Brazilian Butt Lift

This surgery was traditionally done with implants, but the medical evidence shows us that the complication rate for implant surgery to the bottom is in the order of 15-20% (see my textbook on ‘Evidence Based Cosmetic Surgery’ for the full analysis). I believe that is unacceptably high and therefore do not offer buttock implants to my patients. Instead I recommend buttock enhancement by fat grafting – termed a Brazilian Butt Lift. This combination of reducing volume from certain areas by liposuction (such as the flanks and the small of the back) and volume augmentation of other areas (by fat grafting). About one third of the grafted fat is reabsorbed by your body – the rest is retained permanently, and gains or loses weight exactly as it would have done at its original site.

Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and lasts 2-3 hours. Many patients choose to stay one night in the hospital although you could go home on the day of surgery if you prefer. I then follow you up in the outpatient clinic one week later.

You’ll most likely need to take 2 weeks off work as you need to avoid sitting for the first two weeks. You can resume light exercise in 4-6 weeks.

• Analgesia (pain relief) – Ibuprofen and paracetamol can be taken
• BBL Cushions are available which help you manage the period during which you can’t sit down normally – offloading the weight of sitting onto your thighs.
• ​Surgical skin tapes should be left in place for 2 weeks
• ​The hospital or surgeon should be contacted if you develop a temperature
• ​​The hospital or surgeon should also be contacted immediately in rare cases of bleeding or rapid swelling
• ​Patients should take care not to over exert themselves in the first few weeks and to keep pressure off the wounds