how a Brazilian butt lift can help you achieve your aesthetic goals, don’t wait to take the next step. Contact Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Centers of El Paso today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Jabor, Dr. Reynolds or Dr. Aburto. Call 915-543-5600 or visit our website to learn more about how we can help you achieve the curves you’ve always dreamed of.
