What Is a Brazilian Butt Lift?
A Brazilian butt lift, or gluteal fat grafting, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that utilizes unwanted fat from the patient’s body to enhance the shape and size of the buttocks. Compared to traditional butt augmentation (gluteal implants), the Brazilian butt lift is considered a more natural alternative, since the patient’s own fat is used to create an enhanced contour. During the initial consultation, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph DiBello works with each patient to determine the volume of fat to be transferred, as well as which area(s) of the body are best for harvesting the fat that will be used for the procedure.
What Are the Benefits of a Brazilian Butt Lift?
One of the main benefits of Brazilian butt lift is that in addition to enhancing the buttocks, the procedure offers fat reduction in other areas of the body, via liposuction. Additionally, a Brazilian butt lift can:
- Provide natural-looking results that are long-lasting
- Reduce the appearance of mild sagging in the buttocks
- Address asymmetry and/or other body proportion concerns
- Improve volume, shape, and firmness
- Minimize the visibility of cellulite
How Is a Brazilian Butt Lift Performed?
A Brazilian butt lift is performed in two separate stages: fat removal and buttock augmentation. During the first part of the procedure, the fat to be used for augmentation is extracted from the donor area(s)—common locations include the abdomen, lower back, thighs, and hips. Once a sufficient amount of excess fat has been removed, it is carefully cleansed and filtered in preparation for reinjection. Dr. DiBello will then strategically inject the fat into the buttocks, to add volume and enhance the overall contour. Although some of the fat cells may be reabsorbed into the body over time, most of the injected fat should attach to a blood supply, ultimately providing long-lasting enhancement.
On average, the entire Brazilian butt lift procedure takes about three hours, and patients can typically return home later that day, under the care and supervision of a close friend or family member.
What is Recovery Like After a Brazilian Butt Lift?
Following a Brazilian butt lift procedure, patients may experience some mild to moderate bruising and/or swelling in the buttocks area, as well as in the area(s) where fat was harvested. These side effects should dissipate shortly, however, and medication will be prescribed to help manage any potential discomfort. For approximately three weeks after surgery, Dr. DiBello asks patients to wear a special compression garment to encourage proper healing. He also advises against sitting directly on the buttocks during this time, as this can cause soreness and potentially affect your final results. To maximize comfort and ensure the best possible outcome, special cushions and/or chairs may be recommended.
Most patients are able to resume their daily routines after about a week, but strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and other vigorous activity should be avoided for at least three or four weeks after surgery.
Great results. I felt like I was in good hands with Dr DiBello & staff and I am happy I chose him over other plastic surgeons. He has an impressive resume and his experience shows through his skill. I was initially very hesitant to get this procedure done, even though I needed it, but after talking to Dr. DiBello I decided to go for it, and am very happy with the results and wouldn't change my decision. Would highly recommend this practice to anyone looking for plastic surgery.
How Much Does a Brazilian Butt Lift Cost?
A Brazilian butt lift at DiBello Plastic Surgery typically costs between $8,000 and $11,800, depending on how many areas are liposuctioned, and the total volume of fat grafted. Additionally, it is important to note that while most pricing information available online for Brazilian butt lift only includes the surgeon’s fee, the cost noted above accounts for the overall expense—including several variables, such as Dr. DiBello’s fee, hospital cost, anesthesia costs, pre-admission testing, prescribed medications, and more.
In your consultation with Dr. DiBello, you can get a more personalized estimate that can help you better prepare for your procedure.
As Brazilian butt lifts have grown in popularity, there have unfortunately been a number of related deaths reported in the media. There are risks associated with any procedure, but when done properly, gluteal fat grafting is a safe procedure. To this end, as a board-certified plastic surgeon and member of both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Dr. Joseph DiBello adheres to the published recommendations of the Task Force for Safety in gluteal fat grafting. As with all the procedures that Dr. DiBello performs, his patient’s safety is paramount, and for that reason, he only performs his Brazilian butt lift procedures in the hospital with board-certified anesthesiologists.