One of the most celebrated beautiful Brazilian women, The Girl From Ipanema, had a special allure: “When she walks she’s like a samba,” the classic song remembers. And who would not remember the ideal Brazilian body type? Women around the world have embraced it, and many have sought the help of artistically gifted plastic surgeons to sculpt this sexy, enchanting look.
How BBL Works
The Brazilian butt lift is the innovative surgical response to the demand for a fuller, contoured shape for the derrière, and an improved profile for the lower body. It uses fat from the hips, thighs or abdomen to add proportion and volume to the buttocks. Fat is harvested using liposuction, the proven surgical technique commonly used to shrink pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise.
In choosing Brazilian butt lift, you are cleverly outmaneuvering your own DNA. It is your genetic inheritance, after all, that largely determines the size and shape of the buttocks, your overall profile, and even how your body stores excess fat. Creating the Brazilian look without a surgical solution is difficult, as any weight gain you might attempt will be systemic: larger buttocks would come at the price of a wider waist.
Beautiful Contours
Adding volume is not the only goal of Brazilian butt lift; creating beautiful contours is equally important. As an experienced Chicago plastic surgeon, Dr. John Kim is skilled in enhancing the body’s complex geometry of lines and curves. His work perfects proportion and balances symmetry. Each element of the body benefits from your new, fuller look.
Because Brazilian butt lift uses your own fat cells, it is a more natural and less invasive alternative to implants. The procedure is simple and convenient, free of implant-specific risks such as capsular contracture. The result tends to look and feel better, too. Implants may be advised for very slim patients who may not have sufficient fat to transfer, however.
Your Surgical Procedure — and Dazzling Premiere
During Brazilian butt lift, the fat harvested from pockets elsewhere on the body is purified and filtered. Although such transfers have been performed for many years, today’s technique is far more sophisticated than procedures done decades ago. Those fat transfers sometimes created lumps and asymmetry. Advanced plastic surgeons now use a small-particle version of your body’s natural fat that will become an integral part of your buttocks. As long as they have access to the blood supply, these living cells will thrive wherever they have been placed. A portion of the fat cells will be absorbed by the body, and skilled Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. Kim will compensate for this during the transfer.
Dr. Kim performs Brazilian butt lift as an outpatient procedure, and offers general anesthesia, IV sedation or even local anesthetic, if preferred. Discomfort during recovery is minimal, but you will need to tolerate the inconvenience of not sitting or sleeping on your back for approximately two weeks. Patients must modify physical activity for about two months, but are typically able to return to work after 10 days.
You will be able to admire your final shape in about six months, and the results will be long-lasting. After many years fat cells will attenuate to a certain degree, and weight gain may also alter your body profile, but in general your new look — and samba-swaying attitude — are here to stay.
Brazilian Butt Lift Cost
Brazilian butt lift cost depends on many factors, such as whether other procedures are involved (breast augmentation, tummy tuck, etc.) and what expenses are included in the total. The total price for Brazilian butt lift incorporates the surgical facility, prescription medications, pre-operative testing, anesthesiologist fees, post-surgical care, and recovery items, such as special cushions and pillows to help you stay off your buttocks.
Patient financing companies, such as CareCredit, can help you cover the cost of the procedure and pay monthly installments. You may also use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) through your employer. Some patients use their tax refund.
Don’t let cost affect the surgeon you choose. An inexperienced surgeon using outdated technology will not charge the same as a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience and Ivy-league training, such as Dr. Kim. Dr. Kim and our staff at Northwestern Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery will provide a detailed price estimate for your Brazilian butt lift after your consultation.
Brazilian Butt Lift vs. Butt Implants
Butt implants provide a surgical option to enhance the buttock size and shape. These implants are made of a silicone material that mimics the look and feel of natural tissue. The procedure creates incisions in the buttock crease to conceal the incision lines, and the implants are positioned above or within the gluteal muscle.
Butt implants are a permanent solution for people wanting to increase their backside and may be a better option for thin patients who don’t have enough fat to harvest for the Brazilian butt lift procedure. However, buttock implants carry additional risks and place a foreign object in the body. Risks of butt implants include infection, implant shifting, capsular contracture (hardening of the scar tissue capsule around the implant), implant rupture, and changes in sensation. The procedure requires a longer healing period than Brazilian butt lift.
Brazilian butt lift increases the volume and contour of the buttocks just like implants but accomplishes this by augmenting the tissues with your own fat instead of silicone implants. The surviving fat cells blend with surrounding tissues for a natural look and feel and the added benefit of removing stubborn fat from a troublesome area, such as the abdomen, thighs, or “love handles.” Brazilian butt lift provides customizable outcomes, unlike butt implants that are pre-filled to a set volume.
Fat transfer to the buttocks also provides permanent results with the surviving fat, and there are no risks of implant-related complications or allergic reactions to butt implants. Your body has little to no risk of rejecting its own fat, offering a more reliable procedure with fewer overall risks.
Butt implants offer predictable results for patients with minimal fat who want to enhance or restore their buttocks but carry more risks and come with scarring, a higher cost, and a longer recovery. Brazilian butt lift increases the buttock volume and slims one or more other areas for a more proportionate body shape with less downtime and little to no scarring.
Why Choose John Y.S. Kim for Brazilian Butt Lift
Dr. Kim graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and earned his Medical Degree from Stanford University. He is a nationally known plastic surgeon in breast and body contouring surgery. Dr. Kim has been featured on ABC News, in the Chicago Sun-Times, and on eMedicine.com. His patients rave about their results and Dr. Kim’s thorough approach, pointing out his honest, kind, and friendly demeanor in patient reviews. Dr. Kim’s credentials and before-and-after images speak for themselves, as he often exceeds patients’ expectations with beautiful results.
Dr. Kim takes the time to review the surgery details with you before and after Brazilian butt lift and is known for his attention to detail and knowledgeable approach to plastic surgery. As his patients say, Dr. Kim is “second to none.”
Brazilian Butt Lift FAQ
How Long Will My Brazilian Butt Lift Results Last?
The longevity of your results depends on how well you follow post-operative instructions. The Brazilian butt lift recovery process is unique in that you need to avoid sitting and sleeping on your back for at least two weeks. Ideally, limit sitting down for the first three to four weeks following your procedure. Results typically last many years as the relocated fat cells develop a blood supply in the buttocks.
Some fat reabsorption is expected with fat transfer procedures, which is why your initial results will look fuller and rounder. Your true results will show around six months after your Brazilian butt lift when the new tissue has settled.
What If I Lose or Gain Weight After a Brazilian Butt Lift?
Transferred fat cells expand and shrink with weight fluctuations, like the rest of your body’s fat reserves. Maintaining a healthy, stable weight will make sure your Brazilian butt lift results are long-lasting. Before your procedure, you should be at or near your goal weight for optimal results and durability.
Where Is the Fat Retrieved for a Brazilian Butt Lift?
The most common body areas for fat grafting are the abdomen, “love handles,” hips, thighs and waist. If you do not have enough fat deposits in these areas, Dr. Kim may collect fat cells from multiple regions. The amount of fat required for your Brazilian butt lift will depend on your desired results and anatomy.
The goal is to increase the projection of your butt and provide a balanced figure. Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Kim, will determine how much fat is required and which body areas will provide enough fat cells for the procedure to give you safe, stunning results.
What Should I Expect During Brazilian Butt Lift Recovery?
Dr. Kim will provide post-op instructions for you to follow during your recovery. You need a friend or family member to take you home and stay with you for the first 24-48 hours after your procedure. Prepare your home by creating a recovery space where you can lay on your stomach or side and avoid trauma to the buttocks from sitting or lying on your back. Any sitting or lying on your back will impact your results and prevent optimal fat survival. Plan to take it easy for two months, but you may return to work after 10-14 days. You will have some swelling, bruising and redness that will subside over time.
Am I a Good Candidate for Brazilian Butt Lift?
Adults interested in the Brazilian butt lift should be near their goal weight, in good health and have realistic expectations for what the procedure can accomplish for their body shape. Sufficient fat deposits are required to harvest enough fat cells to transfer to your buttocks. Some thin individuals may not be candidates for that reason, in which case butt augmentation with silicone implants can help you reach your desired contour.
Who Can Perform a Brazilian Butt Lift?
Your safety and results depend on who you choose to perform your procedure. If the fat is transferred into the gluteal muscle instead of subcutaneous tissue, there are dangerous consequences.
Choose a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, such as our own Dr. John Kim in Chicago. Make sure the surgical facility is accredited and look through patient reviews and before and after photos to ensure you’re choosing someone you trust to deliver excellent results.
To learn more and determine if Brazilian butt lift is right for you, please contact our Chicago office today.