What is a Brazilian Butt Lift?

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You’ve probably got the general idea. Current hoopla about buttocks in plastic surgery circles is about capitalizing on the popularity of curvaceous backsides like those of J-Lo and Beyonce. But what does a Brazilian butt lift have to do with Brazil? And how, exactly, do the cheeks get lifted?

Some say the procedure was invented in Brazil. Others say it simply got its name from dreamy images of Ipanema, Copacabana and other Brazilian beaches where clothing is scant and curves are generous.

But if it’s a little challenging to sort through all the hype about how the Brazilian butt lift actually originated, it’s easier to understand the procedure itself. It’s especially easy to understand the appeal of the approach: using excess fat from other parts of the body to augment a flat, small or droopy rear. Patients get a double benefit, as stubborn fat is liposuctioned away from areas where it’s not wanted and transferred to the buttocks.

Performing a Brazilian butt lift requires some experience. First, the material that’s removed from the torso, thighs or elsewhere must be suctioned out very gently, so as not to damage the fat cells. It must then be prepared in a centrifuge—again, oh so gently—to extract the fat cells from the remaining fluid.

When this is done, the plastic surgeon injects the fat into the buttocks. In this part of the procedure, small drops of fat are distributed in various tissue layers, giving them the best chance of being nourished by a blood supply. To achieve the coveted “lift,” or the currently popular “S-shaped” lower back, the surgeon will place the fat strategically into the buttocks. Typically, some is injected into the upper slope of the cheeks to achieve a more rounded appearance.

The Brazilian butt lift seems to be an improvement in most cases over another option for buttocks augmentation—implants. Many cosmetic surgeons who used to offer butt implants have discontinued the practice. Many patients complained that the implants were too hard and did not feel like natural tissue. Some women even had their implants shift to an unnatural position. (For women who lack enough fat to harvest for a butt lift, however, implants may be the only option for augmentation.)

The Brazilian butt lift is not without risks, but the most common adverse effect is when the body reabsorbs a large volume of the transferred fat. Gentle, expert handling before and after the procedure seems to be the best way to avoid this outcome. Other risks such as excess swelling, bleeding and infection can occur, but these are rare.

Recovery is not without challenges as well. Most patients suffer some measure of discomfort for a week or longer, from both the liposuction sites and the buttocks. It’s tough to sit for more than a short period of time for at least the first week, and patients are usually told they should sleep on their stomachs at first. Some patients grow weary of the compression garment that’s a must after a butt lift.

Another painful aspect of a Brazilian butt lift is the cost. According to patients' writing in to www.realself.com, the average price tag is a bit more than $8,000. But it doesn’t take long to find surgeons who charge $20,000 or more for the procedure.

All that said, more than 80 percent of patients who reviewed their Brazilian butt lift on RealSelf said it was worth the money. Those must be some backsides!

References:

http://www.plasticsurgery.com/liposuction/the-brazilian-way-shapely-buttocks-with-your-own-fat-a157.aspx

http://www.realself.com/question/brazilian-butt-lift-cost

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Anonymous

It would be nice to see some before and after pics with this article to get an idea of what results look like. Here's one b&a I found: http://www.drdevlin.com/photo-gallery/details.cfm?ID=106&StartRow=1

November 25, 2013 - 11:27am

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Anonymous

Great post, Cathy. We talk a lot about the Brazilian Butt Lift. One result was our #1 best before and after last week!

Thanks for being so thorough in your explanation of the procedure and everything that comes after. Stuff like this does get a lot of hype, and it's important that everyone understands there's no magic wand to enhance your butt (even in the thick of a Brazilian jungle!).
But I'm always impressed by how positive our users seem to be during the painful recovery period.

Makenzie @ RealSelf.com

March 18, 2011 - 2:41pm

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.